Unlike a typical kitesurfing board, a windsurfing board will float with a riders weight, requiring no forward motion to keep it above the water surface. This means that a student can step up onto the board, sheet in the sail, and get moving with little coordination or effort, though some balance. The equivalent moment in kitesurfing is a bit more of a crescendo, where the skills that have been learnt over the previous few days are bought together in what is known as a board start.
This is where standing and a forward motion are combined momentarily to hopefully make a kitesurfer. So in terms of getting up on either a kitesurfing board or a windsurfing board, windsurfing is easier. However, this is where the advantage stops. As windsurfers use directional boards, or boards that only go one way, riders must turn the entire rig around, and this involves much dexterity and skill to master.
It is also necessary for the rider to rotate around the sail, which when seen being done, is impressive. The bit in between is pretty relaxed on both. When cruising in a straight line, the key is to trust your harness, learn back against the pull of the sail or kite, and enjoy the ride. Mainly due to the reasons explained in the development section, windsurfing does require a reasonable amount of strength.
Sheeting in, and lowering and raising the sail, which is necessary when on the turn, requires a good bit of core grit. Kitesurfing in comparison has a lighter touch on the control of the kite, as almost all of the power is directed through a waist harness, and there is no need for any complex rotations when changing direction.
All the marketing effort went towards highwind shortboards and longboards almost completely disappeared. There were a few specialized race boards but that was it. No effort was made to promote windsurfing equipment that was easy to use and could be used in light wind conditions that exist in most places, most of the time. Around the time kiteboarding came onto the scene longboards started making a comeback.
These boards can also be used for Stand Up Paddleboarding or small wave surfing. That is where the term WindSUP came from. This gives you something else you can do with your windsurf board in light air. Kitesurfers hold the record for top speed. There are foiling windsurfers now so who knows if that will hold. With foiling you can hit mega fast speeds with both. Kitesurfers have a nice open air feel with no sail right in front of you blocking the view.
A windsurfer will react immediately your controls. Both kitesurfers and windsurfers can head out in the surf and waves. It takes much less skill to do it on a kiteboard. Wave sailing is a very advanced activity for windsurfing that may take you years of practice to be able to do at all. Kitesurfing tricks are much easier to learn to do. Almost anyone can learn to do basic tricks and jumps kitesurfing.
It takes a very advanced skill level to do any tricks on a windsurfer. Kitesurfing is more dangerous. There is no way around this.
You have a huge kite strapped to you that is flying up in the air above you. A strong gust of wind can pick the rider up into the air and put them into a dangerous situation really fast. You can cut loose from your kite and drop back into the water but then you have an out of control kite still flying. You can bag the kite which will drop you back into the water and leave you with a flailing kite until it hits the water. You can cover a large amount of ground in the time from when you lose control until you and your kite are both in the water.
You may travel yards downwind in this time. On a windsurfer when you get hit with a large gust, the end result is this. The sail flings you in a few feet in front of your board and you stop real quick. You might get injured if you land on the board or boom. You might go yards from gust to dead stop. When you learn to kitesurf you have the skills to go out and get going in planing conditions and up as soon as you pass the intial learning phase.
This also means you have enough skills to get in a lot of trouble without the experience to avoid it or get out of it. With windsurfing it takes a lot more experience to get to the point of really being able to hurt yourself. See the below video for some of the ways you can get in trouble kitesurfing and how to avoid them.
There are safety features built into the kite. You can let go of the bar which depowers the sail. You can release the safety line which will bag the kite and leave you with a giant tangled mess. You can release the bar off your harness that the kite is hooked to. Your harness should have a knife attached to it somewhere you can cut the kite lines if needed. When you take a kitesurfing lesson your instructor should show you these.
I took my first kite lesson on a 40F degree May morning with about 25 knots of wind. Neither is the amount of lake water I forcibly drank that day. Both need some level of physical fitness. For both, you use a waist harness or seat harness to take most of the load from the kite or sail. Most people who have done both say that windsurfing needs more. It takes more strength and endurance to hold and manipulate the sail even with a harness. You put all your body weight into the boom when you are windsurfing.
