Whoever is interested in what 2010 season brings :)) Here are some Ozone C4 piccies!









I am so impatient to get one and try it out!!
Check out how the kite is flying. Back lines pulled and it seems a C (the C shape is Definitely there) ...so, depower it and it is...hmm...SLE, Bow, Hybrid - I ll call it as soon as I will test one :)

hmmmmmm why would they put bridles on what could of been an awesome kite... bridles just ruin the feel of good kites. although ozone did stand out for being nice unhooked even with bridles, but im gona say it would turn out 1000X better with no bridles and direct front and back lines and maybe a 5th.

Yeah good question. I suppose when you take a look at Ozone past there will be an answer. ONLY from my perspective:

Ozone has made some significant changed to their line.
Instinct has evolved to Light and Edge...well and Sport too. Sport (super easy kite to fly with massive depower - agree?) has been replaced by Sport +. That kite is more focused on freestyle riders rather then peeps who got used to easyness of the Sport. Sport + has much less depower therefore it demands more board skills hence is a bit more dificult to ride for not so much experienced rider who started his kiting carrear with bow kites. Now replacing it with a straght forward C sape kite would be very risky and....there are C shape kites on the market that are (4 sure) great. Check Torch.
Now, Ozone is obviously radical with their changes. Check first Instinct and Sport +, also Edge comes to the point. So why Ozone wont make something completely new. A completely new design. North was trying to make something similar introducing Vegas long time ago...C kite and a great depower. Did they make it? it is an open question cos I dont like Vegas.

By the look of things Ozone has made a new generation of a C kite...check the way it flies. Honestly this seem like a C kite cos the bridles are only used to give more depower. How does it affect the actual power delivery for C4.....lets wait and see:)!

PS. This is only a speculation cos I have a bit of time during my coffee in the morning :)

Select to expand quote

Charl dv said...

hmmmmmm why would they put bridles on what could of been an awesome kite... bridles just ruin the feel of good kites. although ozone did stand out for being nice unhooked even with bridles, but im gona say it would turn out 1000X better with no bridles and direct front and back lines and maybe a 5th.

You can say that, but you are not a kite designer with hundreds/thousands of testing proto hours, are you?
It seems a bit illogical to say what you did, but its your life go for it.

The kite has no pulleys, its rear lines connect direct, and the fronts connect direct to a very compact bridle, that gives the kite "some" depower, easy relaunching, and fast powerful turning, maybe you should wait till you ride one before you cast a verdict?
They will be here soon.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

From what i've seen of the photo's floating around on teh intarwebz the front mini-bridle results in the front lines being about 30-40cm in from the front tips, and about level with the front of the kite when powered. This is good news for retaining the C feel and powered characteristics!

What this means in terms of flight characteristics we can only guess until reviews start rolling in, but i'd take an edumacated guess and say that it will feel like a high depower C but will turn a little bit SLE like.

dont take what i said wrong im not bagging the kite.. like i said just from personal experience once a kite has had a bridle on it i just didnt like the feeling anymore and that direct connection points for power and steering lines felt better IMO, even if a 5th line was needed for support.

I did how ever say that ozone did stand out for being really nice kite unhooked even with bridles.. (thats me saying the C4 could also come out well)

i guess it makes sense if you look at it from dapoles perspective, there are already numerous C kites out there for top end riders etc and 90% of the top riders alrdy on sponsorship deals so ozone bringing out a pure dedicated C probably wouldnt sell much as most riders are looking for a good kite with quality performance AND safety AND comfortable to fly so i guess in adding the bridle to that "C" hybrid ozone probably does pretty well in all three the above mentioned categories.

No worries Charl, its just a discussion. I just think there is a big difference between a bridle with pulleys and a compact bridle with none, combined with direct connecting rear lines.
I learned on C kites and foils, I have a soft spot for C kites, but they can be asbolute 2868's of things too.
If they can build one with all the good points and none of the bad, with easy relaunch, I think it will be a winner.
I like what I see in Torrins vids, and what I'm reading, so far.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

2868 haha thats gold...

yer i guess it must be due to the compact size of the bridle and lack of pulleys that make the ozones fly well with bridles.. 08 n 09 were solid, was a bit weary about the 09s going to bridles but i cant say they went backwards so i guess we just gota wait and see..

