"Whatever happens 2006 is looking good for kiters, just wish they'd address the costs my wife is going nuts."

Hi I snipped this from A post on the forum.
this is a well worn path but I think that kiteboarding does not have be expensive.
Eg
*USED
there is a guy who rides here on an 03 kite and board that is so flogged out that the trailing edge flaps like an old buzz stunt kite and it is almost see through ,yet he is often the fist and last out on his kite,boosts well and always has a big smile
*New standard designs
There are the plenty of cheap new kites at shops and net /direct deals they work fine
*New innovative designs
Quite a few options here also .premium price on some with greater range per size bringing them into line with cheaper options.(pimp warning) For example .I have just got back from a photo shoot for a well known Sydney paper.The story is about an upcoming Antarctic snow kite expedition.It is very important to have a reliable kite with good performance and excellent range to cut down on volume and weight that needs to be carried(ie smaller quiver) .We were using PLK venoms.The standout was the 16 which handled the 12-26 range (lulls and gusts)Incedently these are at the lower to mid end in the price scale per size.I was on the 19 and it was a bit sketchy in the big gusts ,16 can be worked and internally adjusted to cover the low end(End of pimp)

Also by adjusting kite line length via halving lines or using shorter lines for the strong days or adding extensions for the light days or using different boards you can really extend the top and bottom end of any kite effectively giving a one or 2 kite quiver .

all the best

Lach

Mr Float, certainly good comments here, though I think the person who said that on the "Cabrinha have picked the wrong name" thread was having a sarcastic dig. However you are prefectly correct. Used I think is the way to go, I have two Kites (04 and 05) both Cabrinhas, bought each at 50% new cost and were only used a dozen times so pretty much immaculate. The Crossbow will come out on the second hand market before you know probably early next year, but they all do the same thing, give you serious enjoyment.

As for the cost, ha, Kiting is cheap, the more you go out the cheaper it becomes I guess, however, I do know of hobbies that will cost you in excess of $500 per hour and not much lower than $200 per hour.

Cheers, have fun with any gear, and bring on the wind.

Do you smoke??

Don't smoke = at least one new kite A YEAR !

Unfortunately,I had to cut down on my drinking to support my kite habit !

Problem solved,
get a Beer company to sponser you, get them to pay for your kite and put their logo on it, them ask them to pay you in beers.

MMMMMMhhhhhh Beer

Someone was sponsored by Boags a couple of years ago .I remember free beer coupons at a party at the nationals in Melbourne.
(How quickly a discussion turns to beer)