I've had my eye on Switch kites lately. I've watched all the video's of all 4 of them and I must say they look impressive. I've heard some good things and some bad things about them.

Has anyone even flown one? and is there anywhere where you can demo them or do you really just have to wing it?

I would also like to know which of the kites would be good for my level of skill. I started this season. Now comfortable going upwind, starting with jumps and transitions.

any feedback on it would be appreciated.

I saw one at the beach this arvo.
It was white and about a 9 or 10?
Hope this helps.

i fly a nitro 12 it is a nice kite to fly good power great upwind performance
unhooks fine, because it flys so forward in the window it doesnt like if you fly under it, and there is a bit of a knack to relaunch.
overall they are a more advanced kite to fly but will take your kite flying to the next level
pm me if you have any Qs

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rickwindt said...

I've had my eye on Switch kites lately. I've watched all the video's of all 4 of them and I must say they look impressive. I've heard some good things and some bad things about them.

Has anyone even flown one? and is there anywhere where you can demo them or do you really just have to wing it?

I would also like to know which of the kites would be good for my level of skill. I started this season. Now comfortable going upwind, starting with jumps and transitions.

any feedback on it would be appreciated.

Hmmm 7 posts a week and you haven't read any feedback on switch kites
Something don't smell so good

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winter said...

rickwindt said...

I've had my eye on Switch kites lately. I've watched all the video's of all 4 of them and I must say they look impressive. I've heard some good things and some bad things about them.

Has anyone even flown one? and is there anywhere where you can demo them or do you really just have to wing it?

I would also like to know which of the kites would be good for my level of skill. I started this season. Now comfortable going upwind, starting with jumps and transitions.

any feedback on it would be appreciated.

Hmmm 7 posts a week and you haven't read any feedback on switch kites
Something don't smell so good

oh didn;'t actually see the other ones.. thanks gives me something to read ;)

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surfingboye said...

I saw one at the beach this arvo.
It was white and about a 9 or 10?
Hope this helps.

not really but good to know there are actually people out there that do use them

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rickwindt said...

I've had my eye on Switch kites lately. I've watched all the video's of all 4 of them and I must say they look impressive. I've heard some good things and some bad things about them.

Has anyone even flown one? and is there anywhere where you can demo them or do you really just have to wing it?

I would also like to know which of the kites would be good for my level of skill. I started this season. Now comfortable going upwind, starting with jumps and transitions.

any feedback on it would be appreciated.

I have tried them all, I mainly kite on a surfboard in waves and use the Methods, but the Element is the best allrounder and I am quite sure would suit you best.

I ride an element 9, extremly user friendly, I have never had kite that relaunch as easy and pretty much impossible to backstall.

Not the same boost as for example the Switchblade but quick and with very light bar pressure. I have flew it in down to 13-14 knots(had to fight to stay upwind) up to 30 knots(fully depowered and could barely hold my edge) so it gives you quite a range.

Not in Wa anymore but I know there is a bunch of team riders there, check out the switch web page and arrange a meeting to try it out.

Go to www.kiteforum.com, plenty of reviews on Switch Kites in the review section

I don't get it, even the thread title contains the word 'switch' and noones getting bagged out for pimping. I think the world has just become a friendlier place.
Col

Hi, I'm keen to know where I can try an Element 9m in Perth?

Windrange for the Element 9m with 85kg rider ona TT?

BTW - I tried the methods last year, not my cup of tea. I'd like better stability, less 'angry' power and something that sits further back in the window.

Good relaunch is a must have.

Theres several at my local beach though i have never flown one. They always seem to be the kites crashing into the water more than others.

is this a problem with the kites? i'm not sure. perhaps its because the price point is cheaper they appeal to newbies more and therefore theres less skilled people using them?

i have seen some dudes ripping on them too.....

so my advcie is fairly pointless!!!!.

^^^^At least you got the last bit rightlol

ive had a close look and go of the nitro 12, the kite looks very well made ,better than some brands that have been around for a while, the bar is pretty simple with depower cleat,the safety looked a bit on the cheap side but worked well, i flew the kite in 20 to 25knts very powerful kite which i love, the bar pressure was heavy but not over the top, boost was good and floaty felt at home on it , similar to my ozone edge , upwind found it ok but not great, turning speed quite slow but i dont know how it was set up, when the gusts came you could feel it but it wasnt silly, for the money they seem a bargain , but after a years use id like to have another look

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Plummet said...

Theres several at my local beach though i have never flown one. They always seem to be the kites crashing into the water more than others.

is this a problem with the kites? i'm not sure. perhaps its because the price point is cheaper they appeal to newbies more and therefore theres less skilled people using them?

i have seen some dudes ripping on them too.....

so my advcie is fairly pointless!!!!.

Absolute crap Plummet. These are good kites, and by the way, I fly Ozone.

The Switch Element is a great alround kite, easy to fly and would be my pick of their kites for the surf. The other models are more specialized. Check out their website for details on the other models.

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Hunter S said...

Plummet said...

Theres several at my local beach though i have never flown one. They always seem to be the kites crashing into the water more than others.

is this a problem with the kites? i'm not sure. perhaps its because the price point is cheaper they appeal to newbies more and therefore theres less skilled people using them?

i have seen some dudes ripping on them too.....

so my advcie is fairly pointless!!!!.

Absolute crap Plummet. These are good kites, and by the way, I fly Ozone.

The Switch Element is a great alround kite, easy to fly and would be my pick of their kites for the surf. The other models are more specialized. Check out their website for details on the other models.