Ok another one...C4 11m on 4 knt wind :) 4 knt wind hahahah



This video was made in Barcelona by Ozone distributor there. A joke vid cos there is no wind but I am sure you can see how this kite behaves and looks...:)

Sent a distributor newletter out yesterday, the C4 is through final pre production testing and is in production now, in all sizes. We should be able to get some demo kites within 2 weeks.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

My friend in Barcelona Demoed one a few days ago, he said,
"Es la ostiya tio"

which in Australian roughly translates to:

"It's the duck's nuts mate"

Hi guys,

In those photo's it looks a lot like the 2003 Airush Lift Pro 11.5, which was IMHO the best "C" kite ever made.

I can't wait. We'll have our mouse on the purchase button for a demo kite and some stock as soon as they become available.

Cheers,

KH

Hehe....I have my mouse in the same position as you Kitehard + I am making Steve nervous asking him each week "when the C4 will arrive" hehe...

so, IYHO and for my curiosity, does Lift Pro deserves (IYHO) for a "best C" ever made much more than X4? or Rhino (when it was a bloody fantastic C)

Hi Dapole,

The 2003 Airush Lift Pro 11.5m was years ahead of it's time. Designed by Ben Severne as the epitome of performance, it was a lethal weapon in the hands of anyone unprepared for it's power and speed.

It was a true "C", in other words, it was a ba$tard to relaunch, luffed if not careful and had little depower apart from edging really hard. Of the old time kites I had a few really nice fave C's, but the Lift Pro was AWESOME! I think it was head and shoulders above the X4 and the Rhino. Rhino was powerful but pulled too far downwind and X4 well????

I had a few jumps back in 03 that were as high as anything I've done on the best boosting modern kites. Testimony to a sweet design. It had a wind range of 15 to 30 knots which doesn't sound like much but back in the time, a 10 knot wind range was pretty good and most had three kite quivers to cover the range you can do easily with 2 modern kites.

Each had their faves I guess but the Lift Pro was special and damaged many people who tried to handle it......hey VB Man. I loved it and would love a nostalgia ride if I ever came across one again.

Cheers,

KH

Heh Kitehard, I would love to argue about that "pull to far downwind" but it is obvious that you have a massive nostalgia about the C shape. I had an amazing time on Lift Pro back in the days :) Nomen omen the name of the kite hehe...but I simply cherished X4 and then Rhino a bit more....now, I cant wait till we have C4 :)

Hey all

New member - just been reading some of your comments re the 2010 C4

Im a New Zealand rider from the west coast and have the pleasure of riding with the Ozone boys testing new products in Raglan

Im an Ozone Edge owner and rider for 3 years - love them to bits and simply say a 9m Edge, Edge2 And Edge RX are all simpy the best jumping kites i have ever ridden - recently bought the RX9m and it blows me away - litterally!

But were not here discussing those! 2 weeks ago i was at our annual 'Moose Meet" - kite festival for water lovers and buggiers alike. On the west coast in Km's of rolling dunes we have a secret little (massive) lagoon with a spit all the way around. The 3 day event brings out some quality -0 and i mean real quality riders. The ozone boys decided to show their faces at about 3pm saturday. About 50 riders out, they hit the water and almost everyone came in to watch. The new C4's being ridden in all their glory - we had 7/9 &4 x 11m's out on the water! They were going massive! Olly brunton ripping the place up!!

Anyhow, after a while we all joined back in again with the wind cranking 25-30knots steady, fully lit on a 9m edge. I grabbed Matt on the beach and beggd for his 11m C4 and he says, sweet i need to take some photos, lets swap.....


Geee.....

