Australian Ski Pricelist

It's good to see the spirit of Ned Kelly lives on here in good old Oz, when you compare the ski prices in SA and even NZ If only they had an international competition for price gouging, we'd be the gold medal winners for sure!

On the flip side, I imagine the costs of doing business in Australia far exceed nz and sa. On top of that the cost of living is also huge. I doubt the retailers are getting rich in Australia.

Love2ski wrote: On the flip side, I imagine the costs of doing business in Australia far exceed nz and sa. On top of that the cost of living is also huge. I doubt the retailers are getting rich in Australia.

I'd say you are right, the numbers are too small to get rich, but maybe that just means the model is wrong. Admitting all the issues of warranty and demo equipment, seems to me local fully warehoused representatives of companies like Epic and Fenn etc don't really make sense. If for example all the SA companies got together (this is hypothetical...) and appointed one company in Oz to act as importer/distributor/warehouse then the overheads would be spread across reasonable sales volumes (full containers), unit prices could come down, the importer would make some money. Surely if unit price was lower the number of boats sold would increase and the sport would become more visible and hence more popular.

If all the global car makers see the sense in shared badges etc, maybe it could work for niche markets like surf ski's.

But human nature being what it is, and the likelihood of small business owners getting together and getting over the issues of intellectual property/trust etc, seems to me the best bet is just to get some mates together, have a trip to SA, couple of Millers runs, pack the container and enjoy a bargain.

Please take all this as tongue in cheek, no offence meant to the local importers working hard to promote the sport

Well, obviously there's the exchange rate effect as well, what with the strong Aussie dollar and all that.

In the example I posted, the V10S is around $1500 converted today, but you don't have to look too far back in time to see the weaker dollar would pitch it more like $2100.

Swing and roundabouts eh!

Love2ski wrote: On the flip side, I imagine the costs of doing business in Australia far exceed nz and sa.

Is it?
To me the great mystery is; If the skis are built in China and the supply ship has to sail past Oz to get to SA or NZ, should not the cost be cheaper? Added to this, the Oz $ vs Chinese Yuan exchange rate is much more favourable than either the Kiwi $ and/or SA Rand. Then there is the just signed favourable trade and currency arrangement recently made between Oz and China (not applicable to NZ or SA).
Further, there are more skis sold in Oz than NZ, (don't know about SA). No, I'll stick with gouging!

JonathanC wrote:

Love2ski wrote: Surely if unit price was lower the number of boats sold would increase and the sport would become more visible and hence more popular.

I think there are opportunities for some manufacturers to work with an importer to sell a lot more skis here in Australia.

In some of our big races in Perth we have between 700-900 skis. (Bridge to Bridge, Augusta Adventure Race) But a big percentage are plastic skis. We have two plastic ski manufacturers here so we are spoilt with choice and the price points are much cheaper than composite skis. I know of people who really wanted a composite ski but went the plastic ski route just because of the cost.

I see on geartrade there are new SES's for under 2k. Great boat for this price.

The saddest thing about all of this from an Australian point of view is that there is not much encouragement for new younger people to get into this sport. At the moment the market is geared towards those with disposable incomes that can afford a $3K or $5K boat. We will always have the surf club events encouraging the 'around the can' races but when it comes to the ocean events, the majority of the participants (on the east coast here) are in their 30's, 40's & 50's. I compare this with what I see from South Africa in the races out of Cape Town and Durban and am amazed to see the younger participants alongside the older crews and I think Australia needs to take a 'leaf out of their book' in encouraging the next generation of paddlers otherwise we will be left behind.
Now WA participant ages may be different but even AR_convert highlights that plastic boats are the preferred choice over the composite skis because of price.
Hopefully Australia's 'next generation' of ocean ski paddlers don't get left behind because of the expensive cost of a ski (I am sure the Saffas won't mind if they do ).

Maybe our youth (Aus) should take a leaf out of any other countries youth, paddle what you can afford. There are plenty of second hand skis out there, it does not have to be new.

I find it strange though that they manage to afford a new spec ski on a much more regular basis than you would ever buy a non-spec version, for pure reason is that they generally start to fall apart after a short period of time. So this is not the inhibiting factor! These spec skis cost more than an entry level ski (+-$3500.00 landed in Perth)and they don't last as long.

Also by the way pricing is all relevant to buying power, I pay $4.50 for a coffee in Aus, most Aussies don't complain about that do they?

Price list updated with Flow Kayaks Australian prices. Please note they do make heavier lay-up skis but at this stage the Australian Distributor is only importing the superlight construction. The flow website also gives many options for ski equipment and custom colours.

