The human character seeks convenience and you said it correctly windsurfing is inconvenient, hard to pack, hard to learn, hard to afford your quiver! But to those who persevere there is nothing that can compare!

I’m a kiter of 17 years and am learning to windsurf. Thankfully I’m progressing very quickly and thus utterly hooked (in) with the progression. Windsurfing is the Queen of all water sports and I am loving the new challenge. Waves for all water sports without any shadow of a doubt. A change is as good as a rest they say. So good to have the variety available.

I am doing all 3 disciplines and I absolutely agree with most of your points. For the last 8 years it was predominantly kitesurfing, before it was only windsurfing and winging was added to the mix 2 years ago. 3 years ago I started to go windsurfing and windfoiling more often again because freeriding and just blasting over the lake is sooo much fun. In kiting, just riding around or doing hooked jumps doesn't offer that much joy to me tbh. I really enjoy waveriding and freestyle but if there are no waves and no perfect freestyle conditions I rather go windsurfing nowadays again. But man, windsurfing has become expensive.. Winging is super accessible but if there is now windswell to ride it is also the least exciting. Just my two cents ✌️💯😁

I am a passionate windsurfer and quite agree with you in all points of view. And since windfoiling came up, there’s even no wind range difference more concidering kiting. But in the end of the day It’s like eating out with friends in the same favourite restaurant we all love, just ordering different dishes. We shouldn‘t compare too much, instead share the stoke and respect each other... 🤙

Interessting topic and many valid points. As a windsurfer you are never finished or complete. There is so much to learn and do. When i explain windsurfing to „other people“ a.k.a. non-windsurfers i say windsurfing for me is the same as a vinyl record is for music lover, everything else is MP3! I like your idea to share waves with Kevin Langeree 👍🏼 You are on the right way ✌🏼

I am a long-time windsurfer who has also done a bit of wind foiling and wing foiling. My daughter kites but I never have, as I still love windsurfing in nearly all conditions (as long as I can at least get planing). I see wing foiling as an excellent addition to the windsport family, particularly for those who are just entering these sports and want a quicker learning curve. It’s great to see so many very young people taking it up with the same enthusiasm as we had in the rarly days of windsurfing. I also note that a lot of my kiting friends are switching to winging because of the much simpler space requirement for launching/landing, and the ease of doing this solo. To me, the greatest advantage of winging and kiting over windsurfing is the rase of air transport. Windsurfing trips are generally only possible by car, or you usually need to rent gear at your destination (such a costly compromise). As a 62 year old windsurfer, I am also very happy to see a new lightwind alternative (winging) that is much safer than kiting.

Having done all three I can say that in terms of real world convenience, I.e. hauling gear around, kiting bans at beaches, sketchy launches and the crap winds most of us have to deal with, winging makes the most sense for me right now. Hooking up a swell ride with a wing is hard to beat. Winging, however, remains pretty inefficient in light winds compared to windfoiling and especially kitefoiling, but that is changing. At the end of the day it's all about being on foil regardless of what's pulling me around.

Hi Nice topic. For me, 51 yo free rider windsurfer, one of the main clues is the appearance of the foil under our boards. In my case it has supposed that I,ve quadrupled my sailing time. In addition the foil offers good performance in gusty winds (it predominates at my home spot) After one year I’m considering to replace my wind foil sessions by the wingfoiling just becase it looks less physical demanding, easier progression for jumping and the advantages that offers an smaller board whiteout the mast presence. All of these things whiteout kite risks and the simplicity of a very manageable equipment. Wingfoiling will not kill windsurfing or kiting but it probably will grow and be more popular than both just because it is complementary to them and it will bring to the water many people that will be attracted for its simplicity, less physical demands, less risks and less stuff for storage and transportation.

Great points. It’s nice what you say about the joy of blasting around as a windsurfer. It’s so hard to explain people around how nice it can be while it looks so boring from the beach.

I had been windsurfing for about 4 years before I tried winging earlier this year and then sold all my windsurfing gear and never looked back. A lot of my windsurfing friends with decades of windsurfing experience did the same. I've never done kiting though and have zero intention even trying it. P.S. I got stuck on jibing in windsurfing which was super frustrating after 4 years but I was confidently jibing in winging after 3 months from total zero and already do slalom racing after 8 months.

