Being a regular reader of this forum ,I've got no idea which rider is sponsored by which brand kite currently. Unlike a couple years ago all readers knew.Have shops given up sponsoring coz they get no value out of overdemanding local stars profitwise , profilewise maybe or otherwise and rely on international stars being promoted worldwide ,which costs the shop nothing? Or don't local stars want to be sponsored coz they get no value out the shop's deal ? What does a team rider get out of it ? Is the lorocopter still sponsored, if so by who?..What does a kitechick sponsored by a harness company get ?
well we have keahi.... and thats it...
who else in australia has ever been sponsored? ben wilson? ... who did he ride for before his own brand? couldnt even tell you im to much of a kook.
The few "sponsored" riders I know get kite gear at cost then offload it at the end of the season and maybe a small profit and I have never had them push their gear on me. However I think there are a lot of "unsponsored" people especially on this and other kite forums who demo (read: pimp) gear for brands or shops in return for a discount and/or free use of that gear. The word pimp is appropriate as they pretend everyone's "mate", are known as a "good bloke" and they're doing you a "favour" by giving you a demo. I don't think properly sponsored riders (of which there are very few) do this.
The few "sponsored" riders I know get kite gear at cost then offload it at the end of the season and maybe a small profit and I have never had them push their gear on me. However I think there are a lot of "unsponsored" people especially on this and other kite forums who demo (read: pimp) gear for brands or shops in return for a discount and/or free use of that gear. The word pimp is appropriate as they pretend everyone's "mate", are known as a "good bloke" and they're doing you a "favour" by giving you a demo. I don't think properly sponsored riders (of which there are very few) do this.
could you imagine if an actual sponsored rider gave you a kite and you hurt yourself on it? itd be career ending theres no way they would bother doing that, for what gain? and more importantly what the **** would they be doing in australia? australia is **** for kiting. its weird how online forums work sometimes. look at sherdog then look at seabreeze or even bodybuilding forum.
i blame the easy to read weather. it brings all the people who cant read the real weather. and then they use the forum.
laurie off the arrows and just have a 2 minute video on how to read a synoptic chart
I've seen a heap sponsored
by Briggs & Stratton and Victa
i miss that lawn mowing review guy
well we have keahi.... and thats it...
who else in australia has ever been sponsored? ben wilson? ... who did he ride for before his own brand? couldnt even tell you im to much of a kook.
Slingshot.. still the benchmark of the goods!
I've seen a heap sponsored
by Briggs & Stratton and Victa
i miss that lawn mowing review guy
lofty or eppo?
Andy 2010 world champ, rides ozone. Ewan who is a freak rides naish.
There are bulk team riders around. And they will all give you there gear to try out.
Ben Wilson rode for slingshot before BWSurf.
Ewen for naish is killing it on the big scene.
How could you forget Andy Yates with Ozone.
Rowdy for Ozone
Beau Pilgrim for BWSurf
Beau Blake for LF
Ryland for ozone
Leo for core
Heaps of others doing big things internationally as far as being noticed.
Shop riders golour, and they aren't as big of a waste of time as you might think. Just having a kite in the air at a local is advertising. Especially if they are good enough. And if they aren't all the shop needs out of them is alot of time on the water and friendly attitude. and its normally in those guys nature to be friendly as well as disclose their bias. They are just the right personality for the job is all
Dont get to stressed about lemding kites out. People think we live in american system where its super easy to be "at fault" but that risk is super low.
Thanx for the enlightment of current state of stars ..Adam
only tryin to help!![]()
Lots of people kind of doing things, there's still a lot of shop riders imo (somewhat less than 10years ago though I would say, although that was probably overkill back then).
If you want to talk about "Internationally" sponsored riders (focusing on the real definition of that and what it entails), there's really only about 3 from Australia, or maybe 5 if you use the term kind of loosely.
I've seen a heap sponsored
by Briggs & Stratton and Victa
i miss that lawn mowing review guy
lofty or eppo?
Nah I reckon it's Troy