Hey guys,

I came across something today that, well, to say the least agitated me today.

I'm sure most of you know John @ powerzone kitesports as a flysurfer dealer in Bellingham, washington. Today I was reading a local forum (www.pskite.com) and a local shop is boasting that they are the only place dealing flysurfers in washington, as well as the only place to demo. As a Seattle resident, I have looked to John for all of my flysurfer questions and am lucky enough to go play up in his neck of the woods on occasion (BTW.. going out with a flysurfer rep.... I've never seen a car so stuffed with kites!!).

I find this boasting to be ridiculous. I had actually talked to the owner a couple months back and when they mentioned a customer coming in looking for flysurfers, I told them of the current dealer situation, and they in turn were interested in working with John to pass business to each other when they could. Of course. They never got back to him when he tried to contact.

Now this.. two months later, they are the "only flysurfer rep in the northwest".. Ya right.. I wonder how many times they've actually sessioned on these kites.

What do you guys think about this? Oh.. below is the link to the original thread that sparked all of this.

http://www.pskite.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2405&p=148...

Does anyone know what is going on with flysurfer? I thought they were going direct.. but I just went to their site and the link for direct sales is gone now.

I just read the discussion on pskite.com.

it really bugs me when people make ignorant statements. All this really says to me is how out of touch with Flysurfer kites these guys really are.

I suppose maybe they forgot Bellingham is actually a part of Washington...that and powerzone kitesports could possibly fall under the radar in the incredibly flashy world of tube kites.

the tube kite industry actually reminds me a lot of the wakeboard industry. the last boat show I was at said it all. over half of the boat show was wakeboarding boats that looked like a bunch of import tuners and rice rocket junkies had gotten there hands on them. slapped tons of vinyl decals all over the boats, chrome speakers and lights, shiny towers and oh there was probably a wakeboard in there somewhere too but it was definitely an after thought.

I'm starting to grow rather tired of the "look at me" style...

these guys need to take a break from image and focus more on substance

LOL


the guy can't even spell Psycho4 correctly.... calls it the "psyco"

John/powerzone kitesports are well established locally, regionally, and nationally thru their sales and service. Im sure he's not happy to read statements like that but most likely not worried either. You have to factor in ignorance by the consumer fueled by high $$$ marketing campaigns. I live in a huge tube market and when something other than a tube is on the water a lot of questions always follow. Like Ive said.........."educate your mind, your ass will follow". If consumers do their homework on FSer, they'll know of or find powerzone sports but again I can understand your frustration.........

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude JYou have to factor in ignorance by the consumer fueled by high $$$ marketing campaigns. I live in a huge tube market and when something other than a tube is on the water a lot of questions always follow. Like Ive said.........."educate your mind, your ass will follow".

This isn't another tube vs. foil debate is it?

I'm sure that some tube fliers have tried FS and decided that they prefer their tubes. So are they educated or ignorant?

@ bigsteve, it looks like the part about being the "only dealer" is BS and I'm not sure what excuse they could have, but why not give them a call for an explanation or wait for them to respond to your post on PSkite before you start ripping them on the forums.

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteNH Quote: Originally posted by tridude JYou have to factor in ignorance by the consumer fueled by high $$$ marketing campaigns. I live in a huge tube market and when something other than a tube is on the water a lot of questions always follow. Like Ive said.........."educate your mind, your ass will follow". This isn't another tube vs. foil debate is it? I'm sure that some tube fliers have tried FS and decided that they prefer their tubes. So are they educated or ignorant? @ bigsteve, it looks like the part about being the "only dealer" is BS and I'm not sure what excuse they could have, but why not give them a call for an explanation or wait for them to respond to your post on PSkite before you start ripping them on the forums.

not at all.......just a caviat on NWFs wakeboard/boat show. Im all for fly what you like. I personally feel the foil companys (FSer, HQ, Ozone, Flexi, U Turn, PL) spend more time on R and D and less on adverts which is good for the consumer if youve done your homework................there are more options available to consumers if they do their homework is my point and powerzone sports will continue to be on the cutting edge for FSer.....................