Have been windsurfing for 16 years (Formula, slalom and wave). Than switch to kitefoiling and doing this now for 6 years.. loving it. Doing 3x wind speed and its possible to start foiling in 5-6 knots. Its like magic. When i was learning to kitefoil i was doing both sports, but than there was a point where windsurfing was to slow compare to kitefoil. Also gear was to big and heavy. So no performance for me... so i sold all my windsurfing gear. With kite i was missing waves but than winging came. Now i started winging in high winds where we ride waves and doing downwinders which i like a lot. Its the best! Regards

Perfekt zusammengefasst 🙏

I have windsurfed but now wing.I think you miss the main attraction of freeride winging, which is not reaching back and forward like you would windsurfing but going upwind and downwind, riding/surfing chop/wind swell. This takes quite a bit of experience to do well and make it fun, so is not immediately accessible to beginners. Also, if you're bored reaching back and forward on a wing, you're not using a small enough foil combined with a bigger wing and harness. This too is not for beginners, so you need to be more specific about what you're doing and what kit you're finding boring before saying winging free riding is 'boring'. I find winging far more versatile than windsurfing, so more interesting than windsurfing.

I just got back from a windsurfing session. Every board, sail, foil, kite was out there. Everybody had a good time. But I was the fastest when the wind picked up and that is all that matters. Windsurfing FTW.

good video, thank you Nico! :) more of this topic!

love this topic, just getting into kiting although I consider myself a windsurfer but since I tried flying that thing in the air I got hooked! plus traveling with it is so much easier and having a kite for light winds when forecast doesn't come true is a great way to not get skunk. I am just starting so I can't say much about it, but man I just had a slalom session at the local lake with my windsurfing gear and it's hard to beat that rush!

Pls do the follow up with kiter and winger!

great comments, and well articulated. You managed to be diplomatic, even while not hiding your ... appropriate (😂) bias for windsurfing. Well done (it only stands to reason that whatever sport one does they should favor it and argue it's merits). The 'rivalry' with kitesurfing is good fun, and should be healthy for both communities. And YES! I"m all for you getting together with Kevin Langeree - you two can duke it out on the water (of course, he'll fly around, snickering, many meters above your masthead 🙄😁), and then you two can carry on the fun in the interview room too. Will look forward to that. So cheers 🍻 - and continued good/safe windsurfing to you! (signed, fellow windsurfer - years older, and years behind you 😁) And PS: I'll add that I chose to get in to windsurfing for the practical reasons: I live inland, and sail primarily on lakes with "less than reliable" winds, and very limited "spacious" launches necessary for kiting. I also sail solo quite often. (if the wind dies while windsurfing on bigger boards...atleast you can stay on top of the water and still sail to shore!). I do envy the packability of kiting and winging gear though.

I love physical aspect and always learning as a windsurfer of 30 years.

I started windsurfing on my dad’s old gear when I was 15 and thought it was pretty cool. Now I’m 17 and hooked (willing to skip school to go windsurfing)! I definitely agree that newer equipment increases your rate of improvement. I wouldn’t be where I am without our modern go and ezzy sail. Thanks Nico!

I was an old windsurfer of 64 yrs but I had a bad indjury on my ankle end of 2019. It becames very painful to pratice windsurf and i was afraid of the straps. I decided to try windfoiling without strap. But some video fo wingfoiling appears at the same time. I was interested but I was wondering if I would be able to learn this new sport. So I bought an hybrid board with a big foil to cruze without straps. I have done it for one years. It was fun to learn foiling and to have this sensation of flying. Furthermore I rediscover the small lakes with gusty and light wind in my area. I was riding mostly with 5.4 without harness when the windsurfer where above 7.5. The summer 2021 I went on holliday to try wing foil in Cabarete after 2 sessions I started to fly and after 5 to cruze. I was hooked. The sensation of gliding with a very light sails is incredible. After one year I am now on a smaller board with High Aspect foil and I have sold my windsurf gear. I am still in learning curve so it's very enjoyable as for windsurf I was declining. winging is far less physical. My goal is to be able to surf the swell which is in my opinion the best way to practice wingfoil. I am not gifted and I have still difficulties to pass the gybe after 60 sessions. I hope to achieve this goal in 2024. I think that wing foil is a good reconversion for an old man.

I am a windsurfer and I have been a kiter. I agree that Windsurfer freeriding and blasting in flat or coastal water is the simplest and unique feeling, that kites cannot give. I still see kitesurf for jumping and light airs wave riding. However Kitesurfers and Wingsurfer enjoy coastal downwinder group sessions which is precluded to Windsurfers as far as I can see. You have not mentioned that! Maybe because of the transportation problems? It would be nice to see more windsurfer downwinder sessions in the future, but I am not sure how this can be organised!

