Go for it, who cares what the others think, its good fun :)

I know good windsurfers that have converted to kiting and will never go back and sold their gear. They all agree the equipment is lighter and more compact and kiting allows more versatility for tricks. I know a few windsurfers that do both. The most common reason a good winsurfer won't change to kiting is because they have to go through that learning stage all over again.

I went and had lessons to learn windsurfing and found standing on the board hauling up the sale killed my back. I spent 2 weeks having lessons, after each lesson then had to go to chiropractor, lesson, chiro, lesson, chiro..... Did this 4 times then gave up and learnt to kite. Been doing it for 3 years and totally addicted, no more chiro either.

Ok will give you a quote from a converted ex-windsurfer who was quite good'
Its the most fun Ive ever had on water. ( kiteing that is)

Have a look at some of the older pro kiters you might find that in there bios alot of those guys were pro windsurfers.
I think Darren Marshall is an ex-windsurfer and Id like someone to try tell him that he swaped to kiteing because he wasnt any good that would be funny
Kite friendly
Mike

Just quickly
DOes the Name Robert Naish mean anything to your windsurfer mates because he now and for a while has been kite surfing maybe he was crap too

As a crap windsurfer who took up kiting, and didn't seem to get any less crap.

I do both, and usually the criteria for which one I do is convenience.

Kiting happens most cause it fits in the car.

But after a time away from Sailboarding then getting it out,either at Sandy point or Torquay, I always wish I was sailboarding more.

the point is, sure take up Kiting it is way more convenient, but windsurfing is where the real challenges and real rewards are.

Hey Newkiter,

I am an ex-windsurfer from way back, did my penance of about 17 years on the sailboards and was addicted to it like crazy to the point of suddenly faking illness to go home from work everytime I saw the trees dancing (boss cottoned on after a while )

Point is, I spent too many days sitting on the bonnet of the car waiting for those elusive two or three extra knots that wouldn't come, and then i'd go home after another wasted weekend sun burned and pissed off.

I bought a kite in December 1999 "just for those light wind days". That started a passion with kites that runs to this day. I ended up with a quiver of them within a year. My sailboarding gear was relogated to the back of the shed and accumulated dust. After 2 years I decided to sell all my wind surfing gear (2 new boards, 4 new sails, new booms and assorted accessories) and got next to nothing for it. A catastrophic loss.

I have now kited for a little over 6 years and have jumped on a sailboard twice in that time and both times I am reminded why I love kiting. Compact, lightweight, 3 Dimensional fun, easy to learn, ride in as little as 9 knots and up to about 35 knots with ease, fast, oh and nice airtime, and a huge array of tricks and styles of riding to choose from.

Chuck a surfboard into the frey and head to places like Gnaraloo and kiting, IMHO, is more fun and more challenging than sailboarding in the waves because the gear hasn't evolved enough to make it fluid which is a great because it represents a real challenge to try and get more fluid which requires great technique and really sharp skills not to mention the right gear.

I ain't saying poling isn't fun, it is .... in the right conditions (ie Gnaraloo). But flat water blasting doesn't do it for me and I'd never go back. Many broad minded sailboarders do both and have passion for both but chop and change with the conditions. I'm sure most will admit they kite more often.

Bottom line is, have a lesson, see if you like it, if you do, continue, if you don't, stay with the sailboard. And really, don't let other people make up your mind for you, blaze your own trail.

Hope this helps,

yea windsurfing is pointless

leave the pole dancing to the girls

If you have the time, and youth is on your side, then do both. If time on the water is limited then kiting is much easier to become proficient at. Both are very different sports. Don't believe how anyone compares either sport unless they actually are good at both.

i reckon that they are both pretty good ways of enjoying a windy day!

Fair enough kiting is the newer sport, but has anyone started out kiting and converted to windsurfing?