The harness takes the load off your arms after you hook the harness in. You still have to hang onto the boom with your arms until you get going and to adjust the sail trim.
You need upper body strength for high wind days. With a kite, the bar is only twisting the control lines. The main force from the kite is going through your harness which is always hooked in from the moment you launch the kite. As a beginning windsurfer, it can get tiring to uphaul the sail out of the water even on a light wind day. As you get better and start using bigger sails in higher winds it gets harder, not easier. I find anything below a 6. If you go out with a 9meter sail in enough wind to plane, it takes a huge amount of effort to uphaul the sail.
I now use nothing bigger than a 6. My longboard is fun in sub planing conditions with that sail. Once your skill improves and you learn to water start it makes high wind days much easier.
It still involves hanging by your arms from the boom until you get hooked in. Which one is better? If you are okay with the risks of kiting and you live in an area where you get enough knot days then go for kiting. If transporting large gear is a problem then kiting is for you.
If you live in an area with more variable winds or mostly light air days windsurfing may be the better choice. If you are risk averse and you want something easier to learn then windsurfing may be for you.
My name is Doug Ryan. But in terms of jumping sensation, yeah windsurfing wins.. However, the overarching net result is light wind and the fact I log 5 days per week average on the ocean kitesurfing than I would windsurfing.
To me, that makes it harder to windsurf again. I can get out in the surf in 10kt gusting 15kt, whereas that would require a 7. My local spot in Delaware Bay is often side-offshore or straight off-shore so that eliminates kiting for me. My Kona One windsurfer with dagger board enables me to sail in all wind directions with relative assurance that I can make it back to the beach.
I would never try that with a kite board that offers little flotation. Like Justin, I also will bike or mountain bike if the conditions are so light that rigging is not worth it. We normally have 5ft differences in tides, so that means water is moving pretty fast and sailing inside of sandbars can get tricky at low tide. The kiters are less affected by the currents and can also enjoy cleaner air higher off the water. So, they seem to get more time on the water.
If I was just starting out, it would seem logical and tempting to buy a kite and take some kite lessons. Fun stuff. Something to aspire to. So, how about we throw in the topic of foils into this discussion? Does this change the argument that kites are better for light winds? JP is also selling inflatable windsurfers that pack up with complete rig into smaller, trunkable bags. I do a lot of SUPing but would like to get into windsurfing.
My questions are: Would I be able to windsurf down my canal to get out into the open water, or would I have to transport my gear? Is there a good place to get lessons around here? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Doug. I live in Miami. Wind here sucks. Only a few days a year it blows above twelve knots. During summer, the wind completely dies so your gear becomes clutter. I really wish I could spend more days in the water and I do feel kiters may have the upper hand in this respect.
Still, one thing I have noticed is that regular kites in the 12 the 16 m2 range when paired with a wakeboard also need winds above 12 kts not to struggle. During low wind days, foil kiters are the only ones out there. So like windsurfing, the more fancy gear you own the more you get to spend in the water. All our vacations were organized around windsurfing, my wife caught the virus as well and my 3 kids windsurfed with us.
You probably can imagine the material we dragged with us. Huge waves, strong winds, these guys really ripped, while a few surfers were struggling and the only windsurfer, a professional, ended up on the volcanic rocks. Since my windsurf equipment remains untouched. My wife was very reluctant to kiting. But she finally did it and is thankful for every moment she spends on the water with us. Today my teenage kids love to spend 3 times one week per year with us kiteboarding.
Material costs are roughly the same. I still would love to windsurf, but time spent on the water is not enough to evolve any further. I basically reached my limits 15 years ago and did not get any further than forward loops and volcanoes. I am much more impressed when I see a really good freestyle windsurfer, but his level is far beyond reach for me.