After kitesurfing and injuries in my hip, I went back to windsurfing. And honestly I didn't know how much I missed it. Windsurfing is just special for me. Gives me a huge smile and joy. Also the upper body power in windsurfing feels amazing. I think I'll eventually love coming back to kiting, huge jumps and smooth landings across waves. Being on the water is amazing, but windsurfing feels like coming home to my roots.

You nailed it. As windsurfers, my wife and I love windsurfing. Have tried kiting, and it was OK but not the thrill of windsurfing. Also my analogy of windsurf to kite is like snowboarding to skiing. It takes a long time to develop good skiing technique whereas you can become a descent snowboarder fairly quickly. We love the learning curve and the challenge of learning in windsurfing. Thank you for this video we will share it

I am windsurfing for 30 years end this summer had my first kitesurfing lessons. Taking some kitesurf equipment on a holiday seems to me a lot easier then my windsurfing gear. So i’m planning to do both sports. Windy days like to day, windsurfing at Makkum end on the holidays I will take the kite with me so I still can go on the water. I’m looking forward for the rest off the video’s about this topic.

I am a windsurfer. Wing foiling has been very appealing to me because of the simplicity and size of the gear. I have not tried it yet but would like to at a demo day. I do agree with you that wing foiling would probably get boring. I would probably stick to windsurfing because it is more difficult and I have put in the effort to learn it. It's also getting more and more rare these days

I'm now going more an more with the wing though windsurfing is where my true passion is. Problem is that where I live (Bavaria) we only have very gusty conditions and wingsurfing there in general is just much less frustrating but still fun.

I do windsurfing since 15 years, for me its the best sport. Although wing foiling seems fun as an alternative from time to time. I will give it a try some time soon.

I started learning kiting at the same time I was learning windsurfing. Kiting was fun & easier to transport, but had far more restrictions on where I could kite; large, unobstructed open beach required. Something I could rarely find on small, inland lakes so I focused on windsurfing. I started winging this year back in April & pretty much agree with your observations. I am surprised you didn’t include windsurf foiling in the equation. Windsurf foiling is different enough from regular windsurfing to be considered as a different sport. Kiting, windsurf foiling, winging or regular windsurfing all bring people into wind/water sports. Depending on where you live & the water conditions that are available probably play a major part in the decision. At the 1:41:00 mark on this interview with Robby Naish they discuss the differences of winging, windsurfing & kiting. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ntKmpcqhx7fGg6s.html This is a good video of some riders comparing windsurfing, windsurf foiling & winging. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eM6mY5Nj38und30.html

Windsurfing has become so specialized. Like you say, time on water is essential in windsurfing. I've been windsurfing for 20 years, and have loved the experience. I'm very addicted and have been for years. One of the reasons I enjoy windsurfing is due to its tricky technical skill set. To me, it has been worth the investment. I like that everything windsurfing is all close to the rider. It makes for a sensitive, responsive ride. Due to the arrow dynamics in windsurfing, I seems that windsurfing is still faster than kite boarding and winging as well as being the oldest water craft of the 3. I like that there are other options for riders to chose other than windsurfing. The main objective is to bring others into these sports so they can enjoy these experiences. These water sports are one of the most healthy highs ever. More people need to experience this! It's a one of a kind!

Using a Small slalom board with 6.6 /5.8 or a wave board with a 5.3 or smaller is Wayyy better than winging. I'll always windsurf if it's suitable for this gear. But winging is better than light wind freeride windsurfing or freeride wind foil. And the windsurf race foil gear is amazing but it's too big off the water for a recreational user. Winging is easily the best when it's a 15 knot sunny day at the beach where you can do downwinders in swell(while still being efficient enough to get back home upwind)

I have only been a windsurfer and I think it’s a harder learning curve and you never stop learning but that said I’m tempted to try a wing

Bit on the older side. Decades of windsurfing. Couple seasons of windsurf foiling. Fin over foil if there is enough wind. Picked up wind foiling for light conditions. Would consider wing foiling if we had consistent waves to foil surf. Winging relative to windsurfing either foil or fin looks to be so, so slow. Would get bored just cruising. Locally the limited number of areas to launch a kite are becoming less and less. Never had a desire to kite. Couple people I know that windsurfed years ago, then kited are back to windsurfing. Same basic reason. Bit bored with kiting.

I have been wing flying for 2 years and windsurfing for 4, I love both, I windsurf for speed and adrenaline and wing for fun and peacefulness usually! Over all they are both such amazing sport and im just starting to learn to kite :))

winging ultimately evolves into riding bumps.... which equals surfing. The wing is just a way to get you moving.

