Twinskin kites - why are there so few in the water

I've got a Doona !

Its a Tontine .

Tontines are pillows...not doonas!

not quite quick enough with that quip!

some might call it doona-envy...[}:)]

OMG.

Apologies to User ...

Don't worry...as soon as he discovers the joy of a PL doona he'll come round...

Dudes,
If you kite using doonas....
you won't pull chics.
Too dorky.
lol.

Oui,
dont knock the whole ensemble.damn good
Waveslave,if you are PULLING chicks,their not chicks dude.lollol

right on sir rowdy

Why is ensemble spelt like that?

Should be onsomble...easier Imo.

Bite the one!

Meanwhile... back on topic...

Has anyone tried the PL Scorpion yet?

Supply and demand, these are the two conditions that reign over the ability to make profit. Inflatables are easier to make, trust me on this, I have made one and replaced the inflatable components on another kite. Easier = cheaper, so supply is easier to setup and maintain. Demand is dictated by the market, and the current market is predominately used to flying inflatables.

Think back to VHS vs Beta, I know you're old enough to remember that old nugget Waveslave, and you will have a solid case for the inferior quality product succeeding in the market place.

Flexifoil are in the business to make money, as is any company, and with their estimable budget I can make a sure bet they spend some dollars/euros on marketability studies... and guess what would have been the more marketable, regardless of better or worse.

Cheers,
-AzzA-

PS. I don't have a quiver of kites, I have a stable, there's six (6) flyable inflatables... so I must be suffering doona envy... and yes I do need to have a garage sale.

quote:

---

Originally posted by waveslave

If doonas are so great....
why did Flexifoil (a leader and pioneer in foil kites),
switch to producing inflateable kites ?

---

They didn't change their name to "Flexi-Inflate" did they...NO!
Stay with the best style! Foils.

Bite me!

Foils aint cool!!

Thats all there is to it!

Here are some insights that might help explain how things have panned out here in OZ
PLK was one of the first kitesurf kites available here in OZ .Brandwise the C quad was immensely popular in Christchurch NZ and there was alot of interest elsewhere in the world .Very inexpensive and effective kite .Great if you are in an estuary and can stand up if you crash to relaunch the kite ,unfortunately many in other parts of the world either were led to believe (there was a misleading vido of the kite relaunching from the estuary in some old promo stuff)or belived they would be great in deeper water .The Arc came out and had alot of catching up to do with blow ups (which had already been around for 15 years )plus some bigger windsurf companies with good kites and excellent marketing came along .There are many companies all developing and marketing blow ups and they have made good progress ,twin skins have too despite smaller r&d budgets marketing etc .PLK riders are generally not paid to ride them and on the whole pay full whack ,they are not morons and have chosen the kites based upon their own positive experience or the word from someone else ,they do try other kites too .Intetsting eh!!

There were some problems with the arc going asymmetrical and uneven stretch erly on .Also some shops jumped on the bandwagon with no knowledge advice and training and unsustainable margins and things really got difficult for PLK

Flysurfer and PLK had kites a few years ago that some have described as spongy .in the hands of experienced rider they felt OK .i would desribe it for some as being simnilar to flying a brick.(In PLK case this was actually after the initail arc but depower and stability was streeets ahead of anything else )

Human nature also intervened where ignorance and blatant marketing has dissed twin skin kites despite their improvements

Flysurfers have always been expensive and the bridles turned many off before bridled kites were common
PLK has an unusual distribution and marketing method and I have withdrawn mass advertising thru internet and mags due to problems and misunderstanding not of my doing and will stay that way until resolved .I do continue to chip away and there is support ,entusiasm and sales going on and new dealers coming on

Something that has been very interesting is that local venom riders here in Newcastle and around Oz are not continually hounding me for replacements for their kites (tho there are some bottom end issues with the larhger kites that I and others have been lobbying for )and seem to be very happy with what they have and progress at a good rate .The kites last for ages and I had a guy in today who loves his Guerilla 10 (the size they got right and was a precurser to the venom)hes no scmo either
Even tho twin skin kites do have rippers and world class riders riding them on the whole it is true that weekend warriors and cruisers are the main riders .personally I dodn't think that is all that bad that an vaerage JOE can get out and have some fun when their odd day off and co operating wind coincide .As Dave said students do progress well with the kites which is why I have had them as part of our teaching program for quite a while now

Board choice is also important .the advent of flat wide boards with good flex patterns has been a real blessing to PLK in particular

Azza,

11 kites??? Holy Shizen... You sound like you've got an addiction problem of some sort...