Rider: 85 kgs advanced, been surfing for 30 years also
Style: Surf, unstrapped, I rode a 6'0 Webber, and 6'2 Dick Brewer



Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: I ride any brand, Slingshot RPM, Kahoona V3 9.5, 2009 Waroo 5m
My Comments: I have never been on a Wave kite that is just perfect in every way, I rode the Taboo last year, but was not impressed with its grunt as you had to go up a size, but they were smooth kites. I like kites with no pulleys if you can help it. The bridal is minimal, and the new best bar is such an improvement on last years models. A huge thanks to Nigel Cassidy who put in a lot of time over the weekend, but the bugger is going to cost me lots of money.
I first went out at around 12:45-2pm and had the kite fully powered, it was a little gusty. I was massaging the turns a little to start with, but after 5mins I noticed you didnt need to. The kite has normal grunt, not like a lot of wave kites on the market, is extremely quick, without being jerky, and drifts like nothing else Ive ever had the satisfaction of riding. When doing down-wind a little the kite didnt lose heaps of power and you could still plane adequately. Relaunch, I have no idea as rarely drop my kite in the drink.
In the onnshore conditions with a little side shore I could do powered roundhouse cut-backs Sorry KOTP, but it can be done. Unstrapped airs were a little hard due to the gust and the wind strength, yet the kite powers and depowers enough so they will be easy with a little more practice probably on a 10m. Im goint to have to demo one of those too.
On my second run, it was reaching 30knots and I had the kite on Half depower and was fully lit, the canopy has no shudder whatsoever , unless doing hard turns to gybe, with the bar almost extended fully to kill some power. I dont think the build quality on the 7m was as extreme as the 8m taboo, but reinforced everywhere needed, maybe to save on a little weight, same build quality as the Kahoona V3 and V4 in construction. I did not do freestyle on the kite as have no ambition, but my mate Nigel did and loved it as well. Most of the time I didnt even knnow what the kite was doing, as you dont even have to think about it, it just does its thing, and behaves like nothing else I have ever flown. This is not a basic beginners kite due to the leading edge shape, but a beginner could learn on it easy as pie, and would never have to upgrade.

I cant believe Im saying this as I had no intention of buying anything for this season, but a Nobile 2HD, an 8m 2010 RPM, and a brand new kahoona 9.5 will be going cheap in the buy and sell section, Im that stoked. Bloody Nigel he's such a nice guy I had to give it back.

Lucky you didn't test the 5.5 TS. You'd want one of those too.

Perfect conditions for it today. Still trying to pick the sand out of my eyes.

Nigel was running around the beach as everyone giving it a demo it wouldn't bring it in.

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reverse777 said...

Lucky you didn't test the 5.5 TS. You'd want one of those too.

Perfect conditions for it today. Still trying to pick the sand out of my eyes.

Nigel was running around the beach as everyone giving it a demo it wouldn't bring it in.

I know, you were fully up wind at about 1 o'clock and you were cranking even on straps with a 5'8-9????, as I said in my previous post I had the depower to about half way and it still was awesome, what a great session.the TS is the go in waves, even sloppy crap that Perth gets. I want a 10, 7, and 5.5 after seeing you on it.

I had a little play on the 8m on Friday and it was wicked!
pretty powerful and fast. it is very well behaved unhooked as well, granted the wind i was riding in was all over the place at leighton the kite was very well behaved when i was unhooking and hitting kickers, even gives a fair bit of slack after pop.
I want to get on it again and ride it in stronger winds to see what the unhooking is really like.

I have thought about this since because it made such an impression

As Dave said i rode this same day as him on TT

As he said very, very stable, takes the gust and lull's without flapping around, turns on a pin head and when i did drift downwind didnt lose much power at all, its just ready to power up without being twitchy, steering wise.

I was only out in it for about 20mins, didnt want to take the piss, found it so comfortable after 5mins wasnt even watching it, they are a great kite come a long way from 3-4 years ago.

Would love to have a longer crack and do more jumps and stuff but i dont think its aimed at freestyle anyway, correct me if i am wrong.
Cheers Nigel, great product.

Nige (the gibbo, not Nigel Cassidy), I sold you your board back in the day and you are stoked, The Best TS is not a wave kite only......................

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/TS

Check it out, Because of the drift and the slack lines it is for intermediate/ expert riders who want to do freestyle/wakestyle. If its only wakestyle go the GP.

TS stands for the taboo series V2.

yeh i demoed it that day as well it was awesome alot better that last years
taboo