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude not at all.......just a caviat on NWFs wakeboard/boat show. Im all for fly what you like. I personally feel the foil companys (FSer, HQ, Ozone, Flexi, U Turn, PL) spend more time on R and D and less on adverts which is good for the consumer if youve done your homework................there are more options available to consumers if they do their homework is my point and powerzone sports will continue to be on the cutting edge for FSer.....................

Understood and I think you may have a point about lots of the big name tube kite companies spending big bucks on advertising.

and.............had PS kites done their homework, this wouldnt even be an issue! We need some wind....................or waves............ had neither lately.......................

I agree with nwsurf. These guys are out of touch.. almost everyone on there thinks these are the answer for snowkiting.. and neglects that they are good for other things. This is fine.. I dont want to start another gear debate.

I'm just trying to figure out what is going on with FS these days.. one minute I hear they are going direct.. the next minute this guy is coming on as the the only local dealer. So I am left wondering. where does this leave Powerzone and what is the future of FS sales.

You are right kite NH, I got a little trigger happy going after him on the forum, but I was a little more than frustrated at him saying what he did, after I talked to him in person at his shop on more than one occation about Powerzone in Bellingham. It just showed ignorance to me

I think mainly Ted was just sick of drop shipping one kite to so called "dealers" just because they had one customer in the year come in and say they specifically wanted a flysurfer, so he's trying to get rid of those kinds of dealers who just like to list that they deal flysurfer when they really do nothing for the brand other than tarnish it by saying you should get a waroo instead. :singing: something like that anyways

I still think its funny how many people think of foil kites as trainers, old school gear, kites from the past, etc. I agree advertising is a huge part of it. if the foil kite industry just postponed there R&D because things are pretty amazingly good already and focused on advertising for awhile. promoted more at competitions and got more pro riders out in areas like hood river, maui, california, florida the foil industry would probably blow up.

last time I went to florida I asked some local kiteboarders if they knew anybody who rode foil kites. they said they knew one guy who did and they though he was crazy but they also couldn't deny that he was by far the best kiteboarder in the area.....interesting.....

I remember I was one of these people about 2 years ago. I would always run across peter lynn kite websites and think "what the heck is that thing. it looks like it would sink if it ever touched the water." I'm glad I met john/powerzone and had a chance to overcome my own ignorance.:smug:

but personally....I kinda like how foil kites are like a small community where everybody is automatically a friend. it kinda reminds me of subaru's hehe

hehehe...maybe I was the one crazy guy they were talking about flying foils here in Florida :wee:????

I'm dying to get my hands on a Flysurfer to see if they live up to their name.

Gotta do a pass the Flysurfer program.

Scott

I'd be willing to pass my 15m psycho4 around from december through till march if anyone wants to try it :frog: will start a thread when the time comes... will probably have to be somewhat selective who it's passed to somehow because its a big, serious bit of kit but i'm sure you can handle anything Scott

Quote:

Originally posted by domdino I'd be willing to pass my 15m psycho4 around from december through till march if anyone wants to try it :frog: will start a thread when the time comes... will probably have to be somewhat selective who it's passed to somehow because its a big, serious bit of kit but i'm sure you can handle anything Scott

Dom,

There will be snow here this week. So put my name on the list. If you ever want to sell also. PM me !!

Definitely don't wanna sell but new york in the winter sucks majorly for kiting... so i'll pass it around after i've been to florida in the 2nd week of december, so it will be someones xmas pressie from me :D

Sick!

I just found out a friend has a 19m Flysurfer that I hope to try in the near future. It's not the Silver Arrow version but will give me a taste.

Problem for me is when the wind is that light I'd rather go jetskiing instead of kitesurfing.

