No one reply till my popcorn is ready please.

Kids don't want to race, so that's not surprising. I'm in China now and with the TT races there's basically no kids at all and the few that are here and competed said it's too boring.

In my opinion (which is worthless) kite-racing as an Olympic class should be like boardcross. What's the point of sailing in circles on a kite if you don't make use of the things a kite can do? A lot of people find sailing boring, so naturally they would think the same of kite-racing in a sailing format.

As for kids in general, I would say there were far more Groms Aus-wide when I was a grom (12years ago) and I would also say the level was probably higher on average. I believe this is for a combination of reasons;
1. Kites are expensive, so if your family isn't into Kiting it's not so likely that you will be able to afford it as a grom,
2. There's not many comps focused on getting all the groms and some older guys together and really pushing them to learn new tricks. The NKL is a good start but back in the day we had many contests and smaller meets and photoshoots for KBmag that really got all the groms excited to keep kiting and pushing themselves to progress. This also helped to recruit new groms in those areas that didn't have family who kited.

The only valid competition is red bull king of the air. And children shouldn't be in it because they're too young to die.

At $2000-$3000 per kite ( and you need more than one )
Is it any wonder that kids don't get into it ?

Poor strategy by the kite companies

harry potter said..
At $2000-$3000 per kite ( and you need more than one )
Is it any wonder that kids don't get into it ?

Poor strategy by the kite companies

Totally, I could have never afforded that without help from family and sponsors.

****, most kids down the skate park can't even afford new shoes and wheels, they are super excited when I give them my half worn out stuff.

plenty of cheap s/h gear around for kids to learn on but requires commitment and effort and unless they spend every second day at the beach there will not be much progress to be had

kids not interested in general as it is not mainstream and does not involve an electronic device

while I hope to get my kids riding with me one day I would rather they did well at school and got good jobs than become kite bums

Kid walks into kite shop.

Lessons $700
Kite $2500
But you need 2!
Board $1000
Harness $300
Wetsuit $450

Kid walks out of shop.....thinking kiters are elitist pricks.

If only he was directed to the buy and sell second hand market & given unbiased advice.

sir ROWDY said..
Kids don't want to race, so that's not surprising. I'm in China now and with the TT races there's basically no kids at all and the few that are here and competed said it's too boring.

In my opinion (which is worthless) kite-racing as an Olympic class should be like boardcross. What's the point of sailing in circles on a kite if you don't make use of the things a kite can do? A lot of people find sailing boring, so naturally they would think the same of kite-racing in a sailing format.

As for kids in general, I would say there were far more Groms Aus-wide when I was a grom (12years ago) and I would also say the level was probably higher on average. I believe this is for a combination of reasons;
1. Kites are expensive, so if your family isn't into Kiting it's not so likely that you will be able to afford it as a grom,
2. There's not many comps focused on getting all the groms and some older guys together and really pushing them to learn new tricks. The NKL is a good start but back in the day we had many contests and smaller meets and photoshoots for KBmag that really got all the groms excited to keep kiting and pushing themselves to progress. This also helped to recruit new groms in those areas that didn't have family who kited.

i remember the days when rowdy and Andy Yates were grommets.. I agree with Twintip racing being a bit boring but thats what they chose so every nation got a chance to enter. I will be a boarder cross style with clearing obstacles..We are working on a Olympic lead up program with KA and YA atm. Should be a great pathway and set us up good for high performance foiling at Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Just searched 4-8M kites, all brands all states, 46 search results, nothing over $1200 and the average price at a guess is around $600. So a kite does not have to cost 2500. Harnesses in kids sizes are around $250 used boards are harder to find in suitable sizes.
So its still a big commitment for a parent or family budget. Then it takes lessons and supervision from an instructor or someone who could be kiting, more commitment. Lots more supervision in the early stages = more commitment.

I think the pathway into the sport is more suitable to older youth and young adults, the ones that have a watersports background, are not screen addicts, and actually like to do outdoor things, don't have hovering helicopter parents, which probably leaves a small market.

81 pages of used kites of all sizes, thats 81 x 11 per page, lots of choice out there.

There were very few in the last generation - I see less in the next.

How does a sport that isn't a sport with more than a handful of people ever involved in the whole world become youth olympic I wonder.

If you look at the way kite businesses market, and target consumer demographics today, compared to 10 years ago... #youthfail #nostoke #foilboring #clickbar #buyingakiteislikebuyingamobilephoneplan2016 #designedand marketedformiddleageddoctorsthatthinktheycanbekailenny


"Youth kiteboarders - mentor one today!"