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EastCC said..

dachopper said..

Bring on the weekend!

How did you go?

Well I blew it up inside the house and that's as far as I got. Coast guard shut down the beach before I could try it.

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dachopper said..

EastCC said..

dachopper said..

Bring on the weekend!

How did you go?

Well I blew it up inside the house and that's as far as I got. Coast guard shut down the beach before I could try it.

New kite curse

Been using the 8m with 21 Lt surfboard a lot lately and very impressed with speed/ power it generates /ease of control on the turns It's so fn fast Also on gusty days in waves with 5 /10 kn in between the gusts of 25/30 was able keep kiting and kite just stayed up in the air So gooood when others were on the beach watching

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Leighbreeze said..
Yeah mate best drift in light to moderate wind on kite surfboard or nomad wave 150x43 & 12m Aluula Roam.
Last Saturday South to South west 8-17 kts mainly 10-15 kts 1m-2m south swell rights patchy wind but fun waves drifting down the line.
Love that Kite.

Not a real good drone shot but only 10-15kts on the
12m A Roam out back turning coming back in on a swell.Mate was on a 10msls Neo.

Looks like a nice spot for a S-SSW Leigh. Is it a secret spot? Care to share?

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riddim1 said..
Looks like a nice spot for a S-SSW Leigh. Is it a secret spot? Care to share?

Yeah mate I would but would probably get deballed.

Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

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dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

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SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

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dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

DLAB NEO will be the real game changer..

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weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

Ocean Rodeo team riders in Europe are testing them and there may be one sent here for evaluation also..
From a top secret source ;)

There's already a pic of it somewhere on the forums..

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SaveTheWhales said..

there may be one sent here for evaluation also..

definitely will

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SaveTheWhales said..

weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

Ocean Rodeo team riders in Europe are testing them and there may be one sent here for evaluation also..
From a top secret source ;)

There's already a pic of it somewhere on the forums..

Thanks. The wife will be happy that I'm closing the wallet for another few months then :-)

I loved my Flites but had to move on when they wore out (gen4 so still the old single ripstop) and stopped making anything less than a 12m. Was looking at trying to get a demo of the Crave HL kites to see if they have enough hang time but might hang on to see what the new kites are like.

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weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

Ocean Rodeo team riders in Europe are testing them and there may be one sent here for evaluation also..
From a top secret source ;)

There's already a pic of it somewhere on the forums..

Thanks. The wife will be happy that I'm closing the wallet for another few months then :-)

I loved my Flites but had to move on when they wore out (gen4 so still the old single ripstop) and stopped making anything less than a 12m. Was looking at trying to get a demo of the Crave HL kites to see if they have enough hang time but might hang on to see what the new kites are like.

Hi mate
Try to demo a HL Crave.I have a 12m plenty of boost,
lightweight,good solid rigid frame.Quick turning,good drift,generally a very good free ride wave, with more grunt and lift.Real nice kite.

I managed to get out for a session yesterday, but it was absolutely nuking in the 30-40kt range.
Getting T bagged on a 5 meter isn't fun. Hopefully tomorrow morning its lighter and I can try the Alula Roam!

Finally got out, all be it for only about 5 minutes.

Used the North Navigator tiny bar and 22 meter lines, 12 meter alula roam.
Fantastic response, I have a north mono 12 meter which is pretty good in light winds, the roam leaves the Mono for dead when it comes to turning speed particularly since I was only on 38cm bar, it turned like a 9 or 10 meter. Wind was around 14 kts.

Wind range the top end was pretty good, I'd say the kite is a lot more behaved with less / no flutter compared to the mono in the same wind. Using the depower on the navigator bar doesn't move the centerlines much but the kite has a big depower ability with about 3-4 inches of chicken loop throw which was nice.

The kite I could jump with fine, but it is soo fast across the window that you really need to know where your flying it to make the most out of the jumps - a little like the edges ( and have good timing.)
No chance to test the super light wind stuff - which I was really looking forward to, although I dare say it would have flown better in less wind than the mono after feeling how behaved it was.


