It's been a while since I'd read a good SB banter thread. I miss the trolling from a few years back. Good work!

I bought a Switch Element recently - in the 14m size and it isnt a nice kite to fly - strangley I sold it 2 months later !! Didnt drift, hard bar pressure and simply couldnt boost - you might love all of those apects ???

I use Switch Elements for foiling and waves in sizes 5,7,10m. They are excellent kites. Really nice construction. Fantastic prices.

I don't use them much for boosting. I think you want something higher aspect for that. They're ok for foil jumps and surfboard pops and air gybes.

I can afford much more but I would feel stupid giving people money for no benefit. All my kites have been under $1000, one was only $450. The trick is to watch for special deals and sales. I don't see anybody doing anything on more expensive kites that I can't do (except for foilers on race foils and foil kites).

The Controller 3 bars are functional, but basically crap. You can't really complain given the prices. They're no worse than bars from major manufacturers using very similar designs. The Controller 4 looks to be right up there with modern bar designs. They're a lot more expensive than the Controller 3 but much cheaper than the name brands.

posko said..
I have just purchased a couple of gongkite.com kites. Buying more in larger sizes later this year! (I use their strutless kite)

I broke a kite line (manufacturing fault) sent it back to them, they sent me back a whole new bar... Not bad customer service I say.

They're based out of France.

They would've been happy you weren't threatening to sue them for the manufacturing fault that could've gotten someone killed...

Just bought 2 x 2017 Dice. Paid a fraction of what I would have paid for new gear which may or may not have been 1% better. There are good deals to be had at this time of year

Switch element 14m. I ride reos but bought this kite for gnarloo trips a few years ago as a last resort, guess it was a 2013. I ride unhooked mostly here and it drifted like a dream. Never flown a kite that big and was stoked to get out before the pooleys each day. Also was on a 45cm bar. Dont get too caught up in new kites hype, they dont make you a better kiter. The biggest consideration in buying kites for me is resale value v cost. Switch fail here. Ill post a vid when im back from the desert.

toppleover said..
Mmmmm, Switch don't make a 14m Element - only 11/13/15m in the bigger sizes. Maybe they did way, way back ?
I thought cost vs resale was great on the E4,s I had.
Bought my 7m new for $750 (kite only) used it for 2 seasons & then sold it for $400.
$175 loss per season, that's the best bang for buck I've had.
I used to loose up to $1000 per kite per season when I was riding the big brand kites.

My friend got a new 7m FUEL delivered for AUD 523.40. $351.20 USD + freight.. You paid too much.
EBay, Gearshed Sports! ??