Hi,
Just picked up my new Fuel 13m. Waiting on the 9m. It looks great! It is colour scheme F30 below.
I am busting to get it out on the water so will give an update when I do and post pics.
Also picked up a 132 Lunacy today! This board looks nice. The extra width will be nice for low end and at first glance the rocker looks similar to the old 129, but the extra length gives the tips more lift.
Mmmmmm.
Hopefully people will mistake me for you Dave! 
Kite: 2009 Fuel 13m (crap pics below)
Rider: 76kg, Level advanced (or I like to think)
Style: All
Weather: 12 picking up to 20 knots (board - lunacy 129)
Disclosure: (shop/team rider)
Build Quality: Excellent.
Satisfaction: So far very satisfied
My Comments:
Gold Logos are pretty bling. Last Fuels to have gold were the '03's.
Only ridden it once last Friday.
Most notable changes to me on a quick inspection are curved LE wingtip, no split strut and and LE appears fatter than previous years. Also, the '08's had 3 options on front lines and this has 2. Ships on 4 line bar with below the bar clip for safety to a front line like the Rev. I will most likely use this for launch and land and ride suicide most of the time. Running out the lines the fronts are thicker than the backs - 800lb. One front line appears longer than the other but this is due to the safety having a bungee at the bar. Pumped to 8PSI on the gauge but don't trust the readings. Felt OK up on the grass but when I got it on the beach thought I should have pumped it up a bit harder.
I have flown with below the bar depower for 2 yrs so no issues with it. Just sometimes need to do a quick turn downwind to pull it on. The grip felt harder than last seasons, but is comfy and looks like the letters won't come off so easily.
The struts either side of the centre strut appear to have been moved out toward the tips. In the air the frame looked and felt more rigid in the centre section than 07/08 despite being 4 line.
Thought I'd try an "SLE" style beach launch (sand the tip of my Fuels usually). This worked very well - kite turned onto it's side and launched easily (did fold over slightly but a pump on the bar opened it up and it was OK. Wind was light and I was going downwind until it picked up a bit. I rigged using the 2nd pigtail on the front, same knots front and back out of the bag. Kite felt great, was well balanced and had good power for the wind strength. Felt good unhooked and I didn't need any trim to unhook in the light stuff - no stalling.
I changed to the front pigtail as the wind picked up and the turning is faster on the front pigtail. Not sure how much more power there is on the rear pigtail - will test more. I expect it to be a bit more power with less depower and slower turning. I will likely end up riding on the front for the faster turning. On '07 and '08 Fuels I always rode the 2nd attachment as I found the front a bit gutless (good for the waves). By the end of the session I was pretty powered, could have gone to a 9m.
Relaunch: I didn't put it in the water and will test next session and report back.
More to come as I get out on it more - and when I get the 9m (I think it's on it's way). Also still need to get out on the new Lunacy.
James
I too have tried to relaunch this. I didn't manage to do it for it relaunched it's self, I didn't want to crash it in the way that you would have a problem with the kite as it wasn't mine + only had an hours flying time on it.
I will tell you though that I am going to be buying one tomorrow and thank you greatly for the colour chart. I duno where to start with the thing now
I didn't get a choice in colour, but did ask not to get the same as 2 other guys in Melb. Get F1 or F10!!!
I had an '07 black & white that looked sick.
I'll do some relaunch testing from the front line safety (will be interesting as there is no stopper) and from suicide this week.
James
Ok, had 2 more sessions on the 13m. Not massively powered at first. I'd say from under 15 knots up to 18 or so today. Was on the Lunacy 132 (that is another thread to come).
Had a ball. I really like this kite. With the 132 I think I'll get as good if not better low end than my '07 15m.
Was riding suicide. Tried a few tricks that ended up with me and kite in the water. So I got to try the relaunch. Easy as. Pull on a rear leader and the kite lifts a tip out of the water and sits on the other tip - steer it up and you are off. It was that easy. In fact a couple of times it turned over ready to relaunch as soon as I'd grabbed the bar and hadn't hooked in.
See link below - it was that easy. Not sure how little wind it will do this in....
Still haven't tried releasing to the front line reride and relaunching from that. Will also try reverse.
So far upwind is good. The 13 likes to be edged against and depending on the conditions can take a bit of technique. Haven't got my 9m yet but from watching a mate with one the 9 rips upwind just like previous years.
hey guys has any one tryed the len10 pro bar yet, if so tell me wot thats like? cheers taylor
HAven't tried the pro bar but it is essentially like the '04 bar set up with 20m 800lb lines - so less depower, locked adjustable stopper, above the bar depower cleat.
