I just watched the latest KITELIFE episode and they Samantha Wing and some other dude ( both pro wakeboarders doing a lesson and try kiting.
They both made it look really hard and their final comments were " Way harder than I thought it would be"
It would leave the average punter saying if a professional wakebaorder can't do then it will be way too hard for me.
I just saw this clip of Danny Wills Ex WCT pro surfer having a 2 hour lesson and he does really well.



So are Surfers better learners than wakeboarders???

Depends on your style both have different board skills. Its all kite skills aswell wen you start out. If your not good on a stunt kite it will take time to incorporate the kite into basic tricks.

These wakeboarders mite have never flown a kite.

I do both but its the wakeboarding that helped the most from a edging and trick point of view. Wave selection and reading the surf has obviously been helped by surfing.

from teaching experience i fully agree with that!

people with a surfing background are the quickest learners when it comes to board lessons.

we had a surfer guy 2 weeks ago that got up first try, rode 300m then crashed and came back riding toeside WTF!!??

It's waaaaaayyyyyyy too open to call it either way.
There are so many variables to consider in each, and all have an impact on the outcome.

I will say that in regards to Dean and Amber, well surprise surprise it was their second lesson.
First with trainer on the beach in 25+ knots, and the second on the water with again 25+ knots.

Yeah not ideal to be learning in, and on the day to their instructors credit, we only proceeded in getting them out there on a board, because we all (riders included) had assessed the conditions and were happy to proceed with trying the board after a few body drags.

We were in the middle of Botany Bay and the chop was quite severe, and yes they both got up and riding.... An excellent outcome, and quite an achievement.

I think that with something like sharing our sport, it's not a race as to how quickly you progress, or if you got up on a board quicker than someone else, then big f ing deal.
If you want a medal for being a hero, you are already on the wrong path.

At the end of the day no one, especially me, cares what type of style you ride, what colour your board is, or how long it took you to progress, as long as your having fun, sharing the sport and staying true to yourself that's all that matters!!!

"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius."
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930), (Sherlock Holmes) Valley of Fear, 1915

peace

WGAFF

no, the fastest learners are those who have done windsurfing, land boarding, kite jumping, snowboarding, wakeboarding, snow kiting, surfing and sailing... and who are generally quick learners, who have no fear but are also vigilant... only those can progress the fastest...

If you look at the question scientifically it's not possible to say who learns quickest from the available data. All the responces so far are based on personal observations and not on statistically valid data derived from from a controlled experiment.

Variables include
- statistically valid number of subjects
- skill of instructor (should be one instructor for all subjects)
- environmental conditions for learning
- past experience with kites
- age
- sex
- previous sports
- valid outcome (what constitutes an acceptable level of skill learned)
- cut off point for learning

If we control all these variables, and I'm sure there are more, then we can truely answer the question. "Who learns quickest - surfer or wakeboarder?"

Sorry for being a Smart A**e.

People who master the kite before even looking at a board learn the fastest. Surfers are generally quicker in getting upwind, but only one way. Wakeboarders suss "riding switch" and can therefore kite upwind quicker than surfers..... But as Jankie said, there are exceptions.
Regardless, too many learners try to get up and riding when their kite-skills are not good enough.

dave...... said...

People who master the kite before even looking at a board learn the fastest. Surfers are generally quicker in getting upwind, but only one way. Wakeboarders suss "riding switch" and can therefore kite upwind quicker than surfers..... But as Jankie said, there are exceptions.
Regardless, too many learners try to get up and riding when their kite-skills are not good enough.

I agree with Dave!!

I come from a surfing background & once i had competant kite skills found it not too hard to get up riding, but in saying that i also snowboard so my snowboarding skills come into it with being able to ride switch (twin tip) on my surfboard i dont switch i just ride toe side or heel side (left foot forward) because thats the way i surf. So i guess it just depends on how adaptable you are and what board sports you have experiance with!!

technique technique technique
so just get out there & have fun, take care & above all be safe!!!

Cheers Mark

Nicely said waxman!

Wake boarders tend to be more aggressive when learning where as surfers tend to feel the board and kite a bit better. Which helps a bit when learing.

Wakeboarders once up and going tend to progress quicker as they are better at riding switch and far more comfortable with spins and rotations etc.......

After surfing and skating for almost 20 years I found it very very difficult to ride switch (it just felt wrong ) and for my first season I had to ride toeside instead of switch.

Surfers learn quicker! and they're way cooler! As for KIT33R you dont sound smart, u sound like a douche.... learn to spell! WAXMAN obviously cant surf for sh!t.

damn S bends behind a boat look so mint.

Who cares if a surfer can learn quicker anyway... wow they can ride back and forward a day earlier than a wakeboarder hahaha, but then what? They can't do sh!t after that, except for a few lame bog rail/ butt check S-turns out in front of a wave... big****** woop.
I know what background I would rather come from if I wanted to make the most of kiteboarding.
Seriously it's not like a wakeboarder is going to have any problem hoping on a surfboard and letting the kite pull his arse through a lip, on the other hand I think a surfer would have a great deal of difficulty pulling a legit S-bend.

Your best bet is to do everything so you don't have to worry about these sort of stupid arguments.