Down the line wave ride- on a kite?!

[pzwinakis]

I assure you, they were the best windsurfers (wave-sailors) in this area.. Now, pretty much all kiting 100% of the time. You used to pull up to the beach and there would be 20-30 sails on the beach or in the water. Now on an average day there are (maybe) 5 guys out on windsurfers at Wadell... I am not slamming windsurfing. I had years of fun doing it and look back with fondness on it. I am just saying that for down the line wave sailing, it feels a lot more natural (to me and a LOT of other people that used to windsurf) to be on a kite. Come on over to the dark side... You're already packing your car full of crap when you go to the beach, why not pack some more (different) crap into it..

[kevinkan]

not to split hairs here, but while a lot of coastal sailors made the switch to kiting, it certainly isn't 99% or even close to that. Most of the windsurfers go to Davenport, so you don't see them at Waddell as much unless it's small. Over here at Ocean Beach, I would say there has been a higher percentage of windsurfers switching to kiting... the winds here are too onshore and light for most windsurfers, and kiting looks way more practical in the prevailing OB conditions. That said, there are still a few die hards windsurfing here.

[pzwinakis]

Do you kite at Waddell durring the week?

[swchandler]

From my perspective, the windsurfing versus kiting approach has mostly to do with the type of concerns that we personally like dealing with. There are advantages to each choice, but it comes down to the bottom line about the nature of the equipment and how it works.

I'm hanging tough with windsurfing, because that has always been my ultimate vision. Most of my older windsurfing friends are now kiters, and I know that they're loving their direction. Yet, it really comes down to much more than what's cool or otherwise. The real circumstances and use of the turf out there is about having time of your life, windsurfing, kiting or surfing. The only thing we have to really keep in mind is properly fitting into the flow. There's always a balance of our respective responsibilities, no matter what your preferences might be.

[bsutt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyFCHkjwj9c&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecautionkites%2Ecom%2FWEBSITE%2FVIDEO%5FSP2007%2Ehtml

[pzwinakis]

Great video... Here's another one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJce0cd3Azc

[zpp66]

there's no doubt that kiters can rip. check out the video or just go to wadell.

however, 99% of the good wavesailors switching to kiting is an exageration. 3 of the very best (Johan and the Scheibels) did. As did some others (not 99%). This combined with all the skaterats, wakeboarders, and everyone else has created quite a glut of kiteboarders at Wadell.

My question, is if I become a kitesurfer do I have to ignor right of ways, shoulder hop, jump right up wind of windsurfers, and refuse to give wave rights? Not sure if it's endemic to the sport, but kitesurfers at Wadell seem to operate without any etiquitee (or even common sense).

It's only going to get worse now that "wakestyle" is out and "waves" are in according to all the kite media.

[pzwinakis]

The problems at Waddell result from kiters AND windsurfers who only occasionally sail in the surf. Hell the windsurfers from out of town are just as bad as the kiters from out of town. I stopped going to Waddell on the weekends for that reason. If the locals aren't giving you respect, maybe you should lose the helmet, goggles, life-preserver and flares...

[wendel]

[flynbri]

Can't we all just get along?