Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting involved in either windsurfing or kitesurfing, but I'm not really sure which direction to go. Looking at both and reading around a bit I'm pretty sure that I'd be happy doing either, though possibly leaning slightly towards windsurfing as I've read it can be more challenging. Thoughts?

Potentially the deciding factor would be if either one is much better/worse suited to the conditions in Perth. Which would be your recommendation based on that?

Thanks in advance

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j235 said..
Hi all,

..... I'm not really sure which direction to go,..

Sounds like you might have all the attributes for kite surfing.

I agree windsurfing could be a good option. I know a bunch of windsurfers all get together down at Swanbourne regularly, Just walk over the dunes to find them and have a chat.

Hi J235

Perth is a good location for both sports as it gets strong regular winds in summer
Sailboarding seems to be challenging as most people take years just to learn do a clean plaining gybe.
Kiteboarding is quicker to learn and get to a reasonable level of proficiency, but still has may level of challenges as you can ride so many boards, hydrofoil, surfboard, wakeskate, skimboard or twin tip
You can even take your kite to the snow and ride with skis or a snowboard, being in WA though you might try mountain boarding or a kite buggy.
It is also easier to travel with kite gear

But as Gazuki said go have a chat with some sailboarders and some kiters to see who you would like to be friends with.

^^^ but not at that location!!!!

Swings and roundabouts I guess, but I can only give you my ancient perspective.
When my younger mates first started to change over to kites, I watched a few of them have some nasty accidents, taking the tops off sandhills etc.
But kites are reportedly safer these days.
Even so when you get to my age it's very easy to make silly mistakes, if you're hooked into a kite on the beach that can be fatal.
So I've stayed well clear of them, if they'd come out when I was 20years younger it would probably be a different story, all that air time looks like so much fun!

But on the other hand, watching a lot of guys on waves, it seems you have to think well ahead and have the kite in position to do a manoeuvre first.
When I surf, I like an immediate response, (smack that lip now) not have to wait seconds for the kite to get into position to do it.

But as has been said, kite gear is much more portable, you don't need a trailer or big van, to get the gear you need for a long trip or an iffy forecast, to the beach.

Pay out some cash for one professional kite lesson in the prime of the summer sailing season.

That small investment in time and money will quickly inform you about the pros and cons of flying a kite.

If it's not to your liking (and it's not for everybody) ....then windsurfing is the next best thing.

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waveslave said..
Pay out some cash for one professional kite lesson in the prime of the summer sailing season.

That small investment in time and money will quickly inform you about the pros and cons of flying a kite.

If it's not to your liking (and it's not for everybody) ....then windsurfing is the next best thing.

As slave said, get some lessons and if its not for you windsurfing is the next best thing.
Then its time to head to Swanbourne sand dunes where you can meet the local windsurfers, as Gazuki mention, its where they all hang out when its not windy. Dont be shy, just walk up and have a chat about your mast and bar grip etc, Im sure they will help you out.

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waveslave said..
....then windsurfing is the next best thing.

LOL

Now that the baby boomers are off to retirement homes, you might find the kids selling sailing equipment quite cheaply.

Id look on gum-tree, or even try deceased estate sales.

Bound to find a few bargains.

Thanks for the input everyone. Good to know that the conditions here are good for either.

A few more questions:

Still not sure which one to go with, so I'm thinking of just giving one a try and seeing how I go. If I'm not convinced then I can just try the other. On that topic, how long should I give each one a try to get a 'good feel' for what its like (I'd go for lessons first for either one)?

Generally speaking, how long would it take before you can launch and land a kite on your own?

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j235 said..

Generally speaking, how long would it take before you can launch and land a kite on your own?

You'll be forced or inspired to learn these skills, ^^^

cause Necessity is the mother of invention ... (MacGyver is the father).

Almost everyone i know started with windsurfing and then got bored with it and moved onto kitesurfing.

If you start kiting then you won't waste all that time and money learning to windsurf , only to find out later that kiting is so much more fun.

Also as you get older the pain inflicted on your body whilst windsurfing gets to be too much to handle , and its almost impossible to get out of bed after a big weekend of

carving up the waves .

kiting is less taxing on your body.

IMO

Is it worth buying a 'training kite' to practice with before going and getting some lessons? I figure learning to handle it etc might mean I get more out of the lessons.
If so, is there anything in particular I should be looking for in a training kite?

I found some 2.5m kites, 2 string, for only $30 on eBay, would they be suitable?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-2-5m-Dual-line-parafoil-Kite-2-Line-Parachute-Sport-Kite-LC627-/221409177630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item338d03f01e

Also, are there any kitesurfing schools near Scarborough? I could only find a couple down near Rockingham, and something a bit closer would be nice.

Cheers

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j235 said..
..

Generally speaking, how long would it take before you can launch and land a kite on your own?

Gee,.. all these really easy questions.

From what I've seen most kiters can launch and land a kite on their own from the very first day.

