djoblin said..
Im interested in your opinion on how you see the brand Switch in the market and your view of them as a whole.

I do work in a kite shop so their business model threatens my job, if it were to take over the whole industry which I don't think will happen, however.

The way they appear to me is a company that takes from Kiting without putting anything back in.

Sure they sponsor some great riders, but thats in their own interests, not kite surfing.

*They have cheap kites, but how do you deal with spare parts or advice on setting things up.

They don't run schools, which is a pretty important part of making sure kitesurfing keeps moderately organised and safe.

Had a guy turn up to the shop with a switch bar ( decided to try and fix some parts for him - flag out line ) to find *it was running a mini fifth line of about 1m, surely no one does this any more!!!!


OK flame away, Im interested in you opinion...

Ok well you did ask.
I think they are excellent kites in both performance and quality.
Some people have refered to trying Methods and not being to impressed, the early large Methods were not the best kites and although I loved the Methods in the smaller sizes (still do) they had unique flying characteristics which a lot of people couldn't adjust too.
The latests Elements and Nitros are heaps more user friendly and you should disregard impressions from earlier models and try the current kites.
The Combats are a pure C kite and so although a great kite they are not for everyone.

*Re: Parts or advice on setting things up.
I have found that parts are cheap and usually readily available, break a part one week and you can normally buy it online, have it shipped within a few days, view their extensive range of how to videos, install it yourself and be back on the water the next week.
The thought of replacing a bladder/depower rope etc used to scare me but I found it was simple when you could view a how to do it video.

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzHq5nV_GW7c3np1tvUSAbmLVtkG1GJh0

*Re: The mini 5th, I actually love the mini 5th if you accidently release the chicken loop or let go of the bar when unhooked you usually have time to reach up grab the loop and hook back in before the kite hits the water.
However for learners or the more safety concious they now come set up to flag on a single front and you have several other options all explained in this video.



Yep they have thought of everything.

So we have 6 riders who ride together mainly down here, ranging from 25 to 41 yrs old, 2 seasons up to 15. Between us ...

An obsessed looping madman
A surfboard wave rider junkie, strapless airs on the flat, simple unhooked stuff on the flat.

A very good powered jumper who excels at the powered water level trick stuff.
Just an out an out wave great SB wave rider on his reos...Who goes up and back on the flat...he's getting there.

An old school board off junkie.

Only lacking a decent spider monkey but hey nitro is not for that.

Or just give it to damo who kicks our ass in every one of those disciplines.

Can test in flat and waves, on all wind directions and types (Gusty, consistent). Back to to back testing in rotation with 4 to 5 kites in the air, 10 minute intervals is the ONLY way to truly compare kites, then swap info over some beers and find the nuances of each kite.

Otherwise it's just all smoke and mirrors, crew justifying their purchasing decision for either an expensive or cheaper kite. Im a local retailer buying sort of guy, but if have friends who aren't and hell, good on em'.

So let's get to the bottom of the 'greatest ever freeride kite', because our northern hemisphere buddies who I rate,
are iced in at the moment, so we will get squat from them.

"I bought a nitro", .... "You bought a nitro"..... "yeh I bought a nitro". So "team riders", you game or what?

Oh and greta is something else, not in an old man horny way (well maybe a bit), but by Christ she is beautiful.

Subculture said..

eppo said..
Oh and greta is something else, not in an old man horny way (well maybe a bit), but by Christ she is beautiful.

You're only old if you say you are.. You're not.

BTW - Did you know she can kite too?

Yeh that's what I'd be watching, her handle passes.... Damn! Empires have risen and fallen over girls like that!

I live 7.5hrs from a 'local' kiting shop. So all my gear needs posting unless I treck to Perth. I have a nitro3 14m and element2 11, but keen to compare them. Nitro seems good for $850 odd but **** to relaunch in water, and turns inside out first chance it gets. Element handles poorly when you detune for strong winds, good beside that. Was a good first kite tho. Anyone Esperance way can have a go

Brad642 the only Nitro 3 I have is a 10, (I also have a N416) so I can't speak for the 14 however I have never had a problem with either of my Nitro's turning inside out or difficulty relaunching.
You may already be doing this but make sure the kite is pumped up hard (don't be afraid of pumping it real hard, it's not going to pop) that might help with some of your issues.
I know you guys do get some gusty winds occasionally down Esperance way but it should not invert or be difficult to relaunch.

