How many kitesurfing brands are there?

Do you know how many kitesurfing brands there are selling kites today? We all know the big brands - like Duotone, Cabrinha and Naish - but how many others exist?
We were curious ourselves and decided to take a closer look at the kiteboarding equipment market as a whole - and what can be expected in the future.
In this video we also explore whether or not kiteboarding is growing in popularity and size, and if it's headed for the same fate as windsurfing.
REFERENCES:
www.iksurfmag....
www.businesswi...
www.nzherald.c...
en.wikipedia.o...
www.kenresearc...
www.kitefinder....
www.emeraldins...
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Gear we use + discount codes: www.ourkitelif...

[@davem1966]

Excellent analysis. One reason for the decline of windsurfing is the rise of kiting. Most Kiters I know were former windsurfers, including me.

[@OurKiteLife]

Agreed, but with that said, we're curious how much you can attribute the decline of windsurfing to kitesurfing, as windsurfing started declining about a decade before kitesurfing took off

[@roftwo]

Learning curve, and jumping easy. The gear is more compact, but windsurf durability is better

[@christopherthomas596]

Not quite true. Windsurfing was already in decline before kiteboarding exploded.

[@berloma]

I also started windsurfing years ago, but never bought my own gear, I always rented on holidays. Then one holiday I rented a windsurf and noticed a lot of people with some kites and boards overtaking me at the speed of light. I wanted to do that! I started lessons. At least for me that it was very difficult to learn kitesurfing, and I am still learning, compared to windsurfing, but I find kitesurfing more convenient, as I have a small car, not a van, to carry my kites. I know people in my beach who "converted" to kitesurfing and say that they never go back to windsurfing. Sometimes I see guys in our beach, hard-core windsurfers, carrying their very heavy board to the beach and I say to myself I will not do that again!

[@OurKiteLife]

Interesting - most former windsurfers we've talked to say that learning windsurfing was harder. Kite gear is much more portable and convenient for travelling.

[@JakeKelsick]

Really interesting video! Great topic that not a lot of people know much about. Stoked to see Tona in the mix. Keep up the awesome videos girl! 🤙🏻

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks Jake, glad to hear you enjoyed the video! :)

[@dereckcamacho3514]

@@OurKiteLife Yes! great video and I agree with all your concerns about the industry. I was a product of the windsurfing industry and it was sad to see it tech itself out of fashion. We try to stay relevant by not chasing the 'latest and greatest', 'you need to get all new gear every year' model but focus instead on the community and basic fun and lifestyle of this amazing sport. Don't over complicate it, just enjoy it!!. Thanks for caring! #tonalife

[@mysticpointwatersports204]

dont forget the guy behind the camera deserves a tiny bit of credit also ... lol

[@gingerdaan7657]

I'm 13 and just started learning this summer I love it so so much Im going to make all my friends Learn kiteboarding to

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s great! Wish we started at your age :)

[@motomatata4781]

Please do!

[@jonathanbjorkskog5923]

This is so spot-on!. Or, a few comments which I think is the reason for the (notable) decline in new riders on the beaches: * Everyone in the "rich" European countries where I usually kite always ask for the price too, even everyone here in Finland gets shocked by the extreme entry-level prices. * Shops & older kiters scaring new people and overfocusing on the "danger" of older kites. I usually hear people tell new kiters that older gear is dangerous, even while talking about 2013-14 stuff. This when talking with a beginner, who will ride in mostly onshore winds on sandy open beaches. Are 5-6-year-old kites really often so dangerous, or is it the industry just wanting to sell new stuff? I still hear a lot of people saying that they would love to kite, but that it feels/looks dangerous. Scaring people is not helping here either. * Lack of a real world-tour and stuff around the sport. With no money to earn, people will not focus on competing, which then leads to fewer competitions, less organized events, and even less money into the industry. So what would help? I do not know a lot, but I try: * Entry-level prices for kites (school kites perhaps) from at least the top 10 brands. Go compete for the beginners dear brand managers! Who can make the cheapest but still safe and useful kite for schools and beginners 2020? Think a little like startups, focus more on volume than on profitability... At least for some product ranges. * Feelings in brand media material. More stories and documentary-things, less flashy show-off-action. And then show it to non-kiters that are really close to buying, but not there yet. Basically to lookalikes of kiters which are not kiters yet. Facebook/Instagram have all target groups ready to use if you have some data. Don't focus on showing stuff to the ones that already are kiting and get their likes. Think like in politics, you do not need to convince the ones that are on your side, you cannot convince the ones that are against you, but there is a large group of people in between to whom you have to speak (market). If I quit my job at any point I'll have to start marketing some kite-related thing for real... * Whatever people think about the competition-thing, it would still be good for the sport that there would be competitions. Understandable competitions. At accessible destinations. With side-activities. * Adventure-traveling and outdoor travel is increasing. Cooperate with travel agencies and add kiteboarding as part of planned packages. Some brand could add "get x amount of non-kiters to start kiting" as a kpi to follow and optimize for the upcoming years.. Just a few lines for a conversation starter, thanks for a great video & research! (y) Jonathan Björkskog (Growth Marketing Director at Genero) Also kiteboarder (kitesurfersblog.com)

[@OurKiteLife]

Really great insights - especially about the marketing of the sport! Totally agree with you - there is a misconception that used gear is dangerous or bad. That was true many years ago, but these days you can pick up a great second-hand quiver that is safe and high quality, and that you won’t feel so bad about if you happen to damage it. I also really like your suggestion about having brands offer entry level gear at a lower cost. Not only would this encourage more people to get into the sport but helps lower costs for kite schools, who can hopefully lower lesson prices for the consumer. Cheers!

[@tommole645]

Thank you -the Community needs More people like you!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks ☺️

[@reperezf]

Great stuff! I started windsurfing on 1988 and kiteboarding on 2004. I'm witness to the windsurfing decline. I remember having old patched up gear. But enjoyed all the way. Thank you so much for sharing..

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks so much! Glad to hear you're still enjoying windy days on the water :)

[@BoothProof]

Great video and a real eye opener. A thriving 2nd hand market still relies on some people buying new kites so they sell their older ones. I haven’t bought a new kite in 3 years because of the cost and Aussie exchange rate pricing me out of an annual purchase. Similar to golf, entry costs can be high but you will get a lot of weekend warriors just trying to really look after their gear to make it last rather than buying new stuff when it comes out.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Very true. The gear can last many years so long as it's well taken care of.

