Are you a sports enthusiast in search of a new thrill? 

Or maybe you’re just a beginner in water sports? No matter which category you fall into, if you're debating if you should try kitesurfing or windsurfing and don’t know the differences between both - this is the article for you!

 

Kitesurfing basics

Kitesurfing is also known as kiteboarding so don’t be alarmed if you come upon its’ second name looking for more information. The essence of kitesurfing is it combines a variety of sports: windsurfing, paragliding, surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and wakeboarding. It is an extreme water sport in its’ essence, that is very fun and some might say - very hard! The reason: it combines the abilities you have of balance on a surfboard and at the same time - coordination of your hands in navigating a literal kite. Simply said - the kite uses wind power to pull you - and the board, so you can glide and surf on the ocean (or sea) waves.

When we say kite though, don’t think of the cute childrens’ kites - the only similarity is that both kites are colorful. You can say a kite for kitesurfing is more like a wing, than an actual kite. It is big, way more resistant to the weather and the wind, and with a form, specifically designed to catch and get the aerial flows to work in your favor.

Kitesurfing is a sport that started in the 90s. There were some earlier ideas about it, but the concept as we know it today cleared up in the last decade of the 20th century. In the next 10 years, until the new millennia came. When we stepped into the year 2000, somehow kitesurfing was branded as a mainstream sport with competitions for different levels and even in various environments. At this point water was not the only surface reserved for kitesurfing - land and snow also offered ways of kiteboarding that the fans embraced. All these factors gave the sport the popularity and press it deserved, as well as a far wider audience among young people searching for the next big thrill they could try in almost every season they want to.

Kitesurfing is officially included as an Olympic sport in the 2018 Olympic games.

 

Windsurfing - what should you know

As we mentioned previously, kitesurfing has been inspired deeply by windsurfing. And there is a good reason for it since windsurfing is a water sport with traditions in the last decades.

To understand the specifics of windsurfing, we should know its origins. This surface sport is strictly reserved for the water environment. It’s a combination of surfing and - what may come as a slight surprise, sailing. From a historical point of view, it is older than kiteboarding by a few decades. 

Windsurfing was born in the 1960s in California - a place famous for its wavy oceans, perfect for water extreme sports of all kinds. Just 20 years later - by the 1980s, windsurfing was so loved, its fame had traveled all around the globe. Moreover, because of its popularity, in 1984 it was even recognised as an official Olympic discipline! Unfortunately, this was a short-lived victory - in the 90s the sport lost some of its fans because of various reasons. Among them were the special equipment, the constant need for training, licensing - and more. Lucky for everybody that starts just now - windsurfing seems to be reborn in the last decade. The new generation of windsurfers after 2010 are trying to return their favorite sport to its former glory. 

Contrary to popular beliefs, windsurfing is a flat surface sport. The windsurfing equipment consists of two elements: a board and a wing. The wing is attached to the board at all times. 

 

Kitesurfing or windsurfing – what should I try

If we have to be absolutely fair – people have been using wind energy to ride the waves, advance, and travel long distances for as long as the idea itself exists. Using it for fun though, emerged with yachting during the 60-s. But you’re looking for adrenaline, not relaxation – so, back to kitesurfing and windsurfing.

In addition to the differences we outlined so far, there are a few more that can potentially help you choose which sport to begin with. But beware – the dispute which one is better in any way has been going on for years between the two communities.

First thing is first: what kind of equipment each sport needs and how much it costs? In general, kitesurfing is considered a cheaper investment. You can get fairly good equipment for the price of around $2000 in total. In comparison, you have to be ready to spend at least around $3000 on windsurf equipment. 

Just as well – kitesurfing equipment takes up way less storage space at your home and car when the season is over. The board is compact and the actual kite (wing) is foldable – guarantee you will be able to put it even in your wardrobe without much of a fuss. The same cannot be said about windsurfing though. If you choose this sport, be prepared to get a big car if you don’t already own one, and in addition – to dedicate a pretty large portion of your closet to your specific, expensive windsurfing equipment.

When it comes to physical form kitesurfing wins this round too. It’s usually considered that you can successfully learn and advance in kitesurfing even if you are not that fit and don’t hit the gym on a regular basis. 

We cannot in good heart not tell you about the different mindsets each sport takes for you to master it. Kitesurfing takes a little bit more time with an instructor. Okay, a lot more - at least 10 hours and even more to learn some of the techniques. Granted – some of them are very cool, but you should be prepared for fallings, failures and in general – to keep your spirits high and your patience for learning at the right levels. Most of the lessons you will take are for your own safety so don’t undermind them. On the contrary, though, you can start windsurfing on your own almost immediately. 

Before you make the final choice on the matter, though, you have to consider another not-so-small point: your geographical location. Windsurfing needs winds that are either very light, very strong or very gusty. Kitesurfing on the other hand needs large sandy beaches and moderate and steady winds. If you have neither well, prepare to travel in chase of the winds!

 

Equipment for beginners

A wise person will say: there are no wrong ways to begin. A wiser person, deep into sports, will add: but there is wrong gear to begin with.

If you are a total entry-level at windsurfing, you might want to do extensive research on two things: types of boards and types of wings. Oftentimes boards for beginners are called “funboards”. They tend to have more stability, so they will be of great use to you if this will be your first water sport. Beware though – once you step and make your way into windsurf territory, you will learn about all other types:

• Freeride boards: for comfortable cruising in flat waters or light to moderate swell;
• Racing boards: for speed and faster turns;
• Racing longboards: bigger, better, faster boards used by professional windsurfers;
• Slalom boards: shortboards that aim to speed you up and make you maneuver easier;
• Freestyle boards: narrow, sleek, and ready for all your ideas for windsurfing – including all the crazy tricks, loops and acrobatics you can think of;
• Wave boards: smaller, lighter, but maneuverable. Used in waters with more waves so they can break them easily.

As far as the wing (sail) goes, you can usually choose from monofilm (clear polyester), dacron (woven polyester) or mylar (special kind of polyester). In some cases, the sail can be reinforced with kevlar. There are two main designs: camber, for speed and stability, and rotational, for maneuvers. Its size can be from 3 m2 to 5.5 m2 for wave sails and 6 m2 to 15 m2 for race sails. Most beginners start with a large board with a tiny triangular sail in light wind in an area of safe flat water.

Kitesurfing, as we said, is way easier to start, and it shows in the choice of equipment too. You need to choose a board and a kite. The boards are smaller than most of the paddling and surfing boards. The kite though is a whole other question. There is a large variety of kites you can choose from depending on your needs. A few of them are:

• LEI kites (also known as inflatable kites) – quick response to every gesture of the kitesurfing;
• Bow kites: generally thought of as safer and suitable for beginners as well as experts;
• Hybrid (supporting leading edge) kites: again, suitable for entry-level and top players in the field of kitesurfing, new generation of the LEI kites;

You can also choose a kite depending on the way it’s made: foil, open cell, closed cell. Kites come in sizes from 0,7 square metres to 21 square metres. Don’t worry if you don’t get your perfect size on the first try though – most kitesurfers try as much as three sizes until they find the one that suits them. 

There are a few other things you will need too, before you start kitesurfing: flying lines, control bar, kite harness, wetsuit, safety hook knife, helmet, personal floatation device, signaling devices (at least one), GPS and more.

Keep in mind that there are more than 10 different kitesurfing styles – so you can always improve, try new things and perfect something you haven’t tried before.