Rider: 90kg ,beginner
Style: Freestyle
Weather: 12 - 17 knots


I know there are reviews for the 17m Zephyr but they seem pretty old and would just like an up to date thoughts or comments on this kite. I am just a beginner after being out of it for the last 3 years and just getting back into kite boarding and am thinking about getting this 17m so I can get out on the water more often. I have an 11m Switch which I'm enjoying with a 142cm Naish hero board.

Any comments would be helpful as I would like to see what the public think over the shop assistants that are just trying to sell you a kite just to make some dollars.

Hey Mate,

Have a read through this first: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2013-ozone-zephyr-17m/

I bought mine without even demoing it. I had ridden a friends 2012 model a few times but was not overly impressed, it was very jerky to ride and it also jelly fished a lot as soon as the wind got up around 20knts. My purchase was based on the reviews I had read on here about the kite, in particular the thread above, and through talking to my local supplier. I can tell u that this kite has surpassed all my expectations, I absolutely feck'n love it and have not been able to put it down since I flew it for the first time

Just buy one..........it will be the best purchase u will ever make

Thanks Gilly,

Glad to hear your still enjoying it. I actually have read that thread twice.. great review and insight, thanks for the post though.

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Gilly3 said..

Hey Mate,

Have a read through this first: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2013-ozone-zephyr-17m/

I bought mine without even demoing it. I had ridden a friends 2012 model a few times but was not overly impressed, it was very jerky to ride and it also jelly fished a lot as soon as the wind got up around 20knts. My purchase was based on the reviews I had read on here about the kite, in particular the thread above, and through talking to my local supplier. I can tell u that this kite has surpassed all my expectations, I absolutely feck'n love it and have not been able to put it down since I flew it for the first time

Just buy one..........it will be the best purchase u will ever make

what do expect of a 17m kite in 20 knots???

^^^The only expectation I had when I when I first took the older Zephyr out was that it was going to be powerful in stronger winds. I purposely took it out in 20knt winds to to see how it would perform in these conditions, as I was not looking for "just a light wind kite". I can tell u that I have had my new one out in 22-25knts and it does not behave in this manner. It is a very stable, well behaved kite, even at the top of it's wind range!

sheathes: I don't know that ur gonna get much more info on the new Zephyr than what's already written here on this forum. IMO the only thing left to do would be to demo one.......but be warned, ur gonna love it

Peace out and good winds

As always go and demo every kite you intend to buy. Imo an absolute must. With regards to the Zephyr, I am stoked every time I fly it as I can use my 136 TT (70 kg) from just over 10 knots onwards and I am getting overpowered around 16-17 knots. Of course you can fly it in 20+ knots but what's the point?
This kite is a light wind kite i.e. light materials, easy relaunch in the lowest wind. But it will help you advancing heaps trust me, as it works well unhooked as well and is stable yet relatively agile for its size. Go for it!

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andreasroe said..
Of course you can fly it in 20+ knots but what's the point?

The point is, I am 26kg heavier than you, and for me the kite really comes alive at 18knts. On my tt, I don't bother going out in less than 14knts. SB is a different story. Went out yesterday in 10-15 knts, I rode it staying upwind in 15, when it dropped to 10 I let my 60kg friends ride it. Everyone's happy

Thanks for all your advice,

I actually took out a 2008 15m Liquid Force today and really enjoyed it, im sure the 17m will only be better.

Sounds like everyone has there different points of view but you guys should'nt shoot down other people when they give there own thoughts on issues.

After all there are 21 ways to skin a cat right ;)

Good winds gentlemen!

I'm just sick of hearing and seeing people out on oversized kites in conditions thy don't warrant it. I don't care if you're 100kg. A 17m kite in 20 odd knots could own your ass if **** goes wrong... That is all. Whatever

Yeah , well it depends where you are from. 17 m kite in 20 kts where I'm from at 85 kg is totally doable. We have guys on 19 m at the same wind and 100 kg quite happy and not dangerous.

Horses for courses. For us they are not oversized kites.

Sheathes , not sure where you are from, , try some more recent models , big difference

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sheathes said..

Rider: 90kg ,beginner
Style: Freestyle
Weather: 12 - 17 knots


I know there are reviews for the 17m Zephyr but they seem pretty old and would just like an up to date thoughts or comments on this kite. I am just a beginner after being out of it for the last 3 years and just getting back into kite boarding and am thinking about getting this 17m so I can get out on the water more often. I have an 11m Switch which I'm enjoying with a 142cm Naish hero board.

