Hi all.
I am new to kitesrfing, and I really loving this sport. I been reading this intresting forum for a while
So i was just wandring if there is simillar etiquette or expectation that everyone needs to acknowledge their fellow passing kiter evry time they pass to each other? Like doing a wave with hand or smile or something else?
Is this only expected with kiters that you know?
What about if you have sun shine to your eye and you cant recogniz passing kiter?
thank you for your advice
Get to know your local kiters then you'll have a reason to wave and say hi on the water! May i highly recommend taking a slab of beer to your beach if your new to this. That'll get you into the in crowd in no time. ;)
I'll give a regular kiter a wave if i recognise them, even if i don't know their name. I'll also give a complete stranger on the water a thumbs-up if they pull of an impressive trick.
If you're not already smiling you're doing it wrong methinks!
If you are passing close and the other guy adjusts his kite and course to avoid you (whilst you are doing the same) then I reckon a thumbs up and a grin is mandatory.
If the dude is smoking along and looks like he is enjoying himself a thumbs up to share the stoke is cool.
...or as some dude recently did... ride right up close, yelling and hollering and hooting and generally greeting a long lost buddy, (or not seen since weekend drinking session), and upon getting close enough to actually make out the whites of eyes... realise he had the wrong bloke, and then went into an awkward kind of 'i was just being friendly' type of smile and wave... all a bit creepy for myself i might add.
ha ha. 
Why downrate this? I've not been kitesurfing yet but as a ex-roadbike rider, I love the camaraderie that bikers seem to have... I'm not talking your Harley riders, they generally ignored me on my "jap crap"... but generally everyone else is bloody nice to each other and wave/nod/etc. They'd just rock up and start talking to you like you were old mates. Be nice if other communities were able to behave as well amongst each other. 
Is the forum antics here any indication of what I should expect out on the water? Be a bit sad if I did... was epecting things here to be a little more trollish... with the usual anonymity tough man antics... but on the water I was hoping it'd be a bit more chilled?
As a rule it's worth acknowledging all water users, but preferably not as you boost over them or spray them 
^^^^^^ what he said.
Just like outback driving .... Always give a wave or nod, you just never know where you may see them or need them.
A mate did an impromptu 3 day masters degree in waving while crossing the nullabor solo in his Beetle. He was seeking the 'perfect wave' that maximised return waves.
In brief: a raised finger with a bit of hand off the steering wheel created the best 'return on investment'. Too big a wave and you look like a sorry arse lonely desperado, too small and no-one notices.
Kiting's the same, chill but throw some good vibes in for good measure
I haven't learnt to let go with any hands yet. I'm buggered!! Will I be ostracized from the new subgroup (wave posse)? ...OR actually I might buy some rubber gloves, fill them with air and tie them, then stick one to each shoulder or elbow, and while bouncing over chop I should have a continual permanent wave broadcasting both forwards and back. Solved 
Being new to the sport i'm generally asking for help or getting help from locals or people that know what theyre doing, so it doesnt hurt to say hi just incase you need the help later on.
lol my bad, it kept asking me to log in after posting a reply and didnt notice they were infact going through ^^ deleted the extras
