Had a sneaky session on the new Kahoona. I know it has been out for a couple of months but I have not had the opportunity to ride it until the weekend at Alva put on by IntheLoop Kiteboarding!

I was very surprised with level of performance and power this kite has. Don't get me wrong I really like the Bullaroo for its stability and bar pressure etc, and I thought the Kahoona was mainly an entry level kite....well I was wrong!

I was about to ride my 11m Bullaroo and in fact was thinking of rigging my 13m, when Joe from Best handed me a 9.5m Kahoona! I said for sure I will need a bigger kite yeah, well no, this thing trucks!

It has amazing power and control, I guess being a Delta Shape gives it its high performance characteristics. I did find it more difficult than the Bullaroo for handle passing but this would be like any kite, takes a bit of time to get them dialed etc. But for anyone looking at a one kite or two kite max quiver, the Kahoona would be a great option for it demonstrates good power low end, jumps well, maintains power in the turns and has bucket loads of depower.
For the hard core freestyle rider or wakestyle, the power is insane and offers a great platform for powered tricks, it does challenge you to pull the bar in as it tends to pull up wind on long load ups.

It certainly is no longer just a entry level machine, I challenge you to go test one from your local BEST dealer and see for yourself!

Enjoy, Chris Wardell
www.chriswardell.com

Cool !
I am hopping to have a demo at Maroochydore in the next week or two there are some boys that are keen to try & like the price of these kites as well, they are a mid season release so they will still be the current kite in 2011. Have you had a go in the surf, & how do they go? As there is lots of kite surfing going on here out in the surf not just flat water kite boarding.

Hey sckitesurf... how you boys been?

I have not tried the Kahoona in the surf, but I can tell you that riding at it a few times landing overpowered did not drop it! It fell back sweet and remained stable throughout, which suggests to me it would very well suited to wave riding!

Have a chat with Joe from Best Australia, he took a bunch of Kahoonas over to Kitestock early this year and from reports it performed well, and yeah as you mentioned you certainly can't beat this kite for price!

Cheers Chris

We ( Tai and myself) tried Kahoona 9.5m yesterday in 13knts.
im 83kg on 135cm LaLuz and Tai is 55kg on 135cm Xenon LaLuz


Tai was fully lit and going upwind while other were struggling on 12m kites.
Amazing bottom end grunt that is supported by fast turning.

Around 5pm the wind picked up to 16knts and the kite was super smooth in the air.
I am really impressed with how the kite handles and re-acts to bar imput.

This is a very grunty, smooth kite that is great for unhooking, looping and jumping.
Looking forward to try it in stronger winds.

I love this kite at the moment. Its starting to take over as the most popular kite in the Best lineup globally. I was on the 11.5 on the weekend with the North Race board riding well upwind in 10 - 13 knots. Similar power to many delta shaped kites, but has such a controled and smooth feel to it.

The north Race board, or I guess any Race board just opens your window of riding in lighter conditions. Those people who say riding only starts at 15+knots are kidding themselves. There is so much potential for light wind kites and boards and I feel the performance of such kites like the Kahoona, the Zephyr from Ozone and the new Taboo from Best (due September) are pushing the envelope of Light wind riding.

I was so stoked that BEST brought out a 5.5m Kahoona for 2010.
Previously, the 7.5m had been the smallest kite in the Kahoona range.
The 5.5m is a little killer-wasp.
lol.

Ooooooo - New kite!!! Lookin forward to hearing more about this light wind kite from Best :)

Maybe the Zephyr might finally have a worthy competitor?

Select to expand quote

waveslave said...

I was so stoked that BEST brought out a 5.5m Kahoona for 2010.
Previously, the 7.5m had been the smallest kite in the Kahoona range.
The 5.5m is a little killer-wasp.
lol.

The 5.5 was definately needed.

Hi guys
Ive used the 11.5 for lessons, good saftey(with redline bar ),geat relaunch,very stable and ive riden it ( more than just a bigginers kite ) great kite in light wind , easy to jump and plenty of hang time and the guys who rode my demo 11.5 in the surf on surf boards loved it too . Took 2 weeks to get it back from one of them .
Hope this helps
GEORGE

Well johnno when are they going to be in. Surely if george has them , we should have them down at the door.

Thanks green menace
Yes we are looking at getting them in stock, but due to all the wind we have had & the rush on people looking to buy new kites, we have not putt a rush on it. There is a new bar as well, they have not hit AUST yet, but feel free to come on in order & pay for one & we will get it here ASAP!
Other wise there will be a 11.5m here at the end of the week & some stock that has been ordered & will be available in about a week or two. We were hopping to also have the new best red line bar to sell with the kite so you would have the new & current set up, rather you buy the kite with the older bar now & then feel like you missed out.
Let's hope for some wind so we can test his kite out soon.
Pic of the new bar.

