Rider: Weight,Level intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Surf,
Weather: 15 to 17/1&
Build Quality: ?/10 its ozone
Satisfaction: ?/10 its ozone
Disclosure: I seem to annoy those Who have no farqen idea




I'm only 75kg and it is blowing 20 to 25 in Perth, so maybe 15 to 17/18 here and had the trim only slightly pulled in( an inch maybe), and had no problems whatsoever taming and controlling the speed. Then again was on the shinn monk, what a beautiful pairing of kite and board. Translate that speed control into boost and glide and **** me!!

for years I have wanted to have a real good go on an edge, but I kept hearing how fast they track, gotta watch ya speed, high speed wipeouts, its a really high aspect race kite...

etc etc and this from experienced guys like darren at AKS who is one of the few I actually listen and take seriously what he says. He did say though it is the most perfect wing he's used and his fav...ha ha

So There was a little trepidation when putting the 13m up, because it wasn't light by any measure, but then again not cranking either. Kind of that time where you re wondering if she's about to kick in.
It did build but as per normal down here she backed off again when the in filling air hits that damn cold estuary air! Don't believe me just cast your eye over the charts today. Bloody wind hole.

Anyhow...we all know and have read from others how they fly, so I needn't bang on about that, nor have I flown previous years to compare.

But I will say this, don't be scared off trying this kite. If anything it will help you new gen kiters actually learn how to edge properly and understand the interaction of board edge and kite speed. It boosts, glides and lands just as crew have been saying for years and even the 13 is not slow. You don't need a darting kite when the wing is so efficient, track a little downwind, kite speed up, lock in and you can ride as long as you want, effortless, controlled, precise, just beautiful and with bull**** edged speed. Play of words intended.

It did take me three separate goes ( swapping with my bro), to really dial it in. And Rusty my man, I kept running through what you said about boosting with this kite, and by the 3rd hour, it clicked. Don't choke this sucker, let speed be your friend, tension the lines with board edge not bar work, drop that back heel, leave the water as ya let that bar out (which can be counter intuitive to the more lower aspect kites I've used), pull it in near the top up ya go further and gliiiiiiiiiiddddddddeeee....eeee......eeee and sometime later land as soft as butter. Man you could do whatever up there!! Don't matter if ya get all disorientated, from leaving the water at weird angles, upside down and without any perception of where you happen to me relative to the beach, water and wind...no probs, plenty of time to sort ya **** out.

And my thinking keeps moving towards plummets ideas about quiver decisions, obviously I'm a little slow on the uptake!!

If ya got a bit of free ride in ya blood, ( don't get put off because it is one the best, if not the best race kite out there) and enjoy actually flying a kite with as much precision as possible ( this is a true wing), at least try one, I dare ya. And get it out in some top third winds to!!

As I said dont be put off, my bro is really only starting to hit his straps this year after using so,e decent kites (rebel and Vegas, amazing what good kites will do to progress someone), and he just loved it to. Didn't like the price i told him they go for though ha ha ha, he had no probs using that speed,and as he said intense but effortless at the same time, pretty perceptive observation I reckon now that I think of it.

A big thanks to Jason for Westoz, for letting me crack open two brand new kites to demo. What a champ!! Gonna hit him up for the 11m next. Yeehaaa...had to laugh, here I am riding lithuims, low aspect tractors with some refined forward flying built in, get on one of the most highest aspect kites and love it as well, and probably more....I think I need my head read! Lucky Jason's a casual relaxed dude, he must be wondering wtf is wrong with me as well!!

Also tried the 10m cat, not enough wind really, so comments later if I get some wind in her.

In a nutshell(look at me I'm in a nutshell), the squares C wing design, creates a more precise feel than the 2011 model I had flown. Very quick turning, fastest 10 I have ever used, so I reckon a 12 would still be really workable. Really easy and controlled for back roll, back loops, down loops etc etc, but the C in it, does give you that extra pull through the loop which is real nice, nothing to knock ya socks off, but it is there. Flies forward nicely as all ozone do, nice bar pressure etc etc etc, bla bla bla ozone is ozone right! We all know how they feel. If ya don't, we'll too bad I suppose. Drifts just fine etc

But as per my other crack on it, it is too soft for me, too easy. Suite a beginner or intermediate trying to push the envelope a bit. Or as plummet has said before a high wind stable kite. Oh yeh shorten the back lines to the top knot as well under the floats, much better. Ta jeff.

