Ok I've got a 12mtr Switchblade (cost approx $1550 here in Thailand by the way) and I love it ... need a 16mtr for here, so don't know whether to get the X-bow 16mtr (and do Fitzy's bridle fix, of course) or go for a 16mtr Switchblade (only problem is the only colour SB they have is Blue - yuk!)

Anyone had experience on both a 16mtr X-Bow and SB and what would you reccommend ?

cheers,
Buzz

go yellow. Yellow kites are the best for 06.....or so i heard.

I haven't been able to ride a 16M Switchblade back to back with my 16M Crossbow yet.

The only concern that is around at the moment is concerning the struts and main LE splitting on some switchblades.

We have seen four Switchblades explode here on the Gold Coast and that was only at Len Fox Park (KFC) Saw the results of another one a few days ago. Big bang and the centre strut split and burst the bladder.

We looked at all the struts and noticed that the stitching was starting to seperate on two more of the struts, down it's centreline join, close to where they join the leading edge.

Anyone else had this problem ? Check your kite next time you pump it up. It may just be a bad batch. KIte was not overinflated and had not been left in the sun.

My crossbow has no sign of this problem at this stage.

Regards - Fitzy Gold Coast OZ

Nuthin wrong with the Swithchy's im just waitin for my sponsored quiver of waroo's to arrive. eh Shannon eh???. And if Switchy's do F#ck up dont stuff up my warranty at Surf Fx like you's all did last time on my board when i smashed into a jet ski. I told Mick it snapped on a wave!

Yeah you's are all bastards!!! SSSShhhh

Ok Ok, so the colours not really a big deal (only put that in as I'm not real keen on blue) ... anyway, just really wanted to know if anyone has ridden both a 16mtr X and 16mtr SB to compare the performance ?...

Thanks heaps Fitzy for the warning about the SB's stitching - I hope it's just a bad batch that went down-under ...

Anyone know how much are 16mtr SwitchBlade's and X-bows selling for in Aussie ? (16mtr X-bow here in Thailand is about aud$1800, 16mtr SwitchBlade is about $1675) ...

PS: have heard that new Switchblade's are hard to find in Aussie at the moment - truth or just rumour ?

Kitepower still has some Switchblades, with another big shipment due any day.
I have only seen that strut problem on a couple of kites, they had all been inverted several times in strong winds. It is an easy repair, and good sailmaker should be able to do it in such a way as it is virtually invisible.
If anyone needs a bladder for this problem let me know we have all models and sizes in stock and will split up sets, struts are $30, plus postage.

I have ridden the 16's back to back. I prefer the performance and feel of the Switchblade, but other people prefer the Crossbow. My Crossbows feel like Switchblades anyway because I have done the Fitzy to them.
I think these kites are the best big kites I have used, they handle like 15/16M C kites, yet have the grunt of 18/20M C kites. If I cannot get going on my 16SB and my Underground 1.53x44FLX then it is not possible to kitesurf and stay upwind on anything else that I know of.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

Center strut stitching problem and bladder burst- I had exactly the same thing happen to my SB as well. Fabric tore quite badly as a result of the explosion.

Steve mentioned about previous inversions - I can assure you that in my case the kite never inverted and also was not crashed once. In addition the kite has only been used for 3 days before it exploded.

The dealer has given me a CB to use while the SB is being sorted out. Apart from this specific problem I prefer the SB over the CB. Maybe the best option is the CB with the mod (which I can not do as it is a loan kite)

thanks for yr comments Pole boy and tgif ... interesting situation wih the SB's stitching problem ... still wondering if it was just a bad batch that went down-under? ... to be safe, I spose the 16mtr X-bow with Fitzy's fix would probably be better ... I think I'd prefer the SB, but don't want any hassles as it would be hard to get fixed over here ... have ridden my mates 16 X-bow a few times ...