I've got a decision to make and I'm interested what you guys would do in the same situation, so let me put this to you;

You've been gifted with a $500 expenditure on anything you want, you can't take the cash, it has to be spent.

So of course without question the purchase has got to be kiting related

You've already got one kite (11m), a harness and board (TT) and impact/flotation vest;
What would you buy?

I've thought about a surfboard, but wasn't sure whether to get one with straps or one without straps that I can try and learn to surf with when there's no wind.

Bow and arrow(s) or air riffle for de-kiting the sky

definatly a surfboard

Hi Oceanfire,

For $500 you can get yourself an HD GoPro with a bag of accessories and probably a twin tip board bag or hoody or somesuch other stuff.

Perhaps a 2nd hand or ex demo lightwind TT board???

$500 should get you a swag of accessories and options or s decent second hand kite (kite only). Just a few suggestions

DM

why not get a smaller kite for those windier days?
i have a 7m rev2 in excellant condition u can have for 500

Some good suggestions guys

I was thinking along the surfboard line, but I still really need to get dialled in properly on the TT before I get one.

I can't believe I forgot about the GoPro!
I've always wanted to get one and I reckon there's not enough entertaining stack videos on here for your amusement.
If I try really hard I can do a pretty good water face plant

But then there's the second kite option.
My preference there would be to get a smaller 2010 Waroo to match my 11m, but I don't think the $500 would cut it, even for just the kite.
I got by last 'season' on the 11m, so maybe I can wait before I get a second one, even though I'd love to get one.

Looks like the GoPro is winning the race

I reckon you should buy OK's kite, then you got a free surfy to... Buying a new surfboard to kite on is not really worth it most of the time (unless you got some moneys), you will just ding it up and break it anyway.

DUDE said...

I'd get a Branson impact vest

Ahhhh, hes got 500 bucks... not 500 million.

richard branson immmmpact vest with a front zip?

strez said...

skimboard for light wind days . whole range of strapless skills to be learnt on those useless light wind days that will transfer straight onto surfboard , wakeskate or naish alaia [}:)]

As fun as a skimmer can be it has become apparent to me that for the most part they are a useless item. Why? you might say... Well I will give you my reasons.
1. You may think skimboards are cheap, which on face value they are, however if you want a skimboard that actually works alright they are not really that cheap.
2. A skim board is not really that useful, yes you can learn to do a shuvit without popping the board off the water, but thats about it.
3. Light wind fun can be had on a skimmer, but if you live near waves a surfboard is a much better thing to spend you money on for lightwind fun.
4. A skim board is by no means a wakeskate, if you want to start wakeskating, buy a wakeskate. (don't be fooled into thinking wakeskating is a light wind option, wakeskating you need more wind than anything).

Basically a skimboard is a novelty item, if you have money for one sure go get one and muck around. However a decent skimboard makes a big difference, I rode a few cheap models and thought they were crap, until one of my mates who was right into skimming gave me a $1000 Exile carbon skimmer. This thing was insane, you could go in hardly any wind, and it was that light you could pretty much do a boost and it would just stick to your feet. Point being, you get what you pay for.

That's easy, it's a windfall gain to you. Donate it to a 3rd world charity. The starving children will get far more from it than you. Your soul will reap rich rewards.
Good Karma
Col

^^^ what he said.

$500 will buy you sweet fa in kiting gear. A couple of harnesses. A third of a surf board? A half a TT? A quarter of a kite?

Donate it to Oxfam and buy a few goats and some cows and stuff for people who really need it.

Your family might even think you're actually a decent human being and give you more good stuff.

Gorgo said...

^^^ what he said.

$500 will buy you sweet fa in kiting gear. A couple of harnesses. A third of a surf board? A half a TT? A quarter of a kite?

Donate it to Oxfam and buy a few goats and some cows and stuff for people who really need it.

Your family might even think you're actually a decent human being and give you more good stuff.

give some to surfaid
www.surfaidinternational.org/
spend the rest on that other kiting essential..... beer
raises your popularity and your talent always increases exponentially after you have had few..ask anyone post kiting events at the bar!

Dude just buy smaller kite, the 11 is fun but a slow pigdog compared to an eight...

Unless you like to sit and watch When Nukeing
Hmm that's ok too as we need more pro kite launch/landers in Perth lol

sir ROWDY said...

As fun as a skimmer can be it has become apparent to me that for the most part they are a useless item. Why? you might say... Well I will give you my reasons.
1. You may think skimboards are cheap, which on face value they are, however if you want a skimboard that actually works alright they are not really that cheap.
2. A skim board is not really that useful, yes you can learn to do a shuvit without popping the board off the water, but thats about it.
3. Light wind fun can be had on a skimmer, but if you live near waves a surfboard is a much better thing to spend you money on for lightwind fun.
4. A skim board is by no means a wakeskate, if you want to start wakeskating, buy a wakeskate. (don't be fooled into thinking wakeskating is a light wind option, wakeskating you need more wind than anything).

Basically a skimboard is a novelty item, if you have money for one sure go get one and muck around. However a decent skimboard makes a big difference, I rode a few cheap models and thought they were crap, until one of my mates who was right into skimming gave me a $1000 Exile carbon skimmer. This thing was insane, you could go in hardly any wind, and it was that light you could pretty much do a boost and it would just stick to your feet. Point being, you get what you pay for.

yeah rowdy's right your in wa get a surfboard i live in cairns where big surf is nonexistant nor is real surf for that matter . sorry for my oversight