finally

so yesterday i finally did it, i collected all my pay slips, cashed in my enron shares, sold my left kidney on the black market and headed off to kitepower for a stash of zero-to-hero kiteboarding kit.

for those of you wondering why someone would pay over R20k for a 12m piece of material that drags you about the water unceremoniously dunking you from time to time, here's a list of the equipment that i got my grubby paws on:

first up, the kite - R12,200:



it's the latest cabrina bow shaped kite that packs a lot of grunt.

next i got the cabrinha custom board, skulls and all - R6,100:



next, a nappy with a steel hook, the dakine seat harness - R890



next, the protec brain cage - R666(!):


next, the dakine impact vest, for those pesky submerged rocks and innocent bystanders that get in the way - R1100:


next, the oh-so-sexy (on me anyway!) body hugging wetsuit - R1200:


a big shopping bag for my board. you can actually get travel bags for kite equipment that has 'golf bag' written across it so you can get your kit through airports for free :) - R330



and last but not least, the check-you-can't-check-me-back water glasses - R440:


and who said you can't buy street-cred...

p.s. after the big shop, we packed the loot into the car and went off for lunch having forgotten to close the back door, leaving it WIDE OPEN. luckily nothing was taken when i got back - that's 'stralia for you, and i really didn't want to sell my right kidney for more kit! :P