The rivalry between kitesurfing and windsurfing has been going on for years among wind riders, but kitesurfing is clearly winning.
Nonetheless, there are many who have a hard time deciding between the two sports due to their significant differences in terms of requirements, learning curves, and riding experiences.
So, which one should you pick: kitesurfing or windsurfing? Here’s the quick answer:
Windsurfing Is For You If…
- You ARE NOT a patient learner.
- You enjoy weightlifting routines!
- You have at least $2,500 and up to $3,000 to spend.
- You have a spacious automobile and extra storage space at home.
- Winds in your region are light, strong, or gusty in some way.
- Acrobatics and stunts aren’t your strong suit.
- You prefer spending time with athletes!
Kitesurfing Is For You If…
- You don’t want to carry around heavy equipment.
- You’ve got a budget of around $2000.
- You’re healthy but don’t live a particularly active or athletic lifestyle.
- You live in a small automobile with little storage space at home.
- You’re a stickler for discipline, but you can handle a little danger.
- You reside in a windy area.
- You have access to a vast sandy beach.
- You’ve probably got friends who would love to join you for a kitesurf session.
- You enjoy traveling a lot.
In this section, I’ll go through some of the key elements that influence whether kitesurfing or windsurfing is best for you.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: What kind of learner are you?
Are you a patient student? Do you want quick results? Compared to windsurfing, kitesurfing has a steeper learning curve. After just a few hours of instruction, you can ride windsurf in the wind. However, attaining a level where you can windsurf in any weather might take many months.
To the point where you can ride upwind independently generally takes 10+ hours of instruction and a few more of self-practice (see how long does it take to learn kitesurfing). The learning curve is steep, and mastering flying skills, board skills, and coordination between them is time consuming.
Beginners on a windsurfing board can balance themselves upright, propel themselves forward with their fins, and ride in light to moderate winds after only a few hours of instruction. A learner may even self-teach through numerous falls and recoveries in calm wind conditions.
In contrast, kitesurfing lessons are usually required for safety – can I teach myself to kitesurf. Unlike windsurfing, where you must learn in the water, flying a kitesurfing kite first has to be learnt on land.
Once you’ve learned the basics and can ride upwind, kitesurfing is basically done for you. Aside from new freestyle moves and/or wave riding skills, you’ll be using the same techniques for years to come.
In windsurfing, on the other hand, sailing on flat water in light wind is only the beginning of your adventure. You’ll need to master planing at speed, utilize a harness to remove your arms, use footstraps, and change direction via tacking or power jibing.
While you’ll be a competent kitesurfer as soon as you get the hang of riding upwind, to become an accomplished windsurfer you’ll need to master some difficult skills such as waterstarting and jibing in strong wind, which takes a lengthy amount of training.
Wave riding and aerobatics, on the other hand, are generally restricted to semi-professional windsurfers.
If you’re the patient type, you’ll breeze through the 20 hours or so of hard labor needed to learn kitesurfing and be finished. If you want to get riding right now, you may try out a windsurf board and start having fun, but it will take many months before you can ride in stronger winds.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: How strong and fit are you?
In contrast to kitesurfing, windsurfing needs a higher level of strength, power, and coordination to achieve high levels of expertise. Kitesurfing can be a great workout for your core and legs, but it primarily targets your core and leg muscles.
In windsurfing, a high level of upper body strength is required to sheet in and steer your sail, particularly a large one, and without the use of a harness. A lot of arm activity is necessary, which is why most serious windsurfers have developed forearms and biceps. Moving around the board also entails significant effort.
Kitesurfing, on the other hand, doesn’t need any arm strength since all of the kite’s pull is transmitted to the harness. The majority of your muscles are used in this sport. Younger riders or girls who are shorter than average frequently ride with ease and confidence.
Because steering the kite, turning it, and even leaping uses much less muscular strength and effort than older windsurfing, some more seasoned windsurfers eventually switch to kitesurfing as they get older.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: What kind of budget do you have?
Kite surfing has more equipment than windsurfing, so it may cost you extra money up front. However, you must consider how many kite-sized items you’ll require and how often the kites will need to be replaced. Also, unlike windsurfing, pricey kite surfing lessons are usually required.
The equipment necessary for surfing is extensive, ranging from board to sail to mast extension to boom and mast extension. However, entry-level packages may be found for around $2000-$2500 (new).
