I'm pretty new to kitesurfing - only took it up about 4 months ago - and haven't been in Auckland very long either, so don't know if the weather I've experienced so far is typical - but can anyone tell me why I shouldn't flog my gear and take up windsurfing instead?
Now, I've never windsurfed, but it seems that they're out on the water a hell of a lot more than the kiters, having fun in light wind days AND when it's absolutely howling - while I'm not!
I've got a 12m SLE kite, and yes, I know I could buy a very small one for the very windy days, and a very big one for the lighter wind days, but I can't afford to.
Now, I appreciate that the fun factor on a kite is probably much greater than on a windsufer, but if you hardly ever get out on it, what's the bloody point?!

yes but those windsurfers are probably using at least 2 boards an 3 sails to cover the range of light to howling.

and rigs and boards are more expensive than kiting ones

and it will hardly fit in your stationwagon....

been there done that, yawn

Hey dude best advice if you can only afford the one kite would be to get a skimboard! A fraction of the price of a new kite and will greatly increase the wind range of your 12m! You'll easily be planing and messing around when the pole dancers are still floundering around!

Best of luck mate and stick with it definatley worth it in the end!! 8)

don't worry dude, learning to kiteboard has many stages, you're currently going through the "the wind never seems to be right, what is the point" stage.

don't worry, you'll get through it...

a few simple steps:

1) skive off work on the 12m days

then:

2) buy more kites for the non 12m days

then:

3) skive off work on the 8m, 12m and 16m days! woohoo, you're in a win win situation.

the other thing u will find is that when u r learning is that YOU won't have a very good wind range.

you won't have a good enough feel for what u r doing to get the best out of your gear at the bottom end

and you won't have the skills to use your gear when it is really blowing without munting yourself.

as you learn the tricks for both ends of the range such as board trim, where to put the kite and when, where to have the depower set, when to edge when not to edge etc your windrange will increase and you will get many more good days on the water....

hahahaha try starting out in 2001! no-one knew the beaches out this way (the windsurfers did but i only windsurfed in little bucks and that place SUX for kitesurfing). oh yeah and the gear was expensive, had a low wind range and fell to bits on the first crash (especially where i kite with gusty winds and oysters and shells)

The weather as of late is not typicial akl weather (not enough rain) but the frequency of 5 knot and 55 knot days is usually more over winter than in the summer where 10-25 knots is far more common. but winter is a special time if you don't work 9-5 (if you do then no wonder your frustrated) becasue you get the beaches to yourself and the other lifestyle orientated kiters (makes about 4 of us out east auckland way).

Feel free to PM me if you have the privilage of the odd day free and wanna kite out east and i can give ya a hand.... heaps of beginners out this way. The current crop of kites (especially the bow/sle kites) makes learning a piece of piss compared to what it used to be. THe current learners have it sooooo easy compared to the pioneers.. especially in Auckland which is a confusing place at the best of times... so many beaches, so much variety... and so much rain and so much traffic.. but once you know where to go and have some skill then you'll love it here.

My reverse experience is that I got into kiting 2 years back because I was sick of always seeing the kiters out carving it up when there wasn't enough wind to get me going on my windsurfing gear.

Now I've got 2 kites and 1 board and kite way more than I used to (or still could) windsurf with 2 sails and 1 board. But it's a relative thing, as there are still days like Sunday where I pulled out the old windsurfing gear and had a blast (although I quickly remembered how much more tiring it is than kiting).

Azza

You're right, guys, of course.
I need:
a) more patience
b) to stop whinging
c) more practice
d) more money
e) more days off work 'sick'
f) to stop thinking about windsurfing as it's obviously a bit naff
g) to find out what on earth skimboarding is
h) to move to Shoal Bay, which appears to be a bit of a wind trap

dont try learn at shoal bay, you going to munt yourself, lots of sharp shit to cut your feet rip your kite end you will end up in the mangroves if it all goes wrong. drive up to shakespare park for a SW.

shoal bay is a good spot not that geat for learning though.

if you are going to try learn there, buy some surf booties stay up wind of the sand bar you should be right.

PS; the wind lately not common sold my 7m as never got to use it need it yesterday though.

don't stop whingin. Whinginz what us kiters do. Like who else whingez on a sunny, cloudless day with no wind like today? we were freaks, then again windsurfers are even nuttier as they ain't happy unless its rainy and squally and blowin 50+ ... thats why they all live in Wellington.

PS you'll know it ain't windy cos this place will be pumping and usually someone whoz rarked up will be grinding some axes and stirrin it up.