I windsurf like I ski: Full throttle. I'm not in it to 'cruise'; I'm in it to get faster. And even though I'm just an amateur, given the circumstances I've never been passed by a kiter or winger (except for kite-foilers - they are bloody fast in light winds!).

I guess I'll always be a windsurfer. I tried kiting a long time ago when the sport was just getting started. I gave it up after a number of very scary "kitemare" incidents that just about killed me. They say it's safer now. Maybe I should try it again? More recently I've tried to get into wing foiling. That sport seems to have some significant advantages over both windsurfing and kiting, but it's a different experience. Over the past couple of years, I've really tried hard to get good at wind foiling. While I'm still not "good" at it, I've gotten a lot better for sure. I really enjoy it and for now I'm going to continue working on it.

In the begin i wanted to start windsurfing but i have just a small motorbike thats why i chose kite surf and i don't regret it, is super fun and the people all around the sport very helpful and positive. One day i ll definitely give a try to wind surfing though 😉

Been only windsurfing in waves for past 20 years - keeping it simple with one wave board 3 sails. Could not be bothered with big kit for freeriding and light winds and never gave kiting another look after trying it in the early days. In 2018 I added windfoiling with a 4 in 1 SUP board and using my wave sails to expand my practice into lighter days, flat water lakes etc. Since wing foiling came I have only pulled out my windsurf gear twice out of the bag. Unless it's nuking and waves have enough power, winging is the most fun 90% of the time. I disagree on the boring aspect of winging, because you never just go back and forth, you can move around the water much more freely than the usual in and out riding.

I started windsurfing at 40 years old. It took me one summer to get planning. That day I got hooked to the sport forever. The problem with it is that I do not live in a windy area, so there were many many days of no wind, no fun… until windfoiling (not wingfoilig) arrived. I took 2-3 sessions and then was able to fly with no crashes and navigate deeper upwind and downwind in breezes of 10knts (I needed +13knots to even considering go windsurfing). Now 95% of my sessions are with foil and 5% with fin because of that. I have not tried wingfoiling. It’s much more compact to carry but needs more wind (imho) so for the moment I stay with windsurf. Btw: not very big fan of kite… I have crashed twice because of lines hitting my mast.

I come from wing ice surfing (almost 15 years now) and snowkiting (5+ years) and there it's also the same three disciplines (wing, kite and windsurf on ice/snow). I love winging because the gear is so light (just skis, snowboard or skates and a Kitewing wing or an inflatable wing nowadays) and the wing is so quick to handle and depower. There's just some ultimate feeling of freedom there. Snowkiting is also great but it kind of feels like being strapped to a tractor that just keeps pulling and is slow to react so I mainly do it when it's not enough wind for winging. I'm not interested in big jumps at least yet - for that a kite is unbeatable. With a kite one can also go faster but winging is plenty fast on ice at least. The third and biggest advantage in my opinion with a kite is that I can tow my girlfriend behind me and we can ride together. Windsurfing on ice or snow I haven't tried. The gear looks bulky and heavy so it doesn't seem like I'd be able to enjoy the same agility and freedom I get when winging. I also don't want to be catapulted on to ice. Wing foiling has been a godsent because now the winging season just doesn't end anymore. In addition foiling is a bit like riding in powder snow but with less drag and actually much cooler. I don't think I have any urge to try windsurfing and I'm also not too keen to try kitesurfing. With the latter I know that it can be a pain to deal with the tangled lines sometimes and it's enough for my nerves on solid ice already. Being surprised by bad weather or some other accident is also much more concerning in water. But maybe being able to jump high will one day change my mind. 😁 But I totally get why all of these sports have their supporters - they're all great fun! And even if snowkiting is my least favorite of the windsports I do, it's still great and I have no plans to stop doing it.

Nice comparison. As a waterman do every sport you.can. Choose the right one for the conditions you get and style you prefer. I do all 3 mainly wing now as foiling on a 50L 1.4M sub 4Kg board from 10knots and being able to harness wave and swell energy as well as the wind is just so addicting and pure feeling. If you want to jump high in flat water kiting can't be beat. Windsurfing offers the highest performance if you have the right conditions and skill. In many locations ive been to it seems about 50:1 kiters wingfoilers to windsurfers.

the problem with windsurfing ist that most of the windsurfers do not even reach the stage of being able to jibe properly...... save for tacks or even basic freestyle stuff. so you basically one "has" to be content with riding forth and back...... best thing is to be able to ride everything. if one has the time and the budget.

