VIC
960 posts
Hello all,
I'm very new to the sport, completed a few hours of lessons. I'm at the point where I just need to buy the gear and practice. It seems it's very end of season to be buying kit, so I was after your thoughts on whether I'm best to buy now or wait for next year and buy then?
I guess if I buy now, I may have the odd opportunity ahead of the real bad weather to get a few more goes in. But if I buy now, then when next season starts, my gear will already be last season.
I'm not bothered about style, just technological advancements I might be missing out on.
Buy now, buy next spring, thoughts?
My local spot is St. Kilda
NSW
1716 posts
Lots of special offers this time of year. You'll pick up a bargain, or 2. If you buy in spring the newest stuff may not be in the shops just yet and you'll miss out on some early season wind.
As for technological advancements. This years kit is more than adequate for new kiters. Any advancements are usually incremental or not at all.
VIC
960 posts
Cheers KIT33R.
Yeah, I reckon it will be more than good enough for my (lack of) skill for the next 10 years to come!
QLD
549 posts
Grab a bargain now rather than wait. You're a new kiter, you don't need the latest gear. I'm onto my 5th kite now and have never bought the latest gear, I'm happy to buy brand new but last season's model, or even 2 season's old wouldn't really bother me. Any small advances in technology would probably only be of benefit to fairly advanced kiters, unlike me, who notice small changes. Another point, often new models come out but people chase the previous model as they believe changes made haven't necessarily improved the kite, some cases have shown changes to be a negative in some situations.
NSW
359 posts
hey salty, if you know the kite you want and the price is right grab it now.
The finer benefits being delivered next season in most cases will be minor and you probably same as me would never notice unless the colour is a factor.
I've always bought used knowing what size, brand and model I wanted. Check history and kite condition and have so far been very happy with my buys.
SA
850 posts
I've just started this season, put together a S/H 3 kite, 1 board, brand new harness quiver for $1240 STOKED +
QLD
24 posts
if history is an guide ... from the perspection of someone who has been kiting since 1998....
Looking back now, those early kites where the eqivalent of the Wright Bros first attempts !
The years 1998 through to about 2007, every year saw something new and game changing, but since that time it seems that the design improvements that deliver massive advances in performance, construction and safety are flattening out.
This applies pretty much for Kites, bars, boards and harnesses.
so for me, its about having the best possible time, for lowest total cost. I am using two year old kites, and upgrade to ensure that nothing in my gear is no older than three years, and I rarely buy brand new....i'd reckon I spend no more than $500 bucks a year on average on my equipment, and spend around 6 hours per week getting wet.
sensational value.
WA
8407 posts
I get my new gear from the UK, when our seasons about to kick off there's is finished, I got a great deal on my full set of 2012 s with great customer service , 5 day tracked and insured post, a heap of freebies, oh and they were $2200 cheaper than my best quote here,
