expect to see some around the 3K mark....

we are being slaughtered by higher input costs all the way through due to dollar and labour (amongst other things)

Seems unfortunate, i know it happened years ago when i skied a lot and prices when from affordable to stratospheric

Kites are overpriced for what they are, there has been no major R&D breakthroughs in the last few years. Most brands are on par with each other.

As many have mentioned earlier superseded specials are the way to go for the sport to remain barely affordable to the average punter.

Vote with your wallet, I know at the end of the day if the sport becomes too unaffordable, Ill just flog the **** out of the kites I have and then I'll just surf.

hornedsquirrel said..
There is this Dutch brand called Zian. They make pretty good kites at a low price www.ziankiteboarding.com/

Yeah and there is this!

kitesurfchina.com/about-kitesurf-china/

China, India, every 3rd world country is slowly catching up to our standards. Soon we'll be 3rd world at this rate and hence the higher cost of living. I would not be surprised if our wages need to drop further too. Otherwise we're going to be nothing but a hole in the ground, thanks to the miners and desperation to create jobs.

And for the Reclaim Rally fools that think migration and Islam is a threat - get yar heads out of yer asses. Our standard of living will go down further and further if we don't think outside the box. Migration (like Barnsey said) is not the threat: LNP policies and narrow minded politicians rorting their expense allowances - THAT's the real threat.

mabbott said..
Kites are overpriced for what they are, there has been no major R&D breakthroughs in the last few years. Most brands are on par with each other.

As many have mentioned earlier superseded specials are the way to go for the sport to remain barely affordable to the average punter.

Vote with your wallet, I know at the end of the day if the sport becomes too unaffordable, Ill just flog the **** out of the kites I have and then I'll just surf.

Really? Lets assume you can get 200 uses per year out of an average BRAND NEW kite ($2400 complete), which is approx 2 sessions a week per year ( think most of us addicts kite more than this), that works out to $12.00 per session, and thats not allowing for the sale of the kite at the end of 2 years. If you sell the kite outright for say $600, then the cost per session drops to $9.00 per session

If you buy something 2014 superseeded, lightly used for say $1400 and sell it for $500 in 2 years then it works out to $4.50 per session!! (less than the cost a a beer in the pub)

So can you really cannot afford $4.50 to $9.00 for s session of mega fun and fitness?

Major breakthroughs are great, I'm assuming bridles and depower on demand are what you are referring to? However kites from all the major brands are incrementally improving every year, materials are all improving, so are safety systems. Constant R&D is what pays for all of these improvements.

Major brands search relentlessly for competitive advantages and most of the main improvements come from these "A" grade brands, some emerging "B" grade brands will improve some part of their gear but usually less often and to a lower standard. "C" and "D" grade brands copy, imitate and scavenge, and aim for the bottom of the market. All of them fill a part of the overall market and there is definitely something for everyone out there. Those that can understand quality and afford it will buy at the top end and others by experience, education or budget will buy somewhere in between, its all good. Whinging about kites being "overpriced" is pointless.

Vote with what your wallet can take for sure, but also think of the big picture and help preserve jobs and our economy and shop local IN Australia. All of the kites and gear are made overseas, some brands claim an Aussie base in a marketing sense, but they are all still made overseas. Buying here means the profit stays here and most of the profit a small business makes is spent back in the local economy. ALL retailers make less than 20% NETT profit! If they make more than 15% they are running extremely well managed retail businesses. That means a store that has a total turnover of $1million (only a handful do more than that) they get to declare a net profit of $150,000, out of which they pay company and personal tax. Their take home pay for working up to 7 days a week and up to 50-60 hrs a week in the season will be about $90-$100,000 and that usually split over 2 or more owners.

How many of you earn more than $45-50K per year? Lots I think.

TerryMcTool said..

mabbott said..
Kites are overpriced for what they are, there has been no major R&D breakthroughs in the last few years. Most brands are on par with each other.

As many have mentioned earlier superseded specials are the way to go for the sport to remain barely affordable to the average punter.

Vote with your wallet, I know at the end of the day if the sport becomes too unaffordable, Ill just flog the **** out of the kites I have and then I'll just surf.

Really? Lets assume you can get 200 uses per year out of an average BRAND NEW kite ($2400 complete), which is approx 2 sessions a week per year ( think most of us addicts kite more than this), that works out to $12.00 per session, and thats not allowing for the sale of the kite at the end of 2 years. If you sell the kite outright for say $600, then the cost per session drops to $9.00 per session

If you buy something 2014 superseeded, lightly used for say $1400 and sell it for $500 in 2 years then it works out to $4.50 per session!! (less than the cost a a beer in the pub)

So can you really cannot afford $4.50 to $9.00 for s session of mega fun and fitness?