I know earlier on i was chatting to Brock and said that i made a deal with the wind gods that if they blessed me this winter i promised to be a good boy. Since it's fast becoming clear that they are NOT gonna bless me i think i'm gonna have to keep my word and get the thrasher persona out and start rarking some angus up like the good old days.

for a trailer just checkout my bebo kiteparasite.bebo.com or just checkout the crazy shite that i stirred up last year and earlier hahahahahaha!!!

btw relaxed muscle where do you normally kite? North shore?, Pt Chev?, Middle East/St Heliers?, Eastside?

forget windwacking just get yourself a new car like this guy

Hey Mark T, I'm Terry - we met up last week at Farm Cove. You must remember that epic day - it was crankin' must have been, ooooh, 7-8 knots! And don't worry, I don't intend to stop whinging, it's what us Brits do best

Terry wazzup mate? yeah that was off da chain dat day man hahahahaha!! Hey Luke and I may be getting the big kites out 2morro.. i think the wind is gonna be so light that you'd even get away with a big 22m kite at PH without leaving an imprint on the rockwall. He wants to try out the Rhinosaur (Phil's old 22.5m Rhino I dat i allmost wrecked on it's first outing and has even more power than my old 20m AERO). i'm gonna give the 21m BFK a bit of a jam.. nowhere near as scary as the Rhinosaur as top end is about 20 knots due to high AR and 5th line etc... feel free to come down and give it a whirl. i'm keen on getting another helping of Rhinosaur action and will bring the camera down too for some footage. Never know the wind mite even get up.. i know the wind gods wouldn't be able to resist firing a few gusts through when i have that 22.5m beast of mayhem over head whilst by the rock wall... gee i'm starting to sound more "thrasherlike" every day... hahahahaha

actually when a kite that size is over head when you are by a rock wall LULLS are the worst thing cos they cause the kite to fall from the sky... nuff said when a kite that big falls it generates enormous power..... sideways... ie INTO the wall.... woooooooooooooooooooop!!!

Appreciate the offer, Mark, but tomorrow I experience the delights of a double swimming lesson for my little ones. Maybe another time. According to windguru, Saturday is looking good - thought I'd give Muriwai a whirl. If not, Sunday at Shakers also looks promising. Assuming I haven't drowned at Muriwai

Mmmm i don't finish work until midday on Sat and Sun so could be pushin it for road trips. As much as i'd be itchin for a sesh at Muriwai and Shakers (wind waaay better there than at PH) I mite have to stay local. As for drowning at Muriwai. If you don't drown at muriwai then you won't drown anywhere else.... have fun. muriwai rulz.

terry, don't give up, come next summer you will be ripping it up and have alll the ladies swooning over your mastery of the wind havn't seen you over at pt chev lately, believe me a couple of back to back days will get you ripping.

Dan

aaaah, Mr Joblin, well you've got a lot to answer for!
A few months ago, I was a happy, well-adjusted type who had no real strong feelings whatsoever about the weather and wotnot.
But now I'm turning into a weather bore, or, more precisely, a wind bore. I almost said the word isobar out loud the other day, but managed to stop myself just in time.
Driving my wife insane with my obsession about wind speed.
I have of course taken your advice and haven't strayed on to the beach when it's blowing more than 20 knots, but then it's been less than 10 half the time as well!
As for Point Chev, well, as a wise man at Kiteworks said to me when I took my torn and tattered kite in for $200 worth of repairs after my last visit there: "Don't f-ing kite at Pt Chev."
I'm still getting counselling after that lesson you gave me in 25 knots at Pt Chev, by the way!
Shakers is where it's at, so get your lazy ass up the motorway, city boy!

Sup Terry it was miles too windy 2dae at Pine Harbour. it was sooo strong that my 21m was allmost staying in the air!!!! hahahaha Luke had the 22.5m Mayhem machine up... with a pulleybar!!! oh the good old days.

probably peaking at 8 knots lulling to 2 hahahahahaha!!! anyway gimme a shout in da shoutbox when yor keen on some kiten.

[quote="relaxedmuscle"]You're right, guys, of course.
I need:

g) to find out what on earth skimboarding is



www.youkiteboard.com/view_video.php?view...71ff252c1903e7132cd6

well that looks like good fun. pardon my complete lack of knowledge, but does a skimboard get me out more on the windier days, or the light wind days?

It will get you out in really light wind days! This is mainly beacuse of its greater volume and width plus you can move your feet around to get the optimum position for the conditions. Really is good fun and I rarely go out on anything else below 18 knots! Light wind riding, in my opinion, is a lot harder than high wind (and a lot less fun) so getting one of these babies goes someway to solving that problem.

terry i have a decay schimitar that is, just as the previous posts have been saying a skim board, and i get going in 8-10 knts!! with 12mtr kite happy to lend it to you to try if you want? its also a blast in 15-20 in the waves at orewa and shakers no straps of course.

yes i have been known to leave my muddy flats and venture to shakesphere from time to time just don't like the crowds tooo much. very nice on the inside though!

will see you around i am sure
Dan

Dan, you are a legend. Wednesday and Thursday both look good for a girly newbie like myself, if windguru is to believed. Perhaps I could (gulp) head down to Pt Chev and give it a go. Maybe I could use your kite! Purely for research purposes, of course...