I am currently flying a 2013 10m Ozone Catalyst. This kite is an all round kite with lots of gears. It is great fun to fly and build quality is excellent. The kite can generate heaps of speed and power. The kite loves flying low and forward in the wind window and almost pulls you upwind. This means you spend less time tacking upwind and more time enjoying surfing waves. When positioned properly the kite will float down the line of the wave and never looks like falling out of the sky. There is no tension on the lines and you can easily unhook. For me the only con of the kite is that it does generate a lot of power when turned while wave riding in it's upper wind range. The trade off is great boosting and float time, going fast and upwind ability. The kite performs best with the back lines on the shortest settings, and being pumped up hard because it has a small diameter, low drag leading edge. I tighten back lines even further for light conditions and great low end range which is a prerequisite on the Northern Beaches. I am 78kg and ride a strapless 5' 8" surfboard and I am stoked with the kites performance from 10 to 20 kts. It is far more than a beginners kite and a real joy to fly. If you are the type of rider that enjoys going fast and hard this is the kite for you.

Disclosure: I am selling these kites on the Northern Beaches. www.nbkitesurfing.com. I won't pimp again. It is an honest review and I will answer any questions honestly.

Hey Aus126,

I can agree with your assumption of the 2013 Cat range, however my usage has been limited to the 12 sq m.

In the past the Catalyst has been a marketed as an intermediate / school kite however I am sure Ozone has put some work toward making the 2013 model a bloody good all rounder.

I am finding my 2013 Cat slightly better is all aspects for wave riding in the 10/13 kts range. The lower end is for sure better than my Reo 2012 and for me in the SE part of Australia, this gets some action.

I am not sure if this is the kite for "someone you enjoys going fast and hard" but for all-round entertainment its a difficult kite to go past.

I have 2013 12 and 10m c4's and looking at getting a catalyst 8m so the missus has something to ride (and will be good for me also).She was going to get a drifter 7m. Is there much power difference between these two kites?

Hi Benchy, if kite is really for you I would go the Drifter (or Reo). If for missus the Catalyst.

Thanks, when you say you tighten the back lines further, how much further? Did u make another knot?

on all my ozones, they have come set on the longest steering setting ive set them all to the middles , you shouldnt imo put another setting as you could mess around with the kites handling, generally unless your a big bloke youll get zero stretch as the lines are made to stretch to a max of 3%, with most people riding the ozones i notice they havnt set the back lines, and are amazed how much better a great kite becomes, the reo loses a lot of its flutter and gives a lot more power same with the catalyst, the edges just feel a bit more conected and turn a lot quicker, not sure on the c4 as i havnt flown one for a while, the settings are there to be played with and personalise your ride, if you want to get techy put some multi knot pigtails on

Select to expand quote

benchy said...
I have 2013 12 and 10m c4's and looking at getting a catalyst 8m so the missus has something to ride (and will be good for me also).She was going to get a drifter 7m. Is there much power difference between these two kites?

The Cats are pretty punchy this year, but with more depower at the bar the 8m will sit nicely under your 10m C4 and be more forgiving in gustier stuff. Be sure to set them to the shortest knots, and maybe shorten these up to a half inch further to get max low end.

I've not ridden the drifter so can't compare, but there is the wisdom of keeping it in the family so feel and bars and safety systems are consistent across the quiver.

Yeh Benchy, I put another knot in. Same spacing as other knots.

Select to expand quote

djdojo said...

benchy said...
I have 2013 12 and 10m c4's and looking at getting a catalyst 8m so the missus has something to ride (and will be good for me also).She was going to get a drifter 7m. Is there much power difference between these two kites?

The Cats are pretty punchy this year, but with more depower at the bar the 8m will sit nicely under your 10m C4 and be more forgiving in gustier stuff. Be sure to set them to the shortest knots, and maybe shorten these up to a half inch further to get max low end.

I've not ridden the drifter so can't compare, but there is the wisdom of keeping it in the family so feel and bars and safety systems are consistent across the quiver.

When you shorten the back lines... what are your preferred settings on the wing tips? and also the bridal setting?
On my C4's i use middle knot on the outer lines length, last loop on the wing tip for lightest bar pressure and the short knots (freestyle setting) on the bridal...

Select to expand quote

Odkite said...

djdojo said...

benchy said...
I have 2013 12 and 10m c4's and looking at getting a catalyst 8m so the missus has something to ride (and will be good for me also).She was going to get a drifter 7m. Is there much power difference between these two kites?

The Cats are pretty punchy this year, but with more depower at the bar the 8m will sit nicely under your 10m C4 and be more forgiving in gustier stuff. Be sure to set them to the shortest knots, and maybe shorten these up to a half inch further to get max low end.

I've not ridden the drifter so can't compare, but there is the wisdom of keeping it in the family so feel and bars and safety systems are consistent across the quiver.

When you shorten the back lines... what are your preferred settings on the wing tips? and also the bridal setting?
On my C4's i use middle knot on the outer lines length, last loop on the wing tip for lightest bar pressure and the short knots (freestyle setting) on the bridal...

Shorten the back lines under the floats, there are 3 knots there. Use the shortest one, which is the knot closest to the bar. Don't add extra knots you will end up with a kite thats oversheeting and losing lift , upwind ability and performance.

You can shorten the back lines regardless of which rear line setting you prefer.

If you ride on the outer knot on a 2013/2012 C4 - the one furthest from the leading edge, known as the wake/freestyle setting, then you definitely should be riding with the rear lines on the shortest knot.