Bowverconfidence
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Ollie is exactly right, all kites have the sweet spot. I was at Pt Emery over the weekend once on my 06 14m Rhino which was definitely a bit large for the conditions at the time so I decided to rig on most depowered settings and it flew like a pig. I came back moved down two knots on the bar and the kite was itself again. Similarly my 06 12m Vegas the day before that. I set it up for max power just in case and while it didn't act really weird I would completely oversheet it if bar was pulled half way down. I am surprised that most people buy into this one kite quiver thing. You always have to fly the right kite for the conditions, bow or not. Then again, that's only my personal opinion and I'm not trying to sell you anything.
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It's tricky. Conventional wisdom has it that we, as consumers, benefit from competition, we all know that to be true. Look at computers, electronics, even cars. All major successful companies want to be the one who can bring us the best product at the lowest price. Perhaps we're still in a maturing market in kiting immersed in a market battle where the playing field hasn't quite leveled out yet. Once it does, and I think it will, we will all be winners. A friend just walked out of a local shop with a 2006 9m kite with bar and lines relieved of $1500 bucks. Does that sound right to you?
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Karl,
if I had an experience like yours with a new kite I would be inclined to return it as you did. I have been riding a waroo 12m for the last 3 months and have not experienced anything to the level you describe (pre or post modification). I have found the kite is a bit twitchy if overpowered and you have too much slack on the back lines. I feel like the chicken loop line should be 4-5 inches shorter. I find that the kite depowers almost completely by pushing the bar out to the point where it is 4-5" from the depower strap. The last 4-5" does make it eventually fall out of the air, but it is also when I find the kite to start to get wind hitting to top of the canopy. Since you are most likely moving on to a different kite this does not help you, but it may help others that are new waroo owners.
I have loved my waroo and just bought a 9m from live2kite yesterday.
if I had an experience like yours with a new kite I would be inclined to return it as you did. I have been riding a waroo 12m for the last 3 months and have not experienced anything to the level you describe (pre or post modification). I have found the kite is a bit twitchy if overpowered and you have too much slack on the back lines. I feel like the chicken loop line should be 4-5 inches shorter. I find that the kite depowers almost completely by pushing the bar out to the point where it is 4-5" from the depower strap. The last 4-5" does make it eventually fall out of the air, but it is also when I find the kite to start to get wind hitting to top of the canopy. Since you are most likely moving on to a different kite this does not help you, but it may help others that are new waroo owners.
I have loved my waroo and just bought a 9m from live2kite yesterday.
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The market
Ollie - in response to your comments, it's not an accurate comparison to cars/computers as those are mass markets. The kite business is a niche - read "small" market, with currently many players. As such, there are different segments/positions companies occupy....for each market there are the lexus/bmw (north, naish, cabrinah), volvo/vw (RRD, Caution) chevy/kia (GK, best). You get to choose what you value and vote with your business - free markets are great.
The costs of the business - research, materials, labor, supply chain/shipping - are not moving lower, quite opposite, they are trending up. The net - don't expect kite prices to be dropping anytime soon.
About your $1,500 question - heck yes it's right. No one forced your friend to buy a new kite, right? They could have purchased a used one and deal w/the risks.....we have the choice, and god bless this country for those choices.
On a personal note, I love to fly current gear that delivers the max performance possible. I have limited time to play, and want the best stuff on the market to max my "stoke factor" This is one part of my life where I am VERY happy to pay for quality. I suspect your friend shares my pt. of view......he/she will have a great kite, backed up by a local shop who will help him/her when they have to tune gear, deal w/warranty, etc... =D>
Just don't forget why you got into this sport in the first place. It's fun as hell. The most fun you can have with your pants on ;-)
Now stop reading a forum and Get Some!!!
Z.
The costs of the business - research, materials, labor, supply chain/shipping - are not moving lower, quite opposite, they are trending up. The net - don't expect kite prices to be dropping anytime soon.
About your $1,500 question - heck yes it's right. No one forced your friend to buy a new kite, right? They could have purchased a used one and deal w/the risks.....we have the choice, and god bless this country for those choices.
On a personal note, I love to fly current gear that delivers the max performance possible. I have limited time to play, and want the best stuff on the market to max my "stoke factor" This is one part of my life where I am VERY happy to pay for quality. I suspect your friend shares my pt. of view......he/she will have a great kite, backed up by a local shop who will help him/her when they have to tune gear, deal w/warranty, etc... =D>
Just don't forget why you got into this sport in the first place. It's fun as hell. The most fun you can have with your pants on ;-)
Now stop reading a forum and Get Some!!!
Z.
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