There is a small group of kitesurfers that live down on the south coast of Adelaide, in a area between Victor Harbour and Goolwa, and these guys have been importing these kites for years. Some are several seasons old and hold up to surf kiting abuse as well as the "brand" kites. These guys regularly kite in 20-30 kts and head high surf, and I have had a close look at these kites, and must say that they are impressive in the quality. They appear to be a Swichblade copy and cost about $400-500 landed. That said, I'm more than happy to pay a little more and stay with "brand" kites. This website is where most of the kites come from, and they direct sell via their Ebay shops.http://www.china-kite.cn/surfing.htm
Kitcho
Guess who shouldnt leave their login left on when their wife is, now WAS, snooping around trying to get you a kite camera for Valentines Day.. Pretty sure that wont happen anymore, I mean it was coming from the USA and Im not sure the brand name is plasted all over it..
If you had asked instead of saying the kite was good everytime I asked how it was, the kite was $600 plus postage and was posted from Melbourne.. Your best mate and kiteurfing buddy helped pick it and won it for me so he could tell you the sellers name so you could do your own research instead of making me out to be a cheap joke..
I get thats its all about safety thats why Im giving you the heads up, tonight when you get home you may need your crash helmet (hopefully smothered in brand names)..
regards, your very p!ssed off wife.. 
can't be true. too funny and too angry. Kitcho, if you have to give away your gear to save your marriage, I'll take the kite and let you know my thoughts on it. 
Panic over. Get an IKO or other instructor to fly it. If he is fair dinkum he will do it in a light wind and tell you how good or bad it is.
Safety systems are not rocket science but if they do not work they can be deadly.
Mate, piss the kite off but keep the kite bag and put something you trust in it. Your wife will never know the difference.
A mate of mine kept a secret bank account that all his overtime went into and kept the same sail bags for years and put new sails in them every year. His wife ended up feeling so sorry for him having old gear she told him to splash out on new gear, double win!!
My wife has no idea what kites I have or how many just a rough idea of the colour and I live on the beach where she sees me out 75% of the time.
Good Luck....
Kitcho,
Wow these people make our marriage look good.. Doesnt matter what trick you tried Ive found out, cause I actually take interest in your life and kitesurfing even though it bores me to tears..
These people seem to be supportive of your ungratefulness, so where are all the offers of a new kite from them?? Considering the financial mess we are in and of no fault of mine I think you scored pretty well.. I got a mirror for the house.. You got a new kite, harness and "brand name" wetsuit plus everything else you asked for.. Whos the one that should be complaining??
Whats the difference between an Audi car and a Mitsubishi?? They both get us to the same place but mine doesnt cost a fortune and blow our budget each fortnight..
If after we got married you took the time to know me as your wife and not take up a sport that we cant afford and that takes up all your time you would have known how this would pan out.. But yeah sell the kite and you can put the money towards things we need..
Hmm. she not too happy, my kite days might be over.
if you love something set it free!!! dont know if that works in that situation...lol
Not2Happy the answer is for you to take up kiting too. When I met my wife she thought stuff getting bored just watching me sailboard so she started too. We eventually moved close to the beach to persue our joint passion and them got into kiting at the same time.
Doesn't mean extra gear as she uses at least 1 size smaller than me at all times. The plus side is she understands the addiction, shares a common interest, and gets it when I share a great session.
Plus I know for a fact that he has a "trusted" kite you use..........
Thats what I tried to do, been out there several times gave it a go.. Ask kitcho to wait until I finished work so I could go, no that was to hard, he'd go while I was at work, come home at stupid hours and expect dinner on the table.. Can only have it thrown in your face so many times.. Our situo has changed and priorities will also change..
But thanks for trying.. Anyways, was nice playing with you guys, geez this site it way worse than a chick cat fight forum.. Seriously you guys need to ease up, you take the bait way to easily.. Enjoy 
kitcho... Love you xoxo
kitcho do you seriously own a 150k car, and have financial issues?. Dude you need to get your priorities right.
Btw it sounds like u have a top wife, mine would never even contimplate for one second learning to kite.
