On Saturday I was out on my 08 13m Ozone edge having my first session for 3 weeks. The wind dropped off so i came in and decided to get the brand new 9m edge out of the bag and blow it up fly it around abit on the beach and stretch the lines a bit and make sure everything was okay for when the real wind decides to come in.
Everything has already been said about this kite, bag construction etc. ... all good and mine is no different.
I pulled the tags in on the end of the bar to give as much power as possible as the wind was very low. I got a launch and played around with the kite did a bit of beach sking,etc.
Now I am 98 kilos dry weight so geared up and wet we are looking at 100kg's minimun. The kite showed no signs of inverting no matter how hard I tried and it felt quite powerful for the conditions. So I thought I would give this a try and see if I can get going on this thing, in the water.
No white caps, 100kgs plus and a 9m kite. I grabbed my 145 nobile and headed upwind along the beach expecting to loose ground and just wallow around in the shore break and end up back were I started.
I was very wrong, 2 dives of the kite and I am up and going a couple more dives and I am going upwind!. ... i couldn't believe it . I was grinning like the day I first got up on the board. What a great feeling to be able to be as agressive and possible with the kite and be in control.
Sunday got out again on the 9m kite. Started in high winds around 30 knots , got some very nice jumps in plenty of height but need to work on my timing with landing, this smaller kite turns a wee bit faster than the 13m. But the big buzz of the day was when the wind dropped off I caught a big unbroken wave out the back I was able to ride this wave half way across queens and then cut back towards the north and ride it half as far again this kite is awesome on a wave.
Not really a review ....but I just had to share to Stoke.
I'm 85kg and the 9m will be my biggest kite.
Still waiting to sell my Rebel to get the 7m to compliment it.
Hows the injury recovery going Reli.......
I am thinking now that maybe I should have bought an 11m edge instead of the 13m as my big kite. I still really enjoy riding the 13m though.
Thanks for asking
My foot is ****ed. I think full of Arthritis.
Get a review in a couple weeks hope to be kiting again then
i will second the low-end claims on these kites, i flew the new 11m edge 2 in sub-10 knots on a spleene door and was cruising upwind easily. i would say it was lulling to 6-7 knots and the kite still pulled me upwind, i couldnt' believe it.
went out last week in 11-13 knots on my little 125 naish board and the thing was awesome upwind, nobody could keep up with me and i was the most powered one out there, simply incredible. a great kite for sure, but the bar pressure is ridiculously light! you could kite all day in 25 knots on the 11 without getting even slightly tired
I can third these claims... well it was 17-22kn today and I had an absolute blast on this kite. Head high waves, decent boosts (much better in 30kn thou) and loops down the line with the best of them. 134 Recoil, fatman @ 100kg.
Super Mega Monster Stoked. [}:)]
Based on your impressions on the wind range, which sizes do you recommend for a two kite quiver?
Is is better to go with the 13 and 9m or should I look at 11 and 7m?
Rider weight around 75kg.
Forget the 13m, 11m and 7m maybe, I havn't flown the 7m maybe some who has could reply to this. Best bet is to test fly the kites, the 11m will definelty do you for your big kite but try the 7m in a light wind see how it goes.( be warned though the word is that the 7m will send you into orbit.)
Hi pratajp,
The Instincts easily make a 2 kite quiver, especially the Edge II's. It more depends on the wind ranges at your local beach. If you live in a lighter wind location, then the 13 and 9 would be perfect. if you lived somewhere where the wind is strong like WA, then perhaps an 11 and 7 would be ideal.
I have ridden all sizes and cannot tell you the top end wind range of any of the kites. I have ridden the 13m Edge II in 25 knots without the use of the trim for depower and have been quite comfortable.
I have flown the 11m in 30 knots and a friend of mine (same weight) in 30-35 knots, in 30 knots the kite needs no depower adjustments but at 35 knots you need about 4 inches of depower. (It is quite comfortable to ride in 30 knots, not in damage control mode like on other kites), The stronger the wind, the scarier the jumps get.
The most amazing thing about the Instincts Edge's is that the performance and stability of the canopy does not change in stronger winds, they just keep performing reliably regardless of wind speed. Only thing that changes is the size of the jumps, you just never get out of control on them!
I have flown the 9m in 30 knots and it was so easy it was ridiculous. I will hazard a guess that it would be comfortable into the high 30's. Again, the stronger the wind, the more massive the jumps, especially on this kite!
