first post eppo where you haven't mentioned north rebel or ozone edge...

are u ok?

RPM said...

some people don't know what a real 25 or 30 knots is...

A solid 25knots 9m gets put away and the 7 comes out.. [u]30 knots fully powered on 7m[/u

A noob on a 10m in 30 knots.. Your pulling your doodle... Charl DV will agree me thinks..

Yep the above, make a habit of when you get home check the readings on SB and the like to see what u really went out in, when i was learning anything over 20 felt nuclear

Nobody has metioned airush and they get really good reveiws . im up for a new kite in september (going either maurtius or cape range/gnarloo) and will either buy airush or ozone c4 !! but perhaps nige will give me a go on his new one being as i might give you your harness back somtime

Thanks so far for the replies.
Eppo - just to clarify - I am not a beginner, I kite all year round along the West Coast wherever the wind is, and I have a relationship to 2 retailers. Also - the main points were listed in the original post.

At the moment I have a 16,12,9 and 7 of one brand and was generally happy up to some time ago where the trouble started and will go on for some time unless I do something radical, which I do right now. Even if those kites are fixed they will reach their point of no return sometime in the not so distant future and I want replacement/backups in place when they go. Also I am flying my kites with one set of lines (1 set spare with older bar) and eventually I will need new lines and a new bar.
With the recent events I am seriously looking at other brands and yes I am going to try and demo my preferences. My way to choose and demo is to try and contact team riders or people I know with those kites and meet them at the beach where I can fly a kite back to back with mine I know in comparison. It is also good to chat with a team rider because I still consider their input more valuable than retailer info, because most retailer staff have book knowledge of most kites and only know a few kites at best from own experience or from what they get told by somebody else. I mean this is quite normal because you cannot fly each model in all sizes of one year, so you have to rely on third party info. For me team riders and direct comparison on a beach I know is the best way to test the kite in the size I want.

This is not meant as a rant against retailers, they provide some demos etc. but I rather use a team rider or friends kite and then shop around for the best price and not feeling obliged to pay RRP because I demoed a kite. That's just me .. I do not expect freebies, so I don't ask for it.

I have received a number of private messages with very constructive content. If anybody is interested and in the same boat I am happy to compile those pms into one (without poster name of course) and send it to you.

I am also ok if somebody wants to join in for a demo at the beach. I am looking at Core, Switch and Ozone and a couple of others (I know their team riders) and will try to arrange demos over the next few weeks.

If I offended anyone I appologise - it is not intentional, and if I sound too serious to some, well .. I want to have fun on the water so I am serious about my toy selection :).

Thanks again for all your time guys ...
regards
gmd

dave...... said...
A slight piss take but pretty true, spending $100 on a cool coaching clinic is better than changing kite, as turtle hunter suggested It can be like learning likesurfing all over again when your an intermediate

Mate .. I do not "change kites" to become a better rider .. I extend my quiver and will eventually replace the existing ones.. I learn everyday when I am on the water and will do some intense flat water in July when I go to Cocos for two weeks (and no I do not go with a tour) and want reliable material. So for me it is not either or ... it is actually a kind of an insult to my intelligence to even suggest it, but I give you the benefit of the youth and the fact that you don't know how I generally think .. :) .. never mind.
regards
gmd

Cabrinha.

Why ?;
- emphasis on safety in design,
- resale value,
- quality of build,
- performance,
- price ..... probably in that order.

* I generally only keep kites for 2 years max.
* Am content to pay more for Cab's, in return for their investment in R&D.
* I don't always buy new, and find with Cab's that I can trade up on Seabreeze or via surf shops for only 2 or $300 per kite.

Would be interesting to take a wide poll using these "reasons why" criteria... why people choose or become so passionate about brand .. what i sense is that the cheaper the kite, the more passionate the response, but the less logical ! ... so strip out the emotion and hysteria, dig real deep

happy kiting

Ask anyone on the beach you cant save money buying direct overseas. in the end you'll need local support and that will cost you more than had you bought the kite local from local retailers, through local distributors. Dont forget that its local shops that do more than anyone else to keep beach access open.

gmd said...

dave...... said...
A slight piss take but pretty true, spending $100 on a cool coaching clinic is better than changing kite, as turtle hunter suggested It can be like learning likesurfing all over again when your an intermediate

Mate .. I do not "change kites" to become a better rider .. I extend my quiver and will eventually replace the existing ones.. I learn everyday when I am on the water and will do some intense flat water in July when I go to Cocos for two weeks (and no I do not go with a tour) and want reliable material. So for me it is not either or ... it is actually a kind of an insult to my intelligence to even suggest it, but I give you the benefit of the youth and the fact that you don't know how I generally think .. :) .. never mind.
regards
gmd


We know how you think GMD.. Your posts sum it up....