[@Tobeon2]

To further explain, as a windsurfer & kitesurfer, I think the decline of windsurfing industry was largely caused by the gears became too expensive as you explained. For 9 & 12 kites with twin-tips board, I can get all of them (top brand) in about $4,500-$5,000 for the best brand (2 kites &1 board). For the same wind range, I need at least 1 board (preferably 2), 4 sails (e.g. 5.2, 5.8,, 6.5, & 7.2), 2 masts, 2 fins, 1 boom, 1 extention, 1 joint, etc which will cost me at least $7,500. Also, it is much harder to reach the upper intermediate level for windsurfing, not to mention, it is such a bitxx to carry the equipment around. 😩😓

[@OurKiteLife]

Sounds like kitesurfing gear is cheaper by comparison. However, throw a foilboard the mix and you may match the price of windsurfing, and it's also a b*tch to carry ;)

[@Tobeon2]

@@OurKiteLife Hahaha.. That was exactly what came to my mind when I saw the foil Kite board!! I was like, what the heck is the point?.. Lol.. 😁

[@LuigiSimoncini]

@@OurKiteLife nope foil is a very different thing (ultra light winds), if you factor that in for kiting you must also count it in for windsurfing

[@OurKiteLife]

@@LuigiSimoncini That's fair - foil windsurfing is also a thing, so I suppose it cancels out in comparison

[@rosswales1]

Economies of scale will result in better and more affordable kite gear for everyone. The main barrier to entry is cost. I would like to see the brands bring out more budget options for beginners.

[@OurKiteLife]

Agreed - it would be great to see budget-friendly gear for beginners!

[@jamiecookson9297]

I'm 14 and started kiteboarding 2 years ago, and I think Its the best water sport there is🤙🤙

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s awesome! Wish I had started at your age 😊 happy kiting!

[@rafan9480]

im 14 too i started about a year ago!

[@TheOKKiteboarder]

Really great presentation 👍🏻. Much needed awareness.

[@dpwild328]

Intriguing. I find it interesting that some of the most Innovative companies, such as Ocean Rodeo, are not in the top 10. Kudos to these companies for sacrificing market share by focusing on innovation and quality instead of marketing!

[@MrSmithy888]

There is so much competition for peoples' time and money these days. When windsurfing exploded in the 80's there was no mountain biking, no snowboarding, surfing was hard, skating was uncool, no kiting, before computer gaming etc etc The huge popularity of windsurfing was never going to be sustainable so I'm not sure its fair to blame the kit specialisation and expense - perhaps factors but the decline was inevitable following the peak. I feel kiting has probably peaked but we shouldn't stress about a natural decline now that the growth is no longer the feeding off the 'new thing' buzz

[@Pete_R63]

Color me highly impressed. That was an excellent video. As a future kiteboarder and a former windsurfer from the 80s, there is so much I would love to comment about. One thing that pops to my mind immediately is the comment you made about people asking you how much does it cost. I have watched money scare a lot of people away from some of my other hobbies (most of which are gear intensive and can get expensive- skydiving, hang gliding, heck- even rollerblading where I used to race on a recreational level). When I was skating a lot, a gentleman asked me how much a pair of inline skates cost and I said to get a decent entry level skate, about $170. He was shocked at this and I paused and said this, "Let me ask you one question, do you golf?" He immediately said, "Never mind!" You can get into lots of sports in a budget sort of way if you want. My first complete parachute rig and accessories was purchased for $400 and I put about 125 jumps on it. My next set up was new at $1500 - nowadays gear is in the $6-7K range!! For me, when I really and truly want to do something, it doesn't matter what it costs. I will find a way and I won't complain because that is the price of the ticket in the door and I want IN!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks, happy to hear you enjoyed the video! It’s true - cost won’t deter those who are really interested in learning, like yourself :)

[@auklin7079]

industry wide regulations can be a bad idea. If windsurfing companies did the same and it was 'mandatory' that all equipment had advanced features, it would have done nothing but accelerate the decline and ensure a monopoly for the brands in charge of the regulating.

[@croldan1]

Agree 100%. Aurline policy and pricing for traveling with your gear also becomes a huge barrier to enter the sport. To travel to the Canary Islands from south america.... it is advisable to buy a new board on destination rather than pay for airline surfbag fares.

[@OurKiteLife]

That's true too. It can be either expensive to travel with gear, or just additional work to find ways to save money on transporting gear - which can be an added deterrent. That's crazy it's so expensive to travel to Canary Islands with your board! I don't think we've encountered additional fees that high in our travels (so far)

[@kennyskimt]

This is spot on. After windsurfing for 20 years, I have been kitesurfing for 25 years. Yes, this video points out that technology killed windsurfing and that kitesurfing is on a similar non-sustainable path. Windsurfing became so techie that it made people feel their gear from last year was not sufficient and therefore they were not having fun anymore. Same thing is happening with kiting. The media showcases the extreme side of the sports rather than family/friends hanging at the beach and also do some kiting.

[@OurKiteLife]

Definitely. While it's great to see the extreme side of the sport, that's not representative of the majority of kiteboarding (that we've seen, at least). For us, the community is one of the best parts of kiteboarding, and it's kind of a shame that it's not showcased more.

[@DunoyerFilms]

@@OurKiteLife I have tried to showcase the community aspect in this collection of videos made over the course of the last ten years . kzbin.info/aero/PLUqq5lCNIZltw0ySgDyZiTn2aX0uvlh42

[@OurKiteLife]

That's awesome :)

[@canolando3499]

Nice analysis, this is likened to snowmobiling in the early years, everyone got into manufacturing them, there were over 50 manufacturers , price increase ect led to decline now there is only 4 brands and they cost as much as a car. In kiting everyone is trying to get a piece of the action, with beaches closing and finding harder places to kite with increased cost I fear this will happen down the road. I participated in some kiteing events which if they could get organized all around the world would help bring more people into the sport. The events would be a weekend of racing for all levels not just the pros, with some fun events like hangtime and a tour .

[@OurKiteLife]

Interesting - had no idea that happened in snowmobiling! That event sounds great. Right now it seems like (IMO) the majority of the events are for pros, and there’s not a lot for average kiters to participate in. If a fun event like that could be organized globally, it would be a great way to get more people into the sport.

[@mikes_machines]

@@OurKiteLife Great idea, and it works here in Thailand. About a dozen smallish kite clubs/groups each hold one or two events (not globally sanctioned) competitions throughout the year and all levels of expertise are invited to participate. It's great fun and there's always a crowd of on-lookers, a few of whom eventually take up the sport. The group I'm in kites at a local park where the city officials were initially reluctant to allow us the use the beach, but once they saw how the beauty of a dozen colorful kites on the water drew more public to their park they offered us permanent tents and storage space for our gear.

[@OurKiteLife]

That's awesome that the city supports your group! Unfortunately, not many places do

[@roftwo]

Here in brazil 100% asks frist the price, then they ask if i rent the gear 🤣🤣. Foiling at the olimpics os great, but it is the most expensive gear in the market🤤 And yes, as a windsurfer who became a kitesurfer i see the brands going the same way.

[@OurKiteLife]

That's one of the first questions we get here in Canada too. It's a big upfront investment that deters a lot of people from even trying!

[@AL-jj2sb]

Thank you so much for making the effort and putting this together - very helpful for both, kiters as well as those who might be getting into the sport. I believe that regulation won`t solve issue, and I assume that some overshooting is unavoidable - specifically in life-style sports in which technology and product development play a strong role. In surfing, you are fully equipped when you have a board and wetsuit. In windsurfing, kiting, and other fun sports involving more complex equipment, it´s a different story. I believe this "convenience" argument holds off a lot of people, too.

[@OurKiteLife]

100% agree. Surfing, skateboarding and similar sports are easily accessible as you basically just need the board, and maybe a couple of accessories like a wetsuit. We also agree that regulation likely won't solve the issue, but are curious - what do you think could?

