Hi guys - I recently bought a 15m Switch E4 for the lighter days on a surfboard which I do boost - but my question is -what is the technique to get this thing to boost well??
Im used to flying F-one Bandit 6 and 7's but as a 14 m bandit is as rare as hens teeth I grabbed the Switch kite - but Im really not sure I like it much at all :-)
Bandits boost soooo well - and are a lot of fun, but the Switch E 4 is very strange. I try to send the kite and set the boards edge but as the kite is sent it just seems lift me off the water before I can edge hard so the boost is pitiful - almost embarrassing !!!
I have 6 years under my belt and have owned quite a few kite brands over the years but have never struck a kite like this
My reading says the Element 4 should boost well - is it just a 15m kite thing that I cant have as much fun as with my Bandits ??
Or is there a technique I need to learn - Help !! This Switch Element 4 has no fun factor ATM !!!

It's kinda marketed as a medium aspect wave kite isn't it, boosting might not really be its thing......

Did you buy new? You can return it if you are not stoked with it. Swap it for a Nitro, those things boost like nobody's business!

Thanks Marno - sure, but I read it can be an OK kite - not brilliant - boosting kite - I'd rate it 2/10 ATM :-(
Oh and I have an older Griffin Argo 13.5 m - medium aspect and it BOOSTS and floats - sweet!!

Had my 9m E4 out in 20-30 knots & it wanted to go bigger than I had the guts to send it but still nothing compared to a Nitro.

So is there a different technique for the E4 ?? like bar fully sheeted out as its re-dierected ??

Can we please try to keep kiting related topics to a minimum (unless its re. bans/regulation etc).
Thanks.

A ban's a ban is a ban and that's final.

It's an element, I was hanging on for dear life last week on my 7 edge, a local was on an element 7 and looked like it was perfectly powered at 40knts, does boosting exist on a 15
To be honest if you asked me looking at the kite what is the biggest size they'd do , I would of said 12, even the nitro would loose all it's good qualities around 10 Mtrs, light wind kites are very different to big kites

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surfingboye said..
Can we please try to keep kiting related topics to a minimum (unless its re. bans/regulation etc).
Thanks.

first you regulate my sport now your trying to regulate my ****posting?!?! what the devil is wrong with you?!?!

Can anyone give an honest assessment on these kites as a wave kite?? I've considered one but I take the reviews on their website with a pinch of salt.... Can anyone comment on how they drift and turn compared to other well known wave kites like a Reo etc....???? Cheers

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marno said..
Can anyone give an honest assessment on these kites as a wave kite?? I've considered one but I take the reviews on their website with a pinch of salt.... Can anyone comment on how they drift and turn compared to other well known wave kites like a Reo etc....???? Cheers

I have the 9 & 7m E4,s, my previous kites were 2014 7/9 & 12m Airush waves -

The E4 drifts about the same as a AR Wave, which is pretty good - I haven't flown a current Reo but had the 2012 Reo & think that may have drifted a little more (especially the 8m) but didnt have as much power per sqm.

Turning speed is plenty fast enough for wave riding, slightly slower than the AR Wave - the E4 produces nice steady power through the turn or if you really crank the bar it will pivot with little power which is great for looping down the line. One of the main things I noticed when I first got my E4,s is how they fly really smooth with very little flutter & have had several other kiters comment on this.

Relaunch is great, bar pressure is light-medium a bit more than the AR - build quality is IMO as good as any of the big name kites that I've owned in the past.

The Controller3 bar is OK but not as good as AR or Ozone, comes with 23m lines inc 3m extensions.

Hi
My current quiver Element... 7m v3 9m v3 11m v4 13m v3
13m edgev8 18m helium
From my experiences with E3 and 4 is , anything over 11m and the kite ability to develope apparent wind is greatly reduced.
Plenty of static pull though.
Ide rather be out on my 11m with a bigger board than the 13m with a smaller board. Its just more Fun.
11m and under they are more like an angry wasp especially the 7m and 9 metre .
I usually reduce bar width from 55 to 45 to compensate when using the 7m.
The smaller kites boost good because you can wang them around a little faster.
Buy a nitro or edge v8 if you wanna get serious.

