Dead or dying kiteboarding companies

[kingmonkeymagic]

Wipika, Wind X, Sof X,

What did these guys do wrong? What can the current crop of companies do to avoid tteh same outcome?

Who have we forgotten?

Who's next?

[Starsky]

Whats up with Gastra? Dont see much from them.

Windwing?

JN?

Latitude?

Genetrix?

Freak Dog?

Kaimam/Advance?

How do any of these guys survive?

[eldadgold]

sofx is the same as latitude

[windmaker]

Looks like It only takes a couple of persons to run a kite "company" so most can survive with only selling small quantities on local markets.

[davesails7]

Eclipse can be added to that list

[D_Clark]

Eclipse is dead for sure. Epic doesn't look all that healthy but maybe that is just because I haven't seen their kites very often.

Naish? Used to be a dominate brand in the areas I ride in several parts of the county, went from 40% to about 5% of the kites I see.

Windwing!!! - kites on the website offer new models from 2008 and 2009 nothing newer. I did see someone hyping a batwing in a thread recently, that had me laughing and I almost fell out of my chair.

Slingshot? - slingshot is dying is sort of like saying BSD is dying.

[cowboy]

Gaastra are still poular on continental europe with a couple of folks dealing in the UK

JN - still going and decent following in the UK

Latitude- still going but wouldnt put another name change past it

Genetrix - big in france and pushed by a few sellers in the UK

[Dr_Rosen]

Flexifoil ?
Vari?
Royal?

[JamesVegas]

Flexifoil ?
Vari?
Royal?

Flexifoil. Seriously??

[Starsky]

A few guys here bought new 2011 royals and they still have a site running. Seem to be more into FB for their marketing.

Funny you say flexi. Always underrated but cant see them bowing out any time soon!

Vari,,, havent seen that hit the market the way Wainman or even BWS has.

Always thought Lou was late to the party, but he seemed to nail it as far as getting his gear onto the scene when delta was fresh and his legend still has enough clout to propel it. Ben is timing things pretty well with a developing surf market. But Vari seems to have missed the beat.