Kiting doesn't have to be expensive

[nherbold]

The most expensive part would be the Mystic harness (2014 I think?) at around US$220 at the time.
14M Slingshot Rally (also 2014; with the crappy below the bar trim strap), bought second hand (bar included) and the canopy is still crisp for US$100 bucks
The board is a 2002 Naish Mutant; Flash Austin won KOTA with it back in 2002 I believe and I remember thinking what a weird looking board it was at that time. Now its my go-to strapless and anything else is just too big. Got this jewel in the local consignment shop for 50 bucks.

Total set cost me less than 400 bucks

My favourite spot is in the background....it's not Brazil winds, but I'm not kiting on freezing chocolate milk either.

Kiting = Therapy

[FLandOBX]

Kiting = Therapy

Agreed! Even on a $400 rig.

I admire your thriftiness, and the view is spectacular. But I'm still glad I ride my stuff, not yours.

[Flyingseb]

« Qu’importe le flacon, pourvu qu’on ait l’ivresse »
French saying. Approximative translation: no matter what you’re riding, as long as you enjoy it!

Besides this, I totally agree with you, there’s a way to go cheap with kiteboarding, when you don’t feel the need to get the newest gear. My tip: buy and keep with you kiteboarding magazines. When buying a used kite, I can still read the magazine test, and feel like I bought the best one

[Matty V]

That was the mark shinn mutant, not the flash Austin versions.

The flash versions didn’t have nose fins and were white with blue, yellow or red( I think) flames drowning on the size

Yours is better!

[Toby]

But the KOTA story sounds better

Any style or gear doesn't matter as long as you are happy!

Do it your way, that's always the best.

[Trent hink]

There's plenty of excellent used/discounted gear available, but it's a crap-shoot if you don't know what to look for....

There are also plenty of people who think their totally worn-out junk is worth it's weight in gold...

That Naish board is nearly a collectors item, but it's probably way too soon to get any big ideas...

[robmccau]

My favourite spot is in the background....it's not Brazil winds, but I'm not kiting on freezing chocolate milk either.

That made me chuckle, but in the spirit of this post, better kiting on freezing chocolate milk than not kiting at all, right?

Kiting = Therapy

So true. I have a sticker that says that on the back of my car. I just wish the chocolate milk would warm up a little...

[tautologies]

Nice!!!!

That friggin mutant is a collector's item by now. I bet someone would buy it for more...

[tautologies]

Nice!!!!

That friggin mutant is a collector's item by now. I bet someone would buy it for more...

[tautologies]

Nice!!!!

That friggin mutant is a collector's item by now. I bet someone would buy it for more...