One guy summed it up pretty well: you need one season to learn a trick in windsurfing, you need one session to learn one in kiting. I have never seen a kitesurfer go into windsurfing while in most cases kitesurfers are ex-windsurfers and none of them are above 35…so I doubt its the age.
Learning kitesurfing without a supervision is a serious matter, because you have a flying object with extreme power connected with your body. Windsurfing is yes, more challenging for the muscles, but if I wanted muscle chalenge i would go on the tredmill in the gym. Would LOVE recommendations from the real deal community and not my local shop with their own agenda. Free style is infinitely more interesting in windsurfing. Some of us hate to be a pest, love the independence of windsurfing.
Being attached to a kite some 20meters away produces a lot of force very quickly. I never used less than 6,5 when I was windsurfing. My 8,6 was the most used sail during the year. Windsurf boards almost break when you look at them…. Thank you for this article.
A couple of follow-up questions. Which sport is easier in light wind? Which sport offers enjoyment over a greater range of wind-speeds? Can you recommend the best locations for learning to kitesurf? Given a student who is a chubby, feeble, geriatric, bitter, washed-up, debt-ridden windsurfer. A few decades ago, windsurfing was my life. However, unless I was on a regatta board with a big sail, light air sailing was difficult. Also, I had to re-rig my sail every time the wind increased or decreased by five knots.
The article of Arne is very good. But he did not answer in the last two years. I made the same experience as Arne you can see in the following post.
But he did not answer posts in the last two years. But the water is not clear. The water is very healthy for me It is possible to walk almost everywhere in this Lake because the water is not very deep. That is the reason why it is very easy to learn watersports there. If you visit Europe, you should see Vienna. In summer you can also go to Podersdorf at the Neusiedlersee. But the water is not clear but it is very healthy for me It is possible to walk almost everywhere in this Lake because the water is not very deep.
If you visit Europe you should see Vienna. I am windsurfing for 40 years and started kitesurfing in a kite school 10 years ago. For learning how to windsurf it needed at least hours in the water until I really had fun. At first with a trainer kite on land 3 hours. Then we finally got wind and we started kiting with a teacher. I could kite from the first try. For me it was very easy. But now I only go kiting if the wind is very low. Biggest windsurf sail is 6m2 and biggest board liter.
If wind is strong enough, I always prefer windsurfing. In windsurfing the things, I like most are wave riding loops and duckjipe. I mean about 20m high and 1-minute airtime.
But for strong wind condition there is very few kiters who can fly because they are not able to ride in strong wind conditions. In Podersdorf Neusiedlersee there is only one. But he is a European champion in kiting. I am afraid that I am too old to get good enough for really flying. The second thing I love with the kites and board that it only needs 2 minutes to get the kite stuff in my car. For the surf stuff I need 10 minutes.
But I always take surf and kite equipment to the lake because I hate to sit and wait for wind. Next thing I want to try is foiling with surfboard kite and wing foiling. Maybe I will find a new activity for light wind. Also, it sure looks sucky when the wind completely drops and leaves the kiters stranded. I am a long of time and tooth windsurfer.
I have a few friends who have transitioned to kiting over windsurfing for the reasons mentioned by the author here. Unless a windsurfer can tack a small wave board, they generally will lose some ground, as well as speed, when they jibe. Those not educated in the ways of sharing water space and waves through another sport seem to present the biggest problem.
Case in point: Yesterday I was sailing with a few buddies at our local wave-riding spot. The first negative I felt from this guy was I was trying to head upwind, which presented bigger challenges for me due to the wind direction.
As I tried to point, this guy passes me and gets just upwind and outside of me where he proceeds to do his kiting surface churn. In essence they set up a mine field of uncomfortable water that I have to ride over. On my next reach this kiter was coming out behind me and downwind.
He was right where I needed to jibe in order to catch a set wave. He just stayed in that position until he made sure I was out of position, due to his antics, made his transition, and caught the wave that really should have been mine.