The 7m is the sweetest of them all and not in the least bit squirrelly. Super stable and the easiest 7m I have flown when you consider it's awesome potential for stratospheric jumps. I got going in around 22 knots but was working it. It starts to become playful in around 30 knots and I would think it would start to get nicely powered in around 35-40. By the feel of the kite, I think low to mid 40 knots may be possible but I am only hypothesizing as we just dont get wind that strong here to test it. (I wish 
)
I weigh 87 kilos and consider my self to be a very proficient rider especially in stronger winds so subtract a few knots for your weight and skill level if required.
All of the Edge's are phenomenal kites with unprecedented wind ranges. I would go as far as to say with two boards and an 11m Edge II, I would be right from 13knots until 35knots quite comfortably, but why do that to yourself and deny yourself the experience of flying the 9 or the 7.
We have a full range of all sizes to demo including the edge II, 7m for the winter storms here in Perth.
Good winds,
Kitehard We are lucky enough to have very strong winds where we kite. This year espeacially.I would say that for a 13m edge at my weight 100kgs 35 knots is the max. I have been out in over this (gusting up to 40) on the 13m. Even though it was quite controllable it was not much fun on the water apart from jumping. I had to reduce my speed to a crawl but the boost was amazing. Off the water it was dangerous ( you can't stuff around when you land it.) The canopy was very stable though and it handled the gusts fine but it was a bit lifty in the big gusts. I have also had the misfortune to get one of these in a series of death loops after my lines got hooked up in my harness hook. "F****Kn scary". I would have no reservations in taking the 9m out in anything from 20 knots to 45 gusting 50 knots. Now that I have tried out my new 9m I am really looking foward to the next 40 + day.
Heh Pratajp I am 85kg and ride a 133 Cardboard and I have both the 7-11m Sport2 and for me in Perth is the Perfect combo. I am just so happy with my kites and the wind range of these kite Im good from easy 15knts to 30++.
Any one buying the new Ozone's will not be disapointed. Just waiting for the winter NW's now!!
I have had about 10 sessions on the 08 Edge2 11m now in different winds ranging from approximately 11>22 knots. 70kg, 129cm Nobile.
Things I like:
- Super fast to pump up. One pump + thin struts = inflated in no time.
- Overall build quality. Ozone is right up there. Pretty schmick setup.
- Very light bar pressure (REALLY nice having all the responsiveness without the constant pressure on arms)
- Mega floaty hang time, nice soft landings. Great boost.
- Very smooth and stable (11+ knots). Doesn’t handle lulls under that very well.
- Bar setup excellent EXCEPT for absence of below the bar flag out type system.
- Swivel below the bar for untangling lines after rotations. But... too bad it doesn't spin by itself and unwind most of twisted lines automatically.
- Doesn't Hindenburg after a crash and lines are slack. Seems to float back toward the rear or edge of the window and wait, provided you let go of bar…
- Water relaunch easy.
Things I don't like:
- Anti-inversion line (pain in the butt when setting up and when packing up).
- No dedicated pocket for pump in bag (a hassle, especially when travelling by air as pump bound to get bashed around during handling).
- Low end OK, but not "wow".
- Very small amount of rust starting to form on safety line attachment (below bar) and at one end of pin on quick release. I wash bar in fresh water after each use.
- A bit more challenging in 20+ knots compared to last kite (12m 08 Rebel). Kite really wants to climb towards 12 noon (assume because of higher aspect) and places a lot of upward force on waist harness and on lower back. Assume that’s why it boosts so well (can't have cake and eat it too....).
Overall impression is that I like the kite better than my previous kite under 20 knots even though it doesn’t quite have the same low end. Still getting used to it over 20. In heavier wind it feels like a more powerful kite despite being one size smaller.
Buschy .........at 70 kg on an 11m inwinds over 20 you are overpowered, its like I explained on my 13m in over 30 knots earlier in this thread. You find that you need to fly the kite high and slow other wise you take off like a rocket and can't hold an edge. Hence the unconfortable lift on the harness. I ride in a seat harness most of the time mainly for comfort anyway. These kites like to be flown fast so when you get the right size kite in the right conditions the kiting experience is quite different.The Nobile board is a great conbination as they bite really hard so try bringing your kite down and control your speed by edging your board harder.Over 20knots you really should be on a 9m max but a 7m would do the job as well. Take the 2 orange lines off ....they are not required. They are only there to help kiters who have trouble relauching quickly in the surf. They are not actually anti inversion lines they are there to stop the kite from flattening out in the water and making relaunch a little more difficult. They are a pain in the arse, removing them makes no difference to the kite performance.See if you can get a test on a 7m and a 9m you will see what I mean.All you will need then is a TB board and you are set. .........I went from a 14m rebel to my Ozone and while the rebel is a great kite I won"t be changing back.