Chow

Nice review!. reminds me of the 13m session i had the other day..... mmmm gliding. now i want to try the 2013 edge! bummer my 2010 edge is still in pristine condition!... I also miss the 11m I had man that was a boost monster...

was there anything you didn't like?

Nice review Eppo. Jason and Sonja at west oz let me demo the 13m edge 2013 (the only guys in WA that would demo them). I went back and purchased a 9m, 13m & 17m from them with a std bar and a race bar and lines. Moral, if you don't demo you wont make the sale.
Full marks to Jason and Sonja great service.

To add some more to Eppos review.....Can't normally be bothered typing a review but hey I've got time so why not.

Had a chance to review the new Edge and Cat recently and heres what I thought.

First up

Rider: Weight 75kg ,Level advanced beginner :-)
Style: Freeriding, BOOSTING
Weather: 17-19 gusty
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: I learnt on Ozone lights, only owned 1 kite other than ozone cat (6,8,10), being a 12 switch nitro.

The 9m Edge. Wanted to try for donkeys as Eppo says. I thought it might be similar to the Switch I have being high aspect and based on what I'd read ie loves speed and gets more powerful the faster you go and faster the more powerful etc resulting in scary speed. Well it was a lot more civilised than the switch in that way, which I find needs a lot more edging, speed control in decent winds else you'll be doing warp speed in no time. The edge did build power with speed but in a nicer way...more refined?? It had a lot more depower on the bar than I'd expected and while it wasn't as much as the cats, I expected little so was really surprised. It was slower to turn than the cats but expected and not what its meant to do. I know its a race kite but I have no interest as yet in 2m long fins and giant expensive boards and going in a straight line (else I'd be into windsurfing ;-))))) so my main interest was boost. I had big expectations and wasnt dissapointed. The lift is not savage but not gentle either. My most memorable sessions are on the small cats in 30+ and being ripped off the water....it doesn't do that but it does give MENTAL hangtime which I would take a very long time to get bored of. So in a sentence, much friendlier than I'd expected, great boost, not sure you could get more hangtime without buying a paraglider, relatively slow turning and better depower than you might think. If you want to ride fast and glide around the place, perfect.

The Cat 10m. Fast. My 10m cat isn't actually a cat, its the light xc which was what the cat replaced and I think is very similar. I learnt on mine, my mrs learnt on mine and so did my brother. Its been punished.....dumped in waves a couple of times etc. It just won't die and still flies great. The new cat is 4 models newer than my 10m and apart from feeling a little quicker, I notice not a huge difference! The new cat looks smaller in the sky (think this is down to the new arc shape) and felt a little weaker for size. I suspect it is actually a little smaller than my old 10m contributing to increase in speed. From the few people who've reviewed them, the feeling is its a totally different ride- used to be a beginners/wave kite, new one so much better etc. Sorry, I don't feel it and this is probably down to my lack of awesomeness but for me its hugely similar to the last few years-which is an awesome all round high quality kite that doesn't seem to do anything badly, so nothing wrong with that.

As soon as Jason gets the new C4's I'll be demoing and probably buying about 30 minutes later. I think the C4 will be a good compromise of performance and forgiveness/usablility. I would like a complete quiver of every Ozone water kite but this is not going to happen. I love the edge but I have a shared quiver with my wife who would probably not enjoy it to much + I want to start getting into looping and this is not the kite for this as far as I can tell. The Cat does nothing wrong but I just think the C4 will be more fun to fly, and hopefully rip me off the water much better as well as give some more power in turns for carving action (cat is a little weak here). I want a C4 with bottom end similar or slightly less than 10m Cat but will wait and see what the feeling is regarding this years batch. They seem to get more bottom end every year from what I read....recall the first C4 being consistently rated as weak for comparable size...will see.

Cheers

PS Jason and Sonja at Westoz (who give me nothing to say this other than good service) are great to deal with as above people have said. Jason will happily pull new kites out for you to demo and is hugely knowledgeable in lots of different riding styles but humble and understated (good aussie trait) and Sonja could teach a lot of people in retail how to do business rather than just order product, add 50-100% and sell. Always calls back etc...just good service, hard to find these days.

