Kiting becoming more popular

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Hey everyone, have you noticed that kiteboarding is starting to become more prevelant in the media? I have noticed that there have been more clips of kiting on TV and other advertising and articles being written about kiting.

While I absolute love to kite and want to share my passion with new comers - my concern is that there will be too many people attracted to kiting and it will ruin the experience.

Take surfing for example. I started surfing in southern cal - but its so freaking crowded that its not enjoyable and so I finally decided to just let it go. The beaches weren't always crowded with surfers - a huge influx of surfers came about right after the first surfing movie "Giglet" or something like that. It came out in the late 60's if I remember right. After that movie surfing exploded and more and more movies came out about surfing - and then surfing got very popular and very crowded and not nearly as enjoyable.

Is kiting destined to go the same way as surfing? Look at how crowded the gorge gets on the weekend in the summer time - it can get so crowded sometimes that there is hardly any room to set up and launch. Can you imagine the crowds if there was a movie about kiting Confused

Is anyone concerned that they may eventually give up kiting in the future simply because the crowds will be too much?

I think of this often - especially because I left one of my first loves, surfing, simply due to the crowds (by the way - I haven't returned to surfing since I moved to P-town because of kiting - there aren't too many surfing crowds out here).

mikes · Since 13 Mar 2005 90 Posts B'Ham

I don't think kiting will get to surfing numbers. Kiting and windsurfing are self limiting since they only appeal to a narrower range of people, there's a serious time commitment involved to get a sesh, a lot of gear, lot's to know. A few bad experiences or skunkings don't sit well with most people unless the are determined or just hooked on the sport.

Surfing is so simple, that is a huge appeal, and having the waves go flat in a few minutes isn't as likely as having the wind die. Sure you can get skunked surfing but it's more like skiiing, even if it's not great you usually can still go out and do it. If the wind dies you're not kiting

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

For kiting to truly takeoff someone needs to perfect a reel type bar. Dynamically adjusting line length would allow rocky beach launch and landing. Not to mention being able to handle stronger wind with shorter lines. I think some guy in Bingen owns the patent but no working product, what’s up with that?

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

i think kiting is already getting to complicated and a contraption like that would be completely unnessecary. The more stuff there is to deal with the higher the chances that something could go wrong.

BigR · Since 05 Jul 2005 372 Posts White Salmon Obsessed

whats up with giving up surfing ??

Waves are uncontested on the Oregon coast

why not surf again here?

Personally I gave up surfing after moving to FL from PR perfecr waves to FL mush, in my case it was quality of waves that made me quit

NateDogg · Fri Dec 29, 06 3:32 pm

hobbsla · Since 28 Jan 2006 389 Posts Obsessed

Speaking of ultra simple bar and line setups... anyone using 4 line setups instead of 5 line on their c kites? Anyone?

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Sure it'll pick up more, but don't let worrying about that spoil the fun. Remember that it's not the cheapest, nor the safest, nor the most reliable thrill around.
Diversification to landboarding & snow kiting is another option.

thealohakid · Since 09 Aug 2006 58 Posts MAUI

i only ride my c kites with 4 lines. 5 lines depower the kite instantly which is goo and bad. good....heading for a rock bad...... 20 feet up trying something unhooked. also all the line to deal with after a crash.

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

scottnorby · Sat Dec 30, 06 9:56 am

I am sick with the flu and bored so I thought I would comment.

Kiting becoming more popular than paddle in surfing?

There is potential that there will be more kiters in the world than surfers....for sure.
BUT this is only if you include landboarding, snowkiting, wakestyle, surfkiting, buggying etc.....
It is obvious when you fly over the U.S. in January that there is a lot more room to snowkite in the midwest than we even have here in the NW on water.

And you also have to realize that this sport is not a sport that you just do a couple of weekends a summer like surfing or snowboarding.
I just went snowboarding yesterday in crowds of thousands and I didn't see two guys with the same board. There are so many people that buy a snowboard and throw it in their closet for two weekends of riding. So many guys do that with surfing too.

When I worked in the kiting industry I saw some stats at the ASR trade show meeting that showed how many surfboards, skateboards, and snowboards are bought but never ridden..... and the numbers were huge.....like 75%.

