Events

After a busy day at the shop Chris and I left and headed for Galveston to get the last of the East wind.  It was around 6pm when we left the shop so by the time we dropped a car at 61st street and took the ferry over to Boliver it was 730-8pm and getting dark.  We made it across the ship channel (which is the video) before it got dark and then continued in the waves to 61st street in galveston.  It was one of the best surf sessions I’ve ever had.  The waves were huge and the wind was shifting slightly offshore so it cleaned the waves up and made them perfect to surf.  It was really really dark but the lights off Galveston gave us enough light to see each other and to see some of the oncoming waves.  I had one great moment when Chris and I were attempting to catch the same wave…he hit it and I just missed it.  So I was perched on top of a 10ft wave watching him surf the crap out of it aganst the lights of the city.  Pretty good stuff.  Great Ride!  We were on Slingshot 2012 Rally 8m kites and Slingshot Celeritas 5’4″ and Slingshot Globtrotter 4’10″ boards.  We finished around 930pm or so.

When: Saturday August 27th between 8am-4pm
Where: At the XLKITES shop in Texas City, TX

Details:
Bring in your used gear to sell at the Swap meet the week before the event.  All gear will be labled and priced for the one day sale.  Like every year XLKITES will take NO commission on sales made provided the money is put on your shop account for use on in-shop equipment.  If you want a check for your sold gear XLKITES takes a 20% commission charge from proceeds. 

We get around 30-50 used kites every year along with 20-30 used boards and lot of other goodies.  If you aren’t from the local area here in Texas that is ok.  Call us on Friday, Saturday or Sunday the weekend of the 27th and we can get you what you need over the phone.  We will also usually post used gear that didn’t sell on our website here: http://www.xlkites.com/used-gear-c-58.html?osCsid=2t6ik58n9sq0f60r1i9eneatc2

Here is the equipment and prices it sells for historically:
- Kites sell for anywhere from $50-$900 depending on age and condition. 
- Boards sell for $50-$400 depending on age and condition.   
- Used harnesses sell for around $30-$60
- Used bars sell for $70-$300
- Used helmets $20-$30

How:
Step 1.  Bring your used gear to the shop in Texas City and fill out a drop off receipt the week before the sale.
Step 2. We sell equipment at the sale and put the money on your XLKITES account
Step 3.  Spend money in the store at some point in the future

Call or email for more inforamation.
281-508-6485
houston@xlkites.com

Night Ride was a success last night.  We had a group of about 10 brave riders make the 7-9mi downwind journey from the end of the dike back to the Levee riding area toward the lights (like a moth to the flame).  We did lose one soldier along the way about 2mi into the ride.  His lines got tangled and he self rescued up on the dike and got a ride back to the Levee.  Overall the ride was awesome and even better when we got back to the Levee to ride at night in the lights.

So everyone thinks that riding down-wind is easy…and…well it is unless you want to go somewhat fast directly down wind.  If you’re taking a slight angle down wind then it is very easy and very fast, but riding directly at your kite down-wind can be very difficult if you’ve never done it.  Keeping tension on the lines while you make you’re sharp kite turns to create power is key and something every kitesurfer should be able to do.

When: Friday night 29Jul11 (meet at Levee at 7:30pm)
Where: meet at Levee start down wind ride from End of Dike back to Levee

How: Light system will be at the Levee riding area so people will know where to stop during the downwind ride. Bring glow sticks for your board, kite and YOU. Should be comfortable in deep water, able to go upwind, and self sufficient riding without help. See you on the water!! –Phil Midler (houston@xlkites.com)

Forecast: Current wind forecast is 17-22mph from SE all night long Friday due to the tropical storm hitting south Texas so we should be good to go.

What to Bring: Glowsticks, right sized kite, life jacket or float vest, booties, good board for going downwind, your skillz

!Annual Kite Swap!

Saturday, February 26

BUY – SELL – TRADE

Stop by the shop anytime Saturday, February 26 from 10am-6pm and buy, sell, or trade in any used equipment.  It’s the perfect opportunity to gear up for the spring and summer kiteboarding season! 

*All equipment for the swap should be brought to the shop for drop off prior to Friday, February 25.   Any earnings placed on your account from gear sold at the meet will result in a 100% profit.  Should you choose to take a check,  there is a fee of 20%.  Gear not sold at meet can be traded-in for XLKITES cash on your customer account.

We already have 15-20 used kites and 5-10 used boards for the event and more are coming in everyday.  Get your stuff to the shop as soon as you can.  If you don’t know how much you want for it that is ok we can price it for you, we know what it is all worth. 

281-508-6485 call for more information
email houston@xlkites.com

Deadline for used gear drop off is 25Feb!!

Here is how you get to the new shop:

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