Rider: 88kg and skilled
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Wake, Race, Freestyle, Yes!
Weather: 4-10knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: (Own a shop that sells wicked gear )

My Comments:
AFter sitting on the new Core Riot XR17m LW for over a week of nukin winds, I was way keen to try it out. Saturday came and an old mate dropped into the shop. I was tied up but he was free and the wind was light, so he gave the XR LW the first run from the bag. He enjoyed it in winds up to 15 knots I guess on a surfy at Scarbs.

Todays wind was pus, so I decided to have a demo day ..... of course The Riot XR 17 is a bloody nice kite, exactly the same looking as it's smaller brothers and sisters of the XR range but it feels lighter. I can't see where the weight saving is, but it has to be there, maybe in the bladder material or something. As the wind was so light, I took my Tempo 135 and also a course board 2009/2010 Airush Series 1 Monaro (not the best light wind racer, but able to do the job).

At the beach, the wind was all of about 4 or 5 knots, so I rigged it up and added the enclosed 3m line extensions for the extra power. As no one was around, I self launched in about 4 knots without any issues which surprised me, it launched easy as! In the air is is the most stable kite I have ever flown, zero stall and zero luff with the ability to park at 10 o'clock in just 4-5 knots and look ever so steady. Even a brisk walk downwind towards the kite couldn't get it to fall, just amazing!

A couple of quick power dives on the beach and I thought it may have enough, so I grab the racer and jump on. Off we go with moderate speed and am almost holding ground in about 5 knots, barely a puff of decent wind.

Bar pressure was set to light and it sure was, no issues. Standard Core bar and the kite looped effortlessly on it's inside wingtip with fair power. It didn't feel too slow at all despite the light wind. After half a dozen runs, the wind howled in to about 6-7 knots and had me kiting upwind with great speed. 8 knot gusts had me reaching for the trim strap as I hooked into the mini loop and just leaned out against the kite. There wasn't a sign of a white cap on the ocean, no other kiters, lots of boats and jet skis.

The fun began at around 8-10 knots when I was way lit and grinding upwind. It wasn't quite enough for the Tempo with the big rocker to hold ground but I was powered and losing ground.

AFter a couple of hours, the wind had picked up to a gusty 8-11 knots and some of the Pinnacrew rock up and took over the kite, pretty sure all were well impressed. There was talk about being better than the Zephyr but I hold my judgement until I can ride back to back in comparison.

I think the XR 17 LW has more power but will not have the Zephyrs top end, both seem to go upwind about the same. Riot turns much quicker and is more stable, in fact the most stable kite I have ever flown. Relaunch needs to be tested but I reckon easy. Keep in mind this is a comparison to the 2010 Zephyr, the 2011 is almost here!

Summary: The Riot XR LW is bloody brilliant and I can see it spending a lot of time providing smiles. Great stuff compared to the average kite, but as a 17m? ..... just amazing!

If you want to ride the light stuff, drop in for a demo.

Cheers,

DM

Rider: 92kg intermediate
Style: Freeriding
Weather: 8-10knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: No affiliation with core or with AKS but i am a regular Pinna Rider.

Yeah
We picked the kite up where Darren left off, everyone that knows me, knows I am not a fan of core kites, or ozone kites (esp the big ones!).
I hate the Zephyr, too twitchy, requires too much technique to get the best out of it, and takes a week to change direction. But this 17M XR is the opposite!
Its really light on the bar, about the same as my 11M 2011 Switchy.
It flys like a regular kite so you can throw it around without having to worry if it will come up quick enough, so it doesn't end up in the water.
Even in the marginal conditions of 10 kts gusting 12, was easy to park and ride after one powerstoke.
We tried it unhooked and even running towards the kite we couldn't get it to drop, lines went a bit slack but the kite drifted downwind and picked up the slack without dropping.
We didn't try the relaunch today but the kite didn't end up in the drink!!
In the same conditions we would have probably given a zephyr a salt water bath.
If you're living in a light wind area, and you've tried the Zephyr and could get on with it, or you really want to maximise your days on the water at the cost of a 12m kite (working with most 4 line, equal length, bars) its a wise addition to your quiver.
After today's demo 3 of us are thinking about thowing in just over a monkey each to get one as a shared kite.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Core-Riot-XR-LW-170/?SearchTerms=17m,xr

few photos and review

Great review Darren. Thanks.