SaintMark wrote: ↑Sat Oct 13, 2018 4:38 pm
do they really age so fast. can't they be fixed with lots of spinnaker tape (fabric) and shoe goo(valves), or why do all kiters say they suck so bad. Or are they just not as versatile, smaller wind window. When I look at the user manuals from 2008 they all claim to have lots of depower.
You are welcome to think fixing a bladder a day is fun if you want too. Heck, some of the well known brands even made you do that within the first month of use on a new kite. I would just say that this is not my cup of tea. But to each his own.
And the "lots of depower" thing - kind of leads into the paradox in kiting:
a. Every year, COREporate kiteboarding hype is published that says more depower (or faster turning) on this years model.
b. If "a." was true each past year, we would have kites which you would not have to have more than one size across all wind speeds in the current year because the depower has always become better each year. And even in 2018, it is commonly accepted that 2m gap between kite zizes is pretty standard and has been for the last 10years (since C kites). And you can say a similar thing about kites turning speed.
Thus "a." is not true since we do not see "b." And you have just demonstrated that you may have a high susceptibility to COREporate "HYPE". I would suggest you roll back your strength of belief in what a brochure tells you. COREporations publish things to make sales, not tell the truth. And because of competition in a free market, there is no fix for this.
SaintMark wrote: ↑Sat Oct 13, 2018 4:38 pm
I heard pros now prefer the old C kites, since the new bowkites are so versatile every noob can ride them.
Gonna be a Pro???? You need to check your aspirations. Staying alive should be your first concern. If you have not been kiting on your own already, then you have no idea what this means. Go "Pro" after you have stayed alive for a while - like give it 2 years at least.
As to those of us that have been on older gear.........well......we almost all buy some newer gear now. Or, at least most of us with different approaches and backgrounds own both older and newer gear. While I know many kiters who do love older gear/safety systems, all of those dedicated kiters wind up with some newer gear eventually. And the only major complaint that I hear about the newer gear is price.