There's a lot of talk at the moment of C's being better than bows. From what I understand I know that Bows have massive depower on demand, instant relaunch and the newer models turn exceptionally well.
It seems that the C kiters seem to think that bow flyers are simply kooks. There are bows out there made for unhooking and from going from a C to a bow myself I haven't found any power loss or kookiness coming from me or my bow.
My question is what makes a C kiter more hardcore and why is a C better for unhooked tricks? I read on another forum that when landing a powered up unhooked trick on a C the lines go slacker than on a bow. If that was the case why wouldn't the pros use bows as it would require more skill when landing the big tricks as you would have more power when landing?

i dont think you can compare the two.
most kooks are on bows though.

I agree with Hydra.

Why are more kooks on bows then since my first questions weren't answered? Wouldn't kooks want to fly C's since that's what the pros fly?

C's are more responsive, so in general you might be sacraficing a bit of depower and relaunch ability for greater responsiveness. That is how I understand it, but I am sure there will be greater wisdom to come...

I want my C shape back :(

C is for cookie.. as cookie monster says

What your saying about bows is all true. But for me it is all about the "feel" of the kite. I've gone from bows back to '06 fuels and couldn't be happier.

C kites have a feel and response that allows you to always know exactly where the kite is and exactly what it is going to do, at the split second that you move the bar. This in turn makes your tricks easier as you can time them better!

The delay in turning response from a bow makes this timing more difficult and is probably why most pros dont use them in competition. But dont take this as meaning that bows "turn slow", as most turn perfectly well once the kite starts to move. Its the delay between "pull bar" and "kite moves" that bugs me. Its not much, but for me its noticeable.

Although i did have a test ride on the '09 ozone sport 9m a few weeks back and have to admit that i liked it alot. Maybe its the lack of pulleys, but it felt much closer in feel to a C than other bows i've ridden.

You kinda got it wrong, its not the slack when you land, its the slack once your in the air that is nicer with a C.
Also i dont reaally agree with the response thing said above, yes your feeling is nicer with a C you get more of a feel of where the kite is because it is "hardlined" to your kite, the turning thing tho i dont think there is really much difference. For the pro wakestyle type tricks yoou want a slow kite anyway.

simple, Bow kites look gay in the air c kites dont.

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sleek1 said...

simple, Bow kites look gay in the air c kites dont.

who cares what you look like. just ride.

Every bow kite claims to have c kite handling, so if you want it to feel like a c kite get a c kite. But the only problem is you can't have a one kite quiver with c kites.

you cant have 1 kite quivers full stop.

i can use my 10m C in the same range as any 10m hybrid out there, might be scraping along the low end but the top ends just as good.

c kites just have a better feel through the bar, feels better when you load up against them to pop and on top of it all they dont have silly bridles that get in the way.

c kites dont even need wind to get you going

they can be used as sun shades and don't need pumping up

So if the lines go slack mid air with the C, would it take more skill landing big handlepasses with bows? Has the myth of bows riders being kooks been busted?

All very well but, Under the Kook Guidelines Kooks cannot bust myths.

kooks can't bust full stop. .

Well, so far, all very helpful?

I'll probably get a C for my next kite since they are less hardcore since the lines go slacker while in the air. It might be the right choice since i'm a kook. With the kite i'll get some boardshorts for my wettie and head to melbourne

i just like the c because its simpler, no bridles, no pullies, no stupid proprietary bars, any old 4-line bar on any old kite.
i am old school.
i am a kook.

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kitecrazzzy said...

kooks can't bust full stop. .

true, so true

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scp said...

There's a lot of talk at the moment of C's being better than bows.

Yet another classic troll post opening...

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scp said...

I'll probably get a C for my next kite since they are less hardcore since the lines go slacker while in the air. It might be the right choice since i'm a kook. With the kite i'll get some boardshorts for my wettie and head to melbourne

If there's slackness in your lines while your in the air your doing something very wrong!? Kooks should stay on bows because they have massive depower and are very forgiving in crashes! In a crash a C kite will pull and pull until YOU get the thing under control, a bow will just flutter about because of the massive depower.

I wouldn't worry about C or bow, you said your a kook so just buying any kite is on the right track i reckon.

All people with closed minds about what kites are best is a kook, you kooks! Both have their merits - I have flown nearly all types of kites in 4 years kiting. Started on C-quads (none of you kooks will have even heard of these - a 6.4 m c-quad pulls as strong as my 17m Fuel)
Ive flown venoms for both landboarding and kitesurfing (they suck on the water, rule for landboarding)
I have a quiver of fuels (which I love) and have just bought a nice bow. I must admint that after only 2 sessions on the bow its gonna take a bit to dial, but f*ck the loft you can get from the jumps is awesome. The Fuels are just all round machines but I want to mix it up.
You cant just pick a favourite and hate everyone doing something different. I love C's but if anybody tried to pay me out for flying a bow I would bust their nose then go bust some air [}:)]

All kiters are kooks, doesn't matter what you fly.

this is a silly conversation. its the same as choosing the right board for your riding, choose a kite that is more favourable to your discipline, c kites just work best for everything except kooking out.