I windsurfed for 30 years. In the last 15 years, I only had wave gear and was getting out only when the wind was strong and / or when the swell was up... not often in our area... 5-10 days per year or so. I started kiting 10 years ago. I ride strapless 90% of the time and I can have a great day with 12 knots and waist high side onshore waves. So I ride approx. 40-50 days per year. On a good windy / wavy day, I still prefer windsurfing over kiting. So initially I thought I would keep doing both and I did for a few years but windsurfing is so much more physical and requires better conditions. If you don't do it enough, it's hard / slightly risky to step up when big conditions occur. So I made the difficult decision to sell my windsurfing gear. I recently purchased winging gear and learning that now. It has some similarity to windsurfing and I think my learning curve was greatly reduced because I had years of windsurfing experience. If I lived in a windier part of world, I would certainly go back to windsurfing. When the conditions are good, it's still the best feeling in the world.

I've been windfoiling for 1 year now and really like it. Even 20 knots speed gives a real buzz. For when there is less than 15 knots wind, the feeling of speed is really good. Last week I did my fastest 500m speed for 7 1/2 years with 6.5m on my new freerace board in around 18-21 knots wind. That felt better. It was too shallow for foiling as low tide. For me light winds and deep water = foiling. Stronger winds and/or shallow water = windsurf on fin. At the moment, wing foiling doesnt interest me as it looks slow.

TRUE!

Have windsurfed for many years, then into kitesurfing for a few years then now into wing foiling + windsurfing foiling. Yes, windsurfing is the most demanding on energy and takes years to master + you need lots of gear and it's a pain to transport and store. Kitesurfing is easy to learn and don't take much energy to stay out for a long time on the water but can be very dangerous and need clean open areas. Wing foiling is great for access to smaller water locations, easy to store and travel also require less gear overall than windsurfing. Windsurfing foiling is fantastic but still requires lots of kit and very expensive + mega faff. For me now, I like wing foiling best because its less faff, less kit, easy to transport and store but I do worry I might get bored of it when I get better.

First of all great idea to make up a video series about these three disciplines, i think we should all consider ourselves as partners and respect each other, which of course includes giving room to others and especially beginners and help each other out in a cause of danger no matter what's our primary sport. I took a windsurfing class when i was14, my parents were windsurfers at a younger age but dind't have the time to go on, the austrian teacher in my class was more into flirting witth the young girls an absolutely didn't motivate me to get into the sport plus althoug i grew up at the baltic sea, i didn't have anyone to take me and the quipment to the spots so i kind of let go of windsurfing. I then got into surfing (Wellenreiten) during a holiday at the age of 25 and startet kitesurfing when i was around 30, about 8 years ago from now. For kiting it is absolutely crucial to know how to start, fly and land a kite and to get a sense for the elements and your euipment. Todays eqipment is very save compared to 10 years back in time. You don't drag through the sand if you know what you're doing. My observations for kiting vs windsurfing in northern germany (taken out the foiling sub-disciplines): i feel like there's more days on the water for an average non professional kitesurfer, it seems more accessible to go kiting with a 14 m kite in 15-18 knots than going out with a huge sail on a windsurfboard. I started winging 2 years ago and it totally opened up new possibilities for me like going on a lake with very gusty winds and no place to start a kite and doing downwinders and wavesurfing without the fear of the kite falling out of the sky, i really enjoy it as an addition but it doesn't seem to give me the same adrenalin-pump than kiting in 30 knots of wind and being 10 m in the air for a few seconds. Last i have to say i do really like the asthetics of windsurfing, but i just don't have the space and the time to do all three winddisciplines, so kiting + winging will do for me and i hope i can carry on for many more years.

Tried to kite today, but I couldn’t keep the 17 m in the air because the wind was a bit offshore and therefore squirrely. I resorted to windsurfing, where the up and down wind was much less of a problem. Just starting to learn the wingfoil.

We need to bring back boards like mistral one design. It’s fast in non planning conditions for beginners, can be used as a SUP and can blast in 30+ knots. Plus it’s bullet proof.

Can’t agree more - windsurfing takes the most efforts, learning, and is a serious sport! In the end however every sport can be fun, of course!

Love windsurfing, but can imagine that the other two sports are fun. For me however, I never get bored from blasting full speed on fin, hanging on for dear life, there is just nothing like it! By the way, nice ‘AV-Modena wall’ you have in the background ;-), hidden hint for new sponsor 😬?

