Pidrop the kiteboard tracker - minimize board losses and more

[Max Bk]

Hello all,

we are currently working on pidrop a device that will make your board intelligent in the future.
Our main goal is to minimize board losses while kitesurfing and to make lost boards trackable.
Your opinion about the planned feature set is important to us. Please visit our website: https://pidrop.de/.
Feedback in general and to the question "have you ever lost your board and would you buy a tracker to locate your board?" is welcome in the comments or via the survey on the website.

We are looking forward to your feedback!
Max & Raffaela

[LePhasme]

So I looked into building something similar myself by using a gps tracker, but you can't rely on Bluetooth as you would lose the connection very quickly, so you end up with a device relying on a 3/4/5G connection which means you have to pay a subscription for that or let people put their own SIM card with a prepaid plan, how are you planning to make it work ?

[CaptainKook]

Apple AirTag?

[deniska]

probably not that you want to hear, since this looks mostly like a click add, soliciting opinions "on the site", but..
most of us, with tech background, tried to come up with a tech solution for "can't get my board" problem...
However, for most, the issue can be greatly reduced/mitigated by skill, low tech/cost tools and good practices:
- learn to bodydrag
-write your phone number on the board
- if new, use gojoe or inflatable kiddie arm floatie around the handle ($3)
- if surfing big waves - use leash (yes there are cases when it makes sense for advanced riders )
- if you foil - the board usually tries to zoom downwind faster than you, so the only trick is to get it before it passes you
- make your board bright - $5 spray paint will do wonders..
- dont do anything funny miles from the shore and in silly conditions, unless other precautions are taken..

I did not lose a single board to a sea in the last 8 years or so, following above practrices (not the gojoe one )
this is 1000s of sesions
Is there a chance of me losing the board? - the way I kite - always
Would I invest in a tech gizmo that would be more expensive than $5 spray paint or a plastic label? - hell no!
just a data point...

[Bill C]

You're right...I get sick of hearing, "learn to body drag". Sometimes it doesn't work in strong current or waves and you loose the focker.

I've known several competent kiters who at some point have lost their boards in the ocean or river on ebb tide and they are gone. I've had the same experience, but fortunately got returned because I had my phone number on the board.

There's also the case where boards 'disappear' while sitting on the beach or lifted from a car.

If there is a technical solution that consumers are willing to pay for, then great.

[rnelias]

The main problem is cost for a tech solution...

If you want a non tech solution I'd suggest to sell an insurance

X% of the insured board per year and you'd cover the loss

You could include some info to adjust the insurance cost.

Rider experience, kite spot of preference, etc ...

[mass898]

Hello all,

we are currently working on pidrop a device that will make your board intelligent in the future.
Our main goal is to minimize board losses while kitesurfing and to make lost boards trackable.
Your opinion about the planned feature set is important to us. Please visit our website: https://pidrop.de/.
Feedback in general and to the question "have you ever lost your board and would you buy a tracker to locate your board?" is welcome in the comments or via the survey on the website.

We are looking forward to your feedback!
Max & Raffaela

Hi, I had the same idea couple of years ago. Checked cheap chinese suppliers and market. You could provide internet connection and make the user pay for a subscription. Technically feasible but will be hard to sell. Unfortunately market is way too small for you to making any money on (almost) anything related to kite. Global Market size from what i figured out is €250m per year and that's very very small. I would suggest to find some broader use case for this that is not strictly related to kite. For example: ski

[CaptainKook]

Apple AirTag $25-30
Waterproof case $10-15 attached to board.

If you can compete with that and believe you can still make a profit, good luck.

[rnelias]

Apple AirTag $25-30
Waterproof case $10-15 attached to board.

If you can compete with that and believe you can still make a profit, good luck.

forgot to mention iPhone's price

[Gestalt]

Apple AirTag $25-30
Waterproof case $10-15 attached to board.

If you can compete with that and believe you can still make a profit, good luck.

Not going to work if you are kiteboarding on remote islands, and there are no iphone's in 30-100m range.