Has anyone any experience with both of these kites. I was wondering how they compare as far as bar pressure (the lighter the better for me) and jumping. Hope you can help.

sorry not the 2012s , but have with 2010 although not for a huge ammount of time approx a couple of hours, pretty similar kite with a bit less bar pressure from the cabrinah, although it felt like the edge had much more hangtime, boost , and i felt faster on the water, ive just got a quiver of 2012s and theyve changed a lot from 2010, a lot faster turning more boost hangtime and on the water speed, in the gusty conditions the edge is a dream, bar pressure is lighter but still has that connected feel that i love, the edge 2012 has only minor adjustments from the 2011s, ive heard the 2013 is going to recieve major changes, ive given a fair few kites a go and nothing comes close, if you dont like being powered up or feel over powered id look elswhere, you really have to drive the edge of your board in to control the pull and drive from the kite, it just gets faster and faster if you ride flat on the board,id trial both on the same day in similar winds then decide , but if the edge 2013 is out sept oct time wait till then because if its improved on the 2012 itll be one **** hot kite if you like power.

The Edge's bar pressure can be set very light. This largely because it is not a grunty kite, but has an insane lift/drag ratio so it doesn't need "grunt" to produce lots of usable power (in contrast to grunty kites which produce lots of lift but lots of drag too). (Lift is force in the direction you want to go, and drag is force at 90 degrees to lift, in terms of the aerodynamics.)

As cauncy said, the Edge doesn't have "100%" depower (again, part of the nimble, low bar-pressure scenario as it balances nicely on the front lines), so is not suitable for beginners.

It's a while since I rode a crossbow so can't comment on latest models other than that they seem to be a bit more beginner friendly possibly at the expense of some outright performance. The older models had massive bar pressure but I'm sure they've gotten lighter - the question will be by how much? They have seven struts compared to the Edge's five, and a multi-pulley bridle compared to the Edge's pulley-free mini bridle - again factors that contribute to the Edge's lightness, nimbleness, direct feel and efficiency.

As for jumping ability, a quick search will tell you all you need to know. Edges have a dedicated following for good reason!

Can't really compare these two kites mate they are designed for very very different reasons. Both boost but again the start with the edge at the end of the spectrum for boosting and their would be many many kites that boost bigger before the crossbow. Not sure why you would ask for a comparison, there is nothing to compare.

Hi Eppo, the reason I asked was that I thought that the Crossbow was Cabrinhas race kite as the Edge is for Ozone. My friends Crossbow seems to have really good boost but the bar pressure is too much for me (arthritis in wrist). Much has been written about the boosting of the Edge (which appeals to me the most about kiting) but I love the Cabrinhas bar set up.

Hey Thorn,worth getting a demo on a Peter Lynn Fury/Fury light mate ,ultra light bar and awesome for wave and boost,goes upwind like nothing else i have ever ridden,if you have a dealer in your area give one a go.

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thorn said...

Hi Eppo, the reason I asked was that I thought that the Crossbow was Cabrinhas race kite as the Edge is for Ozone. My friends Crossbow seems to have really good boost but the bar pressure is too much for me (arthritis in wrist). Much has been written about the boosting of the Edge (which appeals to me the most about kiting) but I love the Cabrinhas bar set up.

Okay, fair enough. So their kite with Bow DNA is their race kite. Don't know?

Don't by a kite on bar setup mate, that's BS, the kite performance is what you want and the edge sounds perfect if you have arthritis in wrist. Ozone need to lift their game with bars I agree but the bars are still functional and still connect you to the kite...they won't change the kite mate.

Thanks Eppo
I appreciate your thoughts.

I've ridden both. The Cab is not as good upwind. The Cabs turn rate or radius is a bit wider too which makes it harder to boost with although it still boosts extremely well in the upper half of its wind range.
Bar pressure, no comparison Edge is much lighter and has that typical Ozone no pulley direct feel.
Cab and particularly the Crossbow build quality is a market leader in 2012.
My 2c worth.
I would prefer to fly the Edge if I had a choice of 2 kites pumped up on the beach.

