Hey everybody!
I've been reading around for a good while now (a year or two) but I never registered. So I thought it's time to change that and finally ask a question.
Ah yeah, and thanks for all the answers you've already given me over the last two years. ;-)
The short version of my question is this:
How do I find out about demo opportunities on the Gold Coast, preferably not too far from Burleigh?
The slightly longer version:
I own a 2007 Liquid Force Havoc 14m. Without wanting to waste too much energy on explaining to you why I need a new kite, suffice to say it's dead. And I'm over it. And I get f***ing angry at it. Especially in suboptimal wind, which we've had enough of lately. So I get angry too much too often. Not good. I want to get back to having fun.
But I digress...
I might be able to get a good deal on either a 2010 Switchblade 12m or a 2010 Bandit 3 11m. Unfortunately, I can't compare them before I buy one of them. I was told the 11m Bandit has more power than the 12m Switchblade. But I'm not sure I trust that (what do you guys think?), so I thought I'd fly them both at demo days.
Turns out I have no idea where. I found two in this forum so far:
Roar Waterman's Shop on the 16/17.10.2010, and
Kitepower on the 3/10/2010.
But neither of them has the Bandit (why is that? In other countries Bandits are really popular despite the price). So does anybody have an idea where I might be able to test a Bandit?
How do demos work anyway? Can I only test the gear they bring along or can I go to a shop that sells Bandits (does anybody know one) and ask them if they have a demo kite?
And to stray from the original question even more: how would you compare 11m Bandit and 12m Switchblade? I also own a 9m Switchblade, so I know it and the 12m should be fine for me in most winds. But I wouldn't mind having two different kites, just to keep things interesting. It's just that I've never had a Bandit in my hands, so I don't really know what to expect. And then it's 1m smaller. I had some fun with a 10m Naish the other day, and that was quick and fun, but I was waaay underpowered (83kg and twin tip). So 11m does sound a bit small to me...
Sorry for rambling. I hope somebody will answer my original question... ;-)
Cheers!
You can drop into most kite stores and ask for a demo. Some shops demo one or two kites, some only demo the owner and team riders personal kites, and some (like us :) demo one of everything.
We don't sell F-one, so we don't have a demo. To ride one you'll need to find a store that does sell them - Off the top of my head Briskites in Brisbane and Adventure Sports Noosa up on the sunny coast do.
The 11m Bandit does have a little more power than the 12m Switchblade. It's the design - Delta kites = more power. Similar kites are the Slingshot Rally and Core GTS.
We'll have demos of the Rally and GTS, as well as a van full of other kites and boards at the Wello demo this weekend. Come up and compare the Rally with the Switchblade for a similar power comparison.
Thanks for the info, Rhys! I'll try to be there on Sunday. The demo is on Sunday, right? Not Saturday?
Let's hope there will be wind!
Surf FX demo days are coming up in the next few weeks. Keep an eye on this forum, surf fx facebook and their web site. Or stop in and see if there is one available for the day.
Surf FX demo days are October 16th and 17th at either shearwater or oatland esplanade depending on the wind direction. see you there :)
Will bring the shinn boards for you guys !
Probably kfc lab, or biggera waters watch the news posts for dates!
yep will be down with the shinn twintips tomorrow see the events for locations!!!