Kiters like this, wave hogs, space hogs, who only care about themselves are what give kiters a bad name. As I said, I actually know some good kiters so, I am aware that they can be good while un-buried. This is dangerous for the surfers who have little idea of the power in a kite and what it can do to them. However, the lifeguards do care, and they were yelling at this guy to stay out of the surfing zone over their PA from their station.
This behavior tends to turn the lifeguards against all wind-sport enthusiasts, including us local silver-backs who have been sailing this spot, with tenuous acceptance by the lifeguards, for many years. Their job is difficult and important in order to keep a windsurfer or kiter from killing someone lying on a board. The lifeguards sometimes ride jetskis to keep the peace during larger swells, which we now have.
Another day, another balance between hassle and bliss. And I hope that this young kiter, if present, will not be the big hassle that he was yesterday. Hope springs. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email. Windsurfing vs Kitesurfing It occurs very often that I have to hear how windsurfing is better than kitesurfing or vice-versa , that kitesurfers are just a nuisance or vice-versa , etc. Working at a surf center I often get asked the same question: Which is better, windsurfing or kitesurfing? I usually give a rather quick answer to this as usually there are other people waiting to be attended. However, I thought I would break it down a little more to provide a more complete answer for those not knowing which of these to choose.
At the Surf Center Playa Sur we also offer storage of both windsurf and kitesurf gear I keep having to witness how burdensome windsurfing gear is.
Usually the board bag with one or two boards and 3 sails will weigh around 30 kg and has to be dragged around the airport and ends up being a big of a hassle when added to the standard luggage we are taking with us. Kiteboarders on the other hand will have their one board under their arm and one kite over each shoulder or just a long bag the size of a large set of golf clubs. Kitesurfing turns out to be less of a hassle overall.
The gear for both windsurfing and kitesurfing both cost roughly the same. The difference comes in the life of each piece of kit. In general windsurf kit will last somewhat longer before it needs to be replaced.
A kite especially the lines will need to be replaced after about 3 years whereas a windsurfer can easily last 5 to 6 if maintained well ie. Buying used kit is a little bit more tricky in kitesurfing as the integrity of the lines must be checked carefully and the leading edge must be tested to ensure there are no slow leaks. For a windsurfer it is pretty easy to evaluate the condition of a board and sail. The gear for kitesurfing is more fragile than windsurfing gear. Tears and holes will be much more frequent due to wear in the mite material than in windsurf cloth because it is much thinner for less weight.
The two learning curve for each sport are pretty different. For kitesurfing you have to spend a couple of hours on the beach to learn how to handle the kite, then do a few sessions of body drag through the water and only then is it time to try to get on the board. This usually adds up to around 9 hours which is where you are at a point where you can continue to practice without supervision. For windsurfing this is different. I usually spend 15 to 20 minutes on the beach teaching my students what it is they will have to do on the water.
From there it is off to the water. After around hours with flat water, in waves, my students are usually at a point where they can sail back and forth alone. Now comes the main difference.
A kitesurfer after about 20 hours will be riding with a speed and technique similar to that which he will be sailing in 2 years. A windsurfer on the other hand will have a more gradual and constant improvement throughout that time.
I have heard so often how kitesurfing is the sport that people turn to that are unable or too impatient to learn how to windsurf. Kitesurfing is less challenging. There is no denying that. The quadriceps get some working on but that is about it. People who take on windsurfing will be challenged more and will see their stamina increase with each session as the body adapts to the new requirements.
The running joke among windsurfers is that kitesurfing is for girls and pensioners, basically referring to the physical condition required. While it is technically possible to launch and land a kite on ones own, you need a certain level of experience to be able to do so as getting the procedure wrong can end pretty bad indeed. The problem mainly comes that it is also dangerous to launch someones kite while flying your own so two kitesurfing buddies will have to some interesting and dangerous juggling if they want to go kiting simultaneously.
