Shop Locator
|
I want to order a kite. Is the bar included?
Unless you are taking advantage of one of the packages we occassionally run, and it is specified that a bar is included, our kites do not come with a bar. You will need to order a bar and lines separately. The kite price includes the kite, the bag, a pump, and a small repair kit.
When ordering online, how do I specify a kite color?
Under "Review and Submit Your Order" you'll see a section halfway down the page that says "Order notes." Enter your color preferences there. Try to give us a couple of options ie: "any color but green" or "1st choice: blue, 2nd choice: pink, 3rd choice orange." If you MUST HAVE one particular color, while you may get lucky and we might have it in stock, we might not, so you may be in for a wait.
Do you ship internationally?
We ship anywhere in the world. For an estimate on how much it costs to ship your order, go to the website, and order the items you wish to purchase using the online shopping cart. When you go through the ordering process, it will show you the shipping cost before you
place the order. You can cancel out of this at any time, and are not committing to purchase anything ... this is the best way to get an estimate as it will base the quote on the weight of the items, as well as the location to where it will be shipped. There is a place at the end of the order where you can write your color choices or order notes. Just remember to give a few choices so the order doesn’t hold up based on color. If you are ordering overseas remember there will be Vat or Duty charges to get the items through customs. We don't have any control over these, and you can find those at your local customs agency or post office.
How much does it cost to ship to (insert "country outside of the United States" here)?
To find out how much it costs to ship your order outside of the US, go onto the website, key in your order (don't worry, your card won't be charged and you can cancel out of it at any time), and at the end, you will get an estimate on the shipping charges.
If you are surprised by how expensive the charges are, we strongly suggest that you check out the "Find a School or Shop Near You" feature on the website under the "Schools & Retailers" feature. Although the prices from your local retailer may seem higher than the prices on our website, when all is said and done, you'll end up paying about the same when you add in the costs for shipping out of the US, plus the vats and duties you'll need to pay to get the order out of customs.
Why is is so expensive to ship to other countries?
We're not sure, really, and you'd get a much better answer if you asked the actual shipping companies. Perhaps it's the cost of fuel? The rising costs of migrant workers? Think about how expensive airline tickets are. Think about how much money it costs to fly around the world. Think about all the people who have to handle your package just to get it to you. Perhaps somewhere therein lies the answer!
Do you repair kites? Where can I get my kite repaired?
No, we do not repair kites. Locally, we have our own kites repaired through an affiliate of Airtime Bladders in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Even if you're not local, you can have your kite shipped to the facility. Go to http://airtimekite.com, and click on the "submit a repair ticket."
I would like to return/warranty an item, how do I do that?
To read about our warranty/return policy, click here.
Items not purchased directly from Best Kiteboarding (via www.bestkiteboarding.com or through our toll-free telephone number) still receive the same 30-day guarantee and 90-day warranty, but are warranted through the original place of purchase only. If you bought the item from a Best retail shop, please contact the original place of purchase for warranty claims.
If you purchase the item directly from Best, you can return it directly to us here; however, you'll first need a Return Manufacturer Authorization (RMA). To get an RMA#, follow these instructions:
- Call Best Kiteboarding’s customer service at 1-866-700-BEST, or (252) 489-2959 if you are outside the US or Canada. Or email your request to warranty@bestkiteboarding.com, with some pictures and description of the issue.
- Once you have an RMA, secure your equipment inside the original shipping box. If the original packaging materials are unavailable, obtain and use similar packaging materials and make every effort to ensure that the product is not damaged during shipping. Make sure to include all packaging, including any protective wrapping. Please also include a copy of the original packing slip with your return.
Write your RMA number on the box in LARGE letters next to the shipping address.
For example:
1140
Ship the item to:
Best Kiteboarding
Returns Department
24267 Highway 12
Rodanthe, NC 27968
Any unauthorized or improperly packaged merchandise will be returned to sender.
I'm a beginner, new to the sport. What setup should I buy? What size kite and board would be best for me?
Do not buy anything before you've first taken a lesson, unless it is a small 2-line trainer kite and a trainer kite video, which you learn to use before your lesson. Lessons are extremely important, because there are are a lot of safty aspects to this sport and a lot of things to know before you get out on the water ... not just for your own safety, but for the safety of everyone around you.
Also, if you buy something now, without knowing ANYTHING about the sport, you will most likely make the mistake that many people new to the sport make: buying the wrong equipment, whether it's the wrong kite size for your weight and prevalent wind conditons, kite type, kite model, etc. Once you have a few lessons, your instructor will be able to recommend a good setup for you, and will take into consideration your weight, and the conditions in your area, and will help you come up with a working quiver.
A big mistake people make is buying equipment right away ... they see cheap deals on the internet somewhere or on E-bay, and not knowing anything about technological advances in the last couple of years, think, "A kite's a kite, how wrong can I be?" They can be VERY VERY wrong. With the introduction of bow kites, or SLE kites, in late 2005/early 2006, the sport and the industry has changed dramatically, and the last thing you want to do, as a first time beginner, is to purchase someone's old 4-line or 5-line C-kite, which has very little depowerability, and is not as user-friendly as the bow, or SLE, kites. Even if it looks like a great deal, stay away from purchasing a C-kite as your first kite ... your learning curve on bow kites will be much faster ... bows/SLES stay in the sky much easier, are generally easier to relaunch, have more depower, and are more forgiving than C-kites.
In the beginning, you'll want a larger board, which is easier to get up on, as it has more surface area and is easier to balance, but you also don't want to buy the largest board you can find, as you will quickly grow out of it. Take a lesson, ride your instructor's board, and see what feels right for you. You may still not have a feeling of what you need at that point, but your instructor will be able to give you some advice.
The best beginner kite in our lineup is currently the 08 Waroo. However, it is not a kite you will soon outgrow. As our best selling kite ever, it is enjoyed by beginners and pro riders alike.
Lessons are so expensive. Do I really need to take lessons?
YES! YOU really need to take lessons. How many you need to take will depend on how quickly you pick it up, but you'll generally need a few. Click here for a forum discussion on the topic.
How do I get some stickers for my board or car?
We have small stickers that can be used on your bumper sticker or on your board, and we will be more than happy to send you a few! Send in self-addressed envelope, to the address below. Just make sure the proper postage is added ... generally one first class stamp will cover it.
Best Kiteboarding
24267 Highway 12
Rodanthe, NC 27968
Do you have a retail shop in my area/state/country?
To find a store in your area, click here. If the store does not have the item you wish to purchase, you can order it directly from us at our online store. If you will be coming to the United States, and would like to pick your kite in the States, that is not a problem: when you place your order, you can specify the shipping address, which does not have to be the same address as your billing addresses. We can ship to hotels, as well.
My kite has a leak, how do I find it?
If you have a standard inflation kite (and not an EZpump kite), the easiest way to find a leak, if you have access to a swimming pool, it to pump up the kite and place it upside down in the pool. Sit on the side of the pool, stepping down on the leading edge until it's under water. Then walk along the leading edge and look for the bubbles coming out. This is the fastest and most efficiant way of finding a leak. If you have an EZ pump kite, click here for more information on troubleshooting the leak.