Should I buy kite gear in Argentina?

[jhz]

I am going to travel in Argentina this winter and am planning to begin my kiting life down there. I have absolutely no experience kite boarding but have been intrigued for years. I am a beginner windsurfer and have tried out a training kite once.
I have found some schools that teach kite boarding near Buenos Aires, however, I understand there is a very popular giant resevoir at Cuesta del Viento more inland.
Would anyone have suggestions on whether or not it is a good idea to wait and buy kiting gear in Argentina vs buying used gear in the US first?
My hopes and thoughts were it may be cheaper down there... but this may be too new a sport perhaps for peso deals...
Any toughs/insights would be much appreciated on gear or destinations!

Thanks!
:)

[eag]

Gear is almost always cheaper in the US

[adamrod]

yup. i would be shocked if it's cheaper in Argentina. you would have a better shot of buying all new gear in the US, selling it in Argentina and making a fat profit. I know people who have financed their trips that way (not to Argentina specifically, but i wouldn't be surprised if it works there too)

[perukite]

Buy your stuff here before you go, and sell it when you are in Argentina. It will be way more expensive in Argentina.

I lived in Peru for 10+ years and worked as a guide all over South America- we used to hound our clients to sell us their outdoor gear before they left the country.

1) The kiteboarding gear, although made in Asia, is sent to the US or Europe markets. so anything in South America has an additional "import" cost associated with it. Argentina in particular is a messed up economy at the moment and stuff like kite gear will be astronomically expensive if imported.
2) The Argentine peso at the moment is almost 4:1 to the Dollar. And kite stuff is priced in US dollars or Euros. So imagine an Argentine who earns money in Pesos having to buy a $1400 kite!!
3) You can buy a used setup here (or two or three), take them to Argentina to try and learn on - and then sell them to locals before you leave which they will love You could actually make money on selling the stuff there to subsidize your lessons (although your karma will be drained if you take advantage of this)

I haven't kited there, just surfed there, and it is refreshingly a fun invigorated scene. Have fun, Argentina is a great place.

[manplesvanuatu]

(although your karma will be drained if you take advantage of this)

I concur with this quote:-)

pass the stoke dude...just buy in the US, learn in Argentina and then pass on the equipment to the next Argentinean newb to get the stoke. Unless it's a uncool individual I would not even try to make a huge profit. Their economy is in shamble because of the "the rest of us". at 4 to 1..you are going to already take advantage of the travel there.
there are better ways to finance your trip there:).."huge profit"...just sound so uncool.

[jhz]

Thank you to all! I know with surf boards it is totally worth buying in Latin America- but this is new territory for me. So here I go looking for US gear.