The worst kites that I have owned/seen were the 2002 Gaastra GXS and GSpot. They had a flat section in the center of the leading edge which had a spar fitted to it, and when under load, at either end of the spar the LE would bend and crease and after a certain amount of use cause a massive blow out at the crease, usually while being launched or relaunching[}:)]
Even without the spar fitted the LE would still bend/crease/BLOW
I had 3 GXS kites, and know of 3 GSpots, all blew out in the exact same place on the LE.
This obvious design fault was not considered warranty issue either, so it was just BAD all round.
PS. the early Sonics weren't much better either

Cam battens. Ha, that fad really took off eh!

Why north continue to use them is beyond me



Also slingshot's pull toward your body QR on their safety leash. Apparently a new one will be coming out with the RPM tho.




Another cracker innovation was those stupid short safety leashes that attach to your wrist so the kite loops when you try to pick your board up. (and Airush still use them)

Yes Axis I was asleep ....but now I am here to say that the LINK does definitely take the plum pudding for the worst BS kite I have had....

Maybe the next thread should read..." whats the worst after sales response you have had" then you may get a few CRAZY responses.....


SS can get stuffd!

Why do SS still use rope that wears after a few kites ie Rev and Rev2.

They have been having this prob for years and still don't fix it, i mean the prob has been around since 2001, i just dont get it.

i put my SB3 kite next to the Rev and can tell you they are just about exactly the same( I am sure the same holds true for SB4 and Rev 2), but could never fly one because of the maintentnace issues.

You think they would work it out, its 2009 after all.

What about the reel bar,
or turbo launcher,
or maybe the pickel fork with a leash
but my worst kite must be a wallend air foil
probably the ugliest was choicy's massive fiberglass twin tips he made years ago.
or remember pumping kites up with those tiny hand pumps that came with kites

This harness.....



enough said!!

I dont think it requires words !!!!!!!!!
( except to say this is regarded as the more stylish model )

That looks like Serena Williams from behind

Mmmmmmm!

the leash on the old naish bars that used a plastic snap buckle (like on a school backpack) to secure the leash to your harness, cmon, they had a load rating of about 20kg! caused a very long swim in for me.

Gaastra GXR, how the hell can an 8m kite jellyfish THAT much?

Old school North Defender (an probably other North boards of that era) they had Copper footstrap inserts that corroded and stripped out within 3 months

Old cabrinha safetly leash quick relese that had about 3 layers of velcro, requiring 7 hands and prefferably a pair of teeth to undo, quick release my @rse.

The print on the old cab CO2 etc that actually degraded the kite fabric it was stuck to and made the kite come apart! now that is good product research.

ahh, that feels better now

yep he`s been around for years and still rides that crap.
slides sideways , jumps around children right on the shore .
get a friken bar and a kite that floats and have respect for the area that you kite in for all our sakes.

its the ACME arse check 2000. If you don't get your board out quick enough, you don't need to worry with the ACME arse check 2000.

Kind of like an airbag for your balls?

This is an instructional on the inflatable thing. Its called a Go Joe. Never seen anyone use it before though so maybe its a myth.

Nothing beats the material they used on the 2006 North Rhino-Sure the kite is just a little hard to depower but it hasn't got one hole yet!! The only maintenance the actual kite has needed is some friction wear at the joints to the struts near the tips!! What happened to this kite material, the new stuff gets a hole from any sharp shell!!!

Otherwise I dont know a brand that hasn't had some bladder/valve leaking problem of some sort after a year.

The kite that falls out of the sky the easiest would be the RRD, give it a lil gust and it falls straight out of the sky!! usually straight over head so there is no chance of easy re-launch!

The best depower I've experienced would be on BEST kites, just push out and you stop! Aws for learning and trying crazy ****.

Crazyest kite I've riden 2007 12m North Vegas!! (Frankenstien) Yeah I know your thinkin 2007, i'm thinking 60 patches 4 bladder repairs and stitching galore!!! But flies beautifully.

Worst bars-slingshot and north-talk bout blisters on your hands by the end of the sesh!!

walshd said...

jordy said...


What the hell is that?

Geoff should get one so he can get to his board before you steel it

Yeah, though it woul;d have to be blowing 40 knots for him to be able to get down wind quick enough!