Went down to the swan river yesterday to watch some mates, only to see someone self launching a kite I had never seen before. He was having trouble, so went ovet to help. To cut a long story short, it was an old cabrinha dart 9.5m , under inflated. with an old airush bar which strapped to the wrist. The young bloke said he'd bought it for $100 as it 'was all I could afford'. he said he'd had lessons, but the twisted lines, no donkey dick or safety leash said otherwise. 'Do they?' he said when I told him that the kite could kill or injure him. 'It looks quite easy,' he said, when I told him he MUST bin the kite and old winsurfing harness, beg for xmas $ to get a 2yr old kite, and some more lessons. he was a bit stroppy, but packed up and bailed. Please,if you see an old kite out there for sale, get the seller to chuck it. There will always be someone unaware or unethical, to buy or sell it. BTW, how old is a dart? no mention of it on the interwebs

Well spotted and good on you for speaking up and approaching the young guy who was definitely an accident waiting to happen. The kite was one of Cabs first, its an early CO2 prob made and sold around 2001/02. None of us knew any better back then but are very dodgy by todays standards.

I think it's everyone's duty to not ignore people using outdated equipment. Some, especially the more experienced riders today, think they can handle older equipment because they know the safety elements, have had experience, or are simply cocky old bastards that should know better and should set a proper example, for beginners.
I personally have gear that's no older than 2009, but that's because I've had it since 2009 and know how to use it, and the safety systems on it are much the same as what we have today. Certainly no wrist bands!

But lets' put all this in perspective...

Here I found a post of kite mares dating back in 2000,2001 and 2002.

fksa.org/showthread.php?t=148

Note, these were very early days, so the amount of accidents back then wee far more prolific than what we may happen nowadays.

Conclusion: NEVER ride equipment older than 3-5 years. Every 3 seasons, sell it, and keep your gear up to date.

Wasted opportunity there,.. should have grabed a six pack, set up the go-pro and waited. Do you know how much a good viral vid is worth!!

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Gazuki said...

Wasted opportunity there,.. should have grabed a six pack, set up the go-pro and waited. Do you know how much a good viral vid is worth!!

Sadistic thiught, as he was 20m from the tree that eats kites, klopper log signs that could break necks. and scrubby biush that could break limbs. But I get your point...

Ah the original CO2, I learnt on one of those bad boys....

originally a two line kite, once you launched there was no depower, forced you to learn good board edging and kite control... You could convert to a 4 line by removing the bridle and rolling up the wing tips then still no real depower just power on or off. Sizing was based on projected area, I learnt on a 11.5m which was actually 15m2, still have a 6.6m (8.5m2) in shed...

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DylanJamo said...
Conclusion: NEVER ride equipment older than 3-5 years. Every 3 seasons, sell it, and keep your gear up to date.

So a 2012 kite is a death trap but it's still ok to sell for someone else to use....

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alverstone said..

Gazuki said...

Wasted opportunity there,.. should have grabed a six pack, set up the go-pro and waited. Do you know how much a good viral vid is worth!!

Sadistic thiught, as he was 20m from the tree that eats kites, klopper log signs that could break necks. and scrubby biush that could break limbs. But I get your point...

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Gazuki said..

Wasted opportunity there,.. should have grabed a six pack, set up the go-pro and waited. Do you know how much a good viral vid is worth!!

Gold.

couldn't be older than NP though what's the go with his branding of kites/boards?

I picked up a Wipika 8.5 LTR off the verge last week, still has the original 2 line bridle set up. Luckily most kites from that era the valves come off so they cant be used by unwary people that pick them up.

I picked it up and may keep it just because it is a bit of the history of the sport, but if people are serious about keeping un safe kites out of circulation it might be best to put a few slices across the leading edge or pull the bladders before putting on the verge.

That said I have to respectfully disagree about the kites over 3 years old comment. If I have missed something please let me know but what would be wrong with my 2011 Rebels? I think they still fly on the same bar and lines as a new Rebel? I actually think the design is similar back to 2009? Removing/ destroying kites this new would be wrong in my opinion, I will be passing mine on to a beginner when I am done keeping them as spares. If I have actually missed some important change feel free to let me know.