The next hour of my life was intense!!! Being 68kg, on a 11m in a steady 25knots on butter flat water... i was seriously lit up! Unfortunatly i did spend most of the session feeling like i was chained to a rabid rhino trying to get loose.. but i could imagine the depower!! at times back lines fully let out on the leaders with 50% trim on and it was controllable. Then the fun begun!! Firstly - this is a comfortable ride... if you own a 1968 skoda. You feel (every part of your body feels it) like you have been kiting! Bar pressure is a little stiffer then sxay a 11m edge RX. However not once did i not know where the kite was. Weather it was floating above me in the front of the window, or almost under me when doing big air and looping it! Got that one wrong a couple of times and the kite lets you know you messed up. Depower region of 70% but if the kite is midloop and you decide to bail be prepared to get hurt!!

The kite is quick, looks and feels like a C kite sitting fairly deep in the window all the way through the depower range!so it pulls - and pulls and pulls - it just felt like it was up to me where to direct the power - put it in front and you take a while to slow down!!

Unhooking in the flat water - without altering the trim was really stable. kite didnt back stall once (kinda wouldnt in that wind!) and delivered really direct power in the turns - if the kite went the other way you just follow!!

I put the kite down after an hour due to exhastion - not a kite that is very forgiving! id love to have ridden a 9m tho!

This review may sound negative in spots - i.e. just feels like your hanging on for dear life - but boy... Standing on the edge of the lagoon with Olly afterwards with him saying - the new 2010 Ozone C4 is the absolute business - makes me grin from ear to ear - i felt alive on that kite - like my life depended on it and it was fan-bloody-tastic!!!

Replace 1 x 11m Edge Rx with one of these. Rides as fast as the fastest 9m and will have you laughing stupidly afterwards - cos your still alive :)

happy sailing :)

Love the post buddy :) and it make me impatient even a bit more...but...it is coming so I'll keep my fingers crossed I'll be able to repeat Bertrand Fleury lops not a Len10's sad jumps hahah

Wooo :) Just ordered our stock today :) Got a 9 & 11 to demo

Select to expand quote

daPole said...

Love the post buddy :) and it make me impatient even a bit more...but...it is coming so I'll keep my fingers crossed I'll be able to repeat Bertrand Fleury lops not a Len10's sad jumps hahah

lol i think ud want a slow turning kite for that and short lines... grab urself an aero 2 or a 05 fuel and u shud b set

slow turning kite and short lines?....Charl that is what I was talking about :) but lets stay away from Slingy please :) hehe

Seems interesting that they market this as "Family Friendly Fun"

Must have a decent level of depower then for a C...

Like how they also realease in single meter increments (9,10,11,12)

Direct quote from the Kitepower website:

"Family Friendly Fun - A new definition for kiters, the C4 defies labels. From first time lessons to the most advanced riders on our team, the C4 relaunches so easy it allows every one to play and have a stellar session. "

Hi Guys,

We also had our order in early yesterday morning and its all paid for and so we are waiting..... We will have demo and some small amount of stock for WA riders but it will be limited so if you really want to come and have a ride, keep an eye on our website for the C4's arrival.

Gee I hope they package it thoughtfully! If it comes in a large box marked C4, it may create havoc with customs.

Cheers,

KH

Pretty quiet about the C4's, what's going on?

Select to expand quote

tobes said...

Pretty quiet about the C4's, what's going on?

Waiting for the stock to arrive. Its peak season in the Northern hemi for snowkites, the Ozone factory is working at a high capacity level, however the first ones will be here soon.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Looks like they will be here today or tomorrow according to DHL

and I say YEAAAAAAAH!!!!!!

HEY Kitehard,

I still have and use my 11.5 liftpro as my number 1 kite.

however it is time for a new kite this season.

Please let me know if they have "the goods' once you have them in stock.

I am really interested in the ozone

cheers.

Hi Jeff2,

I'm currently waiting for our first shipment, system says ready to ship on the 17th Nov. so not long now.