[@jofajura]

I started kiting in 2006 on Flysurfer foils. 10m2 Flysurfer Extacy was around 900E. My first LEI kite was 8m2 Switchblade 3. I paid 600E for new 8m2 kite with bar, pump, bag, pack of stickers and spare parts kit. These days 8m2 Switchblade with bar is around 2000E!? +board + harness +wetsuits +boots +gloves ++++. That is the main reason why we see older people on spots. 13 years old don't have that kind of money. Im my country (Croatia) you can see kids kiting only if their parents kite to. Equipment development did not raise the price, most of the development occurred in the early years and all we see these days is polishing. So how come the price is skyrocketing?

[@OurKiteLife]

We're seeing the same thing here - only a few teens learning, most of whom have parents who are already kiters or windsurfers...

[@juanignaciopenalva8033]

Excellent analysis. You deserve way more subscribers! Thank you for your work.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@jamesanderson4758]

ohhh... that's deep! We should start a fundraiser "Save the Kites"

[@OurKiteLife]

To go even deeper, we were going to include Griffin kites, but they went out of business

[@UnknownHumanoid]

@@OurKiteLife I have a Griffin kite. I'm so sad they are out of the market. They were so underated. The kite is a beast!! And it was cheaper than other kites. It's a 12m btw, that flies from 10 to 25kn with no problem (even by a 65kg girl!!!) And the other brands talk about the windrange of their new kites! Ha!

[@OurKiteLife]

We know a couple kiters who really enjoyed those kites! I didn't have the chance to try one though :(

[@CristianCocheci]

@@OurKiteLife Couple more dead brands: Mutiny and Flexifoil

[@christopheblanchi4777]

"Technology-driven competition leads to equipment overshooting the capabilities and financial budget of most users". This should be etched in stone at the entrance of each and every sports activity factory to remind management and designers of this problem. This is exactly what has been happening for years in the soaring community. Amazingly built and very performant gliders but at 100K USD minimum for a new glider there are fewer and fewer takers. One advantage of all these tech improvements however was that even beginners can fly these latest gliders as they are better behaved and safer in all ways than their predecessors. (no tendencies to enter into unprovoked inverted spins was always strongly appreciated!) The only people today who can get involved in soaring are wealthy people who have time. Those tend to be older and 99% men with all the issues that that brings. Probably one of the most inspirational and cool activity in the air was probably the least socially cool place to hang around before and after flying. So sad as all the pilots were some of the nicest and interesting people I have ever met. Living in the Alps, snowkiting seems to be increasing in popularity. COVID and the lack of ski lift has been a boost for sure. Snowkiting in the mountains however requires a lot of skills (hors piste skiing), knowledge of the terrain and local conditions (avalanches are a huge problems), gear (a good backpack airbag will be a life save if you have to use it) and an adventurous streak. Right.... It will probably never go mainstream.

[@dannyisrael]

Wow, great analysis. The way I've always thought about it is that each sport has a bunch of dimensions, for example, windsurfing has gear that is really big in comparison to kiting. Windsurfing also seems harder, in the sense that I can jump with a kite in no time, but years later, I still can't gybe windsurfing. Examples of other dimensions could be the experiential, analysis of the risks, different needs for technical know-how, etc. One thing that I bar out of my analysis is the marketing, but that plays a huge role in how many people take it up and maybe plays into culture a bit. I do have to say though, I think foiling is awesome, you don't need as much wind, it's super smooth, it's faster, you can still jump and do trick, and I got a learning set up for $600, which I think is reasonable, and didn't push me out. Awesome video!

[@Lovin.life13]

I think the biggest factor is kiting locations. The north East is almost impossible to kite in the summer because ever beach has restrictions. And then the very few beach that allow it less are over crowded and lead to more injuries and kitemares. Kiting is seen as a extremely dangerous and annoying sport for anyone within a quarter mile of that beach. When in reality it's only dangerous for the 30 seconds you launch and land and everyone who has seen me has said it was the coolest thing and appreciate the entertainment.

[@OurKiteLife]

Yes - restrictions or outright banning of kitesurfing on public beaches is a huge threat to the longevity of the sport. That's something we're keenly aware at our local spots and have debated reaching out to the city to have an area designated with signs. It just takes one accident (or one reckless person) to ruin it for everyone, and when a place that has only one or two spots to begin with, that can really have a negative impact

[@ericmnr]

That's so true in the North E and I hate it.

[@lrc87290]

Second time watching this video. I find the analysis interesting. I forwarded this my kiteboarding instructor, Chris Doyle who owns leading edge kiteboarding school. And sells Cabrinha kites and gear. He also enjoyed it from a business perspective. You guys should plan a Summer trip to Ocean City NJ.( maybe May or Sept for better rate for lodging) . Pretty good kite spot. If wind is not good for ocean riding I'm sure I can get you a good deal from Chris to boat you out to Ludlum bay where he does most of his teaching. it's not Hatteras but not bad and a lot closer for you guys. I think it would make a great video as Ocean City known as America Greatest Family Resort. Thanks for all the interesting kite videos.

[@OurKiteLife]

Hey Tony! Thanks for sharing and the invite - we will keep Ocean City in mind and let you know when we plan on going! 🙂

[@lrc87290]

@@OurKiteLife Thanks. Great Summer so far for kiting here. Hope you guys are have a good summer. PS I manage our condo complex and I know all the owners who rent their units. They are mostly smaller units with 2 bedrooms if jus a few people come I can probably find one for you. But If you bring a larger group and need more than 2 bedrooms you should probably get a house on the island. Must be difficult to come up with interesting kite videos but you somehow always seem to do it.

[@OurKiteLife]

Nice! The ideas come easily, the right conditions for them are much harder to come by ;)

[@samueltwaites5517]

Important discussion

[@omaricafly]

You missed Mezaj Kiteboarding in Egypt as well! But excellent analysis. I started the brand in an attempt to slash the costs of the sport, but was met with resistance from consumers. Our 12m+ bar was at $1,000 and was the most expensive we had. One day, I'll get enough cash to give it another shot.

[@OurKiteLife]

We did! Thanks for letting us know :)

[@TheSmallsAbroad]

their website doesn't work www.mezajkitesports.com/

[@cefirmeza]

All my kites and boards were bought second hand and used for several years even though I can afford to buy new. It would much preferable to have cheaper products than different colors and tweaks every year and tons of marketing to be included on the price.

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s great! For years we did exactly the same thing and had many great kites that lasted many years 👍

[@ictabink]

Dear Laurie. Love your video's. This is a very true analysis of my former sport windsurfing. Hope we stick to freeriding what 90 % of us do the most. Of course with some cool tricks and jumps on the way.. sporty and intelligent you are ! 😉😉

[@OurKiteLife]

Hi Ivar, thanks so much! :)

[@maxcalabrese5962]

I'm going push the unpopular point and say that freestyle/wave riding is what may ultimately save kitesurfing from the same fate as windsurfing. Windsurfing died because it failed to attract a younger crowd which is not surprising since it does not really have any sexyness to it besides the novelty value it had in the 80s. Skiing nearly went through the same thing due to a stodgy industry. It took a whole new generation of new schoolers to actually make the sport relevant.