:wow:

Ha Ha,

I'm having one of the VERY EXCITED YES, no YES YEs , NO moments :ticking:

Damn Dom You are COOL

The problem around here at this time of year is that it's muddy and wet ! NOT the kind of conditions you want your kite in I'm going to have to pass on the "pass " :ticking::ticking:

Scott,

Be sure and check out all the extras on the kite like the break away tabs on the bridle, blow outs and such. If this is a big old speed I or psycho I / II please be aware that the flying characteristics leaped ahead with the next years kites. An old Speed or psycho won't compare to the 14m P4 Dom will loan you ! The build quality was all there though !!!

Yippie a pass the flysurfer.

Ok, I'll check out which version my friend has.

Scott

Dom, are you serious about the Flysurfer beign passed? Man I'd love to try that but not sure how well cross border duties would be especially with having to definitely put insurance on it!

Yeah i don't mind passing it around, as long as the first person i pass it to pays for the postage costs, maybe if the paying for postage goes that way round so you pay for the person before you to post it to you that might work better. I just feel bad about having a kite sitting in the cupboard for months on end without being used! Just wanna make sure i get it back and people don't do irresponsible things with it, if there is a way of controlling that?!

I'm not sure how you can do that, but I'd love to try this. That would be incredible.

ps- Random, but do you ever recall someone trying to buy a FS Silver arrow from you for 300$ on the flexi forums?

Quote:

Originally posted by Baluk Dom, are you serious about the Flysurfer beign passed? Man I'd love to try that but not sure how well cross border duties would be especially with having to definitely put insurance on it!

I have a place in Champlain NY which is a 20 minutes drive from my home to receive shipping. I use it sometimes to receive kites and boards when I buy from US and the seller does not agree to ship as gift.

I avoid duty, and the sender can take a shipping insurance.

Well guys, the owner of that store posted back to me... sounds like he really is one of the few official dealers now. I really do not know what to say about this. I don't really know what this means for powerzone kitesports. I just hope they are able keep on doing what they are doing. there is no one I would rather turn to for advice/knowledge on these kites.

he maybe a retailor for FS, however it seems they dont know much about FS or Foil kites. if the manufacture and the distributor appointed them as a retailor there isnt much that can be done, they have the final word. like Tridude already stated "do your homework" and if you search enough you'll find this forum.
i wouldnt be too bothered by them, their shop seems to carry a lot of different brands, and i can see them pointing people towards LEI than Foils, which most of the dedicated Kiteboarding shops do.

we do our part by supporting John at PKS, and can continue to do so by sending him people looking for FS Kites in the NW than that other "named" shop. i have no problem sending people in the greater vancouver area looking for FS down to PKS. I'm sure my RKS Teammate - BladeRunner does the same.

sometimes its better to send to someone who knows their $h1T, and offers customer service / lessons than some shop that doesnt know Jack, who runs a Brick & Mortor. (no offense to the shop owners)

my wooden nickel thought. :moon:

I dont think Powerzone Kite Sports has much too worry about, firmly established and rooted in the NW. I have passed Johns business on to a few coasties (USCG) as they come thru the center during their training that have expressed interest in kitesurfing/landboarding, etc............ They seem to know Slingshot and the Gorge very well.............SS country from what I read/hear.....................

We are lucky here on the forum to have Powerzone, Ripsession, Coastalwindsports, Secondwind, Dakitez, Dom, AJ, and others with first hand knowledge, experience, and technical expertise. The pass the "whatever" kite has helped not only the buyer but the sellers. That coupled with "word of mouth" advertising are a hard combo to beat...........

probably the lamest thing is, the service and proper product representation might suffer.... To OUR customers, we offer free repair, free lessons, free instruction and care for gear, no attitude, 5 yrs experience, mods, tuning, free knowledge etc.... the only thing we dont offer is big inventory.

Powerzone Kitesports is in it for the long haul... not just to make a buck. friendships and relationships are more important and more satisfying than money. afterall , this sport is supposed to be fun and enjoyable to all, not judgemental.

thanks you guys for the support and yes, we are not worried as we know that true intention and integrity prevail. and i hope all of you in This Family, will support us.

time to close the thread, bury the hatchet, and move foreward