I've been using this method for years to justify my expenditure, if you really want you can break it down to hours and it's cheap as chips... Works with my wife...

I also always work by the change over price, if you buy a good brand it works in your favour and counters the arguments for buying cheap brands With crap life expectancy and resale value.

I have to say i agree with Terry on that one, if you look at the return on investment and the actual amount of enjoyment that can be gained from the money you put into your setup then it becomes really affordable.

How much is too much to pay for something that significantly improves your quality of life, health and happiness?
I know if I had to sit on the beach in perth all summer when its blowing 25 knots and my mates are out shredding I would drop a few grand just for the season.

If you come from a surfing background where you bought most of your boards second hand and then rode them into the ground then kiting looks expensive. If you look at a lot of other hobbies/sports people get into, i.e. fishing from a boat, sailing, collecting or doing up old cars or fancy sports cars, snowboarding or skiing holidays etc. then cost of kiting is just peanuts compared to those things.

The fact that there are cheaper alternatives like second hand, superseded or cheaper brands does make the big brands seem outrageous but that is the case with many industries. I certainly think it is going to be a hard year or 2 for local kite shops, retail in general is falling to online sales. The big brands also will feel the squeeze as cheaper alternatives and different business models fill in the gaps.

If you are worried about not being able to afford the latest models of kites and boards then just stay of the "Gear reviews" section and don't visit any companies websites for a year or so and then when you do the superseded gear will be new to you

I do buy thrifty but I feel like the money I have spent has been infinitely worth it

TerryMcTool said..

mabbott said..
Kites are overpriced for what they are, there has been no major R&D breakthroughs in the last few years. Most brands are on par with each other.

As many have mentioned earlier superseded specials are the way to go for the sport to remain barely affordable to the average punter.

Vote with your wallet, I know at the end of the day if the sport becomes too unaffordable, Ill just flog the **** out of the kites I have and then I'll just surf.

Really? Lets assume you can get 200 uses per year out of an average BRAND NEW kite ($2400 complete), which is approx 2 sessions a week per year ( think most of us addicts kite more than this), that works out to $12.00 per session, and thats not allowing for the sale of the kite at the end of 2 years. If you sell the kite outright for say $600, then the cost per session drops to $9.00 per session

If you buy something 2014 superseeded, lightly used for say $1400 and sell it for $500 in 2 years then it works out to $4.50 per session!! (less than the cost a a beer in the pub)

So can you really cannot afford $4.50 to $9.00 for s session of mega fun and fitness?

Major breakthroughs are great, I'm assuming bridles and depower on demand are what you are referring to? However kites from all the major brands are incrementally improving every year, materials are all improving, so are safety systems. Constant R&D is what pays for all of these improvements.

Major brands search relentlessly for competitive advantages and most of the main improvements come from these "A" grade brands, some emerging "B" grade brands will improve some part of their gear but usually less often and to a lower standard. "C" and "D" grade brands copy, imitate and scavenge, and aim for the bottom of the market. All of them fill a part of the overall market and there is definitely something for everyone out there. Those that can understand quality and afford it will buy at the top end and others by experience, education or budget will buy somewhere in between, its all good. Whinging about kites being "overpriced" is pointless.

Vote with what your wallet can take for sure, but also think of the big picture and help preserve jobs and our economy and shop local IN Australia. All of the kites and gear are made overseas, some brands claim an Aussie base in a marketing sense, but they are all still made overseas. Buying here means the profit stays here and most of the profit a small business makes is spent back in the local economy. ALL retailers make less than 20% NETT profit! If they make more than 15% they are running extremely well managed retail businesses. That means a store that has a total turnover of $1million (only a handful do more than that) they get to declare a net profit of $150,000, out of which they pay company and personal tax. Their take home pay for working up to 7 days a week and up to 50-60 hrs a week in the season will be about $90-$100,000 and that usually split over 2 or more owners.

How many of you earn more than $45-50K per year? Lots I think.

A bit off topic there I think. Retailers are not to blame here.

It is fair to say that this year most of the brands will show a 20% mark up and this is due to the increasing cost of productions in general. it is naturally passed onto the end buyer.

Now, are the kites getting better? It is also fair to say that improvements are minors although marketing will probably say otherwise. I think we are just about to see a shift in the production and it won't be uncommon to have some kites produced in Europe or in the US as it is already the case with the foil kites.

Maybe supply chain has to be reviewed and streamlined. Look at what is happening in the SUP industry where you have to fork out $3300 for a carbon Starboard while you can get yourself a custom made Sunova for $2000. The brand have their own factory and sell direct to the retailer. No middle man nor importer. Shop keep a good margin and can deliver a proximity service at a competitive price. Why make it complicated?

