I have never seen one where I kite.
Are Aussie kites any good i.e New and Griffin.
Anyone from anywhere in the world can visit a Chinese Factory, View their past seasons designs from other brands, Modify the seam structure, Colours and graphics and then claim that they are a home bred sensation. Happens with all Watersports and Sporting stuff.
Griffin are massive around Syndey's Northern Beaches. The designer kites heaps and is constantly testing and modifying and toying with designs. Lots of the local guys ride and rate their kites highly.
when a kite is actually made here in aus i'll bye one i hate the fact that for such a good sport we all support slave labour in china factory's not that they do a bad job just would like to see our money stay here
I have a NEW, and have flown a couple of other NEW kites. They are an awesome kite with characteristics unlike most others.... certainly no design rip off there...
more like pushing the envelope...
try it, you'll like it!
ps - no affiliation with NEW kites
Griffinkites.com.au where number 1 in the world rankings according to www.internationalkiteboarding.org and the IKA executive committee for a period of time this year.
Griffin also came 2nd and 3rd in the PKRA WORLD SPEED CUP for 2008 and 2009.
If you haven't heard about the griffins read some reviews in the US kite mags or online.
Below is a review from international kitemag on the 2009s.
The 2010s are out now with a new low aspect wave kite to the range.
www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2352489&sid=7f1f1a86db90410370445703cbcc49a5&start=10http://www.kitesurfwarehouse.com/griffin-kite-details.html
kitesurfwarehouse.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/2009-griffin-reviews-the-word-is-well-and-truely-out/
www.sbckiteboard.com/2009_kite_reviews?news_id=761&uniqid=
www.seabreeze.com.au/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=42364
I am the designer of Griffin so any questions PM me.
This post is in response to "Are Aussie kites any good i.e New and Griffin" I am providing details to best answer the above post and i dont know who goofy foot is.
re baldrick post, all our designs are original, countless hours go into protos and testing, we where the first to design our kites with no center strut.
I have flown a lot of kite brands and am currently flying the 09 griffin. It's a really good kite and great value for money! I ONLY use a 9m, that's from 12-13 knots through to 35. I've gone out on days unstrapped on my 5'11 to come back and not realise its been 25knots and I was still unhooking.
The 010 kites look even better and when there is wind I'll be getting one of those no worries.
yeah I'm sure there are better suited freestyle kites and maybe slightly better wave kites but when you consider the cost is $2000 for maybe a 1% better performer its no where near worth it. If you want to follow the crowd buy a cabrinha or slingy. If you want to keep it closer to home and be happy you were not ripped off buy local.
At least if you have a prob with a local kite you'll find Chris down the beach where you can cut his lines and slash his tyres.
i fly a NEW OS. I wouldn't say it is ground breaking, but it is a good solid 5-line C kite, and has a great top-end.
So is griffin made in Australia? If it isn't i can't see how it's any better than most the other brands. Lots of brands are prototyped and tested in Australia.
As for Cardboards, I think its good that they are custom and assembled in Australia, but,
where do you think the straps and pads are made? - China
where do you think all the products to make the board come from? - China
So as you can see, not much is really "Australian" in the kite business. But then again who wants to pay 5G for a kite.
Actually I think you will find the timber for the cores for Cardboards from the Gold Coast region, But you could be excused for thinking you are in China when you are there I guess!!
I'm on my 3rd Stonker board, first two handmade here, current one is an o/s factory made. Handmade now to order, TT's and wave boards. STONKER made the boards used for the Tas - Vic crossing a couple of weks ago. STONKER aussie company since 1998 and now in Torquay.
Disclaimer, I'll buy local when I can, supported Torquay surfboard shapers since 1979.
The problem with this issue is that the shops wont back Griffin New and Cardboards because they can be purchased for less than a Cabrina or Slingy. Why would they sell a Griffin for 1300 when they could sell a Cabrina for $2200?
It devalues their business. The shops will then say bad stuff about them. Therefore these brands always have a hard time getting cred in Australia.
Re bjw post, from what I have seen, shops/schools can make more margin and profit per kite selling a griffin than some of the $2200 kites. And if they have a problem they can contact the company directly, or slash my tyres.
Going by the above, is anything 100% Australian made then? And I'd hate my Australian product to be delivered to the shop in a foreign branded truck running on Saudi oil. (In packaging made from material sourced from abroad)
New, Griffin and Cardboard are all Australian owned. Profits made by the companies stay in Australia.
As far as I know, they all make good products at competitive prices and that's what matters really.
I bought a NEW 9mtr , purely because i wanted to support a local trying to have a go !
I was not dissapointed and have found it to be built stronger than any of the other kites that i have owned previously .
i have been kiting since 2000.
i HAVE RIDDEN THE 09 GRIFFIN, THEY ARE A GREAT KITE TO FLY. THEY DO EVERY THING WELL AND COST HALF THAT OF A CAB
I know I'm opening a can of worms here and it has all been said in the past, but here it goes anyway.
I'm slightly biased because I pay for my own kites and I've been riding slingshot for 3 years now and are very happy with how they perform, but what really impresses me is the support to me and the local events.
Every year slingshot has sponsored our local event. Last year a 9m rev2 and a heap of board shorts. Each year the Sorse comes down and puts on a show on the water.
Anytime I need to replace depower lines, bearings, P-lines, pulleys ect. Andy posts them off that day for free. Warranty issues are sorted on the day.
Its not only slingshot that has great support, but Best, M8, Nobile and our local shops that stand behind sopporting local events.
So for me it isn't about supporting an Aussie brand, but supporting the guys that support the locals.
Couldnt have put it any better walshy. How are the octanes cant wait to see you going huge on them
i say support the aussie brands!
brands like Fluid, Griffin and New for kites deserve at least a look in as they are Australian owned business and have dam good products. as these companies grow so will the support for national and local events.
im not knocking anyone like Slingshot etc, everyone desereves to have an option. unfortunately kites must be made in china, shri lanka (SP?) and Vietnam to make it cost effective for everyone, imagane having to pay at least twice the price for a product that was made here? then the whingers would really have a solid gripe about the price of kites!
you will find that its not as easy to visit a factory in china or even just copy a kite, these guys should get massive respect for the work they do. unfortunately due to tall poppy syndrome australian brands need to make a name for themselves and be accepted overseas before even beginning to be tried at home :(
i have never heard of product backup problems from any of these companies.
as for Cardboards, another great product that is made here. good job guys!
From the griffin website a 2010 12m with bar and lines is $1689, or you could go the massive discount for the 2009 model at $1649. Campare that with a 2010 12 cabrinha switchblade is $2150 or $1750 for last years. Canopy only is much closer as the cabrinha bars are much more expensive than the griffin's. Now look on the buy and sell and see how many griffin kites there are for sale and how many cabrinha switchblades there are. Good condition year old switchblades sell for over $1000. Shops trade them for $1000!
Not saying griffin/new etc are not good kites. But they need to be significantly better for me to consider as
1. they're not that much cheaper
2. not many people (especially noobs) have heard of them, therefore dont consider purchasing them secondhand.
Part of your purchase with any good is the brand name. An instantly recognisable and reputable brand increases the intrinsic value of any product.
Other lesser known brands in Australia (but much bigger than these companies overseas) are much cheaper again - Takoon, EH, beast. All great kites.
Airush are australian aren't they?
Best got their brand out there with the two for one deals etc. Last years model kites should be dumped on the local market cheap to increase brand exposure. Once the critical mass increases , economies of scale will improve. Why would I gamble on a kite brand that no-one else has at my local unless there is a major advantage in it for me?
