Kite Doctor, kitesurf craftsman in Schwanden (Sigriswil)

Kite Doctor is a kite and wing repair workshop run by Julian Anorien in Schwanden, in the hills of Sigriswil above the north shore of Lake Thun. The workshop receives visitors by appointment only; equipment can also be sent by post after getting in touch first.

It repairs kites and wings of all brands: tears in the canopy, the leading edge or the struts, and bladders, from a small hole that makes the leading edge lose pressure to a burst tube. It aims to make repairs as unobtrusive as possible, using a wide range of fabrics. As an official Duotone repair shop, it repairs the brand's equipment to Duotone standards and usually keeps the common spare parts in stock. It also repairs kites and wings made from Aluula, using original Aluula only. Every repair starts with an inspection and a cost estimate; if the repair is not worth it (cost above replacement value) or no solution can be found, only return shipping is charged ("no cure, no pay"). A few photos sent via WhatsApp are enough for a first rough quote.

Kite Doctor also helps customers find a new or second-hand kite or wing through its network, often within 48 hours. It buys back old equipment when a new model is bought from its partner shop Honu in Thun: the trade-in value is given as a discount code. Honu sends its customers' wing and kite repairs to Kite Doctor and presents it as its kite adviser.