So, impressions so far in light / medium winds I would fly this above the Mono wind range in the same size, no need for a big bar and good power delivery with intermediate bar feedback ( slightly less than the mono )

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dachopper said..
Finally got out, all be it for only about 5 minutes.

Used the North Navigator tiny bar and 22 meter lines, 12 meter alula roam.
Fantastic response, I have a north mono 12 meter which is pretty good in light winds, the roam leaves the Mono for dead when it comes to turning speed particularly since I was only on 38cm bar, it turned like a 9 or 10 meter. Wind was around 14 kts.

Wind range the top end was pretty good, I'd say the kite is a lot more behaved with less / no flutter compared to the mono in the same wind. Using the depower on the navigator bar doesn't move the centerlines much but the kite has a big depower ability with about 3-4 inches of chicken loop throw which was nice.

The kite I could jump with fine, but it is soo fast across the window that you really need to know where your flying it to make the most out of the jumps - a little like the edges ( and have good timing.)
No chance to test the super light wind stuff - which I was really looking forward to, although I dare say it would have flown better in less wind than the mono after feeling how behaved it was.


So, impressions so far in light / medium winds I would fly this above the Mono wind range in the same size, no need for a big bar and good power delivery with intermediate bar feedback ( slightly less than the mono )

Nice review..my Mono is coming up for replacement and would love to try a Roam or next Duotone Aluula or what ever comes from Aluula lineup...sizing could be different to Mono as Aluula flies faster I could replace 12 Mono with 10 Roam?

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sonny2727 said..

dachopper said..
Finally got out, all be it for only about 5 minutes.

Used the North Navigator tiny bar and 22 meter lines, 12 meter alula roam.
Fantastic response, I have a north mono 12 meter which is pretty good in light winds, the roam leaves the Mono for dead when it comes to turning speed particularly since I was only on 38cm bar, it turned like a 9 or 10 meter. Wind was around 14 kts.

Wind range the top end was pretty good, I'd say the kite is a lot more behaved with less / no flutter compared to the mono in the same wind. Using the depower on the navigator bar doesn't move the centerlines much but the kite has a big depower ability with about 3-4 inches of chicken loop throw which was nice.

The kite I could jump with fine, but it is soo fast across the window that you really need to know where your flying it to make the most out of the jumps - a little like the edges ( and have good timing.)
No chance to test the super light wind stuff - which I was really looking forward to, although I dare say it would have flown better in less wind than the mono after feeling how behaved it was.


So, impressions so far in light / medium winds I would fly this above the Mono wind range in the same size, no need for a big bar and good power delivery with intermediate bar feedback ( slightly less than the mono )

Nice review..my Mono is coming up for replacement and would love to try a Roam or next Duotone Aluula or what ever comes from Aluula lineup...sizing could be different to Mono as Aluula flies faster I could replace 12 Mono with 10 Roam?

Welcome to try the aluula Have 6,8,10,12 at Brighton Jeff

Select to expand quote

sonny2727 said..

dachopper said..
Finally got out, all be it for only about 5 minutes.

Used the North Navigator tiny bar and 22 meter lines, 12 meter alula roam.
Fantastic response, I have a north mono 12 meter which is pretty good in light winds, the roam leaves the Mono for dead when it comes to turning speed particularly since I was only on 38cm bar, it turned like a 9 or 10 meter. Wind was around 14 kts.

Wind range the top end was pretty good, I'd say the kite is a lot more behaved with less / no flutter compared to the mono in the same wind. Using the depower on the navigator bar doesn't move the centerlines much but the kite has a big depower ability with about 3-4 inches of chicken loop throw which was nice.

The kite I could jump with fine, but it is soo fast across the window that you really need to know where your flying it to make the most out of the jumps - a little like the edges ( and have good timing.)
No chance to test the super light wind stuff - which I was really looking forward to, although I dare say it would have flown better in less wind than the mono after feeling how behaved it was.


So, impressions so far in light / medium winds I would fly this above the Mono wind range in the same size, no need for a big bar and good power delivery with intermediate bar feedback ( slightly less than the mono )

Nice review..my Mono is coming up for replacement and would love to try a Roam or next Duotone Aluula or what ever comes from Aluula lineup...sizing could be different to Mono as Aluula flies faster I could replace 12 Mono with 10 Roam?