So if you have a 3 kite quiver $36/session is affordable for the avg person? What about boards, harness and wetties. Now $40-45/session.

In the area I kite there is not much youth development. Lots of older people with higher disposable incomes.

What r&d breakthrough has there been In the last 4-5years...

hornedsquirrel said..
At the end of the day the kites cost, what they cost. Take it or leave it.

Fine for a well off client like you to say that. But when retailers put 20,30 or even 70% mark up! Come on.

kemp90 said..

Loftywinds said...

hornedsquirrel said..
At the end of the day the kites cost, what they cost. Take it or leave it.

Fine for a well off client like you to say that. But when retailers put 20,30 or even 70% mark up! Come on.

Retailers are here to make money, they arnt a charity. They not going to make enough if the mark up is less then 20%. I always sell my products at the rrp, no more, no less. Every new kite iv brought has been well under the rrp, so you can't be at taking the retailers

I understand that. Hence earlier I said don't blame the retailers, as the manufactures and wholesalers are upping the anty! But some, not all do push it to the extreme, based on personal phone calls and checking out online retailers. Sorry, no names or brands will be named. But you know what I mean. Like seriously, for a beginner to get into this, you need at least $2500 to buy an entire package brand new. Give or take of course. Now with house prices boiling over, cost of living, higher taxes (soon) and now taking an average of 10 years to save for a deposit for first home buyers.... Fark!

Simple fact to the matter is if you can afford a new kite get it, if you cant don't and shop second hand. The BIG problem here is the people that want to keeping up with the Joneses and cant afford it so have a windge at the kits shops or suppliers for putting the price up. The reality is shops and suppliers only put the price up if they really have to. You don't thing they don't know when they put the price up they run the risk of selling less. I would rather see the price go up a little then see them go out of business witch is by far a worse out come for all.

This is way funny,

Naish Pivot 2016 - 10 Metre is going to be $2200.00 with bar... Lets look at some other sports

Road Bike riding... Specialized Carbon Allez with all the bits $2700.00
Mountain Bike riding... Cannondale dual supension 29r $2650.00
Snowboarding Setup... Burton Board and AK Pants Jacket and boots $1950.00 (plus runs per day $105.00)

I have to say we have all picked an expensive hobby or sport to have. Relatively speaking it pretty much same same.

I am a bit blown away about retailers by putting prices up 30% on kites.

I know when being in retail we wore it on the bottom line and spoke to our suppliers to give us wiggle room on wholesale. This kept the punters coming in.

I always buy last years stock and the fugly colours I have always got it WAAAAY cheaper.

People you dont need the latest and greatest to get better.

I have a 9 foot Mctavish Mal that I have had for years I will never sell.

Its funny how big manufacturers priced out Custom guys and now its come back the other way.

Sad thing is a lot of those skilled tradesmen have left the industry, I know I used to glass boards and learn off them.

Racing dirt bikes. $12000 for the bike + extra $ on upgrades. Then to top it off, the top end should be rebuilt every 10 hours with an oil change every 4 hours. That's expensive

MDSXR6T said..

dusta said...
this sport is at the end of the day cheap . I would spend in a month the cost of one kite on fuel for my boat .

#humblebrag

it's true though , this sport is not expensive . While my spend is slightly exagerated a trip out to the fad's for the day would probably come it at around $1000 for fuel , split between multiple people but the point is made .

**** breaks on the boat, there goes another kite :P

MDSXR6T said..
You don't have to spend 2.5k though. Who says you need the latest gear to learn on?

A beginner can easily get a 2nd hand setup for $800. New gear is expensive but 2nd hand kites that are a couple of years old are worth SFA. Even less for one with professional repairs. Add some lessons for $300-$500 and it starts getting more affordable for the younger crowd.

I got into this sport for under 1k last summer - bought a 2nd-hand kite/TT board/harness setup for $700, spent $300 on lessons, got to the point where I was up and riding.

I then got some good advice off my instructor regarding upgrading my kite, traded in the 2010 BWS I started with for a 9m 2012 Crossbow (couple of prof. repairs) for $350 cash difference. That got me to the point where I was consistently riding upwind, and starting to get the hang of toeside on my preferred side when summer ended.

So technically that's 1350 for the summer - I was getting out 2-3 times a week for most of that.

Have just purchased a Slingshot Celeritas and a 7m 2013 Fuse for a combined total of $1100, as I'm keen to focus on waves (all of my kiting is in the ocean). Will probably go back for a lesson on boosting early this summer, just figure boosting (well, landing) is how I'm most likely to injure myself.

So that's a 7m/9m quiver, TT board, directional board, and lessons, for 2500ish over two summers. While not new, the kites are still recent, with all the advantages of modern depower/safety.

So it can be done!