Kitesurfing is headed for harder times and so are many sporting recreational activities.

The younger generation are not interested in fringe sports or commitment. They are interested in tech, self promotion, indulgence and instant gratification with the least amount of effort and money required.

Cost ... what were we paying back in say 2002 for a kite. I can't quite remember but it was close to maybe 1500 odd for an airush lift dazza ?? Might have even been 2k. Please confirm.

So given inflation I'm not so sure it is "too expensive ". Economies of scale are well and truly set in place. But it didn't matter, we beg borrowed and went without (well I did anyway) to get on the water.

Go and look at an electric mountain bike or any decent high end bike. What about a jet ski ? What does one of your paraglider thingies cost caushecan by the way, can't be cheap. Bro just bought a fishing boat that would pay for my kiting needs for the next 5-7 years!! And it wasn't an expensive one either.

Its not expensive comparatively.

On another note causehecan does make posts posts interesting to read. I'm all for his zany comments really lol.

End of the day, can not put a price on a great kite session with mates and even better having your kids enjoy the same and watching them grow into the sport.

Like any sport the future is in encouraging the youth and providing them with opportunities to socialise and kite together, whether it be in competitions or organised activities. Kite companies need to embrace this and develop gear to suit.

Oh WOW... bring out the popcorn...you gotta love it.

One dumb arse troll states that kiting will cripple all kids who participate and it is on for young and old.
I would just like to say, "Thankyou", for providing me with a little light entertainment for the evening as there was nothing on tv

Now I have only been to a couple of third world countries and they where areas where kiting was regularly practiced by tourists. I have never seen a local kid in a crippling state due to kiting to young.

causehecan said..
Go to the countless islands and villages thru out the developing countrys where kite tourism has been for last 20 years and look for yourself at the droves of crippled kids hobbled over hand walking like 80 year old steel fixers because theyre parents pulled them from school and forced them to be kitesurfers.

Or you know use your head and wonder if something that can pull a yacht should be attached to a childs spine.

General rule of thumb is if they cant do weight lifting cause theyre spine isnt fully developed then they cant kitesurf yet

I call bull**** on this. Coming from a farming background, it was a matter of pride to be able to throw bales of hay onto a truck/trailer as a kid or try and lift anything an adult could. There was a great sense of invulnerability and crashing dirt bikes, dealing with sheep and cattle etc were seen as normal last century. My back is pushing 60 and has been no trouble my entire life. Much of which was in physically demanding work.
And if you research a bit deeper you'll find that when teenagers lift weights it increases their physical strength and their bone strength index (BSI)
It also results in decreasing fracture risk and rates of sports-related injury.

So get your kids kitesurfing, it's f$#*ing good for them!

causehecan said..
Go to the countless islands and villages thru out the developing countrys where kite tourism has been for last 20 years and look for yourself at the droves of crippled kids hobbled over hand walking like 80 year old steel fixers because theyre parents pulled them from school and forced them to be kitesurfers.

Or you know use your head and wonder if something that can pull a yacht should be attached to a childs spine.

General rule of thumb is if they cant do weight lifting cause theyre spine isnt fully developed then they cant kitesurf yet

This is what I've been saying all along...

Is what is wrong with our children today. More cotton wool around kids is what is needed.

RAL INN said..
Maybe this thread needs to separate into sections
1. The industry
2. The sport
3. The woosie weakies weeded out at childhood.

1. What the girl said
2. Kiting is a hobby. It's not athletic enough to be a sport.
3. Kiting shouldn't be done by anyone 15 yo. Appropriate sports below:

beefarmer said..
Based on my occasional brouse through the forums of late I've come to the conclusion causehecan is just stiring **** for giggles.

But there seem to be an awful lot of people taking the hook and running with it. Am i missing something here?

Nope you are on it I reckon. And a few of us think causehecan and amirite are the same person! He used to work in the industry for a very well known retailer (No not KP).....

NEWS FLASH people....the current health crisis crippling third world and developing countries is not ebola, dysentery, malaria, malnutrition, poor water quality or dengue but kite surfing!! World Health Officials are trying to stem the current outbreak of a new health issue hitting these unfortunate countries....wing surfers!

I doubt if a kite could put a load of 350kg on a kids back, or anyone for that matter. For a 50kg kid that would be pulling 7G.

The load is created by the power in the kite and the tension in the lines. No tension in the lines means no load on the rider. The only way you're going to get a lot of tension on the lines is to be a heavy unit and/or to edge really hard.

The bulk of the time the load on the lines would be some proportion of your body weight. If you load up hard and pop then arguably the load would be your body weight plus a bit more. I doubt if the load ever approaches 2G.