[@OurKiteLife]

Can’t disagree with that - the appeal has to be there for people to want to join the sport

[@owenpatterson9355]

I think the difference between kiteboarding and windsurfing is kiteboarding began as an extreme sport, and people want to do it because of that. I am personally starting out now because the sport is still relatively affordable and it is faster than sailing, but prices have skyrocketed in the last few years so who knows.

[@OurKiteLife]

But question back to the community, do you think kiteboarding is an extreme sport? There are definitely riders who take it to the extreme, but in general, is it really an extreme sport?

[@owenpatterson9355]

Our Kite Life as a new rider, I think that is part of the draw. Kiteboarding is definitely the most dangerous wind sport, but the trade off is that there are things you can do with a kite that can’t be done on a windsurfer or sailboat. Personally if I wanted a non extreme experience I would stick with sailing, but I wanted more adrenaline, so I am learning to kite.

[@highlandhillwalkin]

@@OurKiteLife I would say kitesurfing now is less extreme now for sure, the progress of saftey in the kites has made it less extreme and more user friendly (it just costs more now, I still have a flexifoil 6m ion that I use about twice a year!! and works great with the new bar system's) the only thing that makes it extreme is when people (not normal average Jo's) go out in crazy wind or jump off buildings with them.

[@DunoyerFilms]

@@OurKiteLife I would say that yes, it is extreme, given that you are putting yourself in a rather hostile and unpredicitable environment with an unseaworthy craft. Meaning, needing a rescue is always hanging over your head. Every kiter has a story. That is a deterrent, as it should be. We do not want fire and rescue to operate as ski patrol.

[@vinny61389]

As someone getting into this sport now, I’d never consider it if new gear was the only option. *Especially* for foiling. That said, it’s incredibly fun so drawing people in is possible. I was pretty lucky I think and was able to get used 2 kites and the rest of what I needed for about $1000. Not cheap by any means but more manageable to start out. Hard to say where it’ll go for sure, but that google trend doesn’t look any better now than when you made this video.

[@OurKiteLife]

Sounds like you got a great deal! There are definitely more challenges now with supply chain. At least one kite brand folded since this video. Not sure how this will impact the sport - only time will tell.

[@chrischarlwood]

Great analysis, thank you! I would love to see kites and gear sold based on value vs features. What about a good review of Pansh vs Flysurfer?

[@OurKiteLife]

We would definitely be up for that review!

[@JamesLamb]

I'm a beginner in Australia and yes, I gritted my teeth at the entry cost and then learning I would need to invest more for a quiver. Also because of other obligations I didn't start learning until nearly the end of the season, and debate whether I should spend money traveling somewhere with reliable wind in a spot good for beginners. When I was figuring out the sport , I first encountered a retailer who seemed to be primarily focused on their own income. I didn't know if I could just buy equipment and slip by on the minimal lesson package. Their attitude made me uneasy, so I decided I should bite the bullet and spend the money on an introductory lesson before splurging on equipment. I'm glad I went with another group that focuses more on lessons than on trying to sell volumes of equipment. Where I'm living right now there seems to be a lot of competition between retailers, so their margins might be getting squeezed. Where I lived previously, the entry point was much more about taking lessons; not some retailer pushing you to buy equipment. It seems the retailers only carry one or two brands (maybe that's an Australia thing), so it's less about competition between manufacturers and more about competition between retailers. And if the retailers are pushing for the manufacturers that give them the highest mark-up on equipment, they will kill the sport. The best way to build the sport might be clubs that let people who otherwise wouldn't have the money to give it a shot. Also, it's marketed as an extreme sport with testosterone and bikinis, and might not be cool anymore when the old folks are doing it - but really? Plenty of old people surf, and that sports image hasn't suffered.

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s too bad about the retailer pushing you to buy gear before taking a lesson, but we’re glad to hear you found a better group. In our experience, we learned on second hand gear that was only a fraction of the price of new gear, and it served us well. Also, crashing the kite wasn’t so painful :D There’s definitely a disconnect between marketing and reality because most kitesurfers are between the ages of 35-55 (at least, according our viewer stats), who have the money and time to spare.

[@JamesLamb]

@@OurKiteLife here's my blog post about starting up, which maybe runs into the trees too quickly. Years before taking lessons, I remember reading what someone wrote about being dragged through the dirt and branches by a kite, and for me, lessons really helped prevent that. hoosier-n-oz.blogspot.com/2019/06/kiteboarding-launching-into-hobby.html

[@alphaHero100]

I think the sport will continue to grow. With the 2nd hand market growing as new kite equipment comes out it will drive prices on older gear down. I recently got into the sport for under 1k in gear. Lessons are basically a must and those will add to the cost. In Oregon I've seen more people out riding every year including kids

[@OurKiteLife]

That's awesome, glad to hear kitesurfing is growing in Oregon. What we've noticed locally is that the second hand market has suffered slightly due to last year's kite models being marked down significantly by retailers. Hard to sell a 1-2 year old kite when a brand new one is listed for the same price. A few of our local kiters have had their old gear sit on the market for a while with no bites

[@tedrutledge7345]

Great analysis on kitesurfing growth (or decline). I am also one of those who switched from windsurfing to kitesurfing. I still like windsurfing and go out a few times per year, but it is too expensive to keep equipment up to date for both of these high-tech sports. So I choose to update some kitesurfing equipment each year. Another factor which could have a huge impact on kitesurfing growth is restrictions or outright banning beach access for kiters. We are seeing this happen more often each year. If it continues, there won’t be anywhere to kite, so we won’t be buying any more kites! I think Kite supplier representatives are going to need to step up and do more to find solutions to prevent beach restrictions. If not, they will see a bigger decline in sales than what windsurfing experienced.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks Ted! We agree - it would be great to see kite supplier reps step up to help find solutions to avoid kiting getting restricted or banned from beaches. This is a huge threat to the sport, and something we’ve seen happening more and more in recent years

[@jonathandodds6420]

Nice video, very informative. I don't know why the brands keep releasing new models every year. This saturates the market and hikes the cost of R&D. Instead they should release new versions every 2 or 3 years when they really have something new to offer. I know Liquid Force use this model of V1, V2 etc. Also looking forward to some of the new Aluula material being used by Ocean that is supposed to increase the strength and durability of the kites.

[@OurKiteLife]

It would be interesting to see the effect on the market if more brands chose only to release new kite models when there is a significant change or improvement, rather then just pushing a new model each year. We heard about the Aluula material - we'd love to test the new OR kite for low wind performance vs foil kites.

[@leecarroll9372]

Really enjoyed this video, great look into the industry and where we might end up. About a month ago I posed the question on FB kiteboarding , to the instructors, "At what percentage do you think first time students continue with the sport and become proficient or a sport that they continue with yearly?" I received an overwhelming response, from instructors, felt only 1-2% of the students they taught actually felt that they stayed with the sport...interesting.

[@OurKiteLife]

We spoke to a local instructor who gave a similar percentage - he said 5% of the people he taught actively continue to kitesurf. A slightly higher percentage continue as vacation kiters. Out of all the people he taught, only 2 terminated the lesson and said kitesurfing wasn't for them.