90% of the guys at my local beaches have got wings now and dont really windsurf unless its 5m weather or stronger, on an average day there are a lot more wingers than windsurfers

I do wing (novice level) and did introdictiry lessons in both kite and windsurf and i foind windsirf a lot more accesible (to be fair, the kite lessons were on very gusty days and the windsirf one at a moderate day)

I started windsurfing 15 years ago, kitesurfing 3 years ago, and this year I'm winging. In some comments I agree with you in others not at all. I could not do without any of the three sports because they are so different. I managed to go out and in with the kite after 3 days practising, but at the same time I remember going out and in with a 200l windsurfboard at 10 knots within 3 hours when I was 13 years old. Does that mean I can kite in 3 days and windsurf in 3h? Definitely not. I think to make a statement what is easier and harder depends on the person and from when you define that you master the sport. I would never say a kiter can kite if he just goes out and in just like a windsurfer can't windsurf if he goes out and in at 10 knots on a toilet door. For me it's about being on the water as much as possible and having maximum fun. With all sports this works perfectly. I wave windsurf but live on a lake. That means I can't windsurf at home. However, kiting and winging goes perfectly. My rule. As son as waves and wind > 25 knots I go windsurfing is the wind weaker I go kiting and if a start with the kite is prohibited or not possible then winging. I can recommend this to everyone you will have so much more fun on the water

Hi Nico speaking of gear, how noticeble is the improvement on windsurfing gear over .. let's say 10 years? For recreational level, not competitional. I have an Isonic 121 2012, for example. Is the actual model much better? In what terms? Thanks

Windsurfer here, but unfortunately not as skilled as I would like considering the time passed from when I started. The problem is my home-spot just doesn't have enough good wind. Got a trailer built last year and hope to visit some better locations to progress more. I'm not willing to give up windsurfing yet! Also learning wind-foiling to extend the wind-range and Ideally someday I would like to learn kite-foiling as well for the extreme low wind efficiency it brings and the ability to take the gear anywhere.

Windsurfing! Period!

I think wingfoiling dilutes Windsurfing and Kitesurfing, but its worse for Kitesurfing. From an entry level position, Windsurfing get reasonable but cheap 2nd hand gear and give it a go. Wing foil get the gear and give it a go. Kitesurfing you cant just get the gear and figure it out. Not every beach allows it. It is potential dangerous to yourself and others and you need structured instruction. Its just not as accessable to the newbie. There will always be the die hard kite guys that got into in the 2000-2010 time frame but I see kite becoming more niche. The growth will be in Wingfoil and maybe a small unptake in Windsurfing at really windy locations.

Am ästhetischsten ist ein Winsurfsegel am Horizont, das ist fix.

As a long-time windsurfer who never got interested in kiting I lost interest in the big racing and freeride gear on the way. Wavewindsurfing was the thrill I was looking for more and more, and the flatwater windsurfsessions I did were more for keeping the basic skills and strength, since freeriding itself started to get boring. To this time i was desperately thinking about starting kiting for the lightwind days, but my inner voice said "no". Back then Windfoiling came up and this saved my lightwind days. I soon also started riding windswell with the Windfoil and soon found its limitations. Then winging came up and saved the lightwind and small wave days. Even on the"freeridedays" I enjoy winging because I can practise my tacks and start jumping or look for ripples on the lake or river that I can ride. Today I find winging does perfectly complement wave windsurfing. And it seems many waveoriented windsurfers and also wavekiters go this way now. @ Nico: I guess your appreciation for freeride conditions on a windsurfer is based on your love for slalom and racing gear. But like me I know many windsurfer who don't want to carry or use this big gear anymore. (Btw. I was one of the first to use a formula board recreationally 20 years ago)

I’m a Windsurfer/wind foiler and I’m happy to see so many new folks coming to water sports via Winging and Wind Foiling but sadly I don’t see very many new windsurfers. We have one of the most active water sports communities in the US and it is pretty rare to see someone making the commitment to Windsurfing and sticking with it. (Sailing programs are helping kids get into Wind Foiling but these young ones aren’t windsurfers.) The newbies I see/meet give up in a few months and make the switch to Winging. Happy for them but fin sailing is in decline in my area. Kiting is very big in our area and I do see them switching to winging as well. Many of these former kiters now sail with the windsurfing community. The technology is driving evolution but in evolution there are always losers and sadly I think it will be windsurfing at least in my area of the world.

Im windsurfing since my 8 year, started kitesurfing when i was 14, and yes its more easy than windsurfing. But there is a big but, in higher winds for me windsurfing is more controlable in higher winds above 7bft. So for me, above 7bft im still 100% windsurfer, because i hate gusts inside a gust with kitesurfing. Greetings 🤙

As a kiter i quite agree with you…going back and forth gets boring real fast. I kite for the jumps and tricks! That said…windsurfing really looks cool but for sure i know i’ll Never even try, the Gear is too heavy and inconvenient, harder to learn and have fun, and super physical. I have a lot of respect for you guys that do it though 💪🏻💪🏻

Winging is easy to learn however sometimes it feels a little boring. I’m just starting to learn gybing. I want to keep my windsurf gear in case I get board.

