Noticed there isnt much on here about the new Boxer SLE. Has anyone tried it yet?

I got out on a 9m today in about 12knt. Not usually a fan of SLE or bow kites but I have to say with the little time I had on this kite I think it is the best I have tried. This kite has the closest feel to a C kite of any Bow I have flown. I used it in the 1:1 mode and haven't tried it in 2:1 yet. Bar feedback was good, pressure was light. Kite turns fast and loops well. Quite grunty for a 9m too, we had it out while others were on 12m bows and 13-16m C's.

Jumping? No idea as the wind was too light.
Relaunch? Don't know yet as I didnt drop it.

Look forward to other opinions but I definately reccommend trying one.

Hi Briskites

I think what you're saying is exactly the thing I experienced with the 8m EH Ripper kite that I put up a review on.
The new syle bows are comfortably going in at least a size smaller than last years bows.
I was blown away to be up and going so easy in sub 15 knots on an 8m when everyone else is on 11 and 12m bows.

So would you recommend that people buy 1 size or 2 sizes smaller with the new style bow kites?

Also can you tell us if the Hybrid style like the Rebel and others, which are still essentially C shape, have more power than the traditional C shape?
I can see that they are safer having the active depower but they still look like they are going to be losing lots of square meters of area to the side of the kite which has no lift where the bows are flatter and seem to have a lot more of the kite actually working it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Soonee

Hi Briskites

So would you recommend that people buy 1 size or 2 sizes smaller with the new style bow kites?

Also can you tell us if the Hybrid style like the Rebel and others, which are still essentially C shape, have more power than the traditional C shape?
I can see that they are safer having the active depower but they still look like they are going to be losing lots of square meters of area to the side of the kite which has no lift where the bows are flatter and seem to have a lot more of the kite actually working it.

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I checked out a Rebel over the weekend and initially I thought it was a bow kite because it look like a bow kite in the air. They are flatter than traditional c kites which explains the expanded low end.

Hi Saffer,

No I wouldn't say the newer bows are more powerful than last year. Maybe the lighter bar and faster turning will help to get going earlier though.
As for the Rebel, I thought it wouldn't quite produce the power of a SLE but I was wrong. The 12m I flew was easily as grunty as an SLE and seemed to have excellent boost and hang.

So you obviously have an affiliation with the importer of EH, am I right?

Jason

quote:

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Originally posted by BrisKites

Hi Saffer,

No I wouldn't say the newer bows are more powerful than last year. Maybe the lighter bar and faster turning will help to get going earlier though.
As for the Rebel, I thought it wouldn't quite produce the power of a SLE but I was wrong. The 12m I flew was easily as grunty as an SLE and seemed to have excellent boost and hang.

So you obviously have an affiliation with the importer of EH, am I right?

Jason

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Hi Jason

Nope, no affiliation to EH supplier, not sure where you picked that up from. Never written anything about the EH and I ride a Nova 2, and also haven't personally tested and EH or even seen one on the water yet. You maybe confusing me with Soonee? he was the one writing stuff on the EH in this post?

I also think the low end is because of faster turning and lighter bar pressure.

I'm also a bit hesitant to go smaller on this years bows because the comfortable range is still in the middle, so you don't really want to be dragging out the last inkling of low end unless you really have to.

Sorry Saffer that last email was directed at Soonee. Apolagies for the confusion.

no problem. just had me confused at the time.

who sells naish in wa these days?
anyone doin a demo?

Hi Jason

Yeah, I know the EH guys pretty well. But it also the first new season style bow I've ridden.

Just finding the higher aspect has a lot of punch and goes really easy and think that is going to probably be the thing we'll start to see more of as they can get going in such light wind. Interestingly Bruno Leginoux(patent holder of Bow kites and inflatable kites) has a lot of good stuff to say in where he thinks kiting is going over the next years and it is all higher aspect smaller sized kites which are more fun and safer.

When I saw your post it rang true with my experience of the newer style. 1 year is a long time in terms of kite development, especially with everyone back to square one with a whole new style to develop.

Actually I think the last thing we need is to head down the super high aspect path. Hopefully kiteboarding has matured enough to not self destruct like sailboarding did a few years ago by making highly tech gear that nobody could learn on.

Just because each brand brings out new kites every year doesnt mean they are better every year. Personally I think they should release new models every 2 years. This would stop the hype, allow shops to carry more stock with less risk and increase the resale value of your kites.
Another option would be to release new kites every 6 months so nobody can keep up.

Strange how every post you have has to mention the EH kite Soonee??
This could be regarded as a hijacked thread.

Hi Jason
All rerference to any other brand was just for context and 100% appropriate I would have thought.
That is not particularly intentionally but I find comparing a new style bow to my North Toro not particularly appropriate

Seems to be enough hijacking and bagging of kites and kiteshops going on by everyone else so I'm trying to stay out of that one and I think all kites have a place, they just suit different styles.
Me, personally I like the idea of higher aspect faster kites to allow smaller kite sizing which should mean less danger and more managable kites.

I was merely trying to reinforce what I thought you were saying that new season kites seem to have more power than last seasons kites and go in far less wind....or am I mistaken?