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Greenarrowz said...
Hi
My current quiver Element... 7m v3 9m v3 11m v4 13m v3
13m edgev8 18m helium
From my experiences with E3 and 4 is , anything over 11m and the kite ability to develope apparent wind is greatly reduced.
Plenty of static pull though.
Ide rather be out on my 11m with a bigger board than the 13m with a smaller board. Its just more Fun.
11m and under they are more like an angry wasp especially the 7m and 9 metre .
I usually reduce bar width from 55 to 45 to compensate when using the 7m.
The smaller kites boost good because you can wang them around a little faster.
Buy a nitro or edge v8 if you wanna get serious.

Wow 6 kite quiver that is solid! I have been considering either the 15m element 4 or the helium as a lightwind kite, I am not really looking for ultimate low end more in the 12 to 15 knot range, I am 105kgs and would like the kite for bump and jump free ride and strapless tricks and small waves, does the helium jump ok and would it work well for strapless.

I currently have a Naish fly which fills this spot but I don't really like the way it pulls downwind and is overpowered easily, does the helium pull like a truck down/across wind or does it sail upwind nicely ?

Marno, I'm in Perth through the summer and use the element 9 and 5 for waves and foiling(I have 10 and 7 switch nitro4 kites for boosting and racing and helium for light wind). I prefer the element 4 to the north dice and naish pivot and the airush kites for waves. Drifts well, pivot turns, and nice power though loops. Let me know if you want to have a go some time.

I've seen a Vico tourist at my local on his way back to Sydney (after the Merimbula thingy last year) boost fine on his 13 V3 element. He must have been goofy because he was boosting beach side. I was on a 14 nitro and didn't have him by much if any. I'd say clean 5-6 meters that day, I suspect it's a weight thing though, he was barely 80kg's so I'd say lit and I was mid powered at 115kg. I remember the day because I gave the kite a good going over at the landing site, kite looped fine but like I said he was a feather weight in my books.

looking at the shape id say you can flick jump bandits from almost anywhere in the window (like the nitro's). The similar shaped kites to the element I've ridden before respond better to the minimalist jumping technique.

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JacobMatan said...

Greenarrowz said...
Hi
My current quiver Element... 7m v3 9m v3 11m v4 13m v3
13m edgev8 18m helium
From my experiences with E3 and 4 is , anything over 11m and the kite ability to develope apparent wind is greatly reduced.
Plenty of static pull though.
Ide rather be out on my 11m with a bigger board than the 13m with a smaller board. Its just more Fun.
11m and under they are more like an angry wasp especially the 7m and 9 metre .
I usually reduce bar width from 55 to 45 to compensate when using the 7m.
The smaller kites boost good because you can wang them around a little faster.
Buy a nitro or edge v8 if you wanna get serious.

Wow 6 kite quiver that is solid! I have been considering either the 15m element 4 or the helium as a lightwind kite, I am not really looking for ultimate low end more in the 12 to 15 knot range, I am 105kgs and would like the kite for bump and jump free ride and strapless tricks and small waves, does the helium jump ok and would it work well for strapless.

I currently have a Naish fly which fills this spot but I don't really like the way it pulls downwind and is overpowered easily, does the helium pull like a truck down/across wind or does it sail upwind nicely ?

Ide go the 18 metre helium , they have loads of static pull especially in the range you intend to use it.
No reason why you cant go strapless if you wanted.
Youll be able to pull decent boosts too

Yeah they do go upwind good above 10knts.
Especially if you got a dynabar v8.

Cheers Bletti, out of interest what do you weigh and how do you find the range on the 9m??? I'm on an 8m 2012 reo and interested if the 7m or 9m element 4 would be right given my 80kg....

I had the 2012 8m Reo, great surf kite - one of my all time favs.

l,m 75kg & get about 18-30 out of my 7m E4 here on the Sunny Coast.......I know what your thinking (bet he doesn't use it much) - only used it 4 times - had it 2 months now.

I'm 80kg and have been out on my 9 a couple weeks ago when others where others complained about being overpowered on 7m kites (reo, airush wave, others) with the wind gusting in the high 20s. I'd have rather been on a 5 or 7 that day but I find the element sheers out well and while I couldn't completely dump the power to drift while on waves it wasn't uncomfortable. Low end for down winders is 12 or 13 knots I'd say working the kite and looping it. If you are getting only one kite for now I'd say the 7 would be better for wa, but I picked up the 9m straight from switch for $575 NEW on a black Friday sale they had online in Nov so I couldn't resist.

Greenarrowz said..

I usually reduce bar width from 55 to 45 to compensate when using the 7m.






OMG is that what the smaller bars are for, I thought it was for doing smaller kite loops.