What is it that makes windsurfers so narky towards kiters ? Being serious here...so no "boardshorts over wetsuits" or "metrosexual pretty boys" responses.
Is there actually a problem ? If we all took some time to understand each others sport I don't see any reason for the two sports not to co exist in harmony....
Is the problem just trolls in both forums stirring the pot or is there genuine angst ?
I hope it is all in good fun, but it looks really pathetic to people who are new to the forum and don't know it's a running joke.
I'm with you Airush.
However it seems that almost all the kitesurfing vs windsurfing posts are the work of trolls, and Smellyskater et al. don't seem to have anything better to do than get stuck in because they reckon it's good entertainment.
It's not actually genuine.
What it does do is upset people who do think it's genuine, and then we get a real problem on the water.
It also drives away newbies from the forums who might come on here looking for advice and then think that all kiters and windsurfers are aggressive haters, and decide not to get involved with either sport.
Bunch of armchair-riding wannabes...
Great idea airush geoff. We would all hope the banter on these forums is just fun and should be treated as such.
Unfortunatly the reputation of the kiters gets a hammering by a handful of peanuts whose behaviour on and off the water is just plain stupid.
Almost all the guys who kite where we sail are great guys, there is respect on the water and we have a chat when there is the opportunity. But there are a few go out of their way to get in yours (to the point of absolute stupity!) do donuts in their cars on the rigging area - which the shire has now fenced off to prevent this much to the detriment of the other kiters who did the right thing - and drop their kiters over the heads of people on the beach which resulted in complaints to the shire. I've seen kiters go 300mtrs away from their preferred zone just to boost next to guys who are trying to fish off their boats.
I'm sure there are windsurfers whose conduct has been crap, as there probably is in every sport. In an ideal world you would hope their peers would pull them into line.- or perhaps the answer lies there? But as it stands at the moment, kiters will be judged by the antics of a few.
I have absolute no problem. As long as we all stick to the same rules. If you dont know them, learn them.
The problem that windsurfers have with kiters is the ones who have no sailing background and head straight into the line up with a surfers mentality. You cant just kite around the break picking whatever wave you feel like. The best rule to stick to is the CIRCLE WORK RULE.
Anyone want to explain this rule?
How about we get the kiters to explain this rule to us?
I am sure there are windsurfers out there that don't show respect in the water too - most of the time the problems could be sorted with a quiet chat on the beach.... very rarely is someone deliberately being a pain in the butt, more likely they just don't understand.
With understanding each others sport comes the knowledge of how to co-exist, ie alot of kiters don't understand how much room a windsurfer needs to turn around...
perhaps kiting lends itself to "hoonism" more than windsurfing. the big boosts are showy, (Im impresed) but I imagine the distance carried while being boosted is hard to control, therefore a modicum of control is required. So boosting in a busy area would require a heightened level of control compared to boosting out the back somewhere.
Windsurfing is more controlled as the equipment simply dosent take up as much space as kiting. Ive been told kiting is easier than winsurfing, however I believe to be good at anything requires practice and effort. I suppose the criticism comes from learners crashing kites on beaches, and dissapearing into the trees.
Ive never had hassle from kites and I sail around them all the time.
I think the unfortunate thing is that the irresponsible idiot, that you get in any sport, is much more of a danger/nuisance when they're kiters. Mainly because they take up so much more room, on the beach and on the water.
So any flame wars, that may have been started in jest can invoke a deep seated emotional response. Depends how many times you've had somebody's lines wrapped round your mast.
In theory we can all live in perfect peace, but in reality we're all human, and there's bound to be some angst. Just as with short board riders, mal riders, and skis. It's up to the sensible amongst us to try and promote good will and understanding to try and keep a lid on it.
We should remember how lucky we are. Fights between Windsurfing and Kite surfing? Who rules the line up? long board vs shortboard vs goat boat? We have it good. Imagine what your hobby might be in Palestine, Baghdad, or Dili, you might be gatheing rocks, or polishing your kalashnikov ready to give your neighbour a thrashing, talk about localism causing a hot headed response.
Quote should read.
What is it with kiters anyway ????????
Even some old windsurfers **** me to tears , with their new found religion.
Stop your preaching and start showing us something we dont do ?
DOUNUTS IN CARPARKS ???? ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT ? Bring them on
This has got to do with sailing on the same heaving, pitching ,hissing, spitting wave sailng break ............ FOKFs
Either line up or **** off and play at your gay kiting grounds. Down wind
Bud boy bubbie............... Seven wounders of the world ....them kiting doods.
Slash or be slashed ......................
Thanks Slave...i knew what it meant just making a point- no wonder this stuff all gets out of hand...
I have had to call 'starboard' on a few windsurfers there as well when they get too enthusiastic in an 'out-pointing' competition.
The only time I sail with kiters is down at Kurnell, and quite often i get a cheery wave from some of them obviously enjoying their time on water as much as I am. I don't have a problem at all sailing with kiters, we just give each other room when it comes time to turn or pass, and there are no problems.
You seem to have kept the fun rivalry going between both sports through all this mud-slinging.
)
, the stirs and taunts have turned abusive, and too negative for what I like to consider as a good, helpful, fun website. 
the windsurfing general section is now nearly as bad entertaining as the old starboard forums, and that's a damn decent effort
Sorry but i only respect kite when its over 25 kts.the 10 to 20 kts crew are the talk the talk stur it up check my pink fluro just got back from the eighties board shorts over my blk ass wette.
. I think the only raison have not hit a kite yet is due to my many years windsurfing experience.
