2018 Market forecast

[JakeFarley]

Price increases across the board (pardon the pun). I remember the days when new boards were less than $500 complete, harnesses less than $150... etc.

[kjorn]

Lots of lesson but very few will stay with it. Overall market will decease again and the used market will collapse further.
Also, there will word wars on kiteforum about goofy shite.

Shops pushing new gear deals on noobies and rich folk really drive the price of second hand kites down. I see on the second hand forums shops shifting 2017 gear for less than half price. Then add in sponsored riders shifting gear, man, it's a good time to be riding old gear.

[kjorn]

I reckon Epic will bring out a Rebel / Edge type of kite. Racing and big air.

[longwhitecloud]

Industry will continue to get smaller overall.

Wakestyle will become a niche of a niche of a niche.

The red bull king of the air will incite some hype.

A brand or 2 will go under.

The average age of a kiteboarder will increase by another 2 years again.

Foilers will think that foiling is exploding, where in reality there are now like 100 foil brands.. one+ for each area of the world where foilers foil.

A new breed of young underground freestyle / surf kiters will emerge - youtube vids from 10+ years ago their influence.. hipster like..

Kiteboard marketers will get even more confused about how to advertise to their wealthy middle aged target market.

I doubt this will happen but I am hoping for a minimalism/ simplicity movement in kiting to reverse what is killing kiteboarding long term.

[jonysan]

I like your predictions,

especially the hope for a minimalist / simplicity. I remember the early Lou Wainman videos, doing incredible stuff on what we now would call ancient kit !!

[Toby]

I like your predictions,

especially the hope for a minimalist / simplicity. I remember the early Lou Wainman videos, doing incredible stuff on what we now would call ancient kit !!

That's the real old school !

[DWX]

Why are you all so crushed & so beaten down? You are moodier than a teenage girl! Let the sport change & diversify; make old school look hot again if you want. No one is stopping you! And certainly no one is stealing the light. It’s right there for the taking... Claim your crown. No one else will do it for you! Happy 2018!