The only thing that varies a bit as they go along is how many other beachgoers they wipe out while doing so.

( hmmm,, I spose I better add so as to soften the blow a bit. Some of those kiters look quite beefy and I bruise really easy. )

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j235 said...
Is it worth buying a 'training kite' to practice with before going and getting some lessons? I figure learning to handle it etc might mean I get more out of the lessons.
If so, is there anything in particular I should be looking for in a training kite?

I found some 2.5m kites, 2 string, for only $30 on eBay, would they be suitable?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-2-5m-Dual-line-parafoil-Kite-2-Line-Parachute-Sport-Kite-LC627-/221409177630?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item338d03f01e

Also, are there any kitesurfing schools near Scarborough? I could only find a couple down near Rockingham, and something a bit closer would be nice.

Cheers

The are those for and against flying trainers, I' personally don't think they assist, something like the ozone uno on a standard bar is ok but 2 line foils behave nothing like your lei kite, the safety is different
The set up is different
The handling is different
Etc, etc, some find this transition a bit confusing in their early lessons , the correct lei kite size in the correct winds with a good instructor in a good environment is premium, never presume one students progression will be the same, I've had a local up on a board doing solid runs in 4 hours, then another took weeks, the latter I thought prior would of picked it up in a day due to his surf and sup background, some instructors or schools are more sales than rider focused, what I mean by that is they're after your card details for equipment after your 1st lesson, I've stopped a couple of people from blowing up their kites , not through their fault , down to bad advice size and model from school/ shops, I have no affiliation but if I was recommending lessons it'd be at exmouth kit centre, very focused instructor in a prime un crowded spot, really makes the difference having 1 on 1 lessons, great sport kiting as is windsurfing done both , but kiting has become my addiction

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jeff2 said..
Almost everyone i know started with windsurfing and then got bored with it and moved onto kitesurfing.

If you start kiting then you won't waste all that time and money learning to windsurf , only to find out later that kiting is so much more fun.

Also as you get older the pain inflicted on your body whilst windsurfing gets to be too much to handle , and its almost impossible to get out of bed after a big weekend of

carving up the waves .

kiting is less taxing on your body.

IMO

haven't we done this before.

IIRC, the last thread showed a lot of ex-windsurfer-kiters came back to windsurfing out of boredom. So back on track:

COST would be the motivating factor in Perth I reckon (as it is windy enough, and has enough variety of flat / wave etc spot to make both equally viable)

Windsurfing - can buy cheap 20 y/o gear and teach yourself. So $200 to $500 easy. Or get OK stuff a few years old and get almost ant windsurfer to teach you, maybe $1000 all up.

Kiting - a couple of proper lessons and a half decent kite, a recycled sh1tty surfboard to keep cost down... $2K min.

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Mark _australia said...

jeff2 said..
Almost everyone i know started with windsurfing and then got bored with it and moved onto kitesurfing.

If you start kiting then you won't waste all that time and money learning to windsurf , only to find out later that kiting is so much more fun.

Also as you get older the pain inflicted on your body whilst windsurfing gets to be too much to handle , and its almost impossible to get out of bed after a big weekend of

carving up the waves .

kiting is less taxing on your body.

IMO

haven't we done this before.

IIRC, the last thread showed a lot of ex-windsurfer-kiters came back to windsurfing out of boredom. So back on track:

COST would be the motivating factor in Perth I reckon (as it is windy enough, and has enough variety of flat / wave etc spot to make both equally viable)

Windsurfing - can buy cheap 20 y/o gear and teach yourself. So $200 to $500 easy. Or get OK stuff a few years old and get almost ant windsurfer to teach you, maybe $1000 all up.

Kiting - a couple of proper lessons and a half decent kite, a recycled sh1tty surfboard to keep cost down... $2K min.

Please, there are loads of cheap kites. My first setup cost under $1000 with 2 kites board harness and 2 bars.

I started off windsurfing, got bored, started kiteboarding, now it's my life. Give them both ago.
I know when I'm with my dad, I'm on a kite, he's windsurfing. He gets bulk jealous of my huge boosts lol.

For those of you in Perth, how often can you actually get out on the water for kitesurfing and windsurfing?

Does the WA section actually exist??

EDIT: both are great fun

This depends on how much gear you've got and what you want to do. You can windsurf and kite surf in similar wind ranges, from about 8kts to 50kts or so, providing you have the appropriate gear at the right venue.
So in a Perth Summer you could get out most days somewhere, on the river in a morning easterly or most anywhere else on the arvo breeze. But if you only have one board and one sail/kite, and you only want to ride head high waves, then you'll be very lucky to get out once a week.

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Rails said..
Does the WA section actually exist??

EDIT: both are great fun

Hey we're not parochial here.

As a senior babyboomer I needed more excitement....more speed....My Zimmer frame F2 wasn't generating enough lift...but which way for me to go?.
Stay in Windsurfing and update?
Or change to Kitesurfing?



I had a word with my windsurfing mate, Bruce Jenna.....he said he'd been thinking about making the change for a while but no longer had the balls....