100% agree that mowing the lawn on a windsurfer is a rush on its own. Mowing the lawn on a kite is a tad boring, hence why people start mixing it up eg freestyle or wave riding.

In windsurfing the center of gravity is over the board as in surfing while riding a wave. While kiting and foiling is more some sort of being dragged sideways. This ist why I personally surf and sail only.These other two don't give me that feeling.

Having done them all, in order of preference 1 Windsurfing 2 Windfoiling 3 Winging 4 Kitesurfing. Windsurfing I have done for nearly 40yrs, Windfoiling for 2 years but definitely prefer windsurfing. Winging one year and have had a glimpse of what it can be if I ever get good at it. Kitesurfing, had an accident early on which scared and injured me so I couldnt go back to it. My prediction is Winging may overtake them all???

You know what is the difference between a beginner and a pro kiter? A 2 week cource. 😂 I windsurf when its perfect (once a year), wing in waves, and windfoil in most conditions... but kite?!...not so much, dont like to wear boardshorts over my wetsuit 😂. Kite was developed by windsurfers as a light wind alternative but now with foil, why bother with long lines. Winging will probably replace everything in the future sadly. The wing gear is developing crazy fast, windfoil freestyle is a nische and windsurf is as good as it is but hard to learn it and the kids have no patience these days if they can let go of their mobiles long enough

winging is a gateway to foil spots, downwinding, sup-foil-surfing, prawn-foiling, etc etc. foiling is the hottest shit now, so its definitely worth pursuing if you are young. windsurfing/kiting is for old ppl.

Kite you go up, Wing you go free. Wind you go back.

Interesting conversation. I began windsurfing in 2020 when I inherited some older gear (I'm thinking 90's) and have enjoyed it immensely. I have recently been able to gain decent control planing and in higher wind which is an absolute thrill. However, I am thinking that wing foiling may be something to try. If it is easier to learn, then I could get my family more interested, and it is not just Dad out catapulting around, mangling himself.

what brand is the watch mate? :)

Windsurfing is the godfather of watersport for the masses but the folks today are not patient enough anymore. No instant success - let‘s move to an easier sport. But you don‘t know what you are going to miss

Hi Nico I‘ve got to say i really like your videos. I would really enjoy it if you would start streaming like once all two weeks, and react to windsurfcontent. Maybe sometime in the future? I know that it‘s difficult if you are aren‘t at home, and that‘s often the case, but a little mobile streaming set with which you stream directly from places like tarifa would be something special in the windsurfing „Influencer“ world. Go on with your videos like this and all good things for the future

Prefer windsurfing in shortboard conditions...but wind/wing foiling in lighter winds dramatically increases days on the water...

I've windsurfed for 20 years to a good standard (waves/freestyle), and been winging for 18 months. Most of the time I'm now winging. The advantages are: A huge wind range (no more re-rigging). My 4.5 wing covers the range of a 4.5m to a 9m windsurf sail. Only needing one gust to get up, rather than constant wind, so great in gusty conditions Better wave riding in most real-world conditions Bigger jumps (until it gets to 20kts+/waves) Much better upwind performance Easier to carry about/rig etc Freestyle winging is a fair bit easier than freestyle windsurf. This means more accessible stuff to learn and more fun on flat water days. The downsides are: Not quite as good as windsurfing once you get good quality waves and high winds Second hand kit is more expensive More difficult dealing with shorebreak Most windsurfers aren't sailing in good wave conditions, and the wing would be better. I am seeing a gradual drift to winging from windsurfing as it's better in most conditions and more convenient. In high wind onshore places like the Canaries maybe less so. I still windsurf on the really good days and love it. However windsurfing on flatter or choppy days is terrible in comparison to winging.

My humble opinion as I never tried kite neither wing but I do windsurf for more than 40 years, kite is definitely too risky, windsurf as you mention, physically demanding but really funny, but suddenly wing arise, and from my point of view is for sure the best evolution of our sport, I'll probably never try it, as at 64 years old I feel not enough agile for, but if I was 30 years old it will be undoubtedly my sport, so I'll keep doing windsurf as long forces remains

It’s all about having fun on the water, but there is nothing like windsurfing over 30knots!!!