I'll do a big review as soon as I get a chance to give one a good thrashing. You will be most welcome to come along and take a demo kite for a spin too if you like, rather than wait for my review.

OP's reviews carry more weight than mine apparently.

Cheers,

KH

I have been waiting for this kite for about a year. Seriously. . . a year. It was that long ago that the first rumours started to circulate about Ozone producing a C-shape kite. I've been patient. Well, kinda patient except when I was phoning Kitepower every other week asking the same question - When? When?? When???!!!!!

The magic day has finally arrived and like I shot I was down to Kitepower this morning to collect the 11 metre for testing. From the first glance as I lay the kite out on the grass ready to pump it up I was impressed. All the quality and attention to detail that you come to expect from an Ozone kite is there. Being that there was not too much wind early on I started in with a tape measure to check aspect ratio, length, leading edge width. You know - all the geeky stuff : )

By lunch the wind had begun to kick in, a steady 16 knots, so I headed out to see how it handled, and oh, didn't it handle! This kite is fast. And easy! And smooth! It turns fast, it's so easy to handle and the power is smooooooooth. It handled the light wind well without any dramas. I didn't stay out too long as my Mrs was jumping round with excitement waiting for her turn. She's a kiter as well, old school like me, and had been waiting ages to test Ozone's C4 too. How did she like it? Put it this way. . . it was only by standing on the beach and frantically waving my arms about did I manage to get her attention long enough to have her come back to the beach!! She loved it. Reporting that it had good bar pressure, stable in the air, smooth constant power and quick through the turns. She also managed to go out twice more during the day on it. Great proof that this kite has a good top end.

The wind was picking up by now about 20 knots so it was time to get back out there and get some air! Simple jumps were higher than on our Sport+. This kite takes you up (without too much whip) and then keeps you up too! Down turns and transitions etc were super easy. If I wanted a little more power from them well - here you go sir - have some more! It was great! My personal favourite though was the F16. While pulling this trick I really felt like it was pulling me with a C performance. It was fast through the loop with loads of pull. . . beautiful!!

I thought I should test it's re-launch abilities so I put it in the water twice using the security on the chicken loop. The lines were not tangled when I pulled the bar back to me using the safety line. It was super easy to reconnect. The launch was as simple as a bow kite. Just pull one of the back lines and wait. I did also launch it like a old school 4 line C and it was happy with that too : )

So, enough of my day at the beach with the new kite. Here are the facts:
Power - if you want it, it's there so use it. If you want less. . . that's OK too, the kite will work just as well.
Depower - As much as Ozones 4 line bow kites.
Versatility - Huge :))
Bar pressure - The C4 has 3 settings on the kite for this, so everyone will be happy. Just choose your preference.
Boost/Lift - This kite has lots and then a bit more. Use it!!

All in all - perfect. There's just one thing. If you've got a wife or girlfriend that kites too, may I suggest you hide your C4s or you may never get a go!!

Nice little review there DaPole.
Can you comment on it's turning style and unhooked performance?
I assume the depower is SLE like given it's bridling, but really interested in how it flies when pushed.

PS. I'm rather interested as i'm about to jump onto the Torch bandwagon and am interested in my options.

Hi Koma,

Unhooked performance - I love Power, I love my F16's just as much as I love a nice, decent, Bertrand Fleury style kiteloops.
As soon as I started to go unhook yesterday the firs word that came to my mind was Smooth. Smooth Power Delivery and nothing like a sudden I-will-slap-you-in-the-arse, the old C shape like X4 or high aspect ratio kites style had.
Even the gust absorbing when I was unhooked was surprising! winds on my home spot are never not-gusty BTW.

"its turning style" - as I mentioned that kite is fast. That 11m didn't feel like any C, 11m kite I know. It felt like I was handling a smaller kite. It is fast Koma. It turns smooth and quick. I will repeat my self but - there was no sudden power increases, the power was smoothly progressive during, for example, a downturn.

I hope that helps mate :) This kite is nothing like have ever tried before (and I am kiting since 2001 heh). Have a test ride and enjoy :)))