salt said...

I am trying to suggest a setup for my mate:

Best- Bullaroo
Best- Waroo
Best- Kahoona V2 (is this one too advanced?)

All kites seem to be 'good at everything' it seems like there are no differences, if u know whats best your ideas/experience would help.

Background: i am happy on my 10.5m Helix in st.Kilda Vic. Hes a bit heavier and taller than me (i am only 167cm, 67kg) so i'm looking for an 11-12 m kite for him. St kilda for those who dont know is flat water/choppy with 15-25 knts through summer. Most average size guys ride 12m.

He's a beginner but i reckon he will be good at it soon as he has board skills and i'm giving him heaps of practice on my 5m power kite.

So which kite do you reckon?

"Best- Kahoona V2 (is this one too advanced?)"

Definitely not and when first released this was the main thrust of best marketing "the ideal beginner kite" which is true . More and more riders over time discovered that not only is the kahoona an ideal beginners kite (easyr elaunch ,great power/depower ,yadda yadda) but a great wave kite and more .Best have now changed the marketing pitch but i'm surprised that it has been interpreted as being "too advanced ."I reckon your mate can't go wrong with the Kahoona .What does he weigh?

i think a small harness. im about the same and my medium is too big.

Considering he will pick up a Kahoona RRP $1650, which is a brand new kite, warranty and back up service in Australia, and most shops will throw in a lesson and maybe a free harness or a discount, why would he look at a thrashed second hand kite that may always fail and stop him from progressing.

Kahoonas rock!!

arsa said...

Considering he will pick up a Kahoona RRP $1650, which is a brand new kite, warranty and back up service in Australia, and most shops will throw in a lesson and maybe a free harness or a discount, why would he look at a thrashed second hand kite that may always fail and stop him from progressing.

Kahoonas rock!!

Disregarding the fact that your advice is clearly biased towards the kites you sell, spending $1650 on a first kite is arguably one of the worst decisions a kiter can make. Yes, if they're local to you (North Mackay) then i completely understand and encourage prospective or new kiters to get to know their local shop or school and to see if they'll do a package deal for all their new equipment and lessons as it can actually save them money.

Thrashed second hand kite? $600-800? Yes, it would likely be thrashed if i had recommended picking up a 2010 kite for that price... but $600-800 will get an un-damaged well maintained '08/09 kite which IMO is the perfect starting point. He spends one season on it learning the ropes then is ready with enough knowledge and experience to spend the big dollars on one or more new kites. You'll get your sales, just it's one season later than you might like.

Buy a new one with lessons thrown in.

OR

Save $$ and buy a 2nd hand one - use the $$$ for lessons.



Either way GET LESSONS for ya mate. Unless you want to be wiping his arse while he's in traction from the results of 'mate's instruction'.

Ask the retailer you are buying the kit from!! They should have all the advice for you.

Thats the service that shops are supposed to provide. You should also try on the harness and test ride the kite. It may be a dog for what you kite like and the harness may be the wrong shape.


What happened to your other thread about buying from overseas? Is that why you are asking advice on here??

Forget your warranty or any free help from your local store if you buy that kit.

I started on 2009 waroo 9mt then onto 2010 waroo 9 & 10mt , Now have Kahoona V2 7.5 & 9.5mt . The Kahoona V2 kicks ass on the waroos. So much more simpler and only 4 struts so relaunches easy and flies for longer when wind drops.

Disregarding the fact that your advice is clearly biased towards the kites you sell, spending $1650 on a first kite is arguably one of the worst decisions a kiter can make.

Yes there are some good second hand kites around that are cheaper, and if you can find one, and this guy knows what to look for when buying a 2nd hand kite, then thats a great option, but in most cases a kite that is 2 seasons old will start to deteriorate quickly, especially once a beginner starts to crash it repeatedly whilst trying to get up on the board.

If on the other hand the guy buys a new kite, familiarises himself with the local shop, instructors and crew, and makes the most of the service, training and professional advise, he will most likely enjoy and stay with the sport, be lead in the right direction from the start, and be encouraged in every way possible to keep him progressing quickly to the intermediate stage in months.

Ive been in this industry now for nearly 12 years, and have promoted and taught thousands of students, and buying second hand kites from unknown sellers (not shops) is where some fail. The money that is needed to keep these second hand kites working every session and safely out weighs the initial saving made. Your kite is the most important part of your equipment, and needs to be the part that you spend the most of your money on. The board can be your money saving area because most boards last a long time and there are some real bargains to be had.

This info is based entirely on what we have witnessed over the last decade, and is biased to the brands we sell, because we chose to sell them. This choice is based purely on quality / performance / backup service and warranty.


Joe

I would be surprised that he could get a Best kite from the states unless he actually went over there and purchased. Best have a very loyal program in place for its retailers that dont allow selling outside of therir country. If this does happen then the seller (shop) could get themselves in trouble.

In saying that, if a kite was a warranty and was purchased out side of Australia, then yes we would still help them out, because our warranty is globally recognised as one of the best.