It really should only need the normal grab a rear line and wait for it to roll on it's wingtip and go around to the edge of the window to relaunch in normal conditions but as 14's are often used in light wind they are usually a bit harder to relaunch than small kites, if the wind is really light watching this video may help.



As for the Element handling poorly when detuned for strong winds, all kites handle better when the right size is used for the wind strength so they can be used fully powered up.

When I began kiting I started off with a Switchblade 11m, it got me going, slowly. Then on advice from friends I purchased an Element 3 13m for lighter winds, with the Controller 2 bars.

The bars are okay, not the best refined one like the Cabrinha bars, but they do the job and have lots of adjustments all well explained in their videos. Spare parts are cheap, order them, they get here in a few days.

So when I first flew the Element 3, as a beginner I was stunned with how much easier it is to fly than my Switchblade (which I find to be a very aggressive kite). The Element 3 is so smooth, drifts well and just stays where-ever you want to park it, I loved it so much that I got a 9m
The build quality is equal, if not superior to the other brands. I can fit both the 13m and 9m in the same Switch bag

I've had what I thought were issues with the kites and bars and contacted the Switch team (email or forum) and they get back to you within 24h with great detailed advice.

The Switch forums are great as you can input on what you'd like to see from Switch and the designers, it feels like the kites are built for "what people want". So for example at the moment they are designing a light wind kite (with only 3 struts) and may soon design another very specific wave kite. The designer Bill Hansen knows his stuff...

I've read that the Nitro 4 is a more advanced kite and not suited for beginners, I'm sure I'll get a 10m in a year or two once I'm a better kiter, apparently the 10m has an incredible wind range due to it's high aspect design.

It is true that there is a lack of official Switch riders in Sydney, I'm happy to let people try my Element, just give me a yell whenever you see one ?

Alysum said..
edit: is anyone else having issues posting long responses ?

I believe if you use the term "sw1tch k1tes" seabreeze wont allow your post to be posted.

I had to use a 1 instead of an i because of it. I used to replace the s with a $ but I just tried that and it didn't work.

Doesn't surprise me that has been done. shops and big name brands advertise on here.............

pezzy said..

Alysum said..
edit: is anyone else having issues posting long responses ?

I believe if you use the term "sw1tch k1tes" seabreeze wont allow your post to be posted.

I had to use a 1 instead of an i because of it. I used to replace the s with a $ but I just tried that and it didn't work.

Doesn't surprise me that has been done. shops and big name brands advertise on here.............

pezzy said..

Alysum said..
edit: is anyone else having issues posting long responses ?

I believe if you use the term "sw1tch k1tes" seabreeze wont allow your post to be posted.

I had to use a 1 instead of an i because of it. I used to replace the s with a $ but I just tried that and it didn't work.

Doesn't surprise me that has been done. shops and big name brands advertise on here.............

Wow that is OUTRAGEOUS.... Shame on the seabreeze administrators...

Haha... must be spam detection. You can write switch and switch kite just not switch kite_s or $witch kite_s.

If you are so keen to continue to pimp this brand, how about doing what other businesses do and give Laurie some $$$ an go pimp crazy.
It's not a "free" service, the $$$ paid by businesses to advertise here keeps the site up and running.
No one is forcing you to be a member.

Yeah, sorry, I was thinking about it again and you do require a bit of technique... but just a little. It's less pull a rear lime and wait, and more watch the kite and react appropriately. Good to learn a proper relaunch technique though!

Ignore the gauge, they're all flakey, and trust your bend or ping test. And don't forget to add a little more for cold days.

Chris_M said..
I don't see why Switch need to run a school? There's no money in running kite lessons in NZ, unless you want to pour hours and hours of time for a pretty dismal profit in many cases.

I think their goal is to get cheap gear to people and they seem to be doing that, based on the accounts I hear about on this forum

NB Hope I didn't offend any schools, if you are making it work good on you, what I'm trying to say is it's not easy money