I think i've made up my mind and will be moving on with the Ozone Edge. Thanks for all your thoughts.

Dude,go the edge!I have never had anything
Other than, fun!fun!fun!on these kites.
The edges are a boosting, upwind,grunty,
Freeride machine.oh, and not bad to race
With.

edge is great upwind and boosting and float. but its pretty darn average in the waves.
if you want wave action cosnider the c4. it boosts well in the upper range but doesn't have the float of the edge.

c4 way more dynamic than the edge and better for loops and anything that requires a fast kite.!.

If your into your racing the edges are the go, my mate has been in the top ten in the UK race scene, he's switched th the edges and is now in the top three, also if you search the buy and sell the are hardly any and the is a good reason for that , once you own the edges you don't wanna let go, as for them being **** in the waves I have a ball with mine although the are better kites for the waves, I've seen people ripping the big waves of tahiti on them, when its big heading out over the breakers is too easy , you can jump a few sets at a time, mate you've made a good choice and you'll see why

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cauncy said...

If your into your racing the edges are the go, my mate has been in the top ten in the UK race scene, he's switched th the edges and is now in the top three, also if you search the buy and sell the are hardly any and the is a good reason for that , once you own the edges you don't wanna let go, as for them being **** in the waves I have a ball with mine although the are better kites for the waves, I've seen people ripping the big waves of tahiti on them, when its big heading out over the breakers is too easy , you can jump a few sets at a time, mate you've made a good choice and you'll see why

Hi Cauncy eppo here,

Can you elaborate on how you ride them in the waves? What board et****he edges still tickle my fancy man. I'm not a serious wave rider, but I do kind of semi surf on my CB wave then like to boost big on the way out.

yo eppo as i said the are plenty of better kites for the waves , but when the winds strong and the is some big swell i have a ball with my 9mtr, i like the big rolly waves and with the kites upwind ability its great i go out the back wait for the sets then get on it , no purist wave riding just stay high and down the line as the white wash tickles my arse what i like about the kite is when i wanna run from the wave in these conditions or get out over the big stuff it doesnt leave you wanting, ive had a reo on trial and can see why surfers love it, i was riding the wave with my hands off the bar and it just sat there, with the edge its seems like its only likes to be ridden with the bar locked in, it might not be pretty but im loving it

yo eppo sorry i ride a shinn monk 135 42 smooth as , perfect with the edge

Eppo. There's two issues with the edge in the waves.
One) it doesn't like slack lines that much. So down the line action is difficult.
Two) it creates huge power with increased aparent wind and board speed. when riding the wave upwind in powered conditions the increase speed of riding down the wave face can power the kite up and tear you off the wave face. Once powered letting the bar out wont kill the power instancly.

Theres been plenty of times i've been on the edge and just rips me off the the wave at high speed.

However as cauncy states you can boost to the moon on the way out. and when not powered you can ride upwind but you have to edge like a mofo.

On the times i've been ripped of the wave face and find myself doing warp factor 9 i've gone with it hooned towards the next wave in front punched a mighty jump and if i'm lucky i land on the wave face and ride that wave instead. And that is a mighty feeling.

Still with all that rant i much prefer the c4 in the waves.

Ive been riding the edge since day one ..... the last couple of models have focused on speed the design criteria results in very good boost and great hangtime.... in saying that your technique has to be good . Guys who can boost really well on Cabs, seem to have trouble getting the same performnace out of and edge.... how ever edge riders can seem to boost nearly anything well.
When riding the edge on a wave you really just have to keep the kite moving.... or eat heaps. Im quite heavy so i dont really get pulled off the wave, in saying that they are definetly not the preferred option for wave.
The edge has a huge wind range.... generates a heap of power usually combined with speed, sometimes this leaves you wide eyed and white knuckled but if you know how to control speed using just your edge of the board you will be fine .... you just got to hang in there and have faith sometimes.
I have riden both kites .... huge edge fan but nothing wrong with the cabs either.

Good description rusty.