But wow ! What a kite !

Considering high performance race is the number one priority, 60 hrs seems like a long (edit reasonable) time to me.

Suppose they have to sacrifice long term reliability for performance, will be interesting to see how thin the bridle and lines are.

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nigelw2 said...
Considering high performance race is the number one priority, 60 hrs seems like a long (edit reasonable) time to me.

In a normal season I'd be replacing them every 3 weeks, a standard set and race option would be the go, the newer edges come with aramid bridles of which I've replaced, it'd be nice to have a freeride/ race option

I understand you Husa. It's getting ridiculous. Soon it will be comparing dick sizes at the pub afterwards.

Ozone are ahead of the game

So.... At the Rangarok snow kite race this year. Last years chrono won by a non sponsered rider then followed by the flysurfer sonic.

Where was the R1?

If it surpases all foils thus far surely it would win such a prestigious race?

Ahhh,,, Marketing hype that's what it is. Every years its the same. This years kite is soooo much better than last years. The reality is that its maybe slightly better.

Anyway.

To obtain high performance they need light weight, they must sacrifice strength to obtain that. If it as stronger it would be heavier and less performance.

There are other kites to fly if you want strength/durability over performance.

Stating bridle change at 60 hours is at least letting customers know in advance what to expect. Also the 60 hr mark will have a safety factor built in as well. If you are non racing and its not critical you could probably push replacement out longer. Or replace when they look worn after visual inspection.

i don't see the issue . this is a high performance race foil , would you have the same reaction if you learnt you had to replace tyres on a race car husa ?

Ozone is de best.

Pretty sure what that sentence means in the blurb about the R1, is that the Speed System, should be replaced in 60hrs, not the entire bridle, but I'll find out 100% and get back to you.

@plummet, there were not enough R1 kites available for the Ragnarok race (and only 7M/11M and 17M are released at the moment too). The factory has been flat out since the return to work from the annual TET (chinese new year) holiday ended on the 8th March, the Edge V8 and the R1 as well as strong sales across the snowkite range have kept productions numbers limited for the R1, the Foil Gold cup race in Mexico the week earlier saw on a few R1 kites available as well.
R1 kites are starting to come through from the factory now, but still in those limited sizes, the rest of the sizes will be released and put into production over the next several weeks.

No need to justify Steve, we all know ozone are ahead of the game...

"Speed system and Bridle Lines"

Seems pretty clear. Price you pay for performance! Reminds me of racing two-strokes...

2 strokes are quite cheap to rebuild and race.

But you gotta do it all the time! whichnwas my point.

Be be interesting to see how much a bridLe is going to cost...

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Kamikuza said..
But you gotta do it all the time! whichnwas my point.

Be be interesting to see how much a bridLe is going to cost...

But how long before you replace bridle lines on a speed 3/4? I would do mine every year approx.

I do 100 sessions per year ave about 2hrs a session spread over 5 kites. So.... 20 sessions per kite..... 40 hours to replace bridles on my speed.

It seems about right to me. Its just that someone has published a replacement interval

Replace bridle lines on a Flysurfer ?

Infrequently, if ever. To be clear, the bright yellow "spare part lines" which run through the pulleys do need to be replaced every season or so depending on use. Flysurfer supply spares when you buy the kite and it's a 5 minute job. But as for the actual bridle lines running to the canopy - I've never heard of anyone doing this even on 5 year old kites. The adjustable mixer on Flysurfer is how you compensate for bridle shrinkage over time. The "mixer test" is the process by which you modify the lengths of the bridle lines (A,B,C,Z) to restore (or modify) flying characteristics.

Red thumbs from... Ozone retailers?

Yup, spare parts lines get replaced randomly, probably once a year on the 21 which gets used the most. I think the others have had it once each. Bridle lines get replaced if they break, but I've never replaced the whole lot - that's madness!

Especially when you can stretch them back into shape...

spotted in Maui last September

From one of the main designers at Ozone, overnight.

"Using proven Chrono technology means that we have been using design technologies in the R1 that we have also been using in the Chrono. Speedsystem and bridle lines must be replaced every 60h to ensure the kite remains factory trim. Bridle lines do stretch/ shrink unevenly and if you want to have the max performance from your R1 you should replace them regularly. Just as you do on any race machine you have to replace/ change things. Thats what we recommend off course… "

So its about winning and max performance, not that the actual bridles wear out. Every foil kite bridles need to be inspected regularly, and riders at the top level will be able to tell if their bridles need replacing. Remember this is a race kite, not for freestyle, not in the same market as the FS speed series kites, not even close.

Chrono2 will compete directly with the FS speed series kites and is being built to be more durable and to be more for hooked in freeride kiting.

Simple just don't get one. Problem solved.

Need to compare apples with apples here to be fair to all concerned.
The gap between everyday free-ride and high-end race is getting bigger and bigger.
Its getting super competitive at the world series level, top riders like Johnny, Nico, Joey, Max, Julien etc are finishing within seconds of each other now, if not even closer!!!
Great thing about our sport, you have access to the EXACT same gear that Johnny and crew use to win world titles.

