I disagree with both of these points. As energy costs and Asian wages go up, there will be more and more incentive for manufacturers to bring production back to where the company is headquartered. Globalization will likely end before the coming global collapse of the world economy. You've got a decade or two before it's game over, so enjoy it while you can.

As far as NAFTA goes, it is only "fair" for the exploiters. People in Mexico might have gotten a few jobs out of it, but they are really horrible jobs and it's just another form of colonialism.

relax soon enough (ok maybe not soon enough) you'll be making all these products at home. 3d printing will take care of most of your needs.

Buy a design in the morning, print at home, or at the nearest walmart print center. Go kiting in the afternoon. Once you are done, stuff your board back into the machine and recycle to make another.

Scotty beem me up !

brilliant!

Well they are working on that too. They have successfully transferred matter via a "beam".

...but really check out 3-d printing. It will be awesome.

most of camrig is made in USA http://www.camrig.com
of the kiteboarding gear I have in my inventory...
aguera course board. pretty sure these made in maui http://alexaguera.com/
new mth board made in reno. http://www.mthboards.com
engine harness on order. made in cali. https://shop.ride-engine.com/
rista fins made in maui. http://ristafins.com/

also check out what some of my friends in the gorge have been making

http://bellacerakiteboards.com

http://www.blueshedshaping.com/

http://www.doylesports.com/

But from where the raw material (f.ex plastic) is coming to your 3d printer? Or if the kite is sewn in USA but from where the fabric is originating? How much energy does it cost to recycle, clean and process old plastic used as a surfboard?

Producing goods is much more than final assembly.

How much in the kite's price is because of materials, production and final assembly? Only people like Dimitri knows the truth.

What portion of kite's price is salaries (mother company employees, fully sponsored riders), rents, marketing, returns, defects, tax, "accounting company", shipping costs (factory to sales). All must be included in the price of kite/board/goods. And some profit for the owners of the company.

This might be the best quote on kiteforum ever...

+1 for MTHboards. Stringy and another local just received their custom boards. I placed my order for one last week. High quality custom twin tips. He can do pretty much whatever shape you want out of paulownia, carbon, glass, divinicell, cedar, etc. and he will even do custom graphics inlays for you.

BTW, It appears right now a custom MTH board costs less then the switch board