I bought 5 new kites between 2011 and 2013 and agree they are worlds better than the 1999 to 2004 kites I learned on and owned previously. But has it changed that much since then? I know single line front flagging has become the new standard, but the rebels already do that, and that is actually only a change to the bar and lines, I could switch my 4 line bar and lines out for single line flagging, so that is not an out dated kite either.

I agree there is a sense in which it is nice to have new gear every year, and it is crucial to have safe gear.

Maybe the take away message is if you dont know if the kite you are going to buy is safe and usable, check with your instructor or a local kite shop, or post it on here, or at least ask a random kiter on the beach.

Would the safety focused instructors out there tell me to bin a 2011 8 and 11m rebel?

Wind all week stay safe out there, know your gear, check your gear, kite for tomorrow .

I had a stainless spreader break from metal fatigue a couple weeks ago, so it pays to do a good preaseason check.

I have a 2011 cabrinha convert my first kite i can afford a new kite i did buy a 2016 fx the other day and i have a 2015 switchblade but i love it plenty of boost just sentimental reasons i cant get rid of it its my go to 9m kite

i used to wear an onion on my belt, it was the style at the time

And nickels had pictures of bees on them! Five bees for a quarter we'd say!

I took a week of lessons on the convert in 2 line mode in 2002. the instructor said 4 line mode would be " too complicated for a beginner. "

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MDSXR6T said..

DylanJamo said...
Conclusion: NEVER ride equipment older than 3-5 years. Every 3 seasons, sell it, and keep your gear up to date.

So a 2012 kite is a death trap but it's still ok to sell for someone else to use....

A 2012 kite is not a death trap. A beginner with no lessons on a 2012, 2013, 2014, or any kite is a death trap!

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theDoctor said..


i used to wear an onion on my belt, it was the style at the time

things you do to avoid getting chomped by a nsw shark

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DylanJamo said..

MDSXR6T said..

DylanJamo said...
Conclusion: NEVER ride equipment older than 3-5 years. Every 3 seasons, sell it, and keep your gear up to date.

So a 2012 kite is a death trap but it's still ok to sell for someone else to use....

A 2012 kite is not a death trap. A beginner with no lessons on a 2012, 2013, 2014, or any kite is a death trap!

Boy, how wrong you are....

NONE of beginners fatalities in recent years. NONE. ALL of fatal injuries were advanced/intermediate kiters.

Before you post this kind of rubbish (and you should apologise to Dimitry), check your facts, and think twice before you post.

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theDoctor said..


i used to wear an onion on my belt, it was the style at the time

Kudos for a classic simpsons reference.

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DylanJamo said...
A 2012 kite is not a death trap. A beginner with no lessons on a 2012, 2013, 2014, or any kite is a death trap!

You do remember that it wasn't that long ago when people had to learn by their mistakes rather than have someone hold their hands for them right?

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windywander said..
If I have missed something please let me know but what would be wrong with my 2011 Rebels?

They don't have a big inflate valve. Takes far too much effort to pump up. Put together with the 5th line it means you'll be the last to finish rigging up and consigned to launching all your mates who have rigged quicker than you leaving no one on the beach to launch your kite.

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weebitbreezy said...

windywander said..
If I have missed something please let me know but what would be wrong with my 2011 Rebels?

They don't have a big inflate valve. Takes far too much effort to pump up. Put together with the 5th line it means you'll be the last to finish rigging up and consigned to launching all your mates who have rigged quicker than you leaving no one on the beach to launch your kite.

I was always slow to rig, dont think I can blame the kites. Have self launched 90% of the time since I moved to Perth anyway, wide sandy beaches, and kiting alone make it a useful skill. The Rebels are spares now anyway, I have run four line kites for a few years now. I am curious about an easier to inflate kite, but again not a safety issue. One pump still seems pretty easy compared to individual struts.

My point was only that it made sense to tell people to buy a kite made in the last 3 years in 2010 or 2011, but that safety features have remained similar for a while now.

Seems to me that competent instruction to set you on the path of safe independent kiting is the key.

Was happy to self launch today, but even happier to have someone land me, it was some decent wind today.

Safe kiting everyone.