Any comments would be helpful as I would like to see what the public think over the shop assistants that are just trying to sell you a kite just to make some dollars.

wont be disappointed with this kite. good upwind, i can be nicely powered on my tona in about 12 knots, 8knots knots on the sector 60
6knots is about relaunch limit for this kite.
It is a good allround kite and it unhooks really well.

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Big eeeZeee said...
I'm just sick of hearing and seeing people out on oversized kites in conditions thy don't warrant it. I don't care if you're 100kg. A 17m kite in 20 odd knots could own your ass if **** goes wrong... That is all. Whatever

Your not wrong in what your saying, but it doesn't behave that way, I've comfortably flown all models of the zeph when a mate of similar weight has been on his switchblade 8, sounds strange but I only feel it in the bar pressure and it struggling to keep upwind, get on one and you'll see ,, reading some of your posts I'd say your into freestyle, practicing your moves or new tricks on one IMHO would make it a great choice

i demoed edges..loved them but wanted a "big" kite for light days...took a serious punt on the 2013 zephyr after only reading reviews watching the videos...
absolutely blown away with mine...love it !! for me at 82kg can just trawl about in 8-10 knots on a tt (got a skimboard now so should be good)...when the zephyr gets to the 12-14 knots it comes alive...fantastic !!
ive had it out upto gusts of 18-19 knots but wouldnt choose to go out on it in that , but i have 13-11 edges also.

get one !

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Big eeeZeee said..

I'm just sick of hearing and seeing people out on oversized kites in conditions thy don't warrant it. I don't care if you're 100kg. A 17m kite in 20 odd knots could own your ass if **** goes wrong... That is all. Whatever

Sorry mate you are mistaken on this one. If something goes seriously wrong with the wind/weather on any size kite, you might have a kitemare or worse, its par for the course, and its every kiters responsibility to know the weather and keep looking upwind!
Good mate of mine, big bloke, African/Australian, his name is Terron, he is 110kg and he rides his zephyr as his only kite, from 16/17 - 28/30 knots comfortably, lots of locals know him.
Me, at 75kg, rode the 2013 shop Zephyr tonight on a 5'10" Cab Skillet strapless, in winds ranging from 12/13 (bit less than the graph on the beach) when I started and hit 20 knots when I decided to call it a day 90mins later. My son was out with me on a 15M Cab Contra 2014, on a 1.36x42 Axis Limited TT, he weighs 60kg, he pulled the pin about 15-20 mins before me as the wind started to build to a steady 17/18 knots, he was not unsafe just could not edge anymore with that kite.
I could have stayed out (and would have) but I had the car keys around my neck. Some, and definitely not all modern big kites have decent range, and a lot have seriously good safety systems as you probably know, I self landed the Zephyr in 20 'ish knots, no problem (with a 2013 bar an pull type Megatron), just unhooked as usual and used the leash, kite did not immediately sit down LE into the wind this time and settled upside down on the sand tips in the air, just walked up the flagging line easy peasy, towards the end of the flag out line the kite flipped LE down and into the wind as I held the line in my hand.
These are the graphs we were at Dolls Point with tide assist of approx 2-3 knots. We were out from 3.45 to about 5.15'ish

i don't care about scenarios. 17m2 of kite is gonna **** anyone up in 20 odd knots if **** goes wrong and yes even smaller kites can do the same. You;re just asking for it if you decide to fly a 17m in those winds. Just not warranted..

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Big eeeZeee said..

i don't care about scenarios. 17m2 of kite is gonna **** anyone up in 20 odd knots if **** goes wrong and yes even smaller kites can do the same. You;re just asking for it if you decide to fly a 17m in those winds. Just not warranted..

Interestingly "Big" I have never seen a Zephyr wrapped around power lines or lofting people into car parks unlike many 8m, 10m and 12m kites. I would suggest you have no evidence for what you are saying. IMO most people out riding big kites in stronger winds know their limits, are experienced or intermediate/advanced riders and are generally heavier like myself (110kg) and know their limits ( meaning they respect the kite they have in their hands) which is Kitepowers point.