....maybe I should try kiting? Here are a couple more of Bruce's friends. See how they're studiously ignoring the handsome and muscular kiter....although their operations had been completely successful. What hope would I have?


I was also worried that if I became a kiter I wouldn't be able to keep up with the fashion trends...I hate product in my remaining hairs and my teeth just won't whiten properly. Such bright coloured clothing I had never seen before...




...I'd always promised my Mum that'd I'd never wear boardies over a wetsuit....


....I had a go but got nasty chillblains, whiplash and my lines wrapped around the beads in my beard.





Kiting's going to be way too difficult for me.
I'll stay a simple poley!

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kemp90 said..

Mark _australia said...

jeff2 said..
Almost everyone i know started with windsurfing and then got bored with it and moved onto kitesurfing.

If you start kiting then you won't waste all that time and money learning to windsurf , only to find out later that kiting is so much more fun.

Also as you get older the pain inflicted on your body whilst windsurfing gets to be too much to handle , and its almost impossible to get out of bed after a big weekend of

carving up the waves .

kiting is less taxing on your body.

IMO

haven't we done this before.

IIRC, the last thread showed a lot of ex-windsurfer-kiters came back to windsurfing out of boredom. So back on track:

COST would be the motivating factor in Perth I reckon (as it is windy enough, and has enough variety of flat / wave etc spot to make both equally viable)

Windsurfing - can buy cheap 20 y/o gear and teach yourself. So $200 to $500 easy. Or get OK stuff a few years old and get almost ant windsurfer to teach you, maybe $1000 all up.

Kiting - a couple of proper lessons and a half decent kite, a recycled sh1tty surfboard to keep cost down... $2K min.

Please, there are loads of cheap kites. My first setup cost under $1000 with 2 kites board harness and 2 bars.

I started off windsurfing, got bored, started kiteboarding, now it's my life. Give them both ago.
I know when I'm with my dad, I'm on a kite, he's windsurfing. He gets bulk jealous of my huge boosts lol.

I am not talking about just the gear cost, it is the lessons. Read again.

Or did you advocate buying cheap stuff and teaching oneself to kite?

BTW is "bulk jealous" even English?

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j235 said..
For those of you in Perth, how often can you actually get out on the water for kitesurfing and windsurfing?

I sail all year round so I get bulk sessions.

But saying that, I would kite less than 100 sessions per year.

Is that too few for you, J ?

More than a ton would be some kind of exceptional year. Amazing.

This winter has to be the worst in living memory.

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Mark _australia said...

kemp90 said..

Mark _australia said...

jeff2 said..
Almost everyone i know started with windsurfing and then got bored with it and moved onto kitesurfing.

If you start kiting then you won't waste all that time and money learning to windsurf , only to find out later that kiting is so much more fun.

Also as you get older the pain inflicted on your body whilst windsurfing gets to be too much to handle , and its almost impossible to get out of bed after a big weekend of

carving up the waves .

kiting is less taxing on your body.

IMO

haven't we done this before.

IIRC, the last thread showed a lot of ex-windsurfer-kiters came back to windsurfing out of boredom. So back on track:

COST would be the motivating factor in Perth I reckon (as it is windy enough, and has enough variety of flat / wave etc spot to make both equally viable)

Windsurfing - can buy cheap 20 y/o gear and teach yourself. So $200 to $500 easy. Or get OK stuff a few years old and get almost ant windsurfer to teach you, maybe $1000 all up.

Kiting - a couple of proper lessons and a half decent kite, a recycled sh1tty surfboard to keep cost down... $2K min.

Please, there are loads of cheap kites. My first setup cost under $1000 with 2 kites board harness and 2 bars.

I started off windsurfing, got bored, started kiteboarding, now it's my life. Give them both ago.
I know when I'm with my dad, I'm on a kite, he's windsurfing. He gets bulk jealous of my huge boosts lol.

I am not talking about just the gear cost, it is the lessons. Read again.

teaching oneself to kite?

Can be done, learnt how to kite from watching YouTube. Piss easy. I was going up wind in under 10 hours.

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j235 said..

j235, you have probably eluded to already that there is a bit of heat between some windsurfers and some kitesurfers. Now days (at least in SA), it's not like that at all. Apart from a couple of wankers (on both sides), we all get on. The members on the forum that do this can be roughly divided into two groups. The pot stirrers and the anti-socialists. The former being the majority.

It really doesn't matter which sport you choose. As long as you are having fun. To me, they are very similar sports. I hope you don't get the wrong idea. Unfortunately any topic with the words kitesurfing and windsurfing always degenerates into a bun fight, which is what appears to be happening now.

PS/ WazzaYotty: I like the Bruce Jenner joke. That's Funny

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evlPanda said..

I'm bulk jealous of his boosing.

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Mark _australia said..

evlPanda said..

I'm bulk jealous of his boosing.

His boosting is pretty bad too
Looks like he might need Bulk Billing