Depends on "how you do it", in my case low wind - wing foiling, better wind - wind foiling, high wind - windsurfing, when snow and wind - kite skiing. On recreational base 🙂But, of course, #1 is windsurfing, #2 nd wind foiling, #3 rd wing foiling... you are right, I have many friends among kiters and what you say about kite is right - easy to learn, some amount of risk for beginners and in extreme situations also for experts...

that feeling of blasting over the chop while planing and landing a jibe or a fast tack is why im in love with windsurfing. for me the fact that winsurfing is hard to learn and so challenging is part of the appeal. i have zero interest in kiting or winging.

Kudos to your summary: As a former windsurfer, who switched over to kitesurfing and now i started to learn wingfoiling, i disagree with you in saying that kitesurfing is an easy sport to learn. The learning curve is much shorter than it is with windsurfing that is right, thus it takes you less time to get up an running over the water, but the first steps are quite challenging. So a quick but challenging learning curve leads to little experienced kiters on the water who might become - you mentioned it - dangerouse especially if they try learn the fun part of kiting which is jumping. Wingfoiling is a new exciting experience, much more physical than kiting, and while kiting simpley forth and back gets immediately boring, wingfoiling or lets say flying forth and back is much more fun, because beside moving to the right and to the left you are forced to move constantly up and down either which opens a totally new dimension of movements.

I heard more severe accidents happen with beginner kiters compared to windsurfers.. and more severe windsurf accidents happen with experienced windsurfers

Wing = recreational and slow, zero risk, no thrill Kite = playing around, freestyle and annoy all other people on the water with all your uncontrolled jumps and kite Windsurf = all about speed, thrill and improving yourself. There's nothing like planing.

I much prefer the second channel, less sound and fury, more content.

Windsurfer for over 20yrs. . ..went to kiting. Easier to learn and so much less gear. . . . Windsurfing not made for over 100kg sailors as gear breakage Increase. With kiting you get away with 2 kites and 2 boards.

I was a wingsurfer, now i am a kiteborder (for me way better than surf), and i won't try wing in near future...

We know people who kite, wing and sail. We are windsurfers my GF and I. Where we live water access is limited and precious and unfortunately we have lost access in some places because of kiters. The excessive space that they take up with their lines and kites, the kites that have come crashing down on beach goer’s and the hot dogging close to shore and even in between young swimmers. This has caused beaches to close access to all water sports. I have met many courteous and polite kiters and have a few friends that kite but unfortunately the majority of my experience is with entitled, unapologetic, unnecessary risk taking and out right rude segments of the kiter population. It has left me with absolutely no interest in being part of that sport. I hope winging does take over kiting but i hope all have the sense to keep the foils far away from swimmers. I believe it is only a matter of time until a foil does some serious damage to someone or even worse kills someone and i hope it is not some innocent beach goer.

Man i think the argument that wing foil will replace kiting is so dumb. They aren't comparable. Completely different experiences

Hi I windsurfed for many years and gave up due to a bad knee issue then leant to snowboard which didn't affect my knee so much and was told the board skills were similar to kitesurfing so I thought I would give it a go and now I kitesurf but had to give up and have a partial knee replacement which has been successful and I'm back kitesurfing again and slowly building my confidence and really would love to get back into windsurfing but I know how long it took me to get to a good level and I think I would struggle to get back to the level I was ,I was windsurfing in Tarifa back in the 1980s I used to go every year and stay for a month in my van.and not a kite in sight I returned there for my 50th birthday 11yrs ago and kited and I've had my new knee for three years now and hopefully will get back there soon maybe to windsurf ,but yes windsurfing is most definitely the hardest sport to learn but I loved every minute of it .

Windsurf all my life. Tried kiting, dragged for 200 meters over water surface by the Wind picking up. Windsurf has bulky stuff? Maybe, but it Is the easiest way of SAILING, it belongs to the world of sailing, kite and wing do NOT belong to it. So take a look at people travelling with sailboats... We have the smartest and easiest sailing and planing boats! Kite easy yes but when wind falls and you are two miles off shore? People told me nightmares... Winging when water is shallow? Nightmare again

1

Kiting > winging. Sorry not sorry. But winging is definitely more accessible especially for beginners

Windsurfing is a sport. Kitesurfing and wingsurfing is freetime activity ;)

Talk about nothing, no one will replace the others , each one have his bests… on really good conditions the windsurf brigths on bad conditions foil brights and kite is a very different thing…

For me it was to philosophical. And your were talking to fast, so I couldn't keep up what you really wanted to say.

Wind surf is easier than kite sory.