I have an '04 bar set up on 20m lines and it is heaps of fun - but I don't ride it much.
Having a lot of fun on my new Bandit Dos 10m and getting into more wakestyle/unhooked riding. Have historically been on mainly hybrids - now considering whether to move onto a C or just stick with what I know.
Any useful thoughts here? Would the transition onto a new Fuel be worthwhile? Anyone been on both that can offer some guidance?
Fuel is really great main thing you have to learn in goign to a c is the water relaunch.. Totally different..
But not that hard if your a confidnet rider and knwo what your doing..
I manged on the weekend to relaunch my fuel really easily repeated when there was almost no wind, and gusty with out the fifth line as new one deosn't come with it..
just pull in front line and then the opposite outside line and I had my kite in the air faster then Andy yates on his 08's in 5 liine..
Hows the depower? Got Cab Switchies at the moment and don't want to be hanging on for dear life!
cheers,
jcK
Depower is good - won't be what you are used to on a switchblade, but if you get the right size for your conditions you'll be OK. The 13 m has a lot of power - think I've had it out to about 20 knots so far. You need to also use your edging and board speed to control the power.
I have never been too good at riding bow style kites as I tend to power them up and edge too hard stalling then and making them really heavy on the bar.
Just might take some getting used to.
Got my 9m yesterday - same colour as my 13m (sorry Dave). Looks good. Here are some pics:
Cheers mate! I weigh 150 pounds - kite winds 10 - 30 mph.
Do you think a 11m/7m combo should b good to go?
I have flown Fuels from previous years and the low end was to be desired. Apparently the low end is better this year compared to previous years? I also had the problem of edging to hard when i first started riding bow style kites - really miss the direct feel of a C kite.
Any comments on the '09 Fuel in waves?
Respect,
JcK
So - who has these in stock? I'm in Sydney and would love to get my hands on an 11m...
Hi JCK,
The '09s seem to have better low end than '07 and '08. I am 76kg and on 13 + 9 in Melb. mostly I'll ride in 15 to 25 knots but will get some range either side.
11 and 7 would be OK depending on the low end you want. The REV seems to be THE kite for waves, but if you are riding mostly flat/chop/bay a Fuel would be OK for the odd wave. That's what I do.
Howie, all I know is RPS in Melb had an 11m in stock last week. Not sure about in Syd.
My 11m arrived on Monday :) - still not been out on it yet but it looks the n_ts. Just need to get over my knee/ankle injury.... or kite with 1 leg.
Axis - what knots do you use for your outside and center lines for the Fuel? My 11m is oversheeting horribly - i put it on the 2nd knot on the pigtail for all 4 lines.
Thanx
New fuel is sooooo goood,
doesnt need the fifth line which is coool it, takes a while to explain to people that a four line can re-launch faster than their 5 line kites.
ive got f21 colours and it looks sweet
BEST FUEL EVER![}:)]
Just a quick note to anyone considering the Fuel. The relaunch is friggen amazing. I've previously ridden hybrids (mainly bandit and bandit dos) but this kite is just unreal. I have an 11m and am finding my personal progression very fast on this kite as it is so stable and relaunches easier than any kite I've had. Never ridden C kites before but if you put one of these in the water you literally pull either leader line and it pops onto it's side instantly. You can take it over to the side of the window and relaunch gently or hot launch it and away you go. Self launching / landing are a breeze.
Also low end really is very good. My 11m can't defy the laws of physics but is more than adequate in moderate wind wind others are out on 12m bows.
Gotta say Slingy have got the recipe dead on with this one (for me anyway). 
Had 5 hours on it today and am super stoked.
Yep - riding suicide. All good although sometimes the leash connection gets in the way a bit when hooking back in.
What a great kite!
Am thinking about getting this year's fuel but have heard that people are constantly replacing the trim rope that goes through the bar. Havent seen any forum comments on this but now they have been out for a while - what do the fuel owners think about the wear? I know some have even switched back to last year's bar and made other mods?
Hey 
I'll remember this next time you loose your board ...
Yeah you don't kite enough with me
And yeah i found my chicken loop rope wearing really quick as i found the rope was too thick going through the hole, so i have modded it to the old style chicken loop with depower above the bar, good times now