We've had a few 8 year old kiters at our local. One has gone on to be a world class competitor. The others keep at it and end up pretty good kiters. Some give up to do other stuff. I've seen that scenario repeat several times.

I have seen similar outcomes in other sports. Hard core competitive dad ends up with a son that is equally hard core and competitive in some other sport. That seems perfectly reasonable to me.

The main factor has been the parents. Some push the kids to be just like dad, with varying degrees of success. Others the kids just can't get enough of it and dad ends up being their kite caddy.

causehecan said..
The witch hunting for who i am is getting interesting. Ive been accused of being several different people. And even multiple people at once.

I'm confused to what is my crime?

Pointed out that kites dont last for 2000 hours and that having a rope around a kids back and yanking him to the tune of 350kgs is bad for them?

Not exactly mind blowing.

I think the real situation is that you all think im somebody.... Somebody some of you dont like? Why?

Or is it just someone new has joined the knitting circle so theres alot of gossiping going on and a possible adjustment in the tribal standing?

Btw as for the youth in sport.... Its embaressing reading all of you talk about it. Honestly.

E sports we have teenagers in australia winning millions of dollers cash far greater then any of your coveted sports and hobbys would ever net them and you say theyre weak and lazy? E sport athletes are performing on a level you cant even comprehend. And its hilarious just how proudly ignorant alot of you are.

I personally don't give a flying pigs grunt who you are, but it's highly entertaining with or without pants and a mullet riding a horse.

Theres only one clear path for kitesurfing and thats for it to take to the skys.

The water boys with fast sunglasses are going to start copying the snow kiters and doing big jumps off mountains and cliffs and landing in water.

causehecan said..
Hay you know what would save your kids spines? Windwings! Get em while theyre hot

I hope ive pointed out exactly how this whole game works.

I should change my name to atticus

You're probably right about that, makes an extremely safe alterative for kids to enjoy the power of the wind with no consequence.
Personally I'm teaching my kids to windsurf (eldest is now hooked). For me the risks of kiting were to high ,for someone else maybe not in their assessment.

Ok I'll bite.
For the record, I am Lofty - not "causehecan" - nothing personal @chc. I actually find his banter quite funny and stirring, unlike the usual stagnant discussions here recently, so thanks Steve M for raising this thread.
Speaking of Stevo - I spoke a while back with him during his "Ozone Tour of NQ". I admit I was left with a sour-taste in my mouth, but frankly that is what the industry is like. Friends? LOL! What friends? If any they are those with thick wallets. Everyone else are "fans" and "noobs".
It reminds me of my mobile DJ-ing days back in the 80s and the massive amount of ego and backstabbing that went around. If you don't have a thick-skin in this, you get nowhere. And the hype around localism - I laugh. This is not the cemented surfboard industry! They know what true localism is and it's been around for over 40 years! How old is this sport really? 20 years? And we still call it an "extreme" sport? LOL
Unfortunately, it seems to be the way within any profession or trade - you have to take the good and hold on to it as much as you can - and deal with the bad just as easily. You know the saying, "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!".
This is why my Northern Kites Australia business is still running - repairs, sales and lessons. That's it. It's a simple formula that works, and I don't have any agreement with anyone or any brand. I simply buy, recondition and on-sell. I owe no one anything!
Like many here said, the justification to spend over $2000 on new or near new equipment is beyond the reach of most people - of people of ANY age. Kids want to do this to feed their adrenaline and impress their peers and girl-friends, and us old farts love it because it's an escape from the kids, family and jobs. It keeps us fit.
So the sport will survive I have no doubt, but the market has to look at it from all angles - from low income to high income, from kids up and from all nationalities. The days of feeding "elitists and heroes" of the sport are over. They have to feed themselves and they do.
Until institutions including the IOC and others, take kite-surfing as a genuine mainstream sport and we get away from this "extreme - I am a hero attitude - sport" BS, then we'll always be "fringe" and sales will suffer because of it. Most kite stores rely on lessons, clothing, accessories or their parents! Why is it they don't go into shopping centers!? Nuff said.
Finally, for all the naysayers, stirrers, and other BS artists I've come across in this hobby - thanks! No seriously thanks. You've made me stronger and more determined. You've taught me how NOT to relate to customers and people, and hey... your losses are my wins! Keep going the way you have always been.

The next problem for kiters is more expensive materials such as ORs Aluula fabric.

If a kite ends up lasting twice as long for 50% more expense, it'll scare off new kiters and kiting will go the way of windsurfing.

Yes, they could still build cheaper kites, but they just won't sell if the tech is better.