Slingshot Comp bar OMG $$

forrest · Wed Feb 10, 10 1:33 pm

@moto: Remember dude, it isn't that the bar is more expensive, it's that the US dollar is worth less, thus it's smaller. New bars in 08 were $250, in 09 were $350, now in 2010 $500. Watch the dollar get smaller! BTW, Did I tell everyone I'll buy your unwanted gold? LOL.

@C Johnson: I hear ya dude. The Gorge is screwed on economic growth as far as big industry and other types of businesses that would be harmful to the scenic and environment of the area. But I think most of us wouldn't have it any other way. We all sacrifice various things to live here. Growth here happens different than any where else and some people like it, some people are bitter'd by it.

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

I wasn't complaining about friends and family or living in the gorge, I take advantage of my connections like everyone else here (and i do live in the gorge). the situation reminds of kayaking ten years ago, you do wonder how much goodwill gets burned up. Most people with f&f are only as loyal as their discount.

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

wasn't trying to get anyone all worked up. just some musings...

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

its simple....

crack ho's are dumb and therefore are unaware of the current dollar value Wink

mschulz · Since 29 May 2007 530 Posts Reno, NV Addicted

forrest · Thu Feb 11, 10 10:57 am

LOL! Dude, I bet we could rig up some spectra and make a little handjob rig for your bar moto! Just make sure the quick release works for those really hard unexpected tugs!

forrest · Thu Feb 11, 10 10:58 am

No worries, wasn't really taking it personally just trying to explain things from my perspective.

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

how cool would it be if this bar really was called the "Comp OMG $$"

maybe we could get the guys over at slingy to start working on that Smile

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

It's been my experience that SS stuff is really bomb proof. I can't think of any kite made that is better with regard to quality, and use than SS. I've bought alot of kites, at retail, and I can tell you that the money spent on a SS is well spent.

I remember having an issue with a T3 and Shy was sitting on a bench visiting with a pro kiter, Len10, I wanted to convert my T3 to 1:1 ratio and didn't really have the confidence to do it. I asked him if he wouldn't mind helping. He jumps up and is like," sure, let's do it.." He made me feel right at ease and then launched me to to boot.

You don't see a lot of SS kite being returned for leaky one pump issues, or other quality control stuff. If you do get something you get a body on the phone, not from India, but Oregon who can help. If you email em they get back to you asap. Sure, you could save some money with another brand, but you're not going to beat the whole meal deal. Resale on SS is good too.

The kites come complete with a bar, pump, and ton's of support. Not to mention that they, SS, donates kites to Eric, HRCSD for the kiting MS Program.

It's all good here in the gorge, but Slingy just makes it a little bit better.

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu Feb 11, 10 3:13 pm

You all fail to realize that the new bar has 20% more bling. That bling costs money yo. R and D can't cost that much but I'm sure retooling and what nit isn't cheap.

They sure the he'll aren't spending the cash on graphic designers or focus groups to name their kites. The all new "octane" ummm why name a new product after one that went nowhere? What's next, the 2012 link?

Top ten new kite names for SS;

1. The tripple injector
2. The one pump chump
3. The tachometer
4. The posi-traction
5. The reubenanator ( which actually had a nice ring to it)
6. The gouger
7. The Thailand turbo
8. The "just bend over"
9. The stink fist
10. And probably the best name.. Introducing slinshots latest high tec kite for 2017 ...
the " buy me next spring for 40% less"

Sella · Thu Feb 11, 10 3:14 pm

I paid $1800 for my first 2-line Wipika and Reel Bar back in 1999. Now that bar came with a disk brake, clutch, a hand crank and about 8 pounds of ball breaking craziness. State of the art for "self launching" in it's day.

Forrest is right....as the dollar goes further into the crapper due to crazy inflation caused by bailout money we really have no idea how to repay the only saving grace we can hope for is the growth of kiting keeping the price relatively the same for the next 10 years to come.

Quality products and safety development....from Slingy, Cabrinha, Naish plus online retailing stategies from Best keep the competition heated up. We need Epic, Wainman, Ozone, North, Liquid Force etc..etc to keep pushing it. It's basic econ 101 but what I laugh about is everyone on this forum is pretty much an addicted kite junkie and if there was only 1 kite company just what WOULD you pay to get your fix??? For what kiting gives me......if becoming a crack whore hand job specialist kept the quiver fresh......somebody get my dakine gloves fast.

forrest · Thu Feb 11, 10 3:17 pm

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

sounds like the price is being driven up by many reasons, not just one.

-inflation of the US dollar. not pumping your kite
-expensive rent in Hood River
-because they can
-because it will be 40% off next year
-tooling
-R&D
-because hand job crack ho's are too cheap
-because there isn't enough kiteboarders to share the cost
-other reason we haven't thought of yet

I have a prediction for the 2011 slingshot link 2. It will be made from titanium, have a welded chambered leading edge so no pumping is necessary. it will have a layer of kevlar bonded over the entire kite so that it actually is bullet proof and not just a figure of speech.

My prediction for how much this kite will cost. MSRP: $25,000 kite only or $45,000 with bar and Stainless steel cables.

of course with inflation that calculates out to only about $10,000 by today's US dollar value. so its still a pretty good deal when you consider what all you're getting. after all you gotta pay extra for bullet proof and bling. haha

one last thing on a slightly serious note. when it comes to bombproof construction of kites. no matter how bombproof it is supposed to be. when it comes to a kite vs a pile of rocks. the pile of rocks is always going to win. actually if you have an overbuilt heavy kite you may be hitting the pile of rocks more often because your kite falls out of the sky when the wind lulls.

I like light weight cheap fragile stuff if I didn't already make that obvious. haha

shymac · Since 20 Jul 2005 919 Posts Home Valley, Wa. Bigfoot

Shit, lets at least get a parts list up so you can see a diagram of it. This is the most chatter I've heard about a bar other then a strip bar.