I leave the anti invert lines on (or whatever they're called), and find them quite handy, it's quite amazing what they do to stop the kite rolling through itself.
To leave them on and have no issues I do this when packing up the kite:
1. Attach the Front and Rear mini bridles together when you take your lines off.
2. Hold kite at center of LE
3. Grab centre bridle line for LE bridle and pull in up tight.
4. Deflate kite and fold in half
5. Roll it up.
This way the annoying wraps you get on the orange lines can be avoided to a large degree.
I was really happy the kite didn't turn inside out as it lay in front of on-coming waves the other day as a complete ditch, relaunch and re-setup in the middle of a 10km down winder can end in a long walk if your not on to it quick enough. Just my thoughts, I don't mind 'em, just watch they aren't wrapped around the wing tip on launch!! [}:)]
yo devil i do exactley that but i pull the center bridle as im deflating and then place the center bridle and anti inverts (which are attached to it), Under the Velco panel for the valve protectors Nice and tidy pack away and unpack
i was kinda dead set on the 08 vegas, but after reading this, i think when its time to upgrade, ill be looking at a 7 and 9 edge2. Im 76 kilos with winds from 12-35 knots.
Thanks rusty. Have thought about pulling off the "water relaunch anti-inversion" lines or whatever they are called a couple of times and might do so. No pounding surf around here anyways... Will give the tips above a go before doing so. Probably should provide a bit more info on the low 20 knots experience with the 11m. It isn't so much that it feels overpowered in that wind range. Can easily keep the kite low with my board edging in that wind while mowing the lawn. It's when I stack it trying to do a trick or whatever, or have to walk back to beach to land ("off the water"), that kite wants to fly at noon and you really notice the pull and get harness creep. Rebels spoil you in that respect, as you don't really notice any major pull when bar is out. Reminds me a bit of the C kites I used to have. I would say riding wind range for the 11m at 70kg. with the thin 129 board is probably a comfortable 13>22 knots for intermediatish rider. Can probably pull a few extra knots out of it on either side but start loosing a bit of the fun factor. 14>20 deadset awesome. Sweet spot. Having said all of that...useable range on the 08 Rebel (12m) was 10/11 to 27ish knots and sweet spot larger, just not as sweet...
when i had the 11m, i was astounded at the wind range. i got upwind on a spleene door in less than 10 knots, and i also had the kite out in a solid 20 knots without even touching the trim, it was beautifully solid and stable. certainly not a beginners kite because there isn't that "drop the bar 100% depower" like my sonic has, and walking along the beach it's a lot easier if you depower the kite fully to walk upwind.
having said that, i found the depower throw in the bar more than adequate even in strong gusts, the kite just flies a bit forward in the window and drops about 60% of its power when sheeted out, this was more than enough for me to regain control even in quite strong gusts.
overall i was very impressed with it, although i wasn't totally convinced about the 5 lines (i like being able to roll my sonic through the lines and then be able to fly it back to shore easily, a 5 line kite must be released if this happens) and i think it needed a shade more bar pressure. also i couldn't get mine to jump as big as my sonic, although that may be simply that i wasn't used to it fully. the hangtime was certainly better than my sonic though.
I hear ya Buschy .... what you are describing when walking up the beach is exactly what I meant when I said over 35knots is a bit dangerous. And you can't muck about when landing. Were I kite, there is a nasty slope up the beach just near the landing area that directs the wind upwards and gives the kite an much unwanted boost. but the guys I kite with all understand this and generally someone is there to help. On extreme days on our beach you really need experienced people around you to help land you. On really extreme days you need someone to catch the kite on the fly! This the Edge though. I found my 07 north rhino 10m was a real handful in high winds on the beach also. The Rebel is more along the lines of the Sport.
I don't miss the bar pressure of my old North kites though, but it does take some getting used to, having almost no bar pressure, especially when jumping.
If you are not in the surf you really don't need the extra lines, even Ozone advocate this. Since I have removed them I haven't had a single occasion when I thought I should have left them on.
SOLD the Rebel today
Off to get a 7 hopefully this week.
Foot looking good for next Thursday
My mood is lifting.
