yup just read about it here

seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21061

quote:

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Originally posted by dar boy 1

Has anyone else hear rumours about wipika going bankrupt?

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yeh, lots of times, mostly on kiteforum. probably bs.

dont be silly, it wouldn't be bankrupt. maybe it could have been killed but bankruptcy is just the fancy name for fnckiug over all the people that you owe. nothing to do with wipika-that comment

Dont write em off this year.
07 Wipika bar is a cut above the rest and the kites work all round better than all.
They are working so good, Best will probably make a cheap copy....

This is coming from someone who knows.

I don't think we need to worry about wierd statements like this.

certainly everything is progressing as normal towards their 07 product launch.

So Njpornstar. What's the Gos on the 07 Matrix? and will wipika be silly enough to release a Sle this season?

That's RAL to you wipper snippers.

Do I detect a name change in that Goss, ?

Too few kiters for so many kite companies, virtually no viable second hand market and technology superseeding itself year on year, makes for a total restructure. Punters who continually update are realising a fraction of their previous years purchases from selling second hand. There is also a continual flood of newish gear on the second hand market. There will be fewer companies in years to come and some consolidations.

Companies who are doing limited R&D will fail, while other companies who continue to improve will be market leaders. Slingshot for example have had minimal improvements to the fuel range for the last 4 years, after a flood on the market two years ago market share has continued to drop in my local area. Best has adapted the strategy the japanese used in the 80's going into America, go in cheap, gain mass market share then increase prices once competitors close and restructure. I see the Waroo Pro at $2200 (for a 13m) is now one of the most expensive kites on the market! I have never pole boarded but I remember a similar destructive restructure occured 20 odd years ago, i.e Wild Winds.

Just my observations.

Bring on the twinskin kite!!!! keep pushing the boundries Wipika!!

2line kites, 4 line kites, 5 line kites, bow kites, 5 line Hybrids and SLE kites.

its all progression!!!