(BTW, here is the link:
http://www.windexpress.com/FeaturedProducts)
Chances are very good that these kites are solid performers. What Windwing is doing also validates what Best has been doing with it's kites for last 9 months or so. Now, with Windwing, and who knows, possibly others in '05 following a direct marketing model with fairly priced kites, people can no longer call bullshit and dismiss Best kites as being "cheap". Everyone now knows the kites are durable and perform great.
The attitude is still prevalent among dedicated riders of Naish, SS, RRD, etc. that the Best kites are not in the same class, when most of what separates them is price and some of the features of the other kites, some of which are valid, some of which are hype (various depower systems, one-pumps, recon, split-strut, etc.) In '05 reality will be hard to ignore, and the scale of economics will influence the market. How will Windwing affect SS and Caution, two other West-coast kite companies? Will people lump these kites with the Best kites claiming foul?
Ultimately, a 2005 X20 Split-Strut Recon One-Pump Type Infinity will not help a poor rider and a good rider will rip on a 2001 Airblast. The brand-loyalty can be strong and it seems like everyone feels their kites are the ones to fly. Everyone has opinions and, of course, everyone is entitled to them. Kites as a whole are getting better, everyone has different riding styles and budgets, so how can there be a kite that is hands-down better than any other? In the end, we as consumers, can only benefit.
My Disclaimer: I originally chose Best kites, because, I, being of Dutch descent, prefer not to ever have to spend more money than I need to. Quality is, of course, important, but I don't want to spend more needlessly for it if I don't have to. A full quiver is needed, so I've been happy that I had that option available to me.
Anyway, here's a little comparison:
2005 Windwing Outrage II in sizes 14, 10 and 8 = $1,344.00
2005 Best Yarga in sizes 13, 11 and 9 = $1,348.00
Not bad, virtually identical pricing with their respective promotions. They also offer a 30-day money back guarantee. If they can offer the same excellent level of customer service as Best and the kites are solid performers, it would be hard to go wrong with them either. Windwing has been around for a long time and doing kites for a few years, so it'd be hard to imagine giving what they've set out to do that they would try and sell kites that didn't perform well.
I'm interested to see what happens.