What do you think is more fun surfing or kiteboarding?

Question

Only answer this if you could actually do both pretty well!

Answer 1

Hi Mangina!

Here is my short answer. For any average person:

surfing is more physical,

surfing is more difficult,

KITESurfing is more social,

KITESurfing is more FUN

... and in order to explain why, here is the long answer:

1 PLEASURE/EFFORT RATIO:

To begin with, paddling makes surfing a very PHYSICAL sport as you have to fight waves and currents in order to access to the lineup. On the other hand, kitesurfing is NOT physical as 70% of the power is handled by the harness. Most importantly, with the new "Bow" and "Flat" kites you will actually be able to relaunch on demand without any efforts and to regulate the exact power of the kite so that you will never have to use excessive strength.

Second, kitesurfing is very EASY to learn and, after only five days of lessons, anybody should be able to enjoy riding for an hour or two. Surfing is more technical and requires excellent timing (with the wave), balance and strength. After a week of training, you can expect to "ride" for a few minutes only. Most of your time will be spent paddling.

2 TECHNICALITIES:

There is nothing a surfer can do that a kitesurfer can't.

It didn't used to be like this, but now manufacturers have created kitesurfing gear specifically for waveriding. Kiters can ride surfboards, strapped or unstrapped, hooked or unhooked... the only thing they won't have to do is paddle... and they'll catch 20x more waves than surfers will... so that's 20x more fun per day!

The truth is, many surfers are now buying small specific kites in order to get more pleasure out of their sport. This year, Naish is offering no less than 9 (kite)SURFboards in addition to their offer of 12 or so "traditional" TT kiteboards. Every big manufacturer now produces at least one Kite specifically for surfers.

3 CULTURE CLASH:

The culture is more open and friendly in kitesufing than in surfing.

The problem with surfing is that waves are a scarce ressource. On a given spot, surfers will have strict priority rules and specific ways of behaving at the lineup. This is why local surfers are usually very territorial and protective of their home spot. Surfers do not welcome beginners or newcomers on their turf. No such problems in kitesurfing: there is always waterspace and airspace to spare!

Also, surfing is a sport that can be done alone. You are facing the natural elements by yourself, either fighting them (not good) or flowing in communion with them (good). Kitesurfers on the other hand, need each other's help in order to launch and land their kites. Even though this can now also be done alone thanks to the newest gear, the culture of helping each other is still very alive in the kitesurfing community.

Let's assume you arrive on a new beach, walk strait to a local kitesurfer and ask him about the specificity of his spot... he will give you advises, directions and help you launch. Now, lets suppose that you do the same with a local surfer... do you think that you'll be as lucky?

4 THE THIRD DIMENSION:

The bottom line is that kitesurfing adds the third imension to surfing: you'll feel like flying AND like surfing.

Since the kite is a lifting force as well as a pulling force, you have a lighter sensation that allows you to launch huge aerial maneuvers never before associated with other water sports. It is easy for beginners to learn the sport with the proper instruction, yet extreme enough to make even the most hardened athlete skip a heartbeat or two.

By having to play with two natural elements - water and wind - it will also make you feel in communion with mother earth, which even increases the intensity of the gliding and flying buzz.

Try it!