Best observation

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 5:15 pm

Yesterday my new Yarga 17m arrived, looked cool out of the bag.
I was working from home today, see DA Bear reference. At Lunch time all of a sudden it was solid 19mph. Nancy said she was going to go out and windsurf.....screw food, one quick lunch session coming up.
I rig , go out 100 yds from the beach there's a bang and the kite falls out of the sky. FFFFFFF.............!!!!!!!!!Fairies!. The leader line on the left side had pulled through the bar, there goes my back line. further analysis shows the chicken loop adjuster had let go on the stitching that hold the knot attachment point for the front lines.I'm guessing the sudden one sided pull caused that.
I'm not happy and I call Best, I have to be honest I was ready to chew, chomp and be very aggressively peed off. Their young lady in customer service comes on the line,very proffessional, she puts me through to the head of customer service. He listens to my story, apologises and say's he is going to send me a new bar complete setup, I said I only need a center line adjuster strap and a new leader line, he said use the old one for spare parts, he was still going to send me a complete bar so I would not have to goof around setting it up and just in case there was any other problems with the bar.
I am disapointed there was problems, I'm really disapointed I did not get my lunchtime session, for the 45 seconds the kite was in the air it was flying really nice...stoked. I have to say I'm impressed with their customer service, assuming the bar does turn up.

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:57 am

These guys seem to really have their act together. They have done a real service to the sport by forcing down prices. I am quite happy with the Nemesis 21m I bought from them last fall. No frills, but great performance. Now they are setting a new standard with a fascinating innovation in kite material. If they would just mature a bit and lose the T and A on their site, they would have my wholehearted support.

chanrider · Post by **chanrider** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 7:52 pm

!!

I also had an issue with my Best swivel bar sheeting system in South Padre. The "stitching" (it didn't look like they ever even stitched it) on the leash line actually pulled out of the depower strap and the kite powered back up with the lines partially wound in after I pulled the main safety.

Luckily SPI is a pretty safe place for this to happen and I was abled to de-power the kite by unwinding the lines (pretty sketch with a powered out of control kite) and wind one of the trailing edge lines around a bar end until it depowered again.

I lost the chicken loop completely somewhere with the fishes. Best customer service (Stacey.. she's nice) was very cool and sent a new depower assembly free of charge but it was a hassle to have it happen.

And the other day on Waconia a guy's 17m 05 Yarga had a bladder burst which looked like it completely destroyed the leading edge of the kite.

I'm not bashing Best... I think the kites (I have two Yargas... 15 & 20) are fine but just wanted to share a couple of mishaps I've experienced and seen. Personally I'm ok with the T&A on the web site and it helped me overcome the trauma from a busted leash!

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:50 pm

I guess the T and A is a new way of saying " take two of these and call me in the morning"
I think every kite company has some failures, an occasional bad design etc. The main thing is as long as they fix the problem and take care of their customers I think it'll be OK. My experience with Best is one failure taken care of quickly.
It is going to be interesting to see what developments come from the kiting industry, I almost hope they don't keep improving the boosting power, I don't think I have the balls!

Floridakiter · Post by **Floridakiter** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:59 pm

Edited: Please contact me regarding posting promotions on Lakawa.
fly at lakawa dot com

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 6:57 am

Mike I agree whole heartedly about the T and A on the Web Site. What a shame.

But I don't have the link. Could you post it? I'm thinking about starting kiting.

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:18 pm

Floridakiter, bring the big Hellfishes if you cab get them. Might be the only thing that will fly around here in July and August. Many of us would love to try one.

Chris, check out: http://www.bestkiteboarding.com