You dont have a dud...gaastras are good kites! The company isnt really that big in Australia though....only one store in Perth as far as I know that stocks it. Its just like f-one. Not that many people ride them down here but in Europe theyre pretty big. Besides which a kites a kite (to a certain extent!), its the rider behind the bar...someone like adam, dan or ryland will go nuts on any kite.

dude i got 8 12 16 gaastra visions and they are really nice kites to fly
i also still have a 16 stealth for sale if your interested see buy/sell 16m Gaastra 04
kiterdan is right they just arnt that big here in aus
dont worry it sounds like you have yours dialed and your havin fun thats all that matters

see ya on the water

If gaastra kites are so out dated and **** why are u the only one dising them eclerk, is it because you wished u had em?? Gasstra kites have only impressed me and i have had plenty of other kites to compare them with. If anyone is disapointed with their gaastra please let me know, cos otherwise i think ur on your own eclerk.

one reason you don't see many gaastra's is they had a couple of bad models, initialy it was the ones they put battons along the leading edge's to try to give the kite more projected area, then the first stealths and second year of gxr's jellyfished super badly, so bad gaastra were taking them back, and people waited a long long time to get the second stealths.

Another reason is the importer in aus doesn't seam to have done as much as other brands here to try to penetrate the market.

The visions, Second model stealths, orginal gxr's (for their time) are good kites tho... i think some of the force kites are passable as decent kites as well...

So that explains why we don't see that many of them - some of their models ARE good kites... BUT some of the models have jellyfish issues... BTW the double leading edge pheonix - does have jelly fish issues, but they are still a good performer in light winds...

I may be wrong but I heard Gaastra has been around for 100 yrs? Making sails mainly.
I have seen a Gaastra Vision 05 up close but never flown one. They have really good construction. Nice curved LE into the end end Strut. They claim an eliptical LE on some kites, I think Pheonix, for aerodynamics.

Euro kites seem to be really well made RRD,Gaastra,JN. As for flying I dont know if they are good or bad. All the best with it, good post, Im keen to learn more about them too. I read the zippers on the RRD are pretty average.

Elizabethb, I have a slingy and they are excellent,really tough and stable. not sure bout the others sorry. 5-6mt kite damn you must be tiny! Is this your 20knts+ kite? All the best with your choice!

Thanks Uber... Yeah I need only a 5-6 m because I only weight 51kgs, but I am 5'7.5 ... Yeah this will be for my 20+knot kite... I took my 10m out in about 18+ with 25knot gusts and it was way 2 strong.. so need a baby one ... Thanks - It'll be a tricky decision.. Cheers 4 ur help

Elizabeth - Wello Gromm

lol thanks poley 2... I'll try 2 become a "team rider" also-- jk

Hey elizabeth,
if u want to go smaller kite on a cab, why don't u move up to a CO2. or any mid aspect kite. i now your only just beginning, but long term it'll be much better for you and will handle those winds better then an element.

poley

I have a gaastra force 14m 04 model and am very happy with it. Great kite! I heard that bladder probs occurred in the earlier models.