Rockstar Sperlight Carbon/Kevlar 12.5kg $3,900

Superstar Superlight Carbon/Kevlar 13.5kg $4,250

Sharp Superlight Carbon/Kevlar 12.5kg $4,500

www.flowkayaks.com/site/surf-skis/

A few more weights and priced added as well as a new list by weight here www.surfski.info/forum/19-boats/16418-au...it=20&start=20#16424

Strange a ski can be $1800 in S.Africa but $3000 here.

Not so strange at all
I don't know what the Australian reality is but I know the European one.
One has to take in account racking in container, transport costs of container to shipyard, shipping costs, shipping documentation charges, transport cost of container to inpacking area,duties and value added costs.
In Europe road transport costs are enormous.
Then there are the test skis or race skis which immediately take a knock on resale price
I think any importer deserves a margin
To get into this just for the love of fellow paddlers? mmhhh?
Do the sums
Carefully
You might be surprised
Regards
Mario

Brett,
The web site link you provided gave the weight of the Sharp Ski Superlight as 12.5kg at the price of $4,500. The 11kg Ultralight is POA.

Same deal with the Superstar ski. Heavier at 13.5kg than you have listed for the price point you quoted.

Thanks for the Quality Assurance, will fix it up

AdamV10L wrote: Brett,
The web site link you provided gave the weight of the Sharp Ski Superlight as 12.5kg at the price of $4,500. The 11kg Ultralight is POA.

Same deal with the Superstar ski. Heavier at 13.5kg than you have listed for the price point you quoted.

Dicko wrote: I see on geartrade there are new SES's for under 2k. Great boat for this price.

I tell you what looks like good value, after doing the list I went back and looked at rob's surfski.info review for the Custom kayaks Horizon. If you are looking for a robust beginner ski this is good value.

www.surfski.info/reviews/surfskis/story/...-kayaks-horizon.html

Two more skis added today.

These two skis while being plastic deserve their place alongside the composite offerings for their speed and ocean going capability.

While suffering in the weight department, once on the water they are often paddled to impressive results leaving many composite ski paddlers red faced.

The Finn Molokai has been through 2 design changes and the Mk III is the boat listed although you may still find the MkII in stores. There is a few slight changes including a more refined bow to cut through the water better but the Mk II is still quite quick. The Molokai is specified as 18kg shell weight but by the time you add the bits and pieces it tips the scales at over 20kg. Mine weighs 20.5kg.

The Spirit PRS ski is one of the most popular entry level skis on the market in Western Australia, with good stability and reasonable speed it is hard to go past value wise. Both the Molokai MkIII and PRS come with dual rudder systems for river and ocean racing and they are both competent downwind skis.

The Spirit skis come in various weights depending on the spec so I have given the heavier spec for the cheaper price.

Both these skis are manufactured in Western Australia and exported all over the world. It is funny to see they both claim to be the fastest long plastic ski on the market. They have both and continue to sponsor top paddlers in them in the Avon Descent 2 day White water race here each winter (one of the worlds premier events which the Saffas manage to win almost every year now ) and the truth is depending on which paddler on which day is paddling them they are hard to seperate, so my advice is to paddle both of them and see which one is more comfortable.

Nelo got back to me today with the following info which has been added to the price lists.

For the order of price and weight lists I have used the middle of the weights specified, ie, 13kg for the WWR lay-up and 11kg for the E lay-up.

the nelo skis come in 2 construction lay ups

1/ WWR 12-14kg $4900

2/ E 10-12kg $5500

Was interesting looking back at this, I'd say this list has grown around 50% since I did this list 2 years ago!

AR_convert wrote: Here's the list from highest to lowest weights. Those skis I don't yet have weights on not shown.

