Not being an economic brain surgeon
But--
Should not the inflated Kiwi Dollar bring down the cost of imported kites?
Any ideas

Maybe in a year when we are all ready to buy from our overseas boys again for next Nz season.
And only the Americans bought kites SHOULD come down as the Euro is still holding strong and the POUND is not really moving either.

See all the kites for 2004 were paid for probley in October by the importers up front and then they need to wait for a month at least for the stock to be made and get here.
So you can see it's not a easy path, importing this stuff and suppling it on.

But at the end of the day if the Nz dollars falls again and in six to eight months it's back at what it was a year ago when the boys need to buy then there 2005 stock will be no price change.
And before you ask you can not pay for them now. As the price may change agencies may change hands and the overseas suppliers just say no, as it's to confusing holding money of a smaller buyer in the world market.

Hope this helps

There's a new company called Monkeykites.com that is producing good cheap kites, performing well, in sizes up to 28m.
They are australian based, and the NZ dollar is strong against the aussie at the moment!
Thats one way kites will be cheaper!
They are approx half the price of the other big brands..
Would be pretty easy to sell secondhand too, you could expect the depreciation on the kites to be the same as the big names, but there's always a market for cheap secondhand gear...
www.monkeykites.com is the link.. they are starting delivery at the end of Feb I think...

Also have a look at Best kites
bestkiteboarding.com good price gear from a good company run by Shannon Best.

Also look out for Globerider Kites as another company which is keeping its price lower. These are already available here.

Kite prices have come down already and prices are adjusted with the exchange rate every couple of months, if your actually watching.

This year they are down between $250 and $500 per Kite depending on model.

First time buyers were paying $2495 for the NAISH Aero II 16m when it was released.
This year first time buyers are paying around $1995 for the NAISH Boxer 16m.

Top performance Kites like Slingshot are cheaper than last year too.
Plus the kite prices drop down in steps of $200 per size, not $50 like NAISH, or $100 like Wipika.

Pretty good prices and you still get the parts and service locally.

Monkey Kites cost $1800 for a 15m.
that is with delivery into NZ incl GST.
But a totally unknown brand.
A bit like Airush telling us to by there Trio kites, again... no thanks. YUK.

So not such a good deal is it.
You can often by last years clearance models for that and know your getting a better kite too.

Bigger companies give us better gear.
If it was just about price we would still be riding NAISH AR5 kites and Wipika Free-Airs. R&D costs wouldn't have been needed over the past few years.

Imagine that... no Splitstrut, One Pump Fuels or NAISH V4's.

bring back the $850 Peter Lynn C-Quad!!!
Now that was a cheap kite.

whats with the free advertising for slingshots in this thread . how much are they paying you

whats with the free advertising fore monkeys and beast...what are they paying you????

Dudes your all losing the plot!!!!!!!

We need to support the local retailers and distributors.

If everyone goes for the cheap option therell be no friendly retailers and distributors shit, I dont know why they bother sometimes the poor bastards.
Not to mention the fact that therell be no service with some of these pieces of shit so dont go crying to mummy when you cant get it fixed!

Plus therell no stopping in at your local kite shop for a chinwag, have a repair done or a beer whilst watching a dam fine kiteboarding flick.

Naaa you guys would rather sit behind your computers and write shit about things you know nothing about and spread negativity to people wanting to get into this great sport on this forum good on ya mate!!!!

Go kiting and stop being so fucken small minded and think about the whole picture.

Sorry about the swearing, spelling and grammar

Happy Kiting

good on ya alotta - my thoughts exactly

go homemade if you really want cheap kites. definately stop all ya whinin! Stupid fucken idiots don't know a damn thing. Just get out there and kite and stop all your bitchin!

I see web site is where all the smart ones hang out.
Nice

DOOH!..... ^this ...web site

me phat fingers waz getting in the way again.

The strong dollar has already lowered prices in a lot of places. Wsp have dropped the price of most of their kites and boards. You can pick up a 2004 12m for under $1800, and new 2004 boards for under a grand last time i checked.

Simple economics that has little to do with the dollar. Supply and demand - there was (and still is) a demand for kites - they are now in way over supply - result drop in demand = price war= cheaper pricing
there are now heaps of different kites on sale in NZ - some better than others - but the bottom line is the more kites on slae the cheaper they are gonna be -

so it should level out -

hello osama good buddy! long time no see mate! here's hoping that those kite prices come down eh?!