DukeSilver wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:49 am
Generally it's only me at my most frequent haunt, but occasionally there has been 2 - 3 others out. There are quite a few racers (10-15) who go out at different spots to me. I can often see them training with their foil kites about 1km away but our paths rarely cross. I'm still learning so I stick to the more protected waters of the Swan River in Perth. It's definitely a growing scene here in West Oz.
Yes, it is actually two completely different "species", racefoilers and freestyle/freeride/wavefoilers, got nothing in common but the love for the sport.
Gear is completely different, kites/boards/masts/wings, nothing in common.
Racers ride upwind for miles and miles, and downwind again and practice tacks and jibes.
Freeriders usually keep close to the coast, maybe even waves, and play around together here.
"Once upon a time", we could share going out, but nowadays it does not make sense, even if you start and end up from the same place, you hardly never cross out on the water, and going on a tour along the coast wont make sense either, as the speed is so different that it is not fun
A bit of a shame it has got like this, but an unevitable development that would have to come of course, so just a fact it is like that
Just as different as TT riding and waveriding, where you also hardly never cross, as also completely different gear and different spots required
We still use the same forums, as better to be several out eventhough you dont share much, and you quickly learn who race and who freestyle/wave
Especially in the winter when water close to the freezing point, it is better, a tad safer, to be several out eventhough it can be difficult to spot each other anyways when so far apart
PF