[@leecarroll9372]

@@OurKiteLife The percentage seems to vary based on location, but it never seemed to be higher than 5%. That being said, out of 100 people being taught only 5 continue with the sport appears to be really low to me, it would be nice to see how they could get the percentage higher so that the sport can continue.

[@OurKiteLife]

It’s hard to say how that rate can be improved. I imagine a lot of people drop out of the sport because waiting for wind can be frustrating - especially if you work full time and don’t have the flexibility to drop everything and go kite when it’s windy. We’ve seen friends move away from kiting in favor of other activities like climbing or biking because they're (almost always) guaranteed to get out on their spare time.

[@leecarroll9372]

@@OurKiteLife So true...keep the videos coming, hopefully it will help a few others stay with the great sport we call kiteboarding...thanks!

[@johnravensbergen3324]

I've wondered about the commercial aspects of our sport, so thanks for the interesting video. great job! The idea the wind surfing industry got the buyers concept wrong, focusing on high cost performance gains versus lower cost products for the masses. I understood the industry tried to broaden the market with gear that performed in lighter winds, probably a good example off higher cost that didn't appeal to the broader market. Certainly kiting has an advantage in lighter winds. Also wind surfing gear evolved into gear that required strong upper body strength, precluding many. Keep the great video coming!!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@kinouillek]

Great analysis and well researched. I think cost is definitely a factor. Yes we can buy cheap gear and get going but soon the wind will be too strong so you'll need a smaller kite, then wind will be too weak, you'll need a bigger one... Don't get me started on foiling (Which in Toronto is a kitesurfer life saver especially if paired with a Flysurfer)... But once again it's extremely $$$. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that material, factories, shipping, RnD, etc... cost a lot of money. But it is one of the reason people don't get into this sport. Also, lessons are VERY expensive and often turn people away (My wife would like to learn but is always turned away by the price of lessons. And I refuse to teach her as I am not a professional and it's not the same when your SO teaches you). Or new kiters buy gear, watch a couple videos on youtube, injure themself or worse... On another note, there is a couple other things that I believe affect the kiting community. First is the safety aspect, Yes people see kiting as a cool sport and often ask how they can get into it. But depending on which beach you go to, sometimes they can see someone struggling with a kite, or swimming and that can scare some of. (Not pointing fingers, I, myself totally messed up one of my launch with a flysurfer a couple days ago...). And on this note... because there is a danger for others, a lot of beaches are now closed for kiters. So to resume all this: - Gear is $$ - Lessons are $$ - It can be viewed as dangerous - Kite beaches are becoming more and more rare. Don't stop your videos, they are not only very interesting but also different than the usual "Look at my big jumps, look at my handle passes, etc...". Stupid question but have you ever thought of adding french subtitles?

[@OurKiteLife]

Those are all great points! Hopefully people from the industry are reading the comments. We haven't thought about French subtitles - but is there not an option on KZbin to turn on French subtitles? We're not sure ourselves.

[@UnknownHumanoid]

Some kites like the 14m size. etc. cost about 1800€ already. Bars 500-600, you need different boards and kites, foils are even more expensive. The sport already became very prohibitive for the average. You need to invest far much more money comparing with sports like snowboard and ski, biking, etc. The basic new equipment consists in 2 kites, one bar, board, harness, neo. You must be ready to get around 4500-5000€ out of your pocket. And that's just basics. Adding a freeride kite and a surf or even a foil to your gear can double the price above. Ppl start to think you have to be fucking rich to get into kiteboarding. The only thing is, they reached a point where there is not much more to improve. The industry will stagnate as there are no improvements or very little from one year to another. They started to specialize more tho'. You need more stuff for special stuff.

[@OurKiteLife]

Exactly. It’s getting ridiculously expensive, and more and more specialized. Few can afford to keep up, and many see the price tag and don’t bother to begin with.

[@SchylgefilmNl]

@@OurKiteLife But how many kiters do acutally buy new stuff for the retail price? A lot of them will go for the older models with 30/40% discount.

[@OurKiteLife]

It's tough to say how many buy new vs. buy last year's marked down model new vs. second hand. At our local beach it's a mix for sure!

[@AndreBandarra1]

Really well put together and analysis, well done guys! Particularly interesting for us in the somewhat even smaller paragliding industry

[@OurKiteLife]

Thank you!

[@robbiesuguitan8468]

Really great video!! Thanks for all the research and awareness of this awesome sport

[@OurKiteLife]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@jfields9861]

Excellent analysis indeed. But I think the lack of good looking kites and boards is a bad thing for sales. Most kites and boards look so ugly I would even want them for free. It's like cars: good looks sell.

[@OurKiteLife]

Interesting - I'd say that's debatable and highly subjective. Curious what you'd like to see when it comes to kite and board designs

[@wavesailsnz]

Great video very informative and realistic and more importantly impartial. Thanks

[@normsbigwindow9379]

Another very watchable vlog. It’s interesting. Lots of innovation, but no apparent production efficiency or cost optimisation passed to the consumer in reduced prices, encouraging news kiters. Lots of brands combined with a few factories, low barriers to entry... R&D seems to gobble up costs and drive up prices selling new products to existing customers, where innovation fatigue may stifle market growth. E.g. wingsurfing maybe be an attempt at new product and new market but a step too far for the existing market which instead says” nah, had enough, not buying that”. Also interesting my last purchase (FS Soul) was more influenced by fellow kiters on KZbin than pro marketing. Or that I’m now avoiding product marketing either direct or in magazines (which perpetuate the model) to remove myself as a returning consumer as I’ve priced out...also interesting, that recent goings on at B&M, Cabrinha, New North etc doesn’t result in any consolidation. No mergers or takeovers. What’s does that mean? Hhmmmm sounds like a good discussion over a beer

[@OurKiteLife]

There was a good comment on the Facebook Kiteboarding group under this video, where someone said if it flies, it sells - hence the new push toward beach ambassadors. We witnessed it first hand, as most of our crew have Souls now since we showed up to the beach with it one day and let everyone try it out.

[@siddallj]

Seeing more people take up kitesurfing in the UK. Most of the windsurfers I know have now switched to kitesurfing. The kite brands do a great job marketing, I have a serious GAS problem. Gear Aquisition Syndrome 🤣. New gear comes out, buy the latest kite /foil board. Sell the old one. Looking forward to the new material Aluula, sounds awesome. Half the weight, 2 times stiffer and 10 times stronger. Could be the next big thing in kitesurfing 🏄😎

[@OurKiteLife]

Haha, we have similarly suffered from GAS at times :) Aluula has a lot of people talking - we hope to try it out soon!

[@ryanvandyl4706]

Great videos. I think missed one brand I know "SlingShot" still making kites etc :) Happy Kiting!

