Windsurfing, Kiting or Stupid?

[winddude]

This one might be up all the bi-sport athletes allies. Rumor has it this is what Nanmoo has secretly been training for.



And the video if you can speak Italian, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qInzoAaB1VM

[juandesooka]

Looks like a good "intro to windsurfing" tool. Light and easy to uphaul, no hard edges to bang against.

I don't think that's nanmoo. As far as I'm aware, his bikinis aren't white.

[winddude]

My guess is kite manufactures are trying to grasp at straws, due to decling sales and being constantly humbled by the pure awesomeness of windsurfing. No doubt windsurfing won, it wasn't even a contest to begin with!

But this looks super unstable, very low performance, and awkward. Plus I'm guessing it's more expensive then a beginner dacron rig, which is far better for teaching.

[mortontoemike]

Looks like a good "intro to windsurfing" tool. Light and easy to uphaul, no hard edges to bang against.

And no rigging. And no lines. Kind of a cool idea.

[KUS]

My vote is "stupid"... garbage rig, so dumb but I bet some walmarters bought it already... "good deal". Is this a joke Windduce ?

[winddude]

My vote is "stupid"... garbage rig, so dumb but I bet some walmarters bought it already... "good deal". This world is getting more f&$ed every day, who in their right mind would build and market that?? Is this a joke Windduce ?

I wish it was, sounds like it's even coming from North Sails...

Translated -> https://translate.google.ca/translate?s ... t=&act=url

Original in Italian -> http://www.4actionsport.it/windsurf/201 ... onfiabile/

[GWIND]

Kool. This will morph into something great. For sure you won't smash out your teeth when you face plant the boom.
I remember kiters at the Gorge riding on water skis. And we thought they were stupid. Ok they were. But look where that has gone.
And nowhere is not an answer.

[winddude]

I hope it's as popular as the zippered sail. Remember those?

[GWIND]

Ohhhh. Now I want one.

[more force 4]

I think it might be great for the cottage types - and maybe SUPs. No mast and boom to store. I think other inflatable kite versions are going to start springing up for different purposes.

[nanmoo]

There is a lot of slogging around going on that lake and no kites. Weird. Is that Garda?

The squirrel sail seems to work well enough for it's intended purpose!

[KUS]

I think it might be great for the cottage types - and maybe SUPs. No mast and boom to store. I think other inflatable kite versions are going to start springing up for different purposes.

Now if you incorporated a paddle for a mast and had the rig in a backpack......paddle on your cruiser, wind comes up, inflate and rig paddle/sail, off you go. That puts a whole new spin on it.... I wonder about the "light as a feather" claim when the sail sticks on the water but I could see small children benefitting from this to participate, not adults....the main issue there has always been people try to use too big of a rig/boom/mast cuz it's what they have laying around. The kiddie rigs really are already superlight. Another tool in the box I suppose, changing my mind a little on it

[JL]

Why not have it possible to fly it like a kite or hold it overhead like the 'wind weapon'

[Geoffy]

I think it has great potential as a teaching tool once it's properly designed - think about it, biggest issue is uphauling, that design will weathercock into perfect position every time and float/lay-flat on water with almost no resistance and can be designed to allow a little wind underneath it to get some lift off the water. Soft impacts, not intimidating, straightforward rigging/pumping.

If North really did this it is a poor early attempt, could be much better out of the gate. But has potential!!!

[TheLaw]

A zero batten wave sail. Super soft....like a pillow. A dream!