Sounds like your eye sight is failing and the dementia is kicking in....
Can't see the kites cause they're too far away
Don't recognise anyone you've seen a hundred times before

I think it's more to do with the fact that kiting isn't so much the new sport that you've got to do, so it doesn't have the huge appeal it did say 10years ago. Windsurfing has made some progress but not much, seems the most progress for windsurfing is through sailing clubs adopting windsurfing and kids getting racing the one design boards. If windsurfing is to survive this is where most of its effort needs to placed, people sailing boats already know the pain of storing gear and paying big dollars so they're usually stoked to windsurf.
At the end of the day in most parts of Australia kitesurfing is way easier to have fun with, both fun sports but the smaller boards, kites in a bag, less wind and steeper learning curve will always make kiting more appealing.

Kitesurfing, much easier to get to that part where your really having fun, obviously a little harder to learn initially but then your learning curve takes off. To get to that part in windsurfing you've got to be super dedicated and really want to get there, so many windsurfers still mastering carve gybes and waterstarts after years of sailing, it's a tough sport to get really good at.
I love windsurfing and would choose an epic day windsurfing over any type of kiting, but I'm also very aware of the limitations it has.

Certainly there are hot spots where you would have to be a clown to head out with the gaggle of kites doing their thing. But its pretty good to meet new bodies and see people learning to sail in 10-20+knts once more. Whether it's dementia, bad eyes or the drugs is up for debate.

Reading through the comments from NSW+WA make it sound like our local ain't a bad place to windsurf after all. Just don't tell anyone...

Remind me, what does this windsurfer thingy look like that you speak of ?

Hardcarve1 said..
You do both, each has its advantages over the other.
To kite and not windsurf is not to know true speed over water or the freedom of a sail to manoeuvre with speed and ease.
To windsurf and not to kite is just being stubourn.

You live only once and not to experience both would be a shame.

True, only live once

And thanks for clearing it up that a windsurfer go faster than a kite surfer

Craig66 said..

Hardcarve1 said..
You do both, each has its advantages over the other.
To kite and not windsurf is not to know true speed over water or the freedom of a sail to manoeuvre with speed and ease.
To windsurf and not to kite is just being stubourn.

You live only once and not to experience both would be a shame.

True, only live once

And thanks for clearing it up that a windsurfer go faster than a kite surfer

How much gear do you need for all this though sheez

I think the time has come to put some of the few windsurfers left into captivity and see if we can breed them before they become completely extinct.

^^ he f&*king rips!!!

some of the others, not so much. looks epic at solid margies and gnar, the speedlining not my cup of tea but probably a blast - but jeez, would it kill em to smile from under their gaths occasionally

Can't think last time I saw more kiters than windsurfers out at Gero. Its been about double the windsurfers for all of the last 3 seasons.
In Perth there often is a swarm of kiters, can see it gets frustrating even for kiters
Beginners windsurfing is increasing here, and kids going well - like waveriding hard and learning loops -has gone up immensely. Its looking good for the sport and has been for some time.

lotofwind said..
I think the time has come to put some of the few windsurfers left into captivity and see if we can breed them before they become completely extinct.

Yeah, we would breed, but most of us have had vasectomies by now.

Windsurfing movie 2
Never seen a kite video I'd watch twice.... well maybe keahi stuff