Hey guys ive used the 11.5 a fairbit, has anyone used the 9.5 in the surf with surfboard ?im pretty happy with the 11.5 both on twin tip and surfboard but havnt used the 9.5 thinking it should be good but would love to hear from some guys on it

Been using the 2010 Kahoona in waves since February. In comparison to the 09 they have improved stability, less flutter in the kite when depowered, a marked increase in top end, still with the great low end, and the construction is great as Best call it "surf tough", just have a look at the leading edge construction and internal reinforcements for bridle points, very high quality. I only use the kahoona in waves, I am 74kg so for me the 9.5m is the biggest kite in the lineup that I would use, that gives me a 11-12knot bottom end. The kite has great drift and the great advantage in the Delta style that as you are using a smaller kite for a given wind you get the quick redirection, especially noticeable on fast waves with cross/cross on winds, excellent depower and super easy relaunch, just steer the kite off the water. I will probably get red thumbs for praising it, but get out and demo one and decide for yourself, no company builds a higher quality kite than Best, no company offers such a good warranty service and the price is fantastic. Looking forward to the red thumbs and next season!!!

Yo! Hi Gorge,KSA.
Yes we have some 9.5's at the shop for demo, well we had one, just sold to a shop rider " loves it, is going to try to trash it & buy another, as it just boosts confidence to get in deeper on the wave. I have been out in the surf on it nice dose go down the line well with good response drifts well, lodes of power & up wind ability, dose not like tight back lines, will stall & lose power unless on speed likes to fly fast & will give lodes of power if you fly it fast. If you get on a surf board & charge the wave. The kite is quite sweet.
The four strut gives the kite good lift & float for jumps.
I must also add for the price the kite is fantastic, "buy one go sick become a better kitesurfer buy another one & it will only cost you the price of some of the other brands for one kite." Whoops did I say that or think that! LOL
O yes, Green Menace "Matt" come get one. Smartie Pants with a big full wallet.$$$

How is it unhooked in the surf? The tight back line stall comment concerns me.

Could anyone compare it to the Eclipse Kima?

I have 9 and 12 Kima's, which I like very much. But the 12 stalls unhooked (compared to my Rev). The amount of depower I must apply to avoid the stalling makes my 12 Kima a tad wimpy.

Heads up, I am not ruling out that it may be the rider!

Truthfully, given my $ situation, I'd likely try to source a '09 Kahoona, unless the '10 is substantially better.

Thanks.

I do not know how much you can save by going 09, but for me the 2010 top end (wind range) has made the Kahoona a much better kite, unhooked is great, but you need to trim the kite for this, i.e the bottom knot (furthest from the kite) and pulled in trim strap, the kite flys on front lines with input from the rear, depower totally and unhook, off you go down the line unhooked and totally in control. These kites kick arse waveriding, just get the size right for your weight, go too big and you will think they are a "pig" as I said earlier the 9.5m for me at 74kg is as far as I could go for performance wave kiting. Delta shape kites have huge power for their size, but also need the rider weight to make them work, be cautious about the size you select for your weight and conditions. Ignore anyones advice and demo them, its the only way to know if its what you are looking for.

First I have been using the kite on a airush bar & have tuned the bar to maximize the rear line tightness when fully powered up so the kite rear lines have good tension to make the kite turn as fast as possible when fully sheeted in, with out to much back stall. Think like this" if you can pull on the bar to sheet the kite in & the kite sits back in the window or has a slight back stall the kite will turn on it's self" pivot on the spot, not move foward, not backward, just turn with out power. I find this can be good if on a wave & in the pocket, or trying to charging down the line on big waves that closes out then reform, right, left, right, left and so on, you can snap turn the kite to the direction you are traveling.You should find that the kite will give you lodes fo pull if you give it some depower & fly it fast untill you are on the speed. then try putting the back lines on the top knot (closest to the kite)pull the bar in for full power & you will see that you dont get power the kite will fly slower in the wind window but turn faster & not produce as much power as it dose silghtly sheeted out. The kite will not fall out of the sky or back stall for no reason. It was just a note that the kite is more prone to loosing power if you pull on the bar to much & choke it & that it dose like to fly on front lines, as some other kites will just sit back in the window & pull like a truck, say like the Wainman Rabbit kite or most C kites. The 9.5 Kahoona is a sweet kite & I think it will help with the kiters progression. If unhooked yes just follow pumpnjump advice.

So is that 2 for the price of a f1, sounds great, 2 bars as well, cheap as chips. OR the price of a north kite.

Declaration - I am a strong supporter of Griffin and love Argos

You should also look at the Griffin Argo which is an excellent wave kite and has similar characteristics to Kahoona.

I know that there could be a 2010 model run out of a few remaining kites so I suggest go to the Griffin web site and email for a price. I also think you will get the 2011 bar with the 2010 kites.

I also have 2010 second hand Argos and Griffin for sale as have 2011 coming soon

Declaration - I am a strong supporter of Griffin and love Argos

You should also look at the Griffin Argo which is an excellent wave kite and has similar characteristics to Kahoona.

I know that there could be a 2010 model run out of a few remaining kites so I suggest go to the Griffin web site and email for a price. I also think you will get the 2011 bar with the 2010 kites.

I also have 2010 second hand Argos and Griffin for sale as have 2011 coming soon

Kahoona kites are also very good imo as I like this style of kite.

But if you want the lastest model you can get for the least money compare.

I am sure you could demo over there some where