as an avid kitesurfer looking to take on a few waves this summer after alot of flat water riding, i spent the w'end down margs paddling onto a few with some surfing mates. a few cold ones after and a good discussion was spawned. -if a kiter and a surfer are both coming onto a wave do normal right of way rules apply or should us kiters be a little more considerate considering our obvious advantage????
If you are on a wave I would expect you to consider Wave ROW rules (No dropping in, etc). If you are in clear water I would expect you to give way to paddle powered craft.
But - I think you should use your discretion. If you have a speed and maneuverability advantage, not to overexploit it and take every wave, just as a paddleboarder will do with conventional surfers. There are enough waves for everyone.
JB
you can get ten times the amount of waves on kite as you can paddle surfing, i'd say, give the prones right of way
i'd say the surfer has right of way everytime.
you are a powered vessel and he is not.
he is a swimmer.
, is closest to the peak and the paddle boarder is upwind, then the kiter should be given some room. Howerver, if the paddle boarder is downwind, then the strings are a serious danger and the kiter must give way.
oops... 
must remember to read things proper in future. 
i'm still thinking paddle has right of way over kite.
must remember to read things proper in future.
In general...
Power gives way to sail, Sail gives way to human power.
There are many exceptions. In a restricted channel everything gives way to power. In Syd Harbour everything gives way to ferries.
Some people use the tonnage rules (give way to bigger (or sturdier) craft).
JB
Factors such as manoeuvrability should play a part in making an educated decision based on common sense. It would be difficult for a paddle boarder, capable of a top speed of 3kts, to get out of the way of a kiter in a hurry, especially in conditions windy enough to power a kite (wouldnt have thought you would encounter this problem too often). Obvious solution would be for the kiter to pass safely down wind of the SUP'er.
As far as calling a wave goes, normal rules would apply i would have thought.
Plus sup paddles work great as spears / battle axes when dealing with pesky kiters
SUP has right of way in my opinion
Sailcraft (boats, poleys and teabaggers etc) all should give way to other - less mobile - water users I reckon.
How many surfers do ya reckon are gonna put themselves in the way of a fast moving kiteboarder though?
I do feel sorry for the poor buggers in the Perf metro who are trying to grovel onto a 2 foor mush and have to contened with (frankly) plenty of w@nker selfish kiters snaking, dropping in and generally intimidating them as they sit pretty static just hoping to get one decent wave for the arvo.
As oposed to us kiters who (spesh on downwinders) get 50-100 better option in a sesh. Ordinary and no wonder there is so much angst and animosity towards kiters (even though I reckon at least 50% do the righty).
In terms of avoiding people .... everybody should avoid everybody else. In practical terms, the kiter has more power and manouverability so they should use it to avoid others. Conversely a short boarder can duck dive some pretty respectable waves so they need to be prepared to do that to avoid a problem.
In terms of who has rights to a wave ... the first person on it irrespective of what they are on.
In terms of wave hogging ... wait your turn no matter what you are on. You can jump in if the person in turn is not going to make the wave and you can do it without forcing them into something nasty.
Kiters, windsurfers & jetskis should never launch neer or operate around paddle surfers no argument!
Kites have no rights-whether in the water, on land-or life in general.
Have you seen those car stickers "Justify your existence"??
+EDIT+
sorry, they have rights to be exploited on Youtube for spectacular accidents!!
I think Kiter's should not kite upwind of surfers on a peak.
Surfers should not try to surf when its 25+ Knots
Kiters have no rights, they are the prison equivalent of a kidder fiddler, right at the bottom... 
i was kitesurfing on my own practiceing jumps and direction changes not bothering anyone out of harms way when a surfski sets himself up in the middle of my run then hands out death stares and arm waves like he is upset that im there i kept 30 plus metres away at all times and had been in that spot for 2 hour 2-3ft waves Question who has right of way [}:)]
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You can yabba on about all the legal garbage as much as you like but Ive been in the surf with kiters all around me and its bloody intimidating! Its funny but windsurfers dont do what the kiters do, windsurfers stay away from swimmers and paddle surfers so why cant kiters, and its only going to get worse when summer is here!! I cant actually remember the last time a windsurfer got close to me, jetskis arnt that much of a problem either but kiters why?
The ones causing problems are probably new to the sport and new to that type of environent. The other sports you mention have been around a lot longer and more of the people doing them know how to do it responsibly. It's like kids in a skate park. When you've been skating a while you know where it's safe to stand and can see the lines other people are taking and stay out of the way. These new kiters just need to learn. In a few years many of the wankers will drop out and the ones left will be easy to get along with.
