Has anyone compared these two kites?
Primarily which has the lowest end/top end?
Which turns the fastest?
Do the kites flutter?
Are there any better 13 or 14m kites out there for low wind?
Thanks

G'day,

I've got a Core 17 XL and friend of mine has last years Zepher and he tested back to back and basically reckons the Core has more low down grunt. The day he tested it he gave his Zepher to his son who is all of 35 kg and rode in the same wind, him on the Core and son on the Zepher so it was very light indeed. He managed to jump and freestyle with a few kiteloops thrown in. He said that the Core felt softer than the Zepher. What I discovered was I could change that feel by moving the attachment points on the front bridal, along with the steering points. What I didn't like about the Zepher was that you have to sine the kite up to speed to get the power where as the Core is just pull the bar and go. Top End I don't know yet because I always swap over to my 14 Rebel.

The Core does flutter a little when turned fast in really light winds but only the trailing edge inbetween the second and third strut on the side your pulling, when the wind comes up a little more it doesn't flutter. I think that in the same light winds most kites do that. If you pull the bar in while turning it does it alot less, again it is really light winds.

Relaunch is outstanding, luckily I actually haven't dropped it in normal flight so I flew it into the water to practice relaunching as I usually ride 5 line Rebels and since it had been years since I had to relaunch a 4 line kite, I didn't want to find out the hard way miles out to sea. Punched out at 12 o'clock, kite flying across the wind window, all different angles and with a tlckle here and there, up she popped! Infact, on one of the punch outs at 12 o'clock, the kite hovered there at the end of the saftey, bar about 2m away and a confused look on my face, just flying by its self. I had to coax it down.

I usually use a 2010 North Race board with the Core and only a couple of times used a twin tip, usually because its really light winds, and not in a freestyle mood but I got cruising. I felt the bar needed a stopper ball and the micro loop is some times too much so I put a North stopper ball system on which works like a treat, so on my cruising days I can get a break.

Anyway, just a few point and my opinions, if you get a chance try one. It is a big kite and you can't cheat the laws of physics (yet) but a smaller kite will always be fun but at least you can get out there when most can't.

cheers for now,

Robbie.

ps when I get the chance I'm going to try back to back myself, Core vs Zepher

yeah, what he said^^^^^

it was a very light day, and we gave up in the end and just let the kids ride...

we havnt had many northerlies this year, which are typically light and steady and a great chance to compare kites. will do so again as soon as the opportunity arises.

as Puetz mentioned, i think the core has the edge in pure bottom end...

Should also try the Best Tabou. Fastest turning 17m kite I have tried, can generate loads of power.

Select to expand quote

Flying High said...

Has anyone compared these two kites?
Primarily which has the lowest end/top end?
Which turns the fastest?
Do the kites flutter?
Are there any better 13 or 14m kites out there for low wind?
Thanks

The Core pulls like a truck and is quick as far as 17m kites go. Zephr nice to ride too. Give them both a demo.

2011 Ozone Zephyrs are now in stock and a Demo kites is available in Sydney.
2010 Zephyr has better top end than the Core, and the Core would have only slightly better bottom end.
Expecting good things from the 2011, hopefully will get to try it real soon in the crappy East la Nina winds we have been getting.

... oh boy does the Zepher have some top end. The Ozone/Underground guys were in Vietnam while we were there and we watched one of them on the Zepher while alot of others were on 10's, he hung on and did some of the biggest, floatiest jumps!!! I would say, even with my super heavy weight, I could not have held down the Core in the same wind! But then again, that's not what its for.

My mate with his Zepher can hold it down in winds when I'm having lots of fun on my 14, but if the wind drops he can keep going while I start walking, but again, being lit with a big kite is not as fun as being lit on a medium kite.

Like I said previously, when you pull out a 17m your aiming for a light wind day session and usually on some sort of directional or race board. Infact, in 10 to 12 knots on a race board and the Core, it feels like your lit in 20 knots which is fun, but as soon as you stop driving off the fins you realize its actually light. Again, the m.o. of the 17m is light winds.

Personally, the Core has a waaaaay better bar, horses for courses!

cheers,

Robbie

Not that it's on the market yet but the Epic Renegade Infinity is getting some pretty postive reviews elsewhere on the internerd. It's also getting quite a bit of rage at Dimitri for not (yet) disclosing the actual size of the kite. One test-pilot has measured it up and calculated it to be ~20.3m^2... but this hasn't yet been confirmed or denied.

The point that a lot of the kite designers are making is that when your looking at a light wind kite it's not necessarily the size that's important, it's the power and type of power generation (ie. static grunt or speed/movement), turning speed (if it's not a static grunt style of kite), and the weight to allow it to ride through the lulls.

Also having watched the Wainman Big Mama in action at my local it looks like a bit of a beast, but i'd say it's not a focused lightwind kite more so a lower-wind option for the heavier riders out there. There's also the North Dyno that might appear in shops some time soon... or not.

Hi all,

I rode the Core Riot XR LW yesterday when the wind was bouncing between 13 and 20knots. Damn it's a fun kite. Boosting in 20 knots is crazy, massive height and good hang. The kite is easy to do loops. I was pulling clean double backroll kiteloop transitions. No sweat!

It's definately got the bottom end and top as well if you draw down on the trim strap. I had about 50% depower yesterday in the strong stuff and was well in control. Big jumps, big fun. I was riding the 135 Temp and was smokin' upwind. A few guys demo'd it on the day and really enjoyed it. It still had the 3m extensions on from the last uber lightwind session I had on the raceboard in sub 8 knots, probably should have removed them.

Great session. I had the GoPro helmet mounted and if I find time I'll turn the video into a short clip and throw it up here, however this may take a little time :-(

DM

I rode both the beast's on sunday, the core was grunty, a little bit heavy on the bar, but fast turning, boosty and floaty, but at 14 knots and 1/2 de-powered I was getting pulled off my edge, but i was the only kiter out on the water not in the water. Like Darren I have ridden this in 10 knots on a surfboard/race-board and as light wind performer its hard to get anything better.
And then I tried the Zephyr. Now I have to confess i hated the 2010 model, slow to turn, unresponsive on the bar, fiddly with the technique to get going. The 2011 is a revelation, not as much bottom end as the core but all of other shortcoming have been fixed.
You can throw it around a bit (lets remember it is a 17) it really does turn like a 14, i even had the confidence that it would come back up in a downloop transition (wouldn't have done that on the 2010), it light on the bar, about the same as my 11 switchblade.
So if you're looking to compare them back to back and you're in Perth talk to JP at AKS at Pinnaroo.