[@OurKiteLife]

We didn’t miss it 🙂 I’m just standing in front of the logo, but I promise it’s there! It was in the Top 10

[@OurKiteLife]

@ 2:34 you can see whole list of brands, including it :)

[@kevinbradley9601]

Great vid. Sad I JUST saw it. We probably need a consolidation of brands as you hinted on. The improvements of kites every year kinda makes me laugh. Example-- I think Cabrinha has mentioned for about 10 years straight "less bar pressure" on the Switchblade. Man, if it decreased for 10 years STRAIGHT, that 2010 Switchblade must've pulled like a freight train. LOL. I think a cool future vid for you guys would be to grab some 2010-2012 kites and ride them against say... 2019-2020 kites. Be very curious to hear your thoughts. I know they say kites improve every year but I think the last 10 years or so has been pretty negligible. But I don't sell kites ;)

[@OurKiteLife]

Check out our video “kitesurfing value experiment” - we compared a 2006 kite to a 2018 kite (filmed in 2019) 🙂

[@JoseCastillo-cn4dc]

thank you for your informational video. I am a kite boarder. Cheers

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Happy to hear you enjoyed it - cheers!

[@jeffgaufin2606]

Great content really like it when you guys dive in the business and development side of the industry. Hopefully, fellow Canadian Ocean Rodeo lets you test out their new fabric see if its a game changer or just marketing speak.

[@OurKiteLife]

We'd love to test it out! It's on our radar for sure, especially for low wind

[@fabienh3943]

Excellent review! And such sharp analyses of both sports' evolution. As an early windsurfer, I wouldn't mind a slowdown of kitesurfing though. I love kiting, but overcrowded spots are getting more common than exceptional. Kiteboarding is way more accessible than windsurfing. That's a huge difference making me believe people will be kiting as they go skiing in the winter. Making amateur kiting look "second best" compared to the 5% acrobats, is indeed a danger for the sport's popularity...but I won't be the one complaining. Windsurfing was a bit adventurous, individual at a time. Kiting has become rather macho in little time on the other hand. The thing that will have to be watched, is the space kiteboarding takes. 25m of ropes is a lot. Windsurfing spots were rarely overcrowded, just because they need so much less space around them. Between 85 when I started, wealth and demography exploded too. Doesn't help the problem. Love it or hate it 😊 But when you're at sea, you don't do it to feel squeezed like in the supermall... well, some of us don't 😜

[@OurKiteLife]

Can you elaborate on this "Making amateur kiting look "second best" compared to the 5% acrobats" ?

[@didierslasher376]

I’ve just started and I’m still learning, I bought all my gear second hand, it’s all good and was cheaper to start, I am sure that this sport will last it’s easier to learn than windsurfing to get somewhere and the progress are way faster, a lot of fun people need fun those days

[@OurKiteLife]

Going with second hand gear is a great choice - especially when learning to kite. It really cuts down on the initial investment, and there’s a lot of great gear available in the second hand market. Curious if you took lessons, and if you found those to be expensive?

[@didierslasher376]

Our Kite Life, yes I did take a few and yes I think the hourly rate on the lesson was expensive, block lessons wheee a little better but still it’s a lot, there is a few schools around and they are all on the same path, I’m hopping to get to Aitutaki and spend a week there doing just Kiting (;-) have a great day

[@voyagerpalms1537]

Awesome video👍👍I only wish that kiteboarding grows and evolves at a steady rate bringing along more riders who are stoked and more passionate about this great sport 🎈🤙🔆💨🌊🏄🏼‍♂️

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Yes, we hope it continues to grow too - it has definitely changed our lives for the better, and if it can do the same for more people that would be awesome

[@ericmnr]

The problem with kiteboarding is to expensive. Even that I can afford it, I stopped paying more $900 for a new kite. This is a sport of rich kids or professional people. The average person can't paid. We the riders dictates the market. Wait for the sales and buy a new kite. Even in my job other professionals they lose interest when they find out how expensive is.

[@OurKiteLife]

That's true - you can opt not to buy the full price gear and hope that if others do the same, and that the market will change. I'm sure there are some more affordable, quality options amongst these 53+ brands, so why not support them? Or try the second hand market

[@geogianno7744]

For me kitesurf is expensive. To get into the sport with NEW gear you need round about 2000-3000 euro. And by this off course I don't mean foil gear (because we will end up at 4000-5000 euro!). And by 2000-3000 euro I only mean the absolute gear necessary (i.e. kite, bar, belt, leash, board). If you add to that appropriate suit 1 for winter and 1 for summer, shoes for difficult terrains, helmet, vest, a 2nd kite (because 1 won't ever cover all wind ranges) and other apparel such as car seat covers, maybe boxes to transport the gear etc. you will definitely exceed 5000 euro!! But as many other people said in the comments sometimes the spots are super crowded and you cannot enjoy the sport at all! That's why on the other hand it's good that the sport is expensive and discourages people to get involved into. I'm not into sales I just want to kiteboard...

[@OurKiteLife]

it is expensive, but as you said it does limit the number of people on the beach theoretically. From personal experience a lot of kiters here in Toronto get into the sport for under $2000 Canadian

[@Tobeon2]

Thank you.. Thank you.. As a windsurfer who recently got hooked in Kitesurfing, that is exactly what I was thinking about the Kitesurfing industry. I am so afraid what happened to the Windsurfing industry will happen to the Kitesurfing industry. 😳🙁😑

[@OurKiteLife]

Hopefully kitesurfing can avoid a similar fate! :)

[@Tobeon2]

@@OurKiteLife at leat I know I am not the only one who feels 'that way' about the foil kiting!.. (^~^)

[@OurKiteLife]

@@Tobeon2 I don't have any bad feelings about foilboarding - in fact, it's really great for kiters who often have low wind kite conditions. The point of showcasing it was that for an absolute beginner, foilboarding can look intimidating/complicated, and it's expensive to get into - foilboarding is likely not the way people will get into kiting

[@Tobeon2]

@@OurKiteLife I do not have an issue with foil kiting either. Just the same way I have no issue jumping and looping in windsurfing. However, I do not think foil kiting will help Kitesurfing to grow at all. In fact, it may have an adverse impact... That was my point..

[@OurKiteLife]

Gotcha, we agree :)

[@vivekpoovanna2079]

Wonderful content!

[@Chris_PerthWA]

Great vid - Love watching you

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@t5jayson]

Don't worry there's nothing yet that's cheap and relatively easy to learn that gives you a great buzz just using mother nature like kitesurfing did to windsurfing.. I say tho long live both hobbies 😁

[@OurKiteLife]

Agreed - long live both! 😀

[@mysticpointwatersports204]

Its hard to believe that 150,000 kites sold in 2017 ... As far as I know these numbers are all speculation as many brands don't report their sales figures ... What I do know is kiteboarding is cyclical and we don't measure used kite sales and we don't track new lessons or people that stopped/quit riding ... The Google trend is interesting ... and I think kiting will boom after it is in the Olympics but who knows ... anyways great video!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! Time will tell how the Olympics will effect the sport

[@ChrisCanMakeStuff]

Chewing gum is a $4.1 billion a year industry in the US alone. You *might* get that 200 million a year up to 2 billion if you add in wetsuits bar lines, lessons, boards, harnesses etc etc. but it would be a stretch. I was involved in the kite industry from 2001 to 2006, we all thought there were too many brands around then!!!!!