I think the answer to that is a big no, based on the reviews I saw that had the 10 meter and were saying it did not have as much as the 12 meter boxer for example ( couldn't get up on the 10 when could of on a 12 )

Depends the conditions your using it in of course, it looks like those 2 kites ( the 12 Alula Roam, and the 13 Duotone DLAB juice ) for me are the biggest kite I would get and to use in very light wind foiling into the mid teens, then switch to something else.

But if your wind range is more in the teens then the 10 would be OK, just not much pull in the light stuff

Ok, the planets aligned and I finally managed to have a good comparison session riding the 12 meter North Mono and the 12 meter Alula roam.

Differences... The roam can relaunch in what can only be described as almost nothing. With the Deep aspect and swept wingtips, only a small amount of the canopy is touching the water, and in what I estimate to be under 4 kts, pull in about 2 meters of both back lines and the kite will reverse hover - as soon as you have a kite width above the water dump one of the lines and pivot the kite to launch. It is so easy and fast in almost no wind, I have never seen anything like it before. we are talking under 5 seconds to relaunch in about 4 kts. The wind was actually so light, I could not launch it, or the mono by pulling just one side line, but with the Roam you can instantly, and I mean instantly reverse it off.

The top end of the ROAM 12 meter is definitely higher than the mono 12. At about the stage the mono is starting to pull you off balance off the board and starting to flutter, the roam depower was still in the full power position.... I would think up to around 20 kts would be no problems at all.... and there was no flutter at all around the high teens mark either.

On the low end, the mono 12 for me, if I can keep it in the air I can get going on the foil. I think with the roam it's somewhere around the 5 kt mark, but it definitely stays in the air in less ( maybe 4 or 3 kts), and I couldn't get up in that wind, but in the same wind the mono was in the drink and couldn't stay airborne.

I rode it with 22 meter lines low v and small bar ( 39cm)
It turned faster than the mono 12 and gave more feedback, lighter bar pressure and has more depower, was significantly more " alive" in the lower winds below 10 kts.

For me I think I'm sold on the ultralight concept for light wind kites, and always being able to relaunch here is a big bonus.

Would love to test the duotone DLAB 13 meter now !

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dachopper said..
Ok, the planets aligned and I finally managed to have a good comparison session riding the 12 meter North Mono and the 12 meter Alula roam.

Differences... The roam can relaunch in what can only be described as almost nothing. With the Deep aspect and swept wingtips, only a small amount of the canopy is touching the water, and in what I estimate to be under 4 kts, pull in about 2 meters of both back lines and the kite will reverse hover - as soon as you have a kite width above the water dump one of the lines and pivot the kite to launch. It is so easy and fast in almost no wind, I have never seen anything like it before. we are talking under 5 seconds to relaunch in about 4 kts. The wind was actually so light, I could not launch it, or the mono by pulling just one side line, but with the Roam you can instantly, and I mean instantly reverse it off.

The top end of the ROAM 12 meter is definitely higher than the mono 12. At about the stage the mono is starting to pull you off balance off the board and starting to flutter, the roam depower was still in the full power position.... I would think up to around 20 kts would be no problems at all.... and there was no flutter at all around the high teens mark either.

On the low end, the mono 12 for me, if I can keep it in the air I can get going on the foil. I think with the roam it's somewhere around the 5 kt mark, but it definitely stays in the air in less ( maybe 4 or 3 kts), and I couldn't get up in that wind, but in the same wind the mono was in the drink and couldn't stay airborne.

I rode it with 22 meter lines low v and small bar ( 39cm)
It turned faster than the mono 12 and gave more feedback, lighter bar pressure and has more depower, was significantly more " alive" in the lower winds below 10 kts.

For me I think I'm sold on the ultralight concept for light wind kites, and always being able to relaunch here is a big bonus.