So the question of 'will kiting be more popular than surfing' could be yes in shear numbers of people who use a kite to enjoy a sport......But not too many weekend warriors buy surfkiting gear...... Not too many weekend kiters buy a landboard either.....
Maybe it's just too difficult to hang a kite on a wall to show off to the girls?

Most people who buy weekend warrior kite gear end up unloading it cheap on craigslist 6 months later....which fouls up the whole industry.

There is a MIRAGE in the industry.
You see so many people doing it so you assume it will be a big industry like snowboarding or surfing......but the snowboarding and surfing industry is enormous due to fashion and unused boards sitting in closets.

And if you ask those kids with boards in the closet if they surf, they will say yes.

The Liquid Force distributor in Australia also has an interesting point on this topic. Surfing is the national sport in Aus....like baseball.
He says that there will soon be AS MANY kiters as surfers in Aus. But he thinks that the kiting industry will only generate (at the most) 10% of the revenue that surfing does in their country.

Go figure.

splaterwin · Since 17 Nov 2005 165 Posts Vancouver Stoked

Innovation needs to happen for any sport to evolve. Some pioneers of this sport may want to keep gear old school but this limits fresh blood and fresh blood is what drives this industry. Areas to kite are shrinking with over use. A different way to launch and land is necessary. This would allow better use of current spots and allow accomplish kiters a way to utilize new locations.

John, I have to say your design is a start, and not to dis your baby, but it is kind of a contraption. I offer these ideas to hopefully help move this process along.
1. Get in bed with fishing reel manufactures. They have spent many man-hours working kinks out of light slick designs that deal with sand and water very well.
2. Mount reels to right angle on end of bar. This should help deal with rotational force of winding and clean up bar.
3. Wind reel by using counter ratcheting grips in bar.

Hope these ideas help, keep the creative juices flowing.

NateDogg · Sat Dec 30, 06 4:25 pm

Kitesail · Since 23 Jun 2006 108 Posts The Gorge Stoked

Thanks for the suggestions splaterwin:
I agree with you guys (kitesurfing should be kept plain and simple and so should the gear). What I created may very well be considered a ‘contraption’; but really that’s how things start. I know it could be designed much more functional, sleek and attractive. (that happens when funds become available)

I’ve visited a big marine industry player, done demo’s for them and their engineers are fully stoked on the idea. At this time they still consider this type of product a bit early in the game.
The head honcho’s are very, very conservative and afraid of the liability power kites presents to the marine industry. They like the marketing potential, the industry is so huge, and almost every family has some sort of boat.

I don’t know maybe they are waiting for “us kiteboarders” to work all the kinks out with the safety issues, accesses, and all other hazards associated with power kites. (you know… kind of like the US Navy did with scuba diving); it took some young servicemen’s lives before accurate dive tables where established and full understanding of the dangers were known. Look at scuba diving now; you can go most any where in the world and dive, though some places require a certified card before they’ll give you a tank.

I’m not really trying to say that a reel-bar should be the standard but an option; it sits on the fence between “kiteboarding and kiteboating”, not doing much more than that. Confused

Good topic though,
John

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

Great topic. I'm on board with Inept here. Simplicity and enjoyment are what bring the masses. Agruably access and ability for children to do the sport also contribute. Kiting is really not a family sport unless you consider your family hanging at the kite beach while you kite, a family sport. Sure there are families that do it, but I don't see it like you see in So. Cal. surfing or ski/snowboard resorts.

For overcrouded kiting conditions to happen, maybe the kiting industry will need to get new and younger participants because eventually, the ex-surfer, ex-windsurfer (etc.) or cross-sport enthusiasts with the $ to do it will become exhausted. Many kiters at the popular beaches already think it is overcrowded... I'm spoiled out here but when I goto the SB in the summer, it's a trip just to kite around with all the people. Personally, I don't find overcrowded conditions a downer. I learned to surf in So Cal too and really got into it. Whether at Manhattan or Trestles, I loved paddling out and hanging with fun people, trading rides, etc. When it got critical, it really wasn't any different... you just concentrate on the waves and be respectful.

It's no different than kiting IMO and certainly no reason to stop surfing (???). So Cal offers a great variety of waves and beaches for surfing and kitesurfing. No offense terre but you lost some stoke, that's apparent. I suggest you jump back in the break. I would have alot of trouble looking at head+ El Porto, Trestles, Haggerty's, the Cove (whatever!) and getting back in the car. Smile

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth