Well after an intense bidding war I finally prevailed. I picked up a 2004 Slingshot 13m Fuel for just over 850$, this comes with everything which is nice. I was hoping to pay around 700$ but I just had to get my hands on this one! The pump struts looks amazing. Considering the retail (1279$) I think I still made out okay, this being my first kite purchase.
I can't wait to rip it up!
-L
P.S Input is needed here so I don't feel as if I wasted my money.
Got the Kite!
Moderator: MK
-
Portland Pete
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 7:06 pm
- Location: pete at petegoodrich dot com
I bought my first kites used (12M and 16M)
2002 Naish Aeros for $750 each with bar/lines
and I could barely give them away at $350 each
a year later and I upgraded the bars with all
the safety quick releases etc... cha ching
but they were sold to a friend in florida
who is staying upwind already after just 10 days
on the water, and pointers from me too.
The kites now come sewn better, all fly straight,
bars and lines all have 50 safety releases
with top quality bags, pumps, etc...
The 04 slingies have the split strut
and onepump features that no one else has
I spent alot of time last summer riding
with slingshot team riders and designers
and they were some of the best built kites
on the water. If you ask the guys at Airtime
(repair shop in Hood River) which kites
come in for repair the least and its the slingies.
Most beginners have realized that
lessons will pay for themselves the first
time out on the water.
Yes, you are way ahead of the game
its pretty amazing what a couple years in this sport
has meant in gear and kiter knowledge
Pete
2002 Naish Aeros for $750 each with bar/lines
and I could barely give them away at $350 each
a year later and I upgraded the bars with all
the safety quick releases etc... cha ching
but they were sold to a friend in florida
who is staying upwind already after just 10 days
on the water, and pointers from me too.
The kites now come sewn better, all fly straight,
bars and lines all have 50 safety releases
with top quality bags, pumps, etc...
The 04 slingies have the split strut
and onepump features that no one else has
I spent alot of time last summer riding
with slingshot team riders and designers
and they were some of the best built kites
on the water. If you ask the guys at Airtime
(repair shop in Hood River) which kites
come in for repair the least and its the slingies.
Most beginners have realized that
lessons will pay for themselves the first
time out on the water.
Yes, you are way ahead of the game
its pretty amazing what a couple years in this sport
has meant in gear and kiter knowledge
Pete
Portland Pete,
Hey, Thanks for the info Pete, you seem very knowledgable in this old but still very young sport. I guess my question here would be directed to Tighe as well, how do you afford a 5 piece quiver? Are you getting any sort of special prices from distributers? I hope to use this one kite that I have as much as possible so that I do not have to buy another until I have become more experienced.
Cheers
-L
Hey, Thanks for the info Pete, you seem very knowledgable in this old but still very young sport. I guess my question here would be directed to Tighe as well, how do you afford a 5 piece quiver? Are you getting any sort of special prices from distributers? I hope to use this one kite that I have as much as possible so that I do not have to buy another until I have become more experienced.
Cheers
-L
-
Portland Pete
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 7:06 pm
- Location: pete at petegoodrich dot com
Living in Hood River helped alot
and not having a job last summer helped more
I had spent the 3 previous summers watching
kiting and borrowing junk gear from friends
who were learning by trial and error
affectionately called Kooks
and had a number of kitemares of my own
and then when I was given the gift of
unemployment at the beginning
of the summer I took kite lessons
and kited every windy day (everyday in Hood River)
some times at 3 different places in one day
and was plugged into the scene at the sandbar
so I waited until gear had improved alot before I bought
and it has improved even more since then
I should be better at kiting for the number of days
I had on the water, but I have fun just the same.
Always ride with better people and watch closely
there is a good crew here and I hope to ride alot
this summer
Pete
and not having a job last summer helped more
I had spent the 3 previous summers watching
kiting and borrowing junk gear from friends
who were learning by trial and error
affectionately called Kooks
and had a number of kitemares of my own
and then when I was given the gift of
unemployment at the beginning
of the summer I took kite lessons
and kited every windy day (everyday in Hood River)
some times at 3 different places in one day
and was plugged into the scene at the sandbar
so I waited until gear had improved alot before I bought
and it has improved even more since then
I should be better at kiting for the number of days
I had on the water, but I have fun just the same.
Always ride with better people and watch closely
there is a good crew here and I hope to ride alot
this summer
Pete
-
Portland Pete
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 7:06 pm
- Location: pete at petegoodrich dot com
Most of the riders I know have 2-4 kites. If you want to ride as often as you can you'll need to have more than one kite.
As for my situation, I am very fortunate to have Scuba Center and Slingshot seeing value in the activities I do to promote the sport here in the Twin Cities ( this website, lessons, etc). They let me use the kites for a period of time, then I have to return them. I do my best to allow others to try them as well. I am very grateful for this situation.
You'll find though that once hooked you'll work it out to have the gear. I windsurfed for 25 years and always found a way to have a quiver of sails. The thought of arriving at the lake and not being able to sail cause you didn't have a sail big or small enough, becomes obsessive. It's tough though cause if you work more to make more money, you're working more so you can't sail as much. As always though, follow your passions and the rest will follow.
As for my situation, I am very fortunate to have Scuba Center and Slingshot seeing value in the activities I do to promote the sport here in the Twin Cities ( this website, lessons, etc). They let me use the kites for a period of time, then I have to return them. I do my best to allow others to try them as well. I am very grateful for this situation.
You'll find though that once hooked you'll work it out to have the gear. I windsurfed for 25 years and always found a way to have a quiver of sails. The thought of arriving at the lake and not being able to sail cause you didn't have a sail big or small enough, becomes obsessive. It's tough though cause if you work more to make more money, you're working more so you can't sail as much. As always though, follow your passions and the rest will follow.
Tighe
Sounds like a good deal. I started with a one kite quiver my first summer. I'm about 200 lbs and had a '02 14 m Fuel. I had to wait until late afternoon a few nukin' days and had to do a few down-winders on lite days, but all in all it was great for a one kite quiver.
But start savin'. I now run 19 & 13 Fuels and 11 GTO. That covers all ridable days fine in NW IA. I have ridden the 04' 13 m the last couple days. AMAZING kite. Flys fantasitic and great range. Saturday, the airport gave a reading of a 33 knot gust while I was out and I didn't feel overpowered. Not sure if it was that high, but handled the gusty conditions great.
But start savin'. I now run 19 & 13 Fuels and 11 GTO. That covers all ridable days fine in NW IA. I have ridden the 04' 13 m the last couple days. AMAZING kite. Flys fantasitic and great range. Saturday, the airport gave a reading of a 33 knot gust while I was out and I didn't feel overpowered. Not sure if it was that high, but handled the gusty conditions great.