Lexicon
Tue, 04/13/2010 - 13:39
Ok, so i have been a skier for my entire life.... and i have finally a few years ago figured out all of the different terms and classifications enough to describe them to another person well.
But kiting uses the same words but they describe different things. Here is my basic question...
As far a gear and style goes: What the hell is the difference between Freestyle and Freeride? And do kite manufacturers all define them the same way, or can you really just use these words to describe kites/gear within each make only?
Or is it a free-for-all. And each Kiter is their own style and every different piece of gear rides just like it does.
Tue, 04/13/2010 - 15:09
#1
Freestyle vs Freeride
Dave
Freestyle is more in regard to wakestyle or wakeboarding influenced. Like leaving kite at 45 degrees powered without sending and popping hard into unhooked, handle pass, and other technical tricks with a million names and variations
Freeride is more cruising and wave riding. More recently this style of kiting is becoming pretty hardcore too. Strapless surf, huge airs and lofty jumps, surf style, basically everything you desire that is not technical or having a million names... Just you enjoy riding what ever that brings you.
Ahhh.... That seems to make sense, and that kind of what my understanding is. But companies list freestyle and wake style as different. Many companies list different products for wave and free ride...wake style and freestyle.
This is my current state of my confusion:
Wake style you want pull and drift unhooked, while still being quick. But C-Kites seems to be advertised as the freestyle tool...they have a lot of speed and pop/pull but not as much drift and stability. So 2 separate things?
Waves, you want drift, and slower for stability. But freeride you want range and then a bit of speed, and efficient(so it flies forward in the window) but you cannot have forward in the window and good drift, as the kite shapes to accomplish each are contradictory.
My understanding is that most people around here (other than wave riders) would fall into the "wake style" category when buying a kite. A bit of speed, a bit of drift and pull, but still relatively efficient for upwind. So that you can be in the gusty chop of Mass. and do a down winder or 2 while still getting decent pop in the flat water pool at chapin when the tide goes out.
The designations seems to gray at the edges.