Disclosure: I sell Ozone Kites
Hello friends,
In the last 4 days we were blessed with great kite conditions with westerly wind around 12-18 knots. I just got back from a trip and I found my new Ozone Light XC 12m and Sport + 11m, waiting for me to be tested.
At first I was very skeptical of the Ozone move to 4 lines as I spent the last 2 years pushing only 5 lines kites, also of others brand. I could never find any 4 lines bridled kite that I liked…
I’m a wave guy so for the last 2 years I rode almost exclusively Instinct Light, of course I tried all the Instinct range and others tons of kites but always prefer the simplicity and easiness of the 3 struts platform.
Now I can tell you that in my opinion the new kites rock….
3 words come to my mind to describe them: Smooth, Solid, Simple with an unmistakably Instinct feeling.
If you were to ride the kite blindfolded you would not even know that the fifth line is gone.
Ok let’s get to the specific of the kites:
Light XC 12m. At the beginning I was a bit disappointed that the one pump was gone! But on a second look I notice that the leading edge of the new Light is smaller then the Sport + 11m and not much bigger then one from last year kites.
So I think that due to that they could keep the LE smallish.
Not much time extra to pump only 3 struts.. For sure better for schools and in waves if you have a problem. I usually never close the clips when riding.
The kite turn as fast as last year maybe a bit more, I did back to back with my 2008 and couldn’t really tell the difference!
In my opinion and other 2 friends the Lights 12m turn faster then the Sport + 11m or let’s say more tightly.. Little bit less low end then the Sport +11m same or a bit better then last year kite .
Bar pressure a tad more then last year but just nice.
When I took it out the first time I tough neeehhh… I like more my 2008!!! then when I switch back to the RX I had to change my mind.. I like more the 2009!!!!!!
So solid, super stable, so nice powered turns and the power is so progressive on the bar, nice low end and so forgiving in the gust… WOW I love this kite.
What else…. Yes flapping in the canopy is really reduced even when you depower the kite to the max.
The throw on the bar is shorter then last year and if you let go the bar to the stopper ball it doesn’t depower 100%, there is still some pull in the bar. Nice for me but definitely not like a bow kite where you let go the bar and the kite almost doesn’t pull and fall in the water straight down.
Relaunch pretty easy, just pull on one of the back line. I drop it in the drink 4-5 times close to shore to try to see if it inverted!! I also put in on the belly and left it there flapping for couple of minutes and didn’t invert.. I pulled the front line for about 1 meter and then let them go again but nothing happen. At least so far.
In waves it drifts down wind nicely and is plenty fast turning, no stalling at all, didn’t try unhook!!!! Jump as last year but I felt a bit more gliding coming down.
Bar has a very clean set up and easy to change as for your taste.
The look is much improved! One of the things I had with the 2007 and 2008 kites is that I found them a bit boring.
Sport + 11m.
More grunty then last year and better low end for sure. Not very fast turning as some as the latest Delta style but in all I would say ok. Design more specific for wake-free style.
The bar is still pretty light but more direct then before and you can feel the kite more specially while on the beach. Better up wind then the Light and bigger jumps with longer hang time and really smooth landing. Better for kite loops…
What I don’t like….. The hole in the bar is a bit small for 2 lines! As I don’t need the under the bar safety I took it out and went back to the loop near the depower, moving the bar up/down and turning become smoother.
I like more the beal line on the chicken loop from last year but the new one looks like will last forever; I didn’t have issue with wearing on my 2008 bar used for over one year.
I like more the shape of the 2008 bar as this one is more squearish/bulky near the hole.
For the Sport I like more the bag of 2008 but who care!!! You don’t fly the bag…
So what I can say more… I loved my Light 2008 and I tough it was impossible for me to replace them, now I have a new toy that I love even more!
I tough that 5 lines where better then 4 and I have to go back on my words.
But if you think about it!!! Rob is the master of bridled open foil kites….
Who could resolve the equation better then him and be able to maintain that feeling on the kite that we love so much.
Bye Jankie
