Saw a few rumours on FB saying Ruben Lenten has defected to BEST and Sam Light has been spotted on an RPM recently in South Africa... Anyone heard any news?
Soon Kevin Langeree will be riding for BEST too and they'll have a pretty sweet, very Dutch orientated, Team!
i woke up, read this news, then went back to bed as i thought it was something worth giving a flying fark about .
Did somebody hold a gun to your head and make you click open this topic Dusta? It's not as if the title in any way suggests the thread is about something else.
so sorry ezza, please accept my apologies .
I'll be buying best kites now purely on the fact lenten is using them .
Come on Dusta no one likes a sheep (no offence to our kiwi Seabreezers
) I just thought it was slightly interesting that he was changing brands. I've no affiliation with Lenten, Best or Slingshot. I ride F-One :)
it's all good ezza , wasn't actually a dig at you personally . Bored at work and thought i might see if the red thumb brigade was asleep but true to form they aren't .
Gonna be weird seeing Ruben looping anything but a fuel.
Len10 has almost been a brandname for SS
I feel for SS but at the same time will be exciting to see what changes they bring to best, I wonder how much input riders have on changing gear and driving change vs cost to build prototypes, or is more of well Ruben fly's brand x kites so they must be good?
Would love to try a fuel to see if they are all they are cracked up to be or just hyped up a result of a extreme rider......!!!!
Remember the movie starring Tom Cruise Jerry Maguire?
Show Me The Money?
Ol LEN10 era is over... good while is lasted but a distant memory all the same.
Cheers LEN10 for coining the 'MEGALOOP' AKA big jump to loop.
Now kooks boost a metre call is a MEGA and post on youtube... done
are best known for kites that loop? friends on the tpms love them, there are so many kites out there to choose from it becomes hardwr to get something with a point of difference whilst still appealing to the mass market.
Not to mention the $660 trade in against a new Best kite! Things are looking up! Wonder if the team will make it to K'stock!? I can see many people getting shut of their old raggedy kites me included!
Hey Austin,
Best will be at Kitestock for sure. Unfortunately I can not make it this year but the rest of the crew will be there. Maybe next year we invite the Best Global team over for Kitestock, that way will have all the best riders in the world at the one event
Joe
from slingshot facebook
"Slingshot Sports has separated with Ruben Lenten. According to Slingshot Team Manager Mauricio Abreu, “Slingshot has always been a brand that builds both leaders and champions, but we don't buy them. It is an end of a great era - a time when our products and Rubens riding literally took the sport to the highest level possible today. We are now looking forward to kiteboarding's next era of champions to take the sport beyond what is capable today.”
According to Jeff Logosz Slingshot CEO, “Ruben has been a part of our family since he was only thirteen. We have deep seated roots with Ruben as we have watched this kid grown into a man and transform the realm of possibility in our sport. On behalf of the entire global Slingshot family we wish Ruben the best in achieving his dreams.“
With the end of an Era comes a new chapter for kiteboarding with new faces and new possibilities. Slingshot has always had a firm belief that eventually “Youth Serves.” The company is excited about the opportunity to build a new Youth Brigade and support them in their dreams of advancing kiteboarding to the next level.
Slingshot is deeply committed to the Fuel and the hardcore riders that have made this kite a legacy. Over the last 14 years the Slingshot crew has dedicated endless time and effort channeling their passion for Watersports to people throughout the world. Established in 1999, Slingshot Sports LLC has worked diligently to establish a solid reputation in the Kiteboarding, Wakeboarding and Standup Paddle boarding markets by manufacturing high-quality products, setting innovative construction and design standards, and presenting an image that is unique, edgy and young.
The Slingshot vision is steadfast and the company will continue to innovate legendary products for riders who have incredible dreams. Stay tuned – Slingshot's track record of creating champions is unrivaled. You won't want to miss the excitement that is sure to accompany this next era."
Wow it's interesting reading the obviously well informed opinions of some in this thread
Here's another side:
Why invest money into riders who are at their pinnacle or on their way out?
SS helped to make these Kiters who they are no doubt about it, why would a pro kiter switch brands after a long association? Two reasons money and money, money because your the best and can command it two you were once the best and want to hold onto what's left of your usable career and maximise your earning potential.
As for the wave guys Ben Wilson simply started his own brand and some of his good friends joined him, simply development and evolution and an individual having a good crack at creating his own brand
Pro kiters do not earn big dollars and have a very short earning career what would you do if the carrot was dangled in your face?
From SS perspective every one knows these guys got to be what they are through SS and on what is some of the best gear available
Why would you invest more $$ in riders who have already achieved What they wanted from them and you have already given them this opportunity?
SS have a new wave of young riders coming through and like history has shown will continue to produce significant riders into the future.
Guys Best is huge on a global scale and hasn't really been on the radar in Australia. Their 2013 kites pretty much speak for themselves. In the states they are everywhere and the US market is so much bigger than OZ. There are some Demo's going on in Victoria SA and WA over the next month with Chris Bobryk and a few other team riders from the states and everyone is stoked on the gear and the demand is pretty high. The US crew might make it to kitestock if they are allowed to enter. Scope out Bobryk's recent video
