Windsurfing vs Kitesurfing

[techno900]

While I am a relatively conservative windsurfer, about 90% of my injuries during the last 30 years have been on the beach.

One of the worst was in the late 80's at one of the early US Open's in Corpus Christi. 200 sailors with multiple rigs on the beach/grass and a cold front/north wind moved in. I got tomahawked by the mast of a flying rig in the lower back. Several went flying. Not out of commission, but a month of soreness in the lower back/ribs.

[beaglebuddy]

Nearly every single serious kiting accident involves a sudden gust of wind that knocks the kiter off his feet and drags him bouncing off the beach and airborne into a solid object on land.
It always seems to happen so quickly and violently that the kiter is unable to quick release.
What is needed is a land/launch mode that will automatically quick release when enough force is applied. Just switch to the normal mode when underway.

[techno900]

At another US Open at the same venue, I watched a kiteboarder get hit by a gust while on the shoreline and was dragged about 50' over a 8' high, 20' wide rock jetty. He walked away, but I don't know the extent of his injuries. He was not a novice. Side onshore winds.

[loopless]

At our local wave-sailing spot, when the wind goes light side-off (10-15) the only people on the water are windsurfers with 100-120L FSW boards and 6.0-6.9 sails. With that sized (modern gear) you can carve hard bottom turns and off-the lips and pretty much shred it up.Its a world away from the crappy gear from even 10 years ago.

The kites are sitting on the beach - particularly since the move to strapless boards.
Of course whens its 12-16mph and side-on, the kites are all over us.

[jingebritsen]

with a planing long board, i'm sailing 80% more than alkita. when it's 12-16 i'm shredding.

[jingebritsen]

yesterday, it was blowing 7-24 various directions. 22 windsurfers, 2 alkita. alkita spent most of their time pouting.

[nw30]

I've got one very good friend, and one acquaintance in a wheel chairs for the rest of their lives, due to kiting.
I've got no friends or anyone I know, in the same condition from WSing, and not even close.

Anecdotal I know, but that's my reality.

[joe_windsurfxxx]

my condolences to both your friend and colleague

i must be getting old - cuz all this extreme stuff is just "freakin me out"
even Olympians are now competing with broken ribs and casts on their arms
is this now the norm ??
does society have a role to protect us from ourselves ?
stunt artists and "evil knievels" go over the stunts and safety features to ensure as best as possible - NO injury
can kiting be made safe ?? at least safer ?? better safety release ??

then again, i am one to talk ... i broke my shoulder windsurfing on ice
other people's biggest fear is if i break through the ice

just hope we all try to be a little more careful, stay out of those gusty, straight onshore or off-shore winds and learn to look out for each other !!

[cgoudie1]

My Kiter friends say "Kiting is as dangerous as YOU make it"

I think if you're not endangering someone else (that would include
depriving your offspring of a father or mother), you should be able to
make your own choice. Life without risk isn't really living in my opinion,
but you should definitely understand who that risk affects besides yourself.

I also am aging away from risky behavior, still,
"No Thrills for the Cautious"

-Craig

[MalibuGuru]

Supposed to be double overhead surf at Jalama tomorrow. That would make windsurfing as dangerous as kiting. And the odds of the day costing you $1000, much higher for the windsurfer.

I'm still trying to figure out whether kiting an overhead wave is as fun as windsurfing it. When you watch JP at Couldbreak, and then watch a kiter on the same day, it appears that JP is just getting a way cooler experience. But on waist high days, I think the kite is the winner.