I think running a kite expo would be a great idea - would be even better if it was organized timing wise that some of the internation team members from the manufactures could be there for it.
you'll receive my full support joe. Your idea is rock solid, i think you should have a winter north queensland spot and early summer in brissy, sydney and melb. apart from that i think your on the money. ignore the mud slingers on here. you can never keep everyone happy but if your doing something for the greater good of all its going to succeed.
Mike(noosa kiteboarding)
p.s i dont sell any equipment but am constantly looking for the best stuff for my school, this would give me an oppurtunity to do exactly that.
No thoughts given to Adelaide? Im pretty sure we have in excess of 200 SAKSA members down here.
Adelaide? wheres Adelaide 
Jokes....
I guess if a suitable location is available and enough interest from local kiters, why not?
Dan
Cardboards
something early in the season would be excellent, and not just for those who are able to attend. anyone who reads these forums could benefit from any reviews posted by those who go along and try a range of gear. of course, shop owners and others have their biases but regular seabreeze readers are aware of them and could get a good range of perspectives.
in melbourne i'd vote for brighton kite beach simply because there's so much space.
lost in london: not altona because you have to drive there!? you personally, or everyone? in summer altona is my local and i take the train. i also take the train to brighton if there's too much west in it for altona, but the walk from middle brighton station to kitebeach is longer, so for those who don't want to drive but have train access, altona is pretty convenient.
ah, now i get it, cheers, and that makes perfect sense. i guess st kilda is a little off my radar as i can't stand the crowds and the kooks. but for a demo-day yes, it would be great, so long as the schools can back off with their endless parade of body-draggers so that people testing gear could come in and out quickly and regularly.
how much choice do you really need ?
Airush, North, Slingshot, Ozone, Peter Lynn, Naish, Liquid Force, Best, Flexifoil, Core, Cabrinha, Blade, Fone, Nobile etc are all available for demo and add to that the New and EH riders are pretty good at passing their gear around as are the Genetrix riders.
Most of those brands have 3 to 4 kites in their range- there is already so much choice that it is confusing. I think there is a kite for everyone in the above mentioned brands. My opinion.
I reckon it's a great idea, especially after experiencing the awesomeness of Kitestock.
Kitestock has been an awesome example of how kiteboarders, industry, and volunteer kiteboarders (the kiting association) can all come together to put on a wicked event on.
Not only do we get to catch up with plenty of other kiters, but we all get to touch, see & try just about all the products available on the market in the space of one weekend.
How else could you demo 5 or more different brands in one afternoon, finding the one that suits your style, by directly comparing them against each other in the same weather & location.
Win win win for everybody.
The WAKSA c'tee resolved last night to offer full support to any widely based industry plan which could offer local kiters the opportunity to demo new season gear in the 09 period of the 09/10 season.
We do not consider it will have any significant impact on Kitestock as kiters will always appreciate the opportunity to test & try. We do however believe that early season demos will be far more highly valued by buyers & tryers looking to make informed decisions for the season ahead. It will also offer far more value to the kite & board companies in getting their new products out to kiters at the most opportune time.
Plans are already on the table to offer venue/s & coinciding event/s.
Hope it comes off.
Just have to hope we have more luck with wind than we have had the past 2 seasons for our pre-Xmas downwinders. 
one of the sunny coast rivermouth setups is the ideal spot for such an event and everyone knows it so that settles it then, all we need now is to make it a flexi time frame to fit in with the wind.
Forget Briso they will all come up anyway cause they love it up here 
Perth Perth Perth Perth Perth
all companies involved chip in for a 20 ft container (it will fit everything in), load it - send it by rail - have expo with guaranteed wind - send container back - write it off in advertising.
Its not hard when you see how many Semi's roll out of freight companys per day 
!!
Now why is it a nightmare again ???
Kitestock is epic in its own right, so no clashes there..
Cheers
Whether Adelaide gets gurnsey or not organisers might like to include SA by bringing the demo tour along to the 2009 National Wave Titles which I believe will be held in Robe - 21st to 25th Oct.
Win Win Win there imo.
Do you think itw ill interfere with the competion because of the number of people trying gear???
There is a stupid amount of room to kite at Robe. 8km's of beach at Long Beach- I am sure the two could co exist. Beachport has a lot of room as well. There is even a flat water lake inland. Robe is tops.
I think these nats are sponsored by Cabrinha though so they may have something to say about it.
Have a chat to them. see how you go.
Just wondering if "Kitestock" is definately goin ahead this year (09/10)?
And if so, have the organisers locked in any definate dates and a location.
Early days I know, but it gets me excited just to know that its on the calendar.
Pharro,
speaking on behalf of the WAKSA committee, we are meeting in the next couple of weeks to start planning for Kitestock 2010.
Dates haven't been confirmed as yet.
any enquiries should probably be made directly to waksa@waksa.org.au at this stage.
Juddy
It would be good to hear what those useless sods at AKSA would have to say on all of this.
Hi AKSA here 
AKSA has formally accepted a proposal from Hudson Godfrey-Smith; on behalf of Cabrinah; to run the official 2009 Aust National Kite Surfing Championships (Wave Titles) at Robe SA on the 21st to 25th October. There has been no follow on activity at this stage to indicate what plans the organisers may have beyond meeting the minimum requirements of the sanctioned titles event. Ie that the judges & judging criteria as well as the risk management planning is all submitted for AKSA approval prior to the event being given final approved status. In an ideal world we would hope that AKSA would also take an active part in all of that planning & more.
Whilst achieving a successful 'championship' result in terms of a titles event would remain the core measure of success from AKSA perspective it would be matter of course that AKSA would welcome any move by the organisers to enhance the appeal of the event overall. AKSA would approve, encourage (and again if possible physically assist) the addition of sideshows of more inclusive, fun-kiting events, background events such as night entertainment etc. These add-on attractions would of course include the possibility of a widely based promotional tour by kite companies offering display & demo gear to the kiting public.
Given this recent jolt in general interest AKSA has already commenced investigating just where Hudson & Cabrinah are heading and what organisational progress is being made. Our SA state affiliate 'SAKSA' is also actively involved in support of the event.
Our congrats to Hudson & Cabrinah for their efforts - without them it may well have been a season of no National Wave Titles. Good work.
And as to the demo tour generally........
AKSA would always support any initiative by any sector of the kiting community which raises the profile of kiting to the general public and the enjoyment of kiting to the kiting public.
It would seem that this idea could kick goals on both fields so; whilst the new AKSA board has not had time yet to specifically discuss this idea of Joe Millens; it sort of goes without saying that AKSA would be entirely supportive of this style of activity as it fits completely with our general goals for the advancement of our sport in Australia.
I think thats in the constitution somewhere - not sure which current or proposed model actually specifies it but its definitely within 'the vibe of the thing'
Sounds like a cracking idea Joe!!!!
I think alot of people on this forum have missed the original point. brands allow people to try the kit and we choose what we like. where is the agenda in that?
I'll be there mate