What is crap, that they seem to be involved in a lot of crashes or that he has seen dudes ripping on them. Thought that he balanced out quite well...

i have had a few sessions on a combat and nitro. for you i would say the element. perfect all round kite for your $$$$

Yep if you read my post yourd notice i don't actually bag the kites. I just state what i have seen.

I know you seabrease guys bag carbrinhas for landing in trees and general bad flying.

round here the cabrinha riders are very good.... the switch riders might be the "cabrinha" of my area.

but i guess thats unfair to the rippers that are using the switch kites well.

hehehe another pointless post with no relavence!.

^^^^^^but you still got the last bit right.
I can see a patern forming here.

switch kites suck.

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Big eeeZeee said...

switch kites suck.

have you flown one???

They suck like a Thai pro.

And like a Thai pro they are better on the beach, and they don't cost a lot. And they are good for old blokes.

Ive already got a kite so I don't need to fly one. But I am happy to comment.

Was my advice useful?

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pedleym said...

Big eeeZeee said...

switch kites suck.

have you flown one???

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bjw said...

They suck like a Thai pro.

And like a Thai pro they are better on the beach, and they don't cost a lot. And they are good for old blokes.

Ive already got a kite so I don't need to fly one. But I am happy to comment.

Was my advice useful?

pedleym said...

Big eeeZeee said...

switch kites suck.

have you flown one???

Speaking of suck like a pro - shouldn't you be contributing to (yet another) BWS thread somewhere?

Method wasn't my cup of tea (not stable enough), but keen to try Element. Personally I like stable kites that sit deeper. Upwind is not a huge thing for me on my downwinders.

bjw, I guess if you have to bag the type of rider (ie old blokes) when they find a kite that suits them - stable or otherwise - then it says more about your feeble and narrow mind than someone open to finding gear that suits them, rather than the rent-a-crowd of sheeple.

TTs are bollocks, strapped surfboards are weak, stable kites for old buggers.. blah blah blah.

Get out and ride for your own enjoyment instead of comparing your.. ahem.. package.

After riding the combat for less than 6 months I can say I'm done with Switch. The Combat is a nice feeling kite and I will continue to fly my 13 but, if anyone wants an 11 hit me up I'll make you a good deal. These kites have had nothing but issues. I've sunk about $200 into repairs after owning my combats for about 6 months and I've moved onto another brand. Been kiting since 2008 and never had issues with any other brand. Flown SlingShot, Flexi, Best, Cabrinha... Maybe Switch will learn how to make a top quality kite but, so far I haven't seen it in the Combat.

Recap of my issues: batten pockets torn out (1st session on 13m), 3-4th on 11m, 11m center strut nearly torn off of the kite, bar is now tearing up on the grip, center line snapped after not showing much wear.

-Steve (ex team rider)

Pay peanuts

Get monkeys....


Nuff said. All these tight arses out there that want to get a cheapy kite, hope you enjoyed that lesson..

Team riders and pros ride the kites and make them look good.. They sell the novice a dream.. But that dream ends after a few months of use..

Is this not true?

Ahhhh.... Once again, switch suck.

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NoBS said...


Pay peanuts

Get monkeys....


Nuff said. All these tight arses out there that want to get a cheapy kite, hope you enjoyed that lesson..

Team riders and pros ride the kites and make them look good.. They sell the novice a dream.. But that dream ends after a few months of use..

Is this not true?

I have had a quiver of Switch kites for 16 months, all still in perfect condition so not true in my case.
The depower rope wore fairly quickly but that was a fairly cheap easy fix and I do use the one bar on all of my kites.
I had way more problems with a big name brand that I used to fly.
I used to be a regular at Hold the Lines getting kites repaired but haven't been back in over three years.

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tightlines said...
I have had a quiver of Switch kites for 16 months

I used to be a regular at Hold the Lines getting kites repaired but haven't been back in over three years.

So what you're saying is that the reliability of switch actually has nothing to do with it, and its probably more related to your kiting ability.

(3 years = 36 months and you have only had switch for 16 months so you had 20 months of repair free kiting prior to that)

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Saffer said...

So what you're saying is that the reliability of switch actually has nothing to do with it, and its probably more related to your kiting ability.

(3 years = 36 months and you have only had switch for 16 months so you had 20 months of repair free kiting prior to that)

All I know is that a first time poster comes on here and bags the quality of Switch kites (I am not saying he didn't have issues and if he did then yeah sure he is welcome to tell us about them) and then others (NoBS and Big eeeZeee) add their comments about quality and that you get what you pay for.

Have either of you two actually owned/flown a Switch kite?

I personally would never knock a kite I have not owned/flown or at least had first hand knowledge of genuine issues with.

When I first started kiting I used a couple of the big name brands and one in particular gave me no end of trouble, some of it could have been related to my kiting ability (or lack of) but most was simply due to stitching giving way on struts and leading edge.

Three years ago I switched to a cheaper brand kite (Eclipse Kima) not because they were cheaper but simply because I liked the way they flew. I know the company had some issues but I flew those kites heaps for two years and could not fault the quality of the kites at all.

Then in February last year I went over to Switch kites and apart from the depower rope wearing fairly fast (which was simple and cheap to replace and rectify), I have not had any quality issues.

Any kites can fall apart if not treated properly, one good pounding from a wave or a few hard, powered up slams into the water can destroy any kite.

stever shared his experience I just want to share mine you don't have to agree.

i like the nuking kiteloops at the end.

i watched that the other day and was thinking of linking it! must have forgot :/ yeah awesome vid i love jacobs 'go hard or go home' approach