VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK • The real wind surfing vs. kite boarding debate! - Page 2
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:24 pm
by KayakDoc
MF4 It seems like a lot of battles are fought over real estate. There is wind surfing ‘agro’ in Maui and I do remember the same posturing when wind surfing was initially established in the 70’s. The quarter mile stretch from Lanes to Hookipa is arguably the most intensified wind/surf microcosm on the planet and the ‘agro’ itch is not far below the surface. The real estate issue works in kiting’s favour at Lanes because you have to be really nuts to walk across the reef with a kite attached. With sandy beach access (it’s always a little weird writing that comment on BWD (sorry Sandy), surfers and wind surfers don’t bother with Lanes, although everybody creeps towards Hookipa when the waves get huge. I still believe that the dream doesn’t have to turn sideways, but I suspect it means getting further off shore (although getting anyone to embrace down winders here seems to evoke some bad dental experience).

I have a pretty good story about how Lanes, the Hawaiian spirit, the local grave site, catastrophic floods and super karma mojo affect kite surfing that I picked up at the Hali'imaile General Store bar in Hali'imaile, but if people found my first missive a little difficult to comprehend I may have to leave this one as an on demand or Nitinaht sauna campfire affair only.