Rider: 80 kg,Journeyman
Style: Freeriding, Surf.
Weather: 18-30 knots
Build Quality: ?/10
Satisfaction: ?/10


Anyone had the pleasure of riding these kites? Ive been on torches for a couple years, but now im looking for something with a bit more depower but generally similar characteristics to the torch(good upwind, fast flying/turning), maybe a little more floaty and cruisy.

Will this kite fit the bill?

Also some info on windrange and sizing would be great.

thanks

obsessions are grunty kites but the flag to both centrelines is a deal breaker for me . I used to fly obsessions but not anymore .

Yeah its a worry, torch has the 5th line so safety is pretty good.

What kites are you on now? how do they compare?

Select to expand quote

mrjamesness said..

Yeah its a worry, torch has the 5th line so safety is pretty good.

What kites are you on now? how do they compare?

2013 edges . Can't really compare them as they are completely different style of kite but i love the edges so much more

I did think about this and i'm not sold on the flagging out on two lines thing, but once I flew my religion (also an rrd kite), I liked it to much for it to be a deal breaker, so I guess what Im trying to say is go out and try one.

Edges are definitely on my radar, might be to far of a jump from the torch just yet.

Hopefully i can hold off roasting my credit card long enough to get a demo of both. not looking good though its getting
warm and windy very quickly around here.

Thanks for the advice both!

Select to expand quote

mrjamesness said...
Edges are definitely on my radar, might be to far of a jump from the torch just yet.

Hopefully i can hold off roasting my credit card long enough to get a demo of both. not looking good though its getting
warm and windy very quickly around here.

Thanks for the advice both!

Honestly you'll find them a smoother easier experience,

So...... I just bought the cyan (black wing tips) 2014 Obsession. Cant wait to take the new beast out!!!

Had to tell someone.

Select to expand quote

mrjamesness said...
[br]

Rider: 80 kg,Journeyman
Style: Freeriding, Surf.
Weather: 18-30 knots
Build Quality: ?/10
Satisfaction: ?/10


Anyone had the pleasure of riding these kites? Ive been on torches for a couple years, but now im looking for something with a bit more depower but generally similar characteristics to the torch(good upwind, fast flying/turning), maybe a little more floaty and cruisy.

Will this kite fit the bill?

Also some info on windrange and sizing would be great.

thanks

RRD has a kite like the torch called the Obsession Pro and it comes with 5th line bar

I wanted something a little less hardcore this time, but still fast and good up wind.

I think the obsession fits the bill. Ill find out in a week or 2 anyway.

Got the same order coming next week, looking forward to it.

Coming off a Rebel which has been a great kite so big shoes to fill. Got 4 or 5 sessions to make sure I like it otherwise will go back to a Rebel.

Select to expand quote

Beanz said...
Got the same order coming next week, looking forward to it.

Coming off a Rebel which has been a great kite so big shoes to fill. Got 4 or 5 sessions to make sure I like it otherwise will go back to a Rebel.

Is this an Australian dealer or are you ordering overseas

Select to expand quote

shane75 said..

Beanz said...
Got the same order coming next week, looking forward to it.

Coming off a Rebel which has been a great kite so big shoes to fill. Got 4 or 5 sessions to make sure I like it otherwise will go back to a Rebel.

Is this an Australian dealer or are you ordering overseas

SOS surf in Fremantle. Great service.

Had the opportunity to fly last years obsession 7mtr,great kite.I normally fly my rrd religions.I found the obsession went up wind really well,much better than the religion.The turning speed of the kite was nearly on par with the religion which at best would be described as pretty fast.I had a great session on this kite.i wouldn't mind trying a 10 or 12 to see how they compare to the religions in that size range.Finally I got my religions from s.o.s in fremantle ,great service as well

please post your reviews of the new obsessions,very interested

Will do,

Looks like ill be receiving the kite Monday. once on hand ill post some photos.

Said id post a photo, so here it is.

Cant inflate it at the moment without the right pump adapter for the time being. Haha....so, sorry about that.

Ill get a few more once I've taken it out and give a bit of a report on how it fly's in comparison to my torches.

If your heading down to Rosebud to fly it then drop us a line.
Would be keen to see it fly.
cheers

Ps looks good so far....

Select to expand quote

gazman2 said..

If your heading down to Rosebud to fly it then drop us a line.
Would be keen to see it fly.
cheers

Ps looks good so far....

Will do! Still haven't found a better spot than Seaford which is where i head out these days. no one anywhere. i learnt there by myself without lessons and everything. don't tell anyone though.

Ill pm you when i do, if your up for a SW session.

So i couldn't wait any longer...

This just happened in my house





Feels like i opened an umbrella inside.

Just make sure you turn the light on and not the fan........

they truly have gone massive gay with their colours .

So, any update on how the kite is? i know its hot enough down there to ride!! thx

Update - not for me.

I am 70kg and coming off a 2012 rebel(9m) to a 9 m Obsession. I have had it out about 10 times now as I have been overseas on family vacation for the last 4 weeks.

i found it very stable, cruisy, great up wind performance and with very good hang time.

However.... not much grunt and speed which for me translates to inadequate boosting which is the whole reason I went to this kite. I think if I was ready to progress into freestyle it would fit the bill but with out that low end grunt I find the experience a little boring.

What do you think Mr jamesness?

i'm going back to a Rebel

I have had plenty of sessions this summer, so i know what the kite is about now.

Very different to the torches i was on, its so well behaved. flies like a c kite in that it flies a path in turns and stays powered rather than pivoting it's also great upwind like the torches. the similarities end there though. It eats gust and is very stable, also boosts ridiculously but not with a yank more of fly up and soar you just float and everything goes quite. I unhook regularly on this kite which not something i did on the torches. Could be just me gaining experience or more likely this kite just feels great/stable unhooked, im getting into some pretty flared out raileys now so i'm really loving that.

I've also used it in the surf and it has more than enough nimble-nous to carve around and rip it up with out to much planing of lines, it sits a long way forward in the window so its not fantastic down the line and is a little sluggish turning on semi slack lines, so not the perfect wave kite but still holds its own and is quick enough to gather up and put it where you want it.

All up i can highly recommend this kite. Bar and lines are first rate as is build quality of the kite its self.
I haven't used any of my other kites this season so that's gotta tell you something.

Any questions feel free to ask.

James.

Summary of the review in latest edition of kiteworld magazine of the 9m 2014 Obsession (got a 12m myself and no shortage of boost in these kites)...................

SUMMARY: For the aggressive freerider looking to tear up their home spot, unhook a bit but mainly go huge as often
as possible, kites don't come much more rewarding than the Obsession. The speed, its flatter than C profile and
great power mean it really is an incredible jumping kite, keeping you way up there for days. A shorter usable throw
that's more aggressive in its power delivery are why it suits a better rider, but what a joy to get on a kite that
remembers what kitesurfing is really all about: having fun and going to the moon.

KW LIKED: The fast, energetic ride and built in thrusters that take you to the heavens.

KW WOULD CHANGE: Some intermediates used to clumsily pulling in on the bar will find the required trimming
skills a bit beyond them.

KITE BALANCE POINTS X/10:
Build quality: 8
Full package: 8
Low end: 9
Top end: 8
Steering speed: 8
Turning circle: 4.5
Bar pressure: 7
Water relaunch: 7
Boost: 9
Hang-time: 8
Unhooked: 6
Ease-of-use: 7