Re: Health of Kite Industry?
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:55 am
Have spoken to a number of retailers over here, and they say that over the past 2 years, SUP sales have kept them afloat. So all your observations on SUPS I believe are correct from a 'coal face' retailers perspective.
I also agree the kite technology differences between each year is getting rapidly smaller, I wouldn't say they have been the same for 5 years, the last three would be more accurate. 2009 to 2010 was when, (in my opinion) the current kite technology was really starting to maximise. We are now at the nearing the very top of that curve and need a revolutionary change in approach to have another 'game changer'.
It's like a caterpillar that tries to run faster and faster, when it needs to metamorphose into something completely different. Sorry about the lame metaphor!
Not sure about the negative attitude to the big companies etc, I'd like to think on the 'ground' the people involved are still trying to produce the next and best product. You have to in any market to stay afloat.
But yes the margins are getting tighter, lots of second hand gear and I agree it is the crew like us that have been around a while that are not the market generators. That is why we are getting soooo many plug and play style kites, not many brands are really pushing the envelope like in the older days. But that's normal.
Hey in the end, I'm just stoked I get to kite on kites that are much better than between 2000 and 2009!
ps....hey I just bought a SUP to, what does that tell ya! Man it works ya hey, much harder than I thought, I woke up feeling like Id been hit with a hammer. Maybe my first session shouldnt have been in 10-13 knots breeze, with swell rolling in! LOL.
I also agree the kite technology differences between each year is getting rapidly smaller, I wouldn't say they have been the same for 5 years, the last three would be more accurate. 2009 to 2010 was when, (in my opinion) the current kite technology was really starting to maximise. We are now at the nearing the very top of that curve and need a revolutionary change in approach to have another 'game changer'.
It's like a caterpillar that tries to run faster and faster, when it needs to metamorphose into something completely different. Sorry about the lame metaphor!
Not sure about the negative attitude to the big companies etc, I'd like to think on the 'ground' the people involved are still trying to produce the next and best product. You have to in any market to stay afloat.
But yes the margins are getting tighter, lots of second hand gear and I agree it is the crew like us that have been around a while that are not the market generators. That is why we are getting soooo many plug and play style kites, not many brands are really pushing the envelope like in the older days. But that's normal.
Hey in the end, I'm just stoked I get to kite on kites that are much better than between 2000 and 2009!
ps....hey I just bought a SUP to, what does that tell ya! Man it works ya hey, much harder than I thought, I woke up feeling like Id been hit with a hammer. Maybe my first session shouldnt have been in 10-13 knots breeze, with swell rolling in! LOL.