Rider: 95kg
Level: intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Wake, Freestyle
Weather: 15-25 knots
Location: Perth

Hi guys,

My old Airush flow 12m has finally had it, so I'm looking for a new 12m this season, and chasing bit of advice.

I come from a wakeboarding background, and prefer to ride flatwater (mainly the river). Chasing something quite stable, with good low-end power, but still enough grunt for some decent boosting.

I quite like the feel of the cab switchblade 12, but ive found it to be pretty **** in lightish winds compared to the airush.

Would prefer to get something discounted, i.e. 2013/2012 stock, to save a little $$.

At the moment I'm thinking of either:

2013 Airush Lithium 12m
2013 Cab switchblade
2013 Cab vector
2013 Ikon Peak

Any thoughts, recommendations?

Daniel, You've opened up a can of worms here - lol, and it's open to lot's of subjective opinion. Having owed both the 2009 and 2011 Switchblades and now 2013 Airush Lithiums, I can share my personal experience.

2011 Switchblade vs 2013 Lithium

Power / Grunt / Low End Range - advantage Lithium
Pivot / Turning Speed - Lithium much faster/responsive
Boosting - Close > advantage Switchblade in glide
Stability - both great, but edge to Switchblade (perhaps better for wakestyle)
Freeride Versatility - waves/swell riding > Lithium superior
Top End Range - Lithium ok but tops out quicker than the Switchblade > Switchblade superior
Bar Pressure - depends on year (2011 SB's bar pressure a little too high) / Lithium - med-high but not an issue for me
Upwind - Switchblade advantage, but the Lithium is more than adequate
Relaunch - Switchblade is average at best and can be a beast in marginal conditions / the Lithium is one of the best

You mentioned the 2013 Switchblade. I haven't ridden it but spoken to a handful of riders...

Bar pressure lighter than previous years
Turning Speed - little quicker
Low End - less than previous years :(
Everything else is similar to previous SB's

I prefer a definitive Freeride / All Around performing kite so this, along with the overall "just feels right" in my hands character, led me to a no questions asked, Lithium choice. My SB's felt dead by comparison. But perhaps this is better for Wakestyle. Everything's a compromise.

You may also want to consider the Airush Varial if you're into Freestyle. From what I've heard it's improved for heavier riders.

I know, I know, it's cliche, but demo as many kites as possible if you can.

Good luck!

The 2013 and 2014 Ozone Catalysts tick all your boxes - heaps of grunt (totally different to 2012 and earlier Cats), stable, and boost and unhook well. No pulleys and very short bridles mean a direct, responsive feel. Relaunch is super easy even in light stuff and they charge upwind.

Having a just-in-time manufacturing structure, you're less likely to find a lot of superseded/discounted Ozones around than some other brands, but if you do - it's a winner.

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djdojo said..

The 2013 and 2014 Ozone Catalysts tick all your boxes - heaps of grunt (totally different to 2012 and earlier Cats), stable, and boost and unhook well. No pulleys and very short bridles mean a direct, responsive feel. Relaunch is super easy even in light stuff and they charge upwind.

Having a just-in-time manufacturing structure, you're less likely to find a lot of superseded/discounted Ozones around than some other brands, but if you do - it's a winner.

Mate you recommend cat to everyone!....

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djdojo said...
The 2013 and 2014 Ozone Catalysts tick all your boxes - heaps of grunt (totally different to 2012 and earlier Cats), stable, and boost and unhook well. No pulleys and very short bridles mean a direct, responsive feel. Relaunch is super easy even in light stuff and they charge upwind.

Having a just-in-time manufacturing structure, you're less likely to find a lot of superseded/discounted Ozones around than some other brands, but if you do - it's a winner.

Disclosure that djdojo is a ozone team rider... And a pimp of whatever he gets cheap each year

Go back in time and said pimp did review of his new kit and it was excellent - so agree with bias but it is solid and experienced advice - so DJdojo a pimp no not really - having said that I use Airush/Slingshot kit at present - and will be checking the Varial x / C4 and (out of habit) Slingshot RPM this year....

Harder to test last year's models.... but test test test.
Fun times -

Cheers
AP

I was going to say the VX, but 2014, the new three strut design. Get in touch with john B on the kiteforum or the UK kiteboarder site. He's a big fan on the new VX and could give you some great info.

If you can't find him email me and I will flick you his email. We chat a bit. I'm a big fan of Airush kites, like to keep in touch with what's going on.

also kiteworld do a very good unbiased review, ive matched a few reviews to my thoughts and theyve been pretty close, if your trying to match a review , match a similar rider to your style,

yeh that arron hadlow talks ****, i carnt make my kite do any of that stuff

Plummet - I recommend Cat to many people - not everyone. Clearly they don't have the race performance of the Edge or the slack of the C4, but for most riders who are on a twin tip blasting about in a range of conditions doing a bit of everything, they should at least be on the demo list.

Cats satisfy everyone from beginners to ageing hacks like me to PKRA heroes like Patrick Blanc - clearly their versatility and performance is well and truly adequate.

Nobs - At the risk of adding fuel to your relentless negativity, I'll venture a response. I have my choice of a big range of gear - Cats are what I have chosen this season and last - the two years before that it was C4s. I'm a team-rider because I'm happy to give my backing to a quality product and collaborate with people I like at SHQ and Ozone, not because I need cheap gear.

Aquaplow - a voice of reason - cheers.

A lot of diffrant kites / brands being thrown around there, but if, as you say you are from a wake boarding background, and you want some thing stable forget all of the above, try a real C-kite like Naish Torch, which can be an excelent freeride kite as well, or at least an open C like Slingshot RPM dont waste your time with the allrounders then. look into some of the cheaper alternatives if you cant afford new and dont want that clapped out second handy, cause people actually buy new stuff when that kite from last year starts to feel like a sack.

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daniel_y said..



At the moment I'm thinking of either:

2013 Airush Lithium 12m
2013 Cab switchblade
2013 Cab vector
2013 Ikon Peak

Any thoughts, recommendations?

Mate, SugarQube is rite, all the kites you mentioned are very good freeride kites, but if you are serious about wakestyle and freestyle you need to be looking at C kites, nothing else comes close when it comes to looping and getting good pop and slack, than with a C.
Don't be frightened by C's. A modern C is very stable and has heaps more depower than they used to have. In light winds, you have to work the kite to get the power out of it, but after a bit of time with the kite you will soon get the most from it.
Try to test a Torch, Fuel or Vagas. They will feel very different to what you have used before, so spend as much time on them as you can get away with, a good couple of sessions. If you are still unsure about a C, try a bridled C or open C like the Park, C4, Chaos or RPM.
Demoing kite's is a help, but bear in mind that they will feel so different to what you have used, that they will feel weird till you are dialed into it.
Good luck
Let us know how you get on

On the subject of superseded prices.
Zeeko notus 12m + UDS bar + Bhoot board all 2013 and New delivered to your door $1670

What?