Biggest kitebrand in the world?

[Toby]

If we all pull together to promote the sport posititively, rather than starting pissing matches about who is biggest then we should be able to ensure the future of the sport and availability of great kit for all of us.

including some industry standards we, the customers, ALL want!

- same QR system
- same colors on bars
- same color code on lines
- same kook proof system

We don 't ask for much, but we know it will be worth it!

If the companies want to grow, this is what it needs...just to be safer!

[Dave_5280]

Some indicators of companies market share might also include:

1. The number of reviews submitted at online forums for each brand.
2. The number and size of advertising in kite magazines.
3. The number of dealers in each area.
4. The size of their product lines - number of kite models, harness models, board models, etc.
5. If you could get to it, royalties paid to patent holders for bow kite, pulley bars and other patented elements.
6. The number of used kites for sale online by brand.

[surfingwithkites]

I don't really care who markets their stuff the best or who sells tons of crappy kites because they sell them cheap. It is no indicator of performance or quality. I can't even count the times some guy has said, "check out my new kite, I only paid xxxx". It's a joke. I just like good kites that actually perform well. I'd pay top dollar for a kite better than what I have now if I could find it. Even if it was handsewn by elves. Support quality, not quantity.

I still think everyone owes Will James a buck for inventing kook proof lines and not "patenting" it unlike every nice person who thinks up some widget in this industry and runs for his lawyer. That's the real reason there is no standardized gear.

[Toby]

kook proof came from Will?

for Will!

Yes, it would be nice if everyone is a nice person, no?

[Rockstar]

I don't think that you could patent kook proof knots. They don't actually exist as an entity,,just a configuration.

They are still a huge benefit to the kiting World. So simple,yet so effective.
Thanks to Will James for coming up with that idea . Must have saved countless disasters.
If I get the chance I will buy him a ccouple of beers !

Thanks for letting us know about that SWK.

Out of interest,where did the Larks head knot connection come from ?

I have only seen it used for kites. Was it a kite specific idea ?

[callaloo_kiter]

Why the bashing of Cabrinha???? I have a Crossbow 1 12m bought in October 2005 and it is still rock solid. It is used at least once a week all year round. Also have a Crossbow 3 (sizes 7 & 9) and I could not be happier. Owned Naish and Wipika before and have tried Best, no way I am going to change from Cabbie. At least not until something groundbreaking is developed elsewhere.

My take is simply that you get what you pay for!

[Jeeens]

If we all pull together to promote the sport posititively, rather than starting pissing matches about who is biggest then we should be able to ensure the future of the sport and availability of great kit for all of us.

including some industry standards we, the customers, ALL want!

- same QR system
- same colors on bars
- same color code on lines
- same kook proof system

We don 't ask for much, but we know it will be worth it!

If the companies want to grow, this is what it needs...just to be safer!

Why do you wan't the same QR realease? The only thing you uptain with this, is that the develoment of the QR stops.

[sq225917]

What the QR market needs is for a very good mechanical engineer and production experienced designer to design a unit for everyone to use, the issue with this is that different brands wnat different features so standardization will never occur even if one designer makes a truly perfect QR, someone will want it to do something it cant.

for me the perfect Qr is as follows.

1. load independant release pressure.
2. left or right handed.
3. can accomodate a depower line stopper ball, and can safely bypass this.
4. allows the use of a secondary safety, double-line depower, bypass leash, 5th line, i don't care as long as it fires when i drop the bar.
5. it has to be marine proof and good for loads over 500kg forever.
6. Must be able to integrate into a bar with trim strap or cleat and must be spinnable.

and that's a mighty long list, and i'm sure some people don't want some of those and want some other things instead.

[Toby]

Why do you wan't the same QR realease? The only thing you uptain with this, is that the develoment of the QR stops.

if we find one that has the features sq describes, there is no need to try to invent the wheel again.
Littel improvements can make it better. But now we have many semi good...the development goes on since 2002. Now it is 6 years later, we still have nothing "bombproof".

[bigwave]

In order to have an "industry standard" bar/safety system you would have to get all the players(Cab,North Best etc) to the table . This of course would be extremely difficult, yes/no? If a single system was adopted , I think it would be a win/win for the consumer and the manufacturer. The consumer would get all the benefits of standard system,the manufactures I think would get the benefit of lower cost for R/D and production. A standard bar would be mass produced for every brand. The cost would be lower than the individual systems we have now. The consumer would benefit with reduced cost.
Now I realize this scenario is maybe a little far fetched and maybe to black and white but really, how are we going to get a standard system. Personally, with all the kites being very good, I take a long hard look at the bars and safety systems to make a choice of which brand to ride. Safety is ,and should be our # 1 priority. What do ya think ?