I am often out on my Zephyr in 20 knots and given my weight and board size for those conditions handle the kite better than a lot of guys riding 12 and 10m kites. While the kite may be bigger and more powerful, everything actually happens a little slower because of its size. If you can't hold an edge on any size kite in the wind you are in then you should not be out on the water. I think that is the bigger issue than flying big kites in a solid breeze.

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Big eeeZeee said..

i don't care about scenarios. 17m2 of kite is gonna **** anyone up in 20 odd knots if **** goes wrong and yes even smaller kites can do the same. You;re just asking for it if you decide to fly a 17m in those winds. Just not warranted..

I'm not recommending that someone my weight puts a 17M kite up in 20 knots, and agree that would be really stupid. However, real life, real situation like yesterday, not a scenario, I put my 17M kite up because nothing else would have worked in the 12-15knots we had when we started out, the wind picked up to peak around 20 knots and this increase was not predicted. My son at 60kg on a 15M Cab Contra kite went to the beach it was getting too much for him, while me on a 17M could have ridden through the peak of the mild front and kept riding, some 17M kite have a good top end, the Zephyr is one of them, but they should not be ridden in 20 knots by 75kg people.
If you happen to be genetically XL size, weigh 100kg+, then there is literally nothing else that will be your main kite, and my mate does launch his kite in 20m knots and makes it look like me in 15 knots, horses for courses.

All good points and no problem with bigeez highlighting the dangers of a 17m kite in 20 knots.

But two things to consider.

1. If you are 100kg plus then kite size to wind power is relative. It essentially is their 12/13m kite given a certain board choice.

2. The kite with the, if not the greatest wind range is the edge. It's efficiency allows you to spill air by flying to the the edge of the window. The zephyr has some obvious edge built into its canopy profile and the main reason I got the kite.

Why, because most of the other big kites I have tried (at 75kg) would quickly burn me at their top end. Especially in the winter winds and spring easterlies. The zephyr gives you that margin of top end to either ride them out or come in.

Been out on the zephyr in 20 knots a number of times (never by choice mind you) and have always felt in control, although this control was used to get it down....(after a few big jumps of course. ).

In eeeZeee's defence, in Vic (though you're on the road atm aren't you?) we have had so many kooks of average sorta weight putting up their 12m rebels (always frikken rebels these days - and the crew riding them are the least rebellious bunch you'll ever find) when it's clearly 8 or 9m weather. They ride around in poo stance, unable to raise or lower their kite to pass appropriately, mowing the lawn in the primo flat section at Brighton, transitioning without looking, or else not holding an edge, getting dragged downwind, and then standing around with their kite at 12 talking to each other in the launch/land zone once they've done the walk of shame. (Note to self: Breathe, breathe, it'll be ok)

So the oversize kite issue is just one aspect of the kook issue. I say kooks rather than newbies because some of these muppets have been kiting a few years! They somehow fail to develop the skills to get going unless they're well overpowered and even though the whole leading edge may be luffing as they mow the lawn they don't change down. They therefore can never work on decent technique or tricks and are a danger to themselves and others because they're always on the edge of getting smashed. These guys won't be told, it would seem, and also fail to learn by watching better kiters ripping on appropriately sized kites.

Others are genuine newbies who were simply sold a 12m and told it has massive depower etc. and they just need to be given some additional information as well as simply having it pointed out that other riders of similar size are charging on smaller kites. Most often the true newbies are responsive to clear info and it's all good.

***Key point for those who aren't yet getting it: Even the kite with the longest bar-throw will still be powered up with the bar out if it's in the middle of the window. What gets called "100% depower" or other silly descriptions only really works if your kite is approaching the edge of the window. Sure, it's easy enough to mow lawn with a luffing kite at the edge of the window, but if you stuff up and send the kite across the window accidentally, that once-luffing cloth will soon be generating all the power it can, even with the bar out, and your ass, as they say, will get owned.***

Sorry for adding to the the hijack, but it warrants infinite repeating (at least that's how it feels) that a kite too large for the conditions is no substitute for skill and will get in the way of skill development, as well as all the safety issues. For most crew, learning more sensitivity to kite and board will do more to expand your wind range than a big kite.

That said, obviously there are conditions and body sizes that warrant massive kites and in this case, the right size kite = more time on water and learning.

^^^^
Not just Victoria djdojo. Plenty of kooks over here in the west with inappropriately kite size all the time too.
BTW OP recon your assessment of wind to use this kite in (12-17) is about right, any more than 17kts your switchy will be a better size.

