Biggest Kite Markets in the USA

[Kitemanmuc]

Hey,

Does anyone have any info on how many kiters are approximately in the US and what the biggest markets are?

[KiteboardingTampaBay]

message expired

[Da Yoda]

By city or state?
Based on a 2014 survey about the used kite market, I'd say
#1 market = California
#2 = Oregon
#3 = Florida
I believe Texas, the Carolina's, and the North East regions are strong too.
Since the survey is dated, I'm sure some things have swayed a bit.
My bet is CA is still a leading market. Northern CA alone has 11 kite shops and the most amount of schools listed in the entire US (last check was 16).
http://www.thekiteboarder.com/2014/02/k ... et-trends/

Edit: To add to my statement, CA is also where the following brands are either HQ'ed or their US distribution is HQ'ed...
F-One/Manera
RRD
Mystic
Axis
Litewave
Xenon
Underwave
Caution
Firewire
Hydroflex

Ride Engine also has its roots in CA.
Best's US office is located in San Francisco and they just opened up a showroom with Mafia Bags in SF.

[Do-it]

Oh no.....selling the Van?

[Starsky]

Oh no.....selling the Van?

haha!

[PullStrings]

Oh no.....selling the Van?

haha!

A steal at only 15 grand

[KiteboardingTampaBay]

Glad you guys think its funny. I'd laugh too if we didn't have some serious issues going on with our park officials right now. Its not a laughing matter anymore.

We had a 'van brand' try to sell gear/ services to THE park manager at a Pinellas County park, and they're now working undercover out there, cops patrolling and running people's tag #, etc.
It's a direct result of attitudes just like you guys, so laugh it up. A lot of our locals are just like you, too. They think being funny and all the social media crap actually matters in this sport. It doesn't.

The good thing is that many of our kiters are sensible people and see that we've lost an important friendship with the county, and that none of the noobs really care. So, sensible kiters agree its time to drop the hammer (i.e. Report them all) on the commercial activity, wannabee instructors with no insurance or legit biz, and all their shitty attitudes. I'm glad to see it, because I worked a lot of years trying to keep the peace, and do nice things for the parks and in the community to build positive relations.
Nobody wants to get along or work together thru these issues-, so fine the city and county officals can handle it and unfortunately, it may be an end to land-based instruction in this area.

Glad you had fun at my expense. Enjoy!

[Starsky]

Easy now, not meaning to be mean or offend..... It was a pretty funny comment. Pretty sure it was thrown out there in jest.

We are as much the sensible people you speak of as much as the ones looking for humour on a forum.

Sad to hear your area is under access pressure, but certainly not surprising. The bubble will get bigger before it bursts. Neither am I surprise many who have worked hard with all the right intentions are fatiguing and getting out of the kite lessons/gear game. Very few spots have the set up to pull it off. The ones that do have the local juice to sustain a decent shop are big enough now to make most of their bucks online.

There will always be a very small industry for the little guy, but the big fish have already settled in at the prime spots.

[KiteboardingTampaBay]

You're one of the ones I like on here, brother. The other two above are anonymous assclowns in my book.
Yeah, I've tried hard for this community, and officially clocking out- the big dogs can handle it from here.
It's a shame because we do have the perfect setup for teaching here- killer flat water, park right on the beach, and our park officals are just awesome people. They've let us operate "under the radar" since the sport began because they know there a need for good instruction in this sport. It truly doesn't get any better than that.

Fort Desoto Park is where this latest issue happened and it's our premeire spot for sure. As it was the park manager himself who initiated this "undercover" stuff, its a real big deal.

[PullStrings]

R U still selling your BIZ ?.....remember laughter is the best medicine