A new kitesurf kit with kite and bar, kiteboard and harness may cost anywhere from $1600 to $1700. Kites are more delicate than sails and must be replaced on average every three years (depending on how well you maintain it), whereas windsurf equipment can last 5-6 years.
Another thing to think about is that you generally need 2 or 3 kites to cover a wide enough wind range. To cover the same range with windsurfing sails, you’ll have to use more of them; however, they are typically less expensive than kitesurfing kites.
When you start out, your equipment will probably need to be replaced a few times. In contrast, regardless of your skill level, you may ride the same kites for years – albeit with different modifications for wave riding or big air jumping.
You may also purchase discounted gear for kitesurfing and windsurfing from previous years, or used equipment. Because it’s easier to assess the condition of a sail or mast by looking at it in the case of windsurfing, buying used gear is safer.
Because windsurfing equipment is considerably less breakable, there are far more dependable second-hand items available than kite gear – many used kites and bars (lines) are practically good to go.
Overall, both sports require a roughly comparable initial investment. Kitesurfing, on the other hand, may end up costing less (assuming good kite care) as new kites and bars will be required to compensate for wear and tear over time.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: How much gear can you take home and on the road?
Windsurfing requires more room in the car (van) and at home to accommodate its board, sails, masts, booms… In contrast, a kitesurfer only needs a few of soft backpacks, a 150×43 (maximum) kiteboard, and a little harness that can all generally be stored in a closet.
Even a kitesurfer with additional gear such as a directional surf board for waves and a foil board may usually carry all of his/her belongings in a compact hatchback automobile and still have room for a passenger.
Kiteboarding equipment is also far more transportable. Kite(s) and board on the back and hands are fairly typical for kitesurfers who go to hard-to-reach beaches with their kite(s).
I once met a young woman who traveled across a tropical nation by foot and bus alone. She carried her 5’10 surfboard under one arm, kept one small kite in her backpack with her clothes, and wrapped up another kite inside her harness, which she held in her other hand.
On the other hand, people who windsurf don’t have this option because their gear is too heavy to carry. When air traveling, they must pay top rates for oversize luggage since they typically transport 60+ pound travel bags across airports.
When I go kitesurfing, I can fit two kites, one or two bars, a harness, and a wetsuit in a snowboard bag. If necessary, I may keep some clothing in my carry-on bag by packing only one surfboard.
If you travel with a twintip, you may even transport everything in a golf bag-shaped kite bag, which some airlines will not charge for – although this trick no longer works as effectively as it used to.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: How much can you cope with?
Kitesurfing is more dangerous than windsurfing due to the extended flying distance (20+ m kite lines), low barrier to entry (riders with little experience), unpredictable kite behavior in inclement weather, restricted buoyancy of kiteboards, and high risk of equipment failure.
When a kitesurfer loses control of his or her kite, the danger to others downwind extends onto the beach and sea. The lengthy lines can make matters worse by cutting like a razor and getting tied to something when dragged by a losing kite.
In contrast, windsurfers who lose their equipment may only suffer a limited amount of harm (a few meters). Of course, a windsurfer’s mast or board might be struck in extreme circumstances.
In a lot of cases, kite surfing accidents are caused by unexpected changes in weather, such as a wind pick up or becoming gustier. Inexperienced kitesurfers can be overpowered and dragged upwards or out of control, or the kite may enter into continual power loops.
Windsurfers are better able to handle powerful winds. Also, windsurfers who ride in dangerous conditions have usually honed their skills and have the strength necessary to keep and control their sail. Even though many younger kitesurfers lack the required abilities, they will go out in strong winds.
Equipment failure is another concern, although it’s more likely with kitesurfing. Kites get ripped, bladders deflate, and lines break. Because the consequences of such events are much greater than on a windsurf rig, they are also termed “kite catastrophes.”
If you get hurt or stuck out at sea while windsurfing, you can usually float your board and paddle back or wait for help. On a twintip kiteboard, which has no buoyancy when still (directional boards give you a bit more to hold on to), you don’t have that choice.
Finally, until you’ve developed significant windsurfing skills, air tricks aren’t usually part of your routine. You run the danger of being injured or causing another rider downwind from you to strike the ground during a fall. Air stunts aren’t generally included in your routine until you’ve advanced quite far as a windsurfer.