For windsurfing this is not the case as you are quite independent in that sense. That being said, just for general safety it is wise to go on the water with others around who can lend a hand in case of injury, equipment malfunction or any other precarious unforseen situation. The first is shallow water. As a windsurfer you are in big trouble if you are cruising along at speed and the fin suddenly touches the ground. It can result in a very spectacular and possibly painful catapult indeed and possibly some board repair.
On the other hand, if we are at a spot where the shoreline is lined with tall structures such as trees or lamp posts it is rather tricky and very dangerous to go in as a kiter since if the lines get caught in them, kitelooping along the ground and crashing into stuff ensues. Windsurfers have less trouble as all they have to deal with is the immediate surrounding. This is where the two sports have their greatest discrepancy.
Ever since kitesurfing has hit the beaches I have been seeing a continuing increase in accidents. The thing is that as long as nothing goes wrong, it is a fun sport which gives the sensation of speed and planing pretty easily.
The problem arises when something out of the ordinary occurs. In that case, circumstances can turn dire pretty fast which lead to serious injuries. The trouble is that these consequences do not always affect only the kitesurfer but also anyone up to metres downwind of them. Windsurfers on the other hand have only 5 metres to worry about, 20 if they are jumping.
Also the severity of the accidents in kitesurfing is greater. While it is true that i have seen windsurfers with dislocated shoulders, sprained ankles, broken legs and cracked ribs. Usually these are few and far between. Admittedly they tend to occur on the water and the rescue is a bit of a hassle but even then you have the option of getting on the board to save energy, be more visible and lose less body heat. From an objective point of view, kitesurfing offers many more advantages over windsurfing except for when it comes to safety , and there it is far behind.
The long fragile but very dangerous lines combined with the immense power that can be generated by the large surface of the kite will always be a hazard, regardless of technological improvements. This is the reason this sport is an extreme sport. Combine this with the fact that it is easy to learn and that the minimal physical requirements for kitesurfing and you have a dangerous combination.
People that are not suitable for doing extreme sports will start to do extreme sports. And the worst part is that they are not aware of the possible risk they are putting themselves in.
I am by no means trying to say that no one should do kitesurfing. I just think that it is not made clear enough to students how to go about learning it safely and practicing it responsibly. Most of the accidents that happen are due to bad decision making and irresponsible riding like going onto the water in unreliable offshore winds or practicing or showing off tricks near the shore or in areas with a lot of people.
As for the sensation, kitesurfing is a fun sport. I started to use it as an alternative to the low wind days where 5. For me personally, having to sail with 6. As a windsurfer kitesurfing is really fast and easy to learn so it was a nice addition to broaden my range of conditions in which I can have fun on the water. Share this post:. Arne on February 4, at pm. Rebecca Jensen on May 17, at am. Die on March 15, at pm.
Tom on July 14, at am. Dan on September 3, at pm. This was average day at 35MPH Reply. Ola on April 12, at pm. Mildred Davidson on August 19, at am. Kyle on April 11, at pm. Paul Blessington on July 20, at am. Andrey Svetliy on February 5, at am. Very interesting comparison! I enjoyed reading it. Arne on February 5, at pm. Richa Sharma on February 27, at am. I like kitesurfing water sport so much.
Arne on March 18, at am. DRS on May 12, at pm. Arne on May 12, at pm. GibMo on May 18, at am. Hi DRS, I stopped windsurfing 30 years ago but the windsurfing virus struck me again in Arne on May 18, at am. John Coffey on May 27, at pm. Arne on May 27, at pm. Joenieverse on July 13, at pm. Roland on July 7, at am. Arne on July 7, at pm. Arne on August 21, at am. Arne on August 25, at pm. Axel on July 6, at pm. Rebecca jensen on May 17, at pm. Travis on May 9, at am. Thanks Reply. Al on May 12, at am.
Nice to see an objective comparison for a change as a kite-surfer and occasional windsurfer the rivalry between the to sports gets a bit old Reply. Arne on May 16, at pm. Thx Reply. Arne on May 19, at pm. Johan on May 31, at pm. Arne on June 1, at pm. Jan on July 10, at pm.
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