[@OurKiteLife]

Hey Chris, for sure - kites alone are just one part of the equation. Factoring in the bars, boards, foil boards, wetsuits, accessories, etc I'm sure it's much more than $200M, but exactly how big I have no clue! :)

[@kitingholger9826]

Very good video & research! A very good analysis. Overall I think the market reached a level of having too many different brands, but this brings prices a bit down due to competition. As you commented, when looking at kite board shapers, there are even more small companies, many running it at a side huzzle to other sources of income. What drives growths? I feel that the main growth of the kite market comes from people between 40-60. They have more financial options to travel to kite beaches and buy a couple of kites & boards. Although I feel this is also only true true for some places in Europe (like Germany, Netherlands). I lived a couple of years in Spain and most people there have a 12m kite and board, d when the conditions are not appropriate for that this gear they have to stay on the beach. I agree that there is definitely an entry hurdle to this sport. And you’re right it’s a good question if the companies really attract new Kiters with their marketing campaigns. But on the other side on a good windy day it’s getting really busy on the water at many Kitespots...

[@OurKiteLife]

I think you're right about the age of new kiteboarders. The average age of kiters at our home spot is in that range - and it makes sense when you consider the upfront cost of the sport in terms of gear, as well as the travel that often goes with it. Based on what we've heard, kiting is much more popular in Europe. There are only a handful of beaches here in North America that would be classified as crowded with kiters. Where we kite, the number of kiters has pretty much stagnated, with some people leaving and some people joining.

[@kitingholger9826]

Our Kite Life Yes makes sense - I travelled down the Californian coast last year and saw virtually no kiter - they are addicted to surfing. I think there is more kiting at the East Coast, Florida, the 5 Big Lakes, some places in Canada. here jn central Europe, I can reach the Coast in Netherlands, Belgium or Northern Germany in 3-4h by car. So getting to the kitebeach is doable even for a 1day trip - as commented before one needs a range of kites and a car. On a good windy day the spots in Netherlands can be really busy

[@toastskate]

Just finding out about this. And I'm dying to try it 😂😃😅😅

[@BenBeholzVlogs]

That's super interessting... well done !

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks Ben!

[@MrCalifornia1234]

Kiteboarding is big in California. Many people who used to windsurf now kite board.

[@OurKiteLife]

A few of our local kiters were former windsurfers too. Do you still see many windsurfers out in California?

[@ericmnr]

Where exactly in CA? My last trips there the winds is light the most of the time. East coast is better for kiteboarding. Maybe is perception.

[@81wolverine81]

Average kiter i Norway is 50+. No disrespect to these guys but silver foxes moving the lawn with hydrofoils doesn't look very exiting. Soo we are loosing the younger generation to other sports, due to the expenses of the gear, and the steez kitesurfing had once is rapidly declining.

[@OurKiteLife]

Yes - this is a reality for a lot of kite communities at the moment!

[@nkb051]

you can take this as tutorial to interpret data for a thesis #awesome analytical skills #Unifutzi

[@DunoyerFilms]

One important factor to consider is that kiteboarding is inherently rather dangerous. The financial barrier to entry is paying $1K for lessons so you don't hurt yourself and others. I think the financial barrier to entry is a good deterrent for kooks popping up and 'trying' the sport and becoming a societal menace. I agree that foil board/foil kite racing, while spectacular, is the domain of only highly committed athletes with vast resources. I have been leading a local group which promotes the kiteboarding stoke called Masskiting.com. We have run many amateur events with great success. I am already seeing a decline in the sport. The honeymoon is over, only the hard core riders are still at it. And new riders are only trickling in. This solves a problem some saw on the horizon, which surfing has struggled with - too many people in the lineup.

[@OurKiteLife]

Interesting - this came up on Facebook as well. I'm not sure I totally agree with financial barrier to entry keeping the sport safer. People can still get their hands on (really old/worn) used gear for cheap, watch some KZbin videos and hit the beach - which isn’t safe for anyone. Less expensive lessons on the other hand may encourage more people into the sport while keeping it safe…

[@DunoyerFilms]

@@OurKiteLife less expensive lessons would be great, but operating a kite school is expensive.

[@sammcneil1213]

Started when I was 45, kitesurfer till I die. This sport is niche, yes, however, it will last way longer than many other sports, why ? because of the STOKE.

[@Tischlerimkopf]

Here in Germany Kitesurfing is every Thing Else but a niche Sport, sometimes U get way over 200-300 kites in a Spot, sometimes so crowded its Not fun to Go Out anymore

[@BrandonZeluff]

Really great information and points being made! Here's my question to you about the cost barrier for the sport: do you believe that kiteboarding attracts and retains a certain caliber of people due to the level of commitment needed to get into the sport? I find that the vast majority of kiters I meet are extremely nice and friendly. On the flip side, a sport with a lesser cost of entry barrier, and easier learning curve such as skiing and snowboarding can attract a crowd that's less desirable to share the sport with.

[@OurKiteLife]

That is a hard question as i feel like it boils down to the law of numbers. Whenever we are at the smaller beach the more friendlier the locals, the busier the beach with kiters the opposite is true. I don't think there is that much of a money commitment compared to the time commitment it takes to learn and enjoy the sport. You can probably get everything you need on second hand for under 500$ usd. I think kiteboarding attracts and retains certain caliber of people, but I don't think that is related to how much money they make

[@BrandonZeluff]

@@OurKiteLife That's fair. I wasn't necessarily meaning to relate it to income, rather the will to bite a financial bullet. I'm attempting to draw a correlation to commitment, and caliber of people.

[@gatorjos]

Really interesting perspective and historical context. Having seen the sport grow over the last decade, I have to catch myself to not fall into localism and being the grouchy guy on the beach. I'm not -- I always stoke the stoke if talking to somebody thinking about getting into the sport and give tips and welcome to people coming to my local beach for the first time. Spots are getting more crowded though and level and quality of instruction does not seem to have improved judging by some of the kookery observed with new or not so new kiters (to your point). It'll be interesting to see where things head over time. We do have quite a few young people getting into it here in the SF Bay Area so the sport is not dying yet ;-)

[@OurKiteLife]

We agree it can be challenging sometimes to not fall into localism, but as kiters who travel from time to time it's always best to treat others how you'd like to be treated :) awesome to hear you've got some young people getting into the sport!

[@Lolzomolo]

I dont get the large barrier to entry though... You can easily get a full set of gear with 2 kites for 500-800$ on craigslist. and under 1000$ on ebay...

[@OurKiteLife]

that cost would be even less if the new gear was less expensive. Also for people who get used gear, are less likely to stick to the sport with new gear costing more compared to if it was costing less. Again, we are just paraphrasing the article and the above comment is just our view

[@Lolzomolo]

@@OurKiteLife Fair point, but quality of kites is so high now that there is almost no point to buy brand new gear unless you're really pushing the edge of your abilities. For most casual riders, I think 3-4 yo gear is more than good!

[@pietropastorino4911]

Great video, but is missing RRD 😔!!! Keep publishing great content!! Thanks!!

[@OurKiteLife]

RRD is there, it's just hidden behind me. You can see all the brands at the 2:34 mark :) Thanks!

[@alter3go411]

I just purchased my first kite for +1K euros, and now I see that I may be produced by a seller on Alibaba???

