So I promised myself that if I didn't "get" the water sorted this summer (meaning if I didn't make time to get it sorted) that I'd sell off the water stuff.

Well, I didn't make time.

Instead I found myself enjoying the sailboat more because it meant time WITH family, not away from the family. But now I'm having a hard time committing to being a man of my word...

For me it seems the gear isn't doing any harm just sitting in waiting. But it is also just sitting in waiting. You know me...I'm one that believes kites are made to be - and need to be FLOWN. Not stashed in a closet.

I'm keeping the snow stuff and the buggy stuff (well, I'll be selling off one of the buggies though) but the water stuff might have to go. Trying to sort the logistics on a Spring SOBB trip which would certainly help in shipping matters but I'll take this one step at a time here.

Any advice?

looks like you gotta put your board shorts up for sale - you didn't specifically say kites or board

It sounds like you may have a buggy for sale... I may be interested. I am looking for a reasonable priced one. I live near Seattle, within driving range of SOBB and hope to make it next year.

What brand buggy might you be selling and for how much? I may send a u2u your way also.

Ah well...the aging process. Keep your stuff unless you need to sell it for diffferent dreams.
Kiting might itch again after a few years. And than what. No gear no more. Keep it untill you are sure you wobt use it no more

I feel your pain Macboy. I can't stand seeing gear not used.

On the other hand its always nice to have options. To have the right gear for any contingency. But this comes at both a financial cost and a spacial cost.

My mountain board is a perfect example. I don't remember when I bought it but learning to ride it here, with our junk winds and limited space in the summer I never really learned how to use it. Never got it dialed and just didn't warm up to it. And in the summer I ride bikes so it was a secondary interest at best.

I just wanted to expand my kiting horizons. But sadly after a few low key and semi-disappointing sessions the board eventually found it's way to the rafters of my garage. Usually I take to things quickly and the few times that I don't I love the challenge of figuring things out. But not so with the board. My initial though was to sell it but I opted to store it as I had a spot that was out of the way where the board would be visible and able to mock me for my lack of commitment and the board was paid for. So in the rafters it's set for at least 3-4 years.

Fast forward to this week. After getting on the water this summer I have found a subtle yet renewed interest in the board. I figured out some stuff on the water that I felt may help me with the board riding and now with kites like the Peak 2 the punchy winds are less of an issue. Last weekend I broke the rear end on my bike. So two days ago, the winds were up, the bike was broke, I was in the office all morning, I had an itch to ride. I decided to go get the board, air up the tires and see if my luck was any better.

Winds were light but with the 12m Peak 2 and some of the muscle memory from the kite boarding experiment and things went really well! Now I'm itchin' to get back on the damn thing as soon as I can!

Had I sold the board, it would be a different story altogether.

So long story longer. If the gear isn't going to "go bad", if you can afford to own it without added financial burden and you aren't tripping over it I say hold onto to it. If it's not hurting you and it is available when the opportunity to get on the water pops up then hold onto it. The last thing you want to do is have a narrow window of opportunity to get on the water slip by because you had to track down some gear.

My 2 cents anyway.

What does Micheal Douglas say in the movie Wall Street? "Gear is good." I'm pretty sure that's what he said and it was a great movie and he's a good actor so keeping your stuff is pretty justifiable.

I'm going the other way...sell it
Sailing w/ the family would be far better then playing in the water someday and the tubes will go bad w/ time...right?
you still have all that twin skin stuff to get wet with when you want to give it a go and you have the land covered
Your still playing w/ wind....and Something about a boat

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

What does Micheal Douglas say in the movie Wall Street? "Gear is good." I'm pretty sure that's what he said and it was a great movie and he's a good actor so keeping your stuff is pretty justifiable.

sell sell sell

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

sell sell sell

Sounds like a good plan. Want to buy some LongStars? :frog:

sell. you can always buy again in the summer

I think it sounds like a garage sale coming up in that case. Carl - that's what I'd been thinking....I could always re-buy when the time was right in my life.

All I "heard" was SOBB. Hyperventilating now.

I have been involved in helping a number of old guys leaving the sport. Isn't as bad as it sounds.
Of those that left the sport or part of it for a chance to get into something that included the entire family never returned to the sport. They are not regretting any part of the new venture. If you haven't participated in it for a year and enjoyed the other part of family life, it's OK to sell and move on.
Who knows how the rest of it will turn out, you have to be true to yourself and be the man, husband, father, and grandfather, you are. Thought the grandfather part would hit the spot, hehe
It's part of life, why not enjoy it. The sport will always be around and if you decide to get back into it in a decade or so some of us will still be around to ask where you've been for so long.
Besides some of the old timers still live in the past and wonder where the old flyers have gone, we will know your out on the boat.:D

I kind of saw this coming when you were looking for the sail boat. I actually thought you would only hold on to snow kite gear.

I pretty much accepted that I wouldn't ride on water around here at least a few years ago. The water around here is too cold and polluted for me. NOT that I don't want to ride on water. Just not water that gives me an ear infection+ potential swimmers itch or is straight off of a glacier.

I can see thinning things down. I did. But I suggest you keep 1 board just in case you want to park the sail boat and put up a kite one day? The board I kept is worthless now with a poor design and rotting bindings. Still, I sleep better knowing I have one ?

There are quite a few items in the closet I'd never part with. Of course the Phannies are near the top of the list, followed by the Access - the first (and only) kite I bought brand spanking new, and the Silver Arrow which I overpaid for - but did so willingly because I love that thing in the air on blue sky winter days with gentle breezes made for it.

As for the boards - I couldn't part with the Kailolos....too much love in those ones. The door and the proof......those two are in the "I could pick up another if life takes me that way" category......I've hauled them to the lake time after time and either had no wind or better things to do with the family. Snowboard? Kinda gotta keep it. I promised Anna if she learned to ski I'd learn to snowboard. Plus I'm way too invested in it to not lose my shirt (bindings, pivot system and the board itself).

The buggy is just too fun and the family all share the same love for Oregon's coast that I do. Rest assured we'll be down frequently. Hoping for May as I said above. Just need to make sure business allows. Of course if I'm down making deliveries then it's kinda 'business' isn't it? Still....a guy only needs one buggy. I'm torn because the belly pan is good advertising but the Van rail setup on the other is so hip-huggingy cozy. Maybe a new pan is in order for the VTT rails?

I'll continue the soul search in the coming months. If I pull the pin on the sell off it'll be preSOBB so I can save people a bunch of $$ on postage.

Quote:

macboy posted: Thought the grandfather part would hit the spot, hehe

Whaaaat! :o You are too young to think about being a grandfather yet LOL By that time we might all be flying used Peak 4s so thin out your kit, stay active, enjoy life, and keep kiting in your heart.

Looking forward to our next session together wherever/whenever it might be