Would love to test the duotone DLAB 13 meter now !

excellent review and just the kind of review I'm looking for...I think keeping in the air is a big advantage over any other kite though you can't ride...this is fine because I just hate packing up wet and sandy kites...I just need to get find a way to put an Allula through my CC without wife noticing :) or take 4 payments option ...

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SaveTheWhales said..

weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

Ocean Rodeo team riders in Europe are testing them and there may be one sent here for evaluation also..
From a top secret source ;)

There's already a pic of it somewhere on the forums..

Sneak peak

Select to expand quote

EastCC said..

SaveTheWhales said..

weebitbreezy said..

SaveTheWhales said..

dachopper said..
Duotone DLAB Juice....... is it a myth or it's just not ready yet?

The Juice has been developed but corona has wrekt supply lines..
Ocean Rodeo in the same boat with their new big air kites - will be interesting to see what price tags they will carry, especially with Duotone having the edge already on big air kite development.. competition will saught itself out according to who's cost less :)

What's your source of info on the Ocean Rodeo big air kites? I know that Ocean rodeo have a gap in their lineup for a big air kite but I assumed this was based on not having riders on the team to actually need that type of kite.

Would be nice though.

Ocean Rodeo team riders in Europe are testing them and there may be one sent here for evaluation also..
From a top secret source ;)

There's already a pic of it somewhere on the forums..

Sneak peak

Sorry mate,we hate him,too good.

Interview with Giel -

kitesurf365.com/giel-vlugt-episode-227

Just had another session, wind light 6-8kts, 12 meter allula roam. .. met a guy on a 12 FX who was on the same foil as me, and he looked about 10kg lighter, maybe 80kg, no way he was getting up. It was tricky for sure, but once up I could cruise around 15- 18 kts. Other kites /foiler's out 18 meter sonic, duotone, ozone. 17 meter north reach, and a bunch of 14-17 meter LEI 1 strutts airrush ultra & 17 meter one, 14.5 meter allula flight and a big guy.. est 100- 110 kg foiling. 1 x foil kite needed rescue after dumping the kite and it got waterlogged. I didn't see any 12 meter 1 strutts foiling except my roam. They were all 14m+.

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dachopper said..
Just had another session, wind light 6-8kts, 12 meter allula roam. .. met a guy on a 12 FX who was on the same foil as me, and he looked about 10kg lighter, maybe 80kg, no way he was getting up. It was tricky for sure, but once up I could cruise around 15- 18 kts. Other kites /foiler's out 18 meter sonic, duotone, ozone. 17 meter north reach, and a bunch of 14-17 meter LEI 1 strutts airrush ultra & 17 meter one, 14.5 meter allula flight and a big guy.. est 100- 110 kg foiling. 1 x foil kite needed rescue after dumping the kite and it got waterlogged. I didn't see any 12 meter 1 strutts foiling except my roam. They were all 14m+.

Looks like a perfect kite for those days where you don't want to swim with a foil kite or rain...not sure about the top end though?

Love the updates thanks chopper. I'm going to try to Demo the roam 12 & flite 14.5 back to back in spring, will add to this thread if that happens.

Also if anyone's interested I tracked down the juice DLAB designer Marian and asked him if it would fly well on a normal bar. His response was that it hasn't been tested but should be fine because of the airframe stiffness. However of course their bar was recommended.

Nice, I'd love to try the 13 dlab!

Another session today, this time I put 5 meter line extensions on with the 12, so I think around 26 meter lines maybe?

Kite slowed a little but still very responsive on a small bar, the extra time in the stroke was much appreciated in not much wind.
I still haven't dropped it in the water either.

Tried the twintip , and it was feeble, others were riding 17 meters and fridge doors to hold their ground. The other guy down here on the 14.5 m allula flight was going ok on his twintip too. A bunch of foils out in the range 18-21 meter, I can pretty much guarantee they have a good 5-10 degree higher pointing ability. And the margin seems to reduce as wind picks up.

Oh yes.... and I think I hit a sea critter.. doing about 18 kts and bang I go completely flying off the front, body drag to get the board back and on the beach 3 big scratches half way back on the underside of the rear stab... and that's it.