What does everyone think is the best LEI kite of 08

For me ........ ozone edge

For stronger winds and wave riding.
9m or 7m NEW O.S. does it better, well proved it self over this summer.

Light winds, I dunno what's the greatest?
I guess the rider with the biggest board wins.

For me no question - 10m Nemesis HP - Yes I am a rep but I would call it if I have flown anything better.

For me Flexifoil Ion 2 - I have 3. 8.5m, 12.5m and a 14.5m

I am usually a kite slut and change brands every 3 months or so. But since riding the Ion 2 I have been hooked since June last year. Ask my friends....thats a long time for me!

8.5m gets me going from 17 knots and is my favourite.

oh yeah....I am not a rep and have no brand affiliations......anymore.

I rekaon the kite that has had the biggest bang this year would be the REV like last year it was the Rebel
Im thinking of picking up a rev

And...08 Rebel even better than 07. I've owned both. Better low end and boosts even higher and longer. Not so sure about REV. I have flown and didn't like but most feedback has been very positive. Perhaps the one I flew wasn't tuned right... Need to give it another go some time.

In Melbourne, given the vast quantity sold and the number of happy users it would have to be the Switchblade III 12 metre.

Rebels, Revs, Cults etc are a long way in the minority and some of those kites are a little over represented in kitemares, probably due to being sold to less experienced riders.

I came across a post by Alex Shogren, founder of Best, a couple of months ago on kiteforum. His stats are open to interpretation and it could be argued that they favor Best but interesting none the less...

2007
Kites sold worldwide +/- 130,000

Market share in terms of number of kites sold
Best 22%
Cabrinha 18%
North 12%
Naish and Slingshot +/- 8%

The rest make up 40%, none of which have more than approx. 4%, except Takoon with approx. 5%.

If they have any truth to them, then according to what you have said above, there's one heck of a lot of "less experienced" riders out there!

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Buschy said...

Market share in terms of number of kites sold
Best 22%
Cabrinha 18%
North 12%
Naish and Slingshot +/- 8%

WOW! I would have thought that naish and slingy would have had a much bigger market share than that! I thought naish and slingy would have been the biggest ones...

best kite of 08.... you know what they say....ignorance is bliss....so good for you guys with what u got your happy with...shame is not the best kite though ;)

EH Ripper, or Waroo. Forget c kites, Get yrself a bow. I turned bowmosexaul after years of riding airush lifts, tried EH ripper and never looked back, Massive depower, no pulling you around on beach and great for looping too.

switchblade 3 10m by far

Switchblade 3 8m........... for me

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nickloop said...

EH Ripper, or Waroo. Forget c kites, Get yrself a bow. I turned bowmosexaul after years of riding airush lifts, tried EH ripper and never looked back, Massive depower, no pulling you around on beach and great for looping too.

yeah c kites are ****.

tard

Agree with bigwavedave. 8.5m Flexi Ion2 the best I have tried.

Switchy's 8/12, need i say more.

switchy 3 12m allrounder...A1

Airush Vapor 10m (although it's dam hard to tell the difference between the 10 and the 7 if flown in their respective wind ranges)
Sweeet kites !!!

There is no best kite for all kiting conditions. Experienced kiters are very informed, adept and skillfull at chosing the best kite for their local conditions. So you should use local kite numbers to indicate which brands will be best for your conditions.
(nb humour)
You can be sure that if its smaller short waves and shorebreak that turns you on then you obviously need an Airush as you can see that they tend to dominate at the city beaches esp around Brighton/Contacios.
Woodman Pt proves that Slingshot is obviously the 'weapon' of 'Choice' for the flat water junkies - and although 'Best' may not be 'better' they do make a notable impact here as well.
The new Ozones must be obviously superior in cutting through sloppy/choppier flat water sites - from what Ive been told is evidenced by latest trends at Pinaroo.
And in the slightly warmer swellier waters just north of there - around Mullaloo - then F-Ones may be what you need to look for.
Even further north in the big waves & cranking conditions around Geraldton then the New Kites must be just about the only brand worth considering.

So do like all the others and make an informed choice.

This year i have ridden switchblade, Waroo, Crossbow, Fuel, New, Ozone, Rev, Ion, Vapor II, 07 and 08 Rhino, Vegas and Rebel and the entire range of Ozone Kites.......and was impressed with certain aspects of them all.

However if i had to choose one then my fav was the Ozone edge II.
So much so i sold everything and bought a quiver.

Gotta agree with Reli.
Anyone who's flown an Ozone Edge just has to have one.