XT Double Glass 27 3500
Elite Double Glass 27 3500
V10 double Performance 25 4300
Elite Double Sport 24 3195
Viva II Double Glass 22 4000
Elite Double Advantage 22 3495
Spirit PRS Plastic 20.5 $1790
Finn Molokai Mk III Plastic 20.5 $2150
V10 double Ultra 20 5600
Viva II Double Hybrid Carbon/Glass 20 4800
XT Double Carbon 19 4800
V8 Club 18.5 2750
Elite Double Carbon 18 4800
Viva II Double Carbon 18 5500
Kona Glass 18
Swordfish Glass 17.5 2600
Elite & Elite SL Glass 17.5 2600
V10 Sport Club 17.5 2750
V10L Club 17.5 2750
Elite Double Excel 17.5 4495
XT Glass 17 2600
Kona Storm Glass 17
Horizon Glass 17 1990
V10 Club 16.8 2950
V8 Performance 16.5 3500
Elite Double Ultra 16.5 5895
Viva II Double Carbon Honeycomb 16 POA
Strika Glass 16 1980
Roberg Glass 16 2200
Viper Glass 16 2200
Genius CLK Glass 16 2,390
Zeplin Glass 16 $3,090
V10 Sport Performance 15.5 3500
V10L Performance 15.5 3500
V12 Performance 15.5 3700
Big Eze Performance 15.5
Ion Performance 15.5
SE Sport 15.5 2595
SEL Sport 15.2 2595
V10 Performance 15 3700
V14 Performance 15 3700
Eze Performance 15 2795
Evo II Performance 15 2995
Uno Max Performance 15 2995
SR Sport 15 2595
SES Sport 15 2595
SE Advantage 15 3095
Oscar Racing 15 3290
Orca Racing 15 5495
Hawx Racing 15 3290
Swordfish Vacuum Glass 14.5 3100
Elite & Elite SL Vacuum Glass 14.5 3100
Elite Spark Vacuum Glass 14.5 3100
SR Advantage 14.5 3095
SEL Advantage 14.5 3095
Advantage Kayaks Glass/carbon 14.5 3350
Blue fin Vacuum Glass 14 3100
XT Vacuum Glass 14 3100
SES Advantage 14 3095
Australis Economy 14 3300
XLR8 Economy 14 3300
V8 Ultra 13.5 4495
V10 Sport Ultra 13.5 4495
Superstar Superlight Carb/Kev 13.5 4250
V10L Ultra 13.5 4495
V12 Ultra 13.5 4700
Cruze Glass 13.5 3300
Zest Glass 13.5 3300
Vault Glass 13.5 3300
Flash Glass 13.5 3300
Atom Glass 13.5 3300
Envy Economy 13.5 3300
Albatross Economy 13.5 3300
Vintage WWR 13kg $4900
Ocean Ski M WWR 13kg $4900
Ocean Ski L WWR 13kg $4900
Ocean Ski XXL WWR 13kg $4900
Viper 55 WWR 13kg $4900
560 Ski WWR 13kg $4900
Genius CLK Glass Vac 13 2890
Big Eze Elite 12.5
Ion Elite 12.5
Rockstar Superlight Carb/Kev 12.5 3900
Sharp Superlight Carb/Kev 12.5 $4,500
V10 Ultra 12.3 4700
V14 Ultra 12 4700
Eze Elite 12 3795
Evo II Elite 12 3995
Uno Max Elite 12 3995
Cruze Hybrid Carbon/Glass 12 3800
Zest Hybrid Carbon/Glass 12 3800
Vault Hybrid Carbon/Glass 12 3800
Flash Hybrid Carbon/Glass 12 3800
Atom Hybrid Carbon/Glass 12 3800
SE Excel 12 3995
Australis Maxi 12 4300
Envy Maxi 12 4300
Albatross Maxi 12 4300
XLR8 Maxi 12 4300
Turbo Charger Carbon 12 4150
Kona Carbon 12
Kona Storm Carbon 12
SEL Excel 11.8 3995
Blue fin Carbon 11.5 4200
Swordfish Carbon 11.5 4200
Elite & Elite SL Carbon 11.5 4200
Elite Spark Carbon 11.5 4200
SR Excel 11.5 3995
Orca Elite 11.5 3290
XT Carbon 11 4200
Cruze Carbon 11 4800
Zest Carbon 11 4800
Vault Carbon 11 4800
Flash Carbon 11 4800
Atom Carbon 11 4800
SES Excel 11 3995
Oscar Elite 11 4495
Hawx Elite 11 4495
Vintage E 11kg $5500
Ocean Ski M E 11kg $5500
Ocean Ski L E 11kg $5500
Ocean Ski XXL E 11kg $5500
Viper 55 E 11kg $5500
560 Ski E 11kg $5500
SR Ultra 10.9 5295
SE Ultra 10.9 5295
10.5 5995
V10 Elite 10.5 5950
V10L Elite 10.5 5995
V12 Elite 10.5 5795
SEL Ultra 10.5 5295
Eze Ultimate 10 4995
Evo II Ultimate 10 4995
Uno Max Ultimate 10 4995
SES Ultra 10 5295
Australis Super Maxi 10 5300
Envy Super Maxi 10 5300
Albatross Super Maxi 10 5300
XLR8 Super Maxi 10 5300
Orca Pro 9.5 4495
Cruze Carbon Honeycomb 9 POA
Zest Carbon Honeycomb 9 POA
Vault Carbon Honeycomb 9 POA
Flash Carbon Honeycomb 9 POA
Atom Carbon Honeycomb 9 POA
Hawx Pro 9 5495

I must say, we are lucky here in South Africa when if comes to ski prices.

Just bought a brand new Epoxy Vacuum layup boat for 10 500 ZAR (1 150 Aussie dollars). If I felt flush, a full carbon one would have been 18 000 ZAR.

With the prices the Aussies pay, I would be scared to take the boat out of the rack, and certainly be very wary of entering any surf zones.