In a nutshell, if you’re extremely risk-averse, windsurfing or kitesurfing safety should be your main concern. – Assessing the weather, testing your gear, selecting an appropriate launch/land space, avoiding of tricks beyond your ability, and having suitable partners are just a few of the things to do.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: How is your local wind beach?
Kitesurfing calls for a large area surrounding you both on and off the beach, as well as steady onshore or cross-shore winds. Windsurfers can launch in harsh offshore winds without assistance from someone else and get out in tight spaces or rocky ground.
Not everyone has access to a suitable kitesurfing location. Kiteboarding is not recommended in areas with restricted beach or rough terrain. Furthermore, because kitesurfers have less precise control over their route, having rocks that stick out of the water can be dangerous.
In such cases, brave and experienced windsurfers can enjoy themselves. For a skilled windsurfer, 40 knots (or higher) in particular with offshore winds is fine (and entertaining). Kitesurfing, on the other hand, is not advised under such conditions. Wind range is one of the key advantages of windsurfing.
You’ll need plenty of space upwind to the nearest hill or structure for the wind to calm down when kitesurfing. For safe launching and landing, you’ll need at least 300 feet downwind. And, ideally, there should be clearance far downwind (no cliffs or huge rocks) to allow you to exit the water.
For windsurfing, on the other hand, you only need a tiny area to launch and land. Upwind obstacles are not an issue. You can sail very high upwind (45 degrees away from the wind direction vs. about 90 degrees with a kite) , so you can typically exit the water wherever you want.
If you’re windsurfing, you’ll need enough water to keep your fins from striking the ground or a rock. On the other hand, kiteboarding on a twintip may be done in as little as 4-5 inches of water.
Finally, launching and landing your kite typically necessitates the assistance of someone else, particularly in very strong winds. You’re pretty much self-sufficient as a windsurfer.
In conclusion, the locations you have access to can play an important role in determining which of kitesurfing or windsurfing is best for you.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: What type of riding experience do you seek?
Kitesurfing offers a more “hands-free” and open perspective since there is no sail in front of you. A windsurf sail, on the other hand, provides a more immediate and energetic response than a kite but also causes a more harsh experience when performing tricks.
The control bar as a kitesurfer is tiny, has little pressure, and is primarily used for steering the kite. You glide across the water with an open 360-degree view that allows you to enjoy both the world and nature while you’re surfing.
A windsurf rig blocks a significant portion of your vision, although sails are partly transparent and require active arm movement. As a result, some individuals feel that windsurfing does not provide the same sense of freedom as other types of sailing.
On the other hand, owing to the long lines, kiting requires a delay between bar movements and kite response, whereas a windsurf rig responds immediately, resulting in more aggressive (thrilling for some) riding.
Surfing on a kite is considerably simpler (though there is danger), while windsurfing requires significant expertise and aggressive moves. Kitesurfing has less skills than windsurfing in terms of going out through surf and riding waves.
Kitesurf vs windsurf: What kind of crowd do you enjoy?
Both the kitesurfing and windsurfing communities are enthusiastic about their hobbies, but kitesurfers tend to be youthful men and women with a strong dedication to the windsurfing way of life, while windsurfers are usually athletic males dedicated to the windsurfing lifestyle.
Windsurfers, in general, are a close-knit group with a distinct subculture, comparable to that of surfers. They congregate together, some with their families, driven by a totalitarian devotion to the lifestyle.
Kiteboarders and kitesurfers are two distinct groups that appeal to people interested in the thrills and fun of kiteboarding. Since Kitesurfing may be learnt swiftly (though with a learning curve), it attracts a wide range of individuals.
Kitesurfers are less “tribal” than windsurfers. They may be seen as more individualistic in some respects, but also more open-minded and welcoming – being accepted in the windsurfing community often takes time and dedication.
Conclusion
Kitesurfing has been popular for almost two decades, and it’s for a reason. The quick learning curve, the light gear, the modest fitness demands, the sensation of freedom, pleasure and adventure, the ease of performing flips… nAnd there are some safety precautions to keep in mind when out on the water.
Windsurfing, on the other hand, has been around for far longer. Many people believe it will endure even though kitesurfers outnumber windsurfers in areas that are suitable for both. Windsurfing is more simple to learn and can be practiced in a wider range of conditions than windsurfing.
