Windsurfing, Kiting or Stupid?

winddude · Post by **winddude** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 12:21 pm

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 · Post by **juandesooka** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 12:55 pm

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 · Post by **winddude** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 1:54 pm

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 · Post by **mortontoemike** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 6:25 pm

juandesooka wrote: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 · Post by **KUS** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 6:37 pm

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

winddude · Post by **winddude** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 7:00 pm

KUS wrote: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 · Post by **GWIND** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 7:49 pm

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 · Post by **winddude** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:23 pm

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

GWIND · Post by **GWIND** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 8:43 pm

Ohhhh. Now I want one.

more force 4 · Post by **more force 4** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 7:38 am

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 · Post by **nanmoo** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:27 am

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 · Post by **KUS** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:34 am

more force 4 wrote: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 · Post by JL » Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:47 am

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

Geoffy · Post by **Geoffy** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:19 am

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 · Post by **TheLaw** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 9:37 am

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

Windsurfing, Kiting or Stupid?

Windsurfing, Kiting or Stupid?

Kool

Comments

Session Logs

Posts

Wingfoil

Windsurf

Kitesurf