Kite Control in Long Beach, NYbroke my kite and won't fix it

[awenner]

Hello fellow kiteboarders,

I am writing to let you know about a bad experience I had with Tim from Kite
Control in Long Beach, NY. I went for a lesson and after waiting at our
designated meeting spot for over an hour, tim told me to walk down to a nearby
beach where his instructor would be. I went down to a very narrow inlet with a
rock jetty on one side and after seeing that he had no equipment for me to use,
I started to set up my own kite while his instructor finished his other lesson.
When he finished, he didn't know he was supposed to give me a lesson and he and
the student said they had been waiting for Tim for 3 hours who kept saying he
would show up. The instructor siad he would get started with my lesson and I
said I was not comfortable launching in that narrow area because of the rocks.
He said he would do it, so he took the control bar and tried to launch the kite
and it fell into the jetty and ripped a giant gash in the kite. I had bought
the kite brand new and had used it four times. When Tim finally arrived, he
said he woudl make good on it. After I left, we spoke the next day and he
started to backtrack and say he couldn't replace my kite. Then he said he would
replace it, but had to wait until 2011 kites came out so that he could get me a
new 2010 kite for less money. Now that 2011 kites are out, I asked him about
when i would get my new kite and he said he won't do it. He said, he
understands if I need to sue him and he is fine with that, because he is not
scared of that type of thing. he also had the nerve to say that he was not only
not willing to lose on the cost of giving me a new kite and selling my old one
that he broke, but that he wouldn't do it because then he would lose on the
profit of selling the 2010 kite to someone else.

This guy is a total liar and I would never recommend anyone taking lessons from
him. I had a kite that was used for times and his instructor broke it and he
won't make good on it. And he lied the whole way through saying that he would
and then totally recanting that. Don't go to Kite Control in Long beach. Go to
Best in Amityville or Island Riders.

[RDM]

he took the control bar and tried to launch the kite..

What do you mean tried....

Who was holding your kite giving this guy a launch.... ?

[awenner]

I held the kite and when he gave me the thumbs up, i released. He started to get it up and then lost it and flew it into the jetty.

[RDM]

He started to get it up and then lost it and flew it into the jetty.

Lost it....

Sorry bud, just trying to work out what happened... did the wind drop and the kite fall out of the sky, did the kite back stall into the jetty...

[awenner]

i thought there wasn't enough wind, but he thought it was fine. it turned out, he was wrong and there just wasn't enough wind

[awenner]

or he did something wrong and just didn't launch well. i'm not sure which was the problem

[RDM]

or he did something wrong and just didn't launch well. i'm not sure which was the problem

hhmm, something just doesn`t sound right about this.... either way this guy ended up damaging your kite so at the very least he should get it repaired...

Good luck anyway...

[bsideindy]

suck it up and use some sail tape.

[Toby]

Sorry to hear.
They should claim it to their insurance!
This would all involved.

I hope it works out!

[JON MODICA]

He started to get it up and then lost it and flew it into the jetty.

Lost it....

Sorry bud, just trying to work out what happened... did the wind drop and the kite fall out of the sky, did the kite back stall into the jetty...

I just heard about this incident the other day. Really disappointing. Hopefully the associated organization (Kite Control) or the instructor can comment on the situation.

RDM, I see why your questioning the situation, but im gonna go ahead and make the inference that someone who is just learning, isn't going to know the difference between backstalling or just the kite falling out due to lack of wind.

In the long island area we have had a REALLY bad history of inexperience, unprofessional, and uncertified instructors.

There are several kiteschools out in Long Island that have done a great job including IslandRiders. Zack is a great guy i completely recommend getting a lesson for him.

Awenner your a woman correct? Also, what was the name of the instructor and was he certified? If so, by whom?

-Jon Modica