As I use the distance to get some rest and at the same time picking up speed I really admire the eccentric people showing up that is so typical for windsurfing. We both aim the rig by holding the mast close by our sides, shuffle ourselfves under it with the chin in the surface and throw a leg up on the back of the board and with the last of the last of energy put in to use the hook is grabbing the harnessline. An hour later I rest a bit in the water at the tip of some island and theres a person next to you in he water shouting something about the windconditions. So when turning up at a spot in the exact right conditions is where I always think its interesting to see what kind of life windsurfers materialize with workvans, RV’s, pre-packed family cars, and with trolleys. I’ve Been windsurfing since 1985 and I have had long periods of no surfing for the obvious reason that it doesent go well together with things like studies, exams, having to work and sleep, small kids, fixing houses, times with bad economy, broken down or no car. Windsurfers on the other hand have only 5 metres to worry about, 20 if they are jumping. Since many kitesurfers have started to kitesurf at a level way beyond their experience, when things go wrong they don’t know how to react and are unable to reduce the consequences.The trouble is that these consequences do not always affect only the kitesurfer but also anyone up to 200 metres downwind of them. In that case, circumstances can turn dire pretty fast which leads to serious injuries. The problem arises when something out of the ordinary occurs. The thing is that as long as nothing goes wrong, it is a fun sport which gives the sensation of speed and planing pretty easily. My explanation is that since kitesurfing is easier/faster to learn than windsurfing, a lot of people are not physically and psychologically ready to do an extreme sport start to do an extreme sport. Ever since kitesurfing has hit the beaches I have been seeing a continuing increase in accidents. This is where the two sports have their greatest discrepancy.
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