Chrono V2 soon to be released is getting even more beefed up for the free-ride ( with even stronger bridles than the current Chrono. )
Great for weekend race warrior or free-rider, or as option for those looking to switch from LEI to foil kites. Chrono is not slow and still a very competitive race kite as we saw at Redbull Rag and Kitefoil Mexico.

If you buy the R1, you are the rider who is hunting for the very best performance you can get!! Every bit of performance counts!!!!
This is no different to any other performance sport!
On-road cycling, how much life are you getting out of a race specific tyre used under race conditions?
Jet ski racing being red-lined during race weekends, the super-chargers are being rebuilt far less that the recommended 100 hours of the weekend warrior versions.

Ozone are calling out that if you want the kite to perform to its very absolute best potential, their performance racers look to maintain their kites to a certain standard to get the very best out of them. No doubt if you have experience with foil kites, have NOT been hammering the kite, kept the pullies on the speed system clean and free-running and are not racing every other day like the pro riders, you going to get more life out of the set-up.

If you are a free-rider, but still wanting the R1 over the Chrono, they do have available the option of the Dyneema bridles same as used on the Chrono. (as stated on the same website quoted above)

Kiters have options of what model they want to buy, and buying the right model for the right application is the responsibility of the rider.

Im a competitive racer myself. Those quoting above, im not sure if you are racers yourself who are concerned or are non-racers interested in the topic of the new race gear. I'd be interested to know.

It says here they are using kevlar bridle lines. ozonekites.com/images/uploads/products/R1-Info.pdf

Kevlar doesn't shrink or stretch so changing lines won't be to maintain trim. Kevlar doesn't like extremes of temperature or being kinked and it is known to break without warning so I am guessing the need to replace the lines comes from that.

Sizes from 6-11m in 1m increments then 11-19m in 2m increments. I bet they haven't built and tested each size.

It's reasonable to assume that the skill level of the top guys is very close. In that environment it's the gear that makes the difference (which is kind of sad). It's nice that ordinary riders can buy all this high performance gear, but it has the reek of the windsurfing competition arms race about it.

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Gorgo said..

It's reasonable to assume that the skill level of the top guys is very close. In that environment it's the gear that makes the difference (which is kind of sad). It's nice that ordinary riders can buy all this high performance gear, but it has the reek of the windsurfing competition arms race about it.

What you have said is true to many sports.

Its the nature of these sports and our own doing, and its lead to the current level of performance in these sport.
Products evolve because we expect and demand them to evolve.
look at the developments in F1 and how thats now filtered down to everyday cars.
Its not just sport, look at the arms race in everyday life between brands, mobile phones, TV's laptops/PCs etc. Some might still prefer to have their old Nokia 3310 and you can still buy new phones from the servo that's not far from it for a under $50 if you CHOOSE TO!

Should the top level of all performance sports be prevented from further development. This has been done on occasion with the likes of RSX and the new Formula LEI divisions.



Thank those that have pushed the boundaries, or we'd still be on some crazy type kit! :)

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Gorgo said..

Sizes from 6-11m in 1m increments then 11-19m in 2m increments. I bet they haven't built and tested each size.

It 100% has been built and tested in each size. They have only released 7m, 11m and 17m now and Robbie won't sign off on the others for production until he is happy.

No LCLs... that'll be a fun job, replacing bridles.

Thanks AndyHansen.

Very well explained. I get it. I guess I'm getting old and can't keep up with all this high tech stuff. It is absolutely fabulous for the sport, and I look forward to the Chrono V2 with some free-ride potential.

Wait a minute..... I might be even more slow and stupid this week than usual.

Are we talking replacement of the entire bridle system back to the kite? or the speed system bridles and pullies? The way interpret it is that the speed system bridles should be replaced every 60 hours. Not the entire bridle.

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Plummet said..
Wait a minute..... I might be even more slow and stupid this week than usual.

Are we talking replacement of the entire bridle system back to the kite? or the speed system bridles and pullies? The way interpret it is that the speed system bridles should be replaced every 60 hours. Not the entire bridle.

Pretty sure Ozone is saying entire bridle AND speed system/pulleys.

Flysurfers have a mixer, not a speed system. Don't mix them up, eh. They're completell different.

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Kamikuza said..

Flysurfers have a mixer, not a speed system. Don't mix them up, eh. They're completell different.

Ahhh... infact they do exactly the same thing..... just different marketing names.

The flysurfers typically have more adjustment. But also more prone to need re-adjustment.

No no. The expert has spoken, and the "speed system" speeds up and slows down the Ozone kite. That's why you dont need to adjust it, like the Mixer on Fs kites.

I'm not sure what the expert thinks the Mixer does...

I reckon due to the Fs kites being more dynamic at the canopy, with the Triple Depower, the bridle is getting worked more. Fs also went for bridle longevity over bleeding edge performance, if I remember historical posts correctly.

Fs HAS adjustment, the Chrono does not, off the shelf IIUC. And I'm curious as to why there are no threads about drops in performance due to lack of tune-ability. Maybe Ozone cracked the materials issues...