[@glebov66]

I don't see a Gong kitebrand. They have great strutless kites for foiling.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for letting us know - we did miss Gong kitebrand. We'll add it to our list, thanks! :)

[@KissMyEss]

Your math is wrong though.. it's like saying 1million computers are sold a year so keyboard which cost 100$ * 1million is the total market cap of the computer industy. You need to take in to account all the equipment every one need for kiting, which is a board, trapez, bars, foot strap, second or third kite, leashes, wetsuites and much more. Also, the industry is not built of equipment sales only, also courses and lesson are generating income for the industry, kiting vacations etc... the rise of many small brands is great! it creates competition on kite prices, which makes the bigger brands be more efficient in keeping their prices reasonable. This sport will keep growing for sure! 🤙🏽

[@marcusbrace6970]

Question of the day! How much are you willing to pay ,as a kiter ,for a kite and bar these days now that your addicted to it 😄

[@OurKiteLife]

Haha, way too much!

[@nelsonlivestock]

Very nice.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@mbkiteboarding]

Add another brand: Reedin

[@OurKiteLife]

Yes! We will add to our list :)

[@Alfonso_111]

The actual products in both windsurfing and kitesurfing are not that expensive to manufacture. Add in brand margin, middle man margin and retailer margin and you all of a sudden have an expensive product.

[@OurKiteLife]

How much do you think it costs to manufacture a kite?

[@Vagaboarder]

Good video! But are we sure that interest in kitesurfing is falling down because of the "innovation overshooting" ? Anyway Good job guys!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! We’re not sure ourselves - and welcome alternative opinions. There have been a lot of great points brought up in the comments about factors such as the cost of equipment/lessons, the fact that kiting is reliant on the wind (and harder for weekend warriors to participate), and the role of the retailer. And some would say kiting isn’t “falling down” at all

[@MarreLirre]

Woah, did you use purple lenses in the second part of the video? Good video as always!

[@OurKiteLife]

Nah, we used a green screen and then had to color correct, and for whatever reason Vegas decided to extend it towards the rest of the video. A bug...

[@MarreLirre]

@@OurKiteLife Oh I see, never seen someone with purple lenses before so I had to ask! Are you planning on making any ligthwind videos? I just bought a fat lady and I could use a couple of tips, cheers! : )

[@OurKiteLife]

Definitely! We live in a light wind spot ourselves, so we'd be happy to share our tips. Enjoy your new kite :)

[@MarreLirre]

@@OurKiteLife Lovely! Thanks, I sure will : )

[@alchabal1373]

very VERY interesting video

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@marekvanatka2426]

could you please provide a link to PDF of the presented paper? ...How industry competition ruined windsurfing I would like to read it but cannot find it!! Thank you!

[@OurKiteLife]

It's in the description, we had to buy it was 40$

[@oleksandrchubukov5991]

great insight

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@andreaspoke8273]

How much is the new flysurfer bar? 8% more? No, more than 20% more expensive than the former model. I started kitesurfing 2 years ago. Never bought any gear new. As I did the first lessons I didn’t know the prices of gear and how easy a kite break or leak. Now I don’t know how to proceed. New gear or foil not in my budget. If wind i on the water sure and happy with my patched Airush DNA and Litewave twintip board. Greetings.

[@OurKiteLife]

Up until last year we always bought second hand gear - new gear wasn't in our budget. There are lots of great kite and board options on the used market, and as long as you know what you're looking for, you can have a quiver that suits your needs for a fraction of the cost of new gear.

[@matthijsvanemous7046]

Im currently learning how to kite. very interesting info! thx. and is it just me or is she gorgious

[@hassansaleh7728]

In Egypt kids start at a rly young and I guy in his 20s would be considered a grandpa

[@OurKiteLife]

Most kiters in North America start around age of 35

[@hassansaleh7728]

@@OurKiteLife most people in Egypt and Brazil start at 11

[@LotetaCartel]

I love the yellow logo on ur left 😋😜

[@OurKiteLife]

That's a favourite for many kiters!

[@NK-gt8ib]

What about the rest of the gear besides kites that adds to the industry size: Boards, suits, bags, etc etc. Im beginner-intermediate and already bought 2 boards (together valued at $1800) and started looking after another one that will add another 1K. i think that to include the 'others' will double the 250M. Now, add the foiling gear that is MORE expansive (i see people in my area selling used Moses for $4K!)

[@OurKiteLife]

For sure, we just don't know, hence we left it open for speculation :P

[@NK-gt8ib]

@@OurKiteLife - Agree. but i think it is not far-fetch speculation to say that the 'rest' is equal at least to the kites. (i have 3 kites, and i can tell that i spent at least the same on the peripherals. im in MA and you know how much it spends only on suits (i still do not have dry but already spent around 1000 (3 suits, 3 booties, 3 gloves, hat, binnie, sigh...)

[@OurKiteLife]

I think you're right. Most kiters we know have multiple boards - many now with foil boards. In Canada most have snowkiting gear as well, and wetsuits/drysuits/neoprene accessories of varying thickness for the different seasons. Even the gear bags are outrageously expensive.

[@vlastimilvrskovy4540]

You are wrong! CrazyFly has OWN factory, freshly built in Slovakia, EU.

[@OurKiteLife]

Hi there, we never said that CrazyFly didn’t have their own factory - we know that they do. The *majority* of brands do not though. Cheers

[@miataleica]

I wasn't going to watch this but it was awesome Thanks

[@OurKiteLife]

glad you liked it :)

[@ADAM-ej6ne]

Ohhhh you Forget xenon it is a small kitr brand

[@OurKiteLife]

You're right - we missed Xenon! We will add to our list. Haven't tried their kites yet, but I used to have a Xenon Infra board and I loved it but sadly I lost it in Lake Ontario :(

[@ADAM-ej6ne]

@@OurKiteLife ohhhhh pity

[@TheSmallsAbroad]

Good video, but your market sizing is not quite right. The kiting market will not just include the cost of the kite. You need to add bars, harnesses, boards, and many many other accessories. I can see it getting to $2.5B when you add these other items in.

[@OurKiteLife]

yeah, that's why we provided a range and left the rest up to debate

[@Chris_PerthWA]

Love this vid

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks!

[@kalebtaege1403]

what about RRD

[@OurKiteLife]

It's there, it's probably behind me

[@georgehargreaves7910]

Hey, I’m visiting Burlington, Ontario next month from the UK, can you recommend any kiting spots please?

[@OurKiteLife]

depending on the level, nothing spectacular in burlington, on east wind - marie curtis park, southerlies, long beach or port colborne and lake erie, cherry beach in toronto or kipling (advanced), oliphant (3 hour drive) for S,SW,W,NW, and is probably the best spot as it is very shallow for kilometers.

[@georgehargreaves7910]

Our Kite Life thankyou, I’m visiting for a month to see relatives but I don’t think I could last a month without kiting so I’m bringing my kit, thank you for the spot suggestions, maybe I’ll see you out there 👍

[@OurKiteLife]

@@georgehargreaves7910 keep us posted, maybe we kite together

[@georgehargreaves7910]

Our Kite Life yeah that’d be great, I fly over on the 24th so if there is any good winds in any spots after then then drop me a message and I’ll try and get there 👍