How about Pansh kites. I picked up this inexpensive 4-line foil kite (the model was called the Legend) for a friend to try on ice with Nordic skates and it was great. It came with handles and lines. Compared to a typical brand name 2-line trainer kite this thing was more interesting to fly, like a t...

My friend Walter is cruising his 42' sailboat to the Caribbean next winter. This is a major mid-life adventure between jobs and he will be joined by family and friends during this trip, He started kiting this past summer and would like to plan his sailing itinerary with plenty of kiting in mind, esp...

My gut tells me that Gumball's numbers are at least on target in terms of current US kite sales. It sounded like he was comfortable with the hand he was holding and one would expect he is constantly gathering data to estimate market share. I think that BEST's we'll-try-harder market approach hit the...

Visiting my son in Maui where it has been blowing daily ENE 10-30 (holey/gusty) knots for the past two weeks and Christmas Day and next week looks to be more of the same with larger waves and swell in the forecast. Kanaha has been the spot for primarily 7's & 9M. There has been a little bit of tensi...

there are good reasons who you would show a kite early. 1. you are unsure of it, is the market ready for it? So you test public reaction. 2. you have a novel use of technology and want to show it as your development. 3.you have fallen on your arse big time and need a pick me up but haven't quite wo...

It's gotta be tough walking a mile in your forum management shoes Toby. You seem like a thoughtful person with a fairly tolerant viewpoint, and I really like it when you thank people for support but also remind them that they don't have to agree... Perhaps renaming the "Flamer's Paradise" to somethi...

Hey Bigmark100... Your comment about deleting posts because "some dicks out there.... need to be silenced," says a lot about you. You have had plenty of company down through history and a proud record to show for it (lots of night work, use of hoods, etc.). I agree that Toby does a pretty good job (...

Up the road a mile or so from Real, Barton Decker has let people launch from the beach (not that he owned all of it or anything) near his shop (Hatteras Island Sail Shop) and use his toilet and shower without busting anybody's chops about spending $$'s in his shop (not that he doesn't comment about ...

Hey Greg7, do you think the category, "Flamer's Paradise" smacks of disrespect and ridicule? It's a forum for crying-out-loud (pun intended). People should be able to speak their minds and the reader should decide about fact and fiction. It appears to me that one half of this dispute is willing to s...

Hey 2tall, last I knew Barton gave lessons right down the road at HISS and he also generally has a pro-level kiter working out of there as well in the summer

Ever heard of Demitri (Eclipse Kites and Skywalker Boards)? He gave a few lessons out of there years ago.