NSW
6451 posts
Simple question, interested to see what and why you enjoy and participate the sport. What gives you the BUZZZZZ.
VIC
5125 posts
Forgive me for echoing Nike marketing, but it's the Swoosh!
There are any number of sports where you get to ride along for free using gravity, wind, waves etc as your power source. All of them have the ability to carve a turn and blast out the other side. Swoosh!!
Kiteboarding is by far the most convenient, user friendly, consistent, adaptable way of getting that Swoosh feeling.
Skiing is too expensive and you need snow. Surfing you have to drive to the surf and compete for waves, windsurfing gear is too big and you are limited in the wind range of the gear. Mountain biking/cycling is great but it does get a bit hot and sweaty churning up mountains and riding on the road in lycra is way too dodgy.
Light winds, strong wind, flat water, chop, surf are all great surfaces to kite on. I could also include sand, snow and grass but I don't actually do those.
TT, surfboard, race board, long board, straps, no straps, sheet of wood. You can kite on anything with almost anything.
Add to that I have my raceboard and surfboard and all my kites and gear sitting in the back of my car, safely under cover in a standard family car, parked near work, ready for a session on the way home.
VIC
152 posts
for me it's the freedom of it.
I'm not saying I don't enjoy these sports, but skiing/snowboarding you are restricted by the snow, the mountain and to going downhill.
Surfing you are restricted by the frequency of waves and can only go where the break is.
Windsurfing you are restricted by heavy equipment and riding it.
Wakeboard/water skiing you are restricted by the movements of the boat.
Kiteboarding have the whole ocean at your potential and given the right board, the land and the mountains too. Even before I learnt to jump I felt like I was flying when kite boarding.
I think a major aspect of that is the way the power of the kite flows through you. It doesn't come through your arms like in waterskiing, you don't ride on something heavy and chunky like in windsurfing. Kiteboarding the power is attached directly to your core with as much power and input from the user as though it's an extra limb. When your body accepts it's new limb and learns to work with it rather than against it, that's when I knew I would be a slave to the wind and water. With just a bit of fabric and wood you can harness two of the worlds most violent and temperamental elements and turn it into one of the biggested rushes of your life.
WA
517 posts
Boosting airs of nothing. In light winds, glassy water, skimming along on a wakeboard without the smell of petrol fumes in my face. Popping small jumps in the glassy water. Sliding it around. Its all good. Light warm winds, a few friends out, busting airs in front of each other. Sweet.
NSW
5786 posts
where else would I be able to wear my bucket hat...?
QLD
2434 posts
when you feel that "roller coaster" moments after you jump and yank that bar to the left.
25 posts
It's all my other water sports packed into one. Surfing, slalom skiing, wake boarding, windsurfing, tow in surfing and sometimes the involuntary bare footing.
Love it , but give it a lot of respect.
WA
1501 posts
Because once you launch off a steep wave face, in 35knots,and send your 7m as hard as you can, all other sports everything else seems mediocre.
NSW
432 posts
Freedom,no rules,no helmet,in boardshorts- ,at the beach -across road from home and swoosh of course.
VIC
4501 posts
A doctor, a lawyer and a kitesurfer were discussing the relative merits of having a wife or a mistress.
The lawyer says: "For sure a mistress is better. If you have a wife and want a divorce, it causes all sorts of legal problems. "
The doctor says: "It's better to have a wife because the sense of security lowers your stress and is good for your health. "
The kitesurfer says: " You're both wrong. It's best to have both so that when the wife thinks you're with the mistress and the mistress thinks you're with your wife --- you can do some kitesurfing."
WA
9793 posts
Because we have become Suburbanite prisoners, held at ransom to celluloid super heroes on TV screens, washing cars and mowing lawns in a pantomime existence designed and delivered, to suite women's genetic needs to nest and be secure.
This is how I hunt, search and destroy... our genetic code that is at odds with the last few centuries of modern civilisation.
VIC
563 posts
becouse it is freedom and all the **** is in my head stops and i feel peace
QLD
699 posts
After what happened to Marc in WA this week, I am loving this sport even more now! Nothing comes close.
WA
1397 posts
Yup, you've captured it beautifully Eppo!
Maybe you are the Tim Winton of kiting.... I love his stuff.
I love the anxiety of assessing conditions, the pleasure of the move and the challenge of learning the next thing, the sated post kite glow, and sheer exhilaration of the experience!
Plus kiting while individual, seriously benefits from cooperating with people for launch and land.
WA
5378 posts
The freedom to do almost any board-sport I choose all in the one package.
SA
449 posts
after sailing for 20 years I moved to kiting full time.
Just love the feeling of getting out and challenging my self. You can also ride anything you can think of EG, Esky, Bodyboard,skim, surf,ect.
Best of all the gear fits in or on any motorised device that can get you to water.
