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Why Wipika had a crisis?

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Lolo
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Why Wipika had a crisis?

Postby Lolo » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:26 pm

Yesterday I was on the beach, there was no wind and I start to fly away with my mind.
A couple of Wipika were there, a Matrix and AMP, I remember my first 2 line kite, an extremely good kite, the Free Air, a Wipika.

Then I begun to wonder, what Wipika did wrong in the las years. From a leading innovation kite company, it is now a bit out of the big showbusiness.

Did they invest some money in a bad business, not enough R&D or what?
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Postby piedroporto » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:28 pm

2006 kites are amazing, hope 2007 are even better...

things will pick up for wipika soon, at least that's what i hope :thumb:
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Postby randykato » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:53 pm

It started when they lost Bruno. Then I think they just lost out in the marketing/PR wars.

I remember my old AirBlasts & FreeAirs.... great memories!
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Postby RAL INN » Mon Jul 31, 2006 11:10 pm

Their Products have always been leadin edge.

I think it is mainly the perception by the public that because they have been around since the beginning they are old hat.

Also the proliferation of kite manufacturers and the public need to be a bit different to the kiter next door.

Naish are going thru a similar phase. and maybe the growth of the kite market is not in phase with the growth in kite companies.

this coming season may see Wipika and Naish come back probably due to that same be seen be different deal plus the products are just plain great.

You may even find the Slingshot maybe feeling the pinch.
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Postby Paco » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:35 am

randykato wrote:It started when they lost Bruno. Then I think they just lost out in the marketing/PR wars.

I remember my old AirBlasts & FreeAirs.... great memories!

....and they got into even bigger trouble when they got rid of their distributors!
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Postby sq225917 » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:57 am

ah but that was forced upon them due to potential litigation, at least according to the arse licking apology they took out.
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Postby ScottM » Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:04 am

sq225917 wrote:ah but that was forced upon them due to potential litigation, at least according to the arse licking apology they took out.
Come on fill us in with the gossip!! What was it all about? Any links to what went on?
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Postby danglerdog » Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:13 am

also major warranty issues with the 99 kites. using that dacron/polyfilm from windsurfing, the poly delammed from inflation. they were real good about the warranty, and I think it almost sank em and cost alot in reputaion. They are a good kite, always have been pretty cutting edge. Still fly my amps and they do BOOST.
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Postby rephlex11 » Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:43 am

i don't think slingshot will feel the pinch. not with the riders they have. very diverse team. and there kites look awesome and market well accept for that ugly TD. i don't know why someone would get brown and purple with that kite.
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Postby PBKiteboarding » Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:27 am

Having a blast on these 06 Mtarix....! See what else comes...

Paul Berube
http://www.PBKiteboarding.com
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