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kitebt said..

Interestingly "Big" I have never seen a Zephyr wrapped around power lines or lofting people into car parks

like this 2013 zephyr ?

Djodjo agree. I have always thought the most dangerous kiters to themselves and others is the person one or two years who has learnt on the modern gear and thinks they have it all sussed.

And the standing around in the launch and land zone...just starting to see that due to numbers at my local and like you I'm partaking in deep calm breathing...

Get your bloody kites off the beach and away as soon as possible please.

I'm with djdojo as well and think bigzee was pointing at the same bunch of overpowered blokes who would very well be able to ride a smaller kite, with more fun and less danger to themselves and others. Also, their attempts to jump might end up vertical as oppose to those 50cm 50m horizontal floats. I agree this is not necessarily those who just started kiting and simply enjoy being able to avoid the walk of shame by crawling upwind thanks to being overpowered. It is those who for some reason believe kiting is some sort of tug of war between the kite and the rider. I usually try to diplomatically point those at the fact that the wind might be slightly too strong for the kite size they are flying. If willing to get advise this leads to a chat, otherwise no worries.
The topic here was different and I understand that heavier riders might well have to pick a Zephyr or maybe a larger board or both to get going and be sufficiently powered.

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

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Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

+1

In reference to dustas pic.. that occoured by the owner helping out someone else launch their kite and got caught up in the **** when it went wrong. The wind wasnt even that strong.

thanks for all your info but looks like my post got off the rails.. someine close the oost before someone is hurt ;)

I've a zephyr. They do what they say on the tin... They're slow to turn, but a lot quicker than other's grounded 12m kites.

They're more fun than SUP in my opinion, but a big investment if you're not sure.

Good luck.

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Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

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Puetz said..

Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

+1

19 edge 13/20 knots sweet boosting , 17 zephyr 15/23 knots sweet boosting, go hard or go home, harden up boys. The boosters will always carry bigger sizes than unhooking wake stylers.

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rcr46401 said..

Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

Puetz said..

Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

+1

19 edge 13/20 knots sweet boosting , 17 zephyr 15/23 knots sweet boosting, go hard or go home, harden up boys. The boosters will always carry bigger sizes than unhooking wake stylers.

So you recon you boost higher than someone on a smaller C-kite in the same wind??? Or are you referring to hangtime? I haven't seen anyone going really high on a large Edge or Zephyr. But probably they were just so high up that I lost track

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andreasroe said..

rcr46401 said..

Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

Puetz said..

Plummet said..

Ahhh... 20 knots on a zephyr is fair game. Harden up boys.
One mans overpowered is another mans powered.

19 edge 13/20 knots sweet boosting , 17 zephyr 15/23 knots sweet boosting, go hard or go home, harden up boys. The boosters will always carry bigger sizes than unhooking wake stylers.

So you recon you boost higher than someone on a smaller C-kite in the same wind??? Or are you referring to hangtime? I haven't seen anyone going really high on a large Edge or Zephyr. But probably they were just so high up that I lost track

+1 Try putting a 30 kg back pack on you and you will find your little c kite will be lucky to lift you 10 foot off the water. Really pointless 95kgs plus guys taking pointers from skinny lightweight guys. Some above posts show ignorance off gear requirements for heavy guys requirements. I am fully satisfied with my gear and sizes, I ride powered up and am not about change . All kite sizes are dangerous , when things go wrong. With 6years experience , smaller kites I consider far more dangerous , they quickly develop far more power than a big kite. Try a 6m kite in cold winter winds45 knots and have things go wrong , opinions would soon change.

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andreasroe said..


So you recon you boost higher than someone on a smaller C-kite in the same wind??? Or are you referring to hangtime? I haven't seen anyone going really high on a large Edge or Zephyr. But probably they were just so high up that I lost track

Yes most definately. you will always jump higher on a bigger kite in the same wind as long as you can still hold an edge, load and pop at speed.
When you can't load and pop properly then the small powered kite will send you higher.

my example is 13 edge compared to 10 c4. does the 10c4 out jump the 13 edge in the same winds? lets say 22 knots. no. Never. sub 25 if I want to boost I'm on the 13 edge and yes I most definitely go higher than the 10c4. now +25 is a different story. my 13 edge is overpowered the 10c4 is in the zone for boosting. Then I can exceed the height of the 13 edge.