Any one have reliable stats on how many kiters AUS and N.Z have compared with roughly 5 years ago?? Be interesting to know how quick or slow our sport is growing..
YEW
Errrr, Nope! There is a noticeable increase at my locals over that time period though. As a rough guess possibly 20% to 30%. Why do you want to know 
Select to expand quoteUnderoath said...
I'm questioning the validity of this graph. The names aren't even correct for God's sake.
I'd accept either "convicts" or "racists" for west islanders.
Select to expand quotePlummet said...Underoath said...
I'm questioning the validity of this graph. The names aren't even correct for God's sake.
I'd accept either "convicts" or "racists" for west islanders.
Don't call them that... They're not just bogans, convicts, racists and rapists. They're people too.
They're not West Islanders.. They're West Australians
Select to expand quotebjw said...Plummet said...Underoath said...
I'm questioning the validity of this graph. The names aren't even correct for God's sake.
I'd accept either "convicts" or "racists" for west islanders.
Don't call them that... They're not just bogans, convicts, racists and rapists. They're people too.
They're not West Islanders.. They're West Australians
Shouldnt this be in the I would rather be in WA section.
Wasn't to many around when i started. 2000
I would love to find a 8.5 Wipika classic and give it ago. Would bring back some bad memories.
No quick release, only depower was to edge hard as possible.
Spent many walk of shame on that old girl.
All I can remember was people saying your mad , ya gunna kill yourself. Come close a few times but still here 
it was hard to learn from others back in 99 just cause there wasnt anyone . i had the 9.0m wipika 2 liner no safety or depowder i think it was about $2000 the kids these days have just got it to easy
Select to expand quotePlummet said..Underoath said...
I'm questioning the validity of this graph. The names aren't even correct for God's sake.
I'd accept either "convicts" or "racists" for west islanders.
Yeah, I hear you guys don't just root the white sheep.
Select to expand quoteSibboV1 said...Plummet said..Underoath said...
I'm questioning the validity of this graph. The names aren't even correct for God's sake.
I'd accept either "convicts" or "racists" for west islanders.
Yeah, I hear you guys don't just root the white sheep.
Now you are just being silly. Not rooting white sheet would seriously limit your options.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said..
Wasn't to many around when i started. 2000
I would love to find a 8.5 Wipika classic and give it ago. Would bring back some bad memories.
No quick release, only depower was to edge hard as possible.
Spent many walk of shame on that old girl.
All I can remember was people saying your mad , ya gunna kill yourself. Come close a few times but still here
I've got a 5m Airush that's was cloned from the Wipika Classic. (2-line/4-line convertible...) Identical in every way except the logos. Still kiteable in 35 knots! Flew it only a couple of years ago and it was just fine!
Remember all those delamination problems? We should've just not fussed. The surface comes off and peels away and it just keeps flying!
Water relaunch? No problem! In 35 knots, hits the water, rolls over and immediately relaunches! Remember drifting around in the water for 30 minutes trying to get those 12m 4-lines to drift across the wind after they went down then finessing it to tip up so you could re-launch? Then, of course, it would always tip over and you'd have to start all over again!De-power? Who needs it? Low aspect and lots of hard edging! If it weren't so darned dangerous, everyone should be required to learn to kite on one of those just so they'd realise how bloody difficult it was back then!
Bahhhh that is nothing!
I remember when begginers did not go out and buy freestyle kites. Instead they bought begginer kites like they learnt on in there schools.
This is the first time I've used google trends, but it looks like kite surfing is on a decline.https://www.google.com.au/trends/explore#q=kite%20surfing
Australia is following a similar trend to that seen world wide and wind surfing is the same. https://www.google.com.au/trends/explore#q=kite%20surfing%2C%20wind%20surfing&cmpt=q&tz=Etc%2FGMT-10
In fact searching for any kite brands sees a similar decline in people googling those brands... I wonder if they're all seeing a decrease in production as well or am I just reading it wrong.
But it all seems to work out, potatoes have been showing up on the internet more frequently lately. Does correlation imply causality? https://www.google.com.au/trends/explore#q=kite%20surfing%2C%20potatoes&cmpt=q&tz=Etc%2FGMT-10
you are implying that a google search decline implies declining interest in the sport. More riders on the water, a more organised industry, less need to google information.
I reckon Eppos right. Its the noobs who google kitesurfing.
These graphs show new entrants into the sport. Which it would be fair to say has slowed.
I wasn't really implying anything. I don't know enough about google trends to comment. My gut feeling is that there is an increasing number of people getting into the sport. I also would not think more riders on the water and more organised industry would lead to a reduction in people searching for kite surfing if google trends includes 'kite surfing kite X' kite surfing trick Y' 'kite surfing video Z' all under the kite surfing trend.
Empirically I'd agree, seems to be more. I hope it's decreasing personally, but that's just a selfish wish.
My point is maybe because the sport is well known now, finding information is not as limited. There is always someone around to ask...
Bedtime reading with my son last night, a book he got from the school library, was all about a dude doing various sports (one per chapter) with his friends like BMX racing, etc and one chapter he was going kitesurfing!
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
you are implying that a google search decline implies declining interest in the sport. More riders on the water, a more organised industry, less need to google information.
Or maybe they are the sort of people who use Bing...?
Has anybody got any REAL graphs or other information(websites) on kitesurfing participants. (in particular from 2010 till 2016) Need for a uni assignment. Has the kitesurfing growth really stopped?, or are kite surfers just become to stingy to buy new kite equipment?
No info for you, but my guess is the kites are more durable and the year to year changes not so marked (or even guaranteed to be better) so for the average kiter there is really no need to replace gear until it is worn out or doesn't perform how you need it to.
Hi Chucky49a
I can give you some approximate but real numbers around kiteboarding growth in Australia. In 2012 we had approximately 2000 members and in 2016 we have about 2500 members. This is estimated to be approximately 1/5th of actual kiteboarders in Australia (ie we would estimate in 2012 - 10,000 kiteboarders and in 2016 - 15,000 kiteboarders).
We would obviously like to see the ration of kiteboarders to members grow so we have more insured kiters around the country and more ability to grow and improve services for our sport 
Send Kiteboarding Australia (www.kiteboardingaus.com.au) an email at contact@kiteboardingaus.com for more information.
Cheers
GM Kiteboarding Australia Limited