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Plummet said...
Nice review!. reminds me of the 13m session i had the other day..... mmmm gliding. now i want to try the 2013 edge! bummer my 2010 edge is still in pristine condition!... I also miss the 11m I had man that was a boost monster...

Not a single thing, except, as we all do wish it turned slightly sharper to really transfer that kite and board speed into vertical air with glide, rather than more glide...if ya know what I mean. But if you were heavier than 75kg, and had honed your technique as per rusty's instructions then this view may change. I must admit had three sessions if you like, and each time I was jumping higher and higher and riding more and more aggressive so there is plenty of room for improvement.

As far as the kite goes i think my bro summed it up from really a beginner intermediate perspective...it is intense, fast but effortless. The pull at the edge of the window is just so refreshing, it flies like a wing should. A true interaction of board edge and kite speed develop. I have read and heard all this before and have expereinced some qualities from higher aspect kites I have flown such as the VX, but to actually expereince it is something else. Now I know what Darren at AKS has been saying to me all these years.

As I said I'm a little slow on the uptake.

And plummett, thanks for all your advice and input on this forum mate and through emails. I am starting to come around to your way of thinking regarding quiver design except one minor difference.

As you said on a really great post you guys were taling about ages ago...

A good boosting and gliding kites are super high aspect. Long and thin. They generate more power with aparent wind, sit further foward at the edge of the window, they crank upwind like nothing else. This makes them good light wind kites. But they suck and down wind, turning speed is usually pretty powered and slower.

A good wave kite is the exact opposite. Its low aspect, short and fat. It generally has more depower at the bar and obvious power output. Less prone to powering up with aparent wind. lift/glide is less and it sits further back in the window. this makes it worse upwind but better down wind. turning speed is faster as is relaunch. It makes them good highj wind kites.

I go from 1 extreme to the other in my quiver. From super high aspect Flysurfer speed 3 15m (which sucks arse in the waves) to wave specific reo which loves waves but is not a boosting machine.

My thought process is to go for the high boosting gliding machines for lighter winds and slowly morph my quiver to lower aspect wave riding kite in higher winds. That way i can gliding around in light winds when the waves are small. when the wind/waves are cranken i'm on my wave specific kite.

That doesn't really answer you question. But I think the answer is yourl end up with a medium aspect kite that is ok at boosting and ok at waves but not great at either. My 10m c4 fits into that bill and hits it between 18-28 knots. I can boost if i feel like it ride waves if i feel like that too. Its not as good as the reo in the waves but suits my style in that wind range, which is jumping off the wave lips on the way out and riding the waves on the wave in.

One of the most important aspects of a wave kite is the way they deliver power. In waves you want smooth linear power especially in onshore wind when the kite is crossing the window a lot. In short a fast turning but relatively slow flying kite. Low end power is not very good...

A boosting kite will always give you an undesirable surge when crossing the window. That's how they boost! Because of it's speed a boosting kite spends less time in the window and delivers power in a shorter time giving you that surge.

and the other guy said...


But the question the O.P. asked was if possible to find a really good wavekite, that also could "boost nice high floaty jumps"

So he explicitly stated that he wants hangtime (and height) - and this is not possible IMO, with a really good depowerable wavekite

With "normal" kites, a grunty kite has less windrange than a less grunty one - so if you move the lower limit down even just slightly, by means of another profile/airfoil, you will unfortunately move the upper limit down A LOT

As we all know - and this is why it does not work just taking a smaller more grunty kite instead, in waves

Now all things being equal:

A non boosting kite will be a good wave kite in any wind direction.

A boosting kite will be ok for wave riding in certain wind directions.

When I say slow flying kite I refer to how fast it will cross the window. With a bigger kite you will probably want it as fast as possible.

I must admit that few years ago I use to like all my kites to be as fast flying as possible. That's when I realized how dependent I was on the very speed of each kite. Using slower kites forced me to improve my timing, kite position and also rely and use more energy from the wave.
In general I think I agree. For the most part. It depends a little on how you ride waves. If you mainly ride in side to side off and generally like the kite to drift...I think you do not need a super fast turning kite. However for my own rides, I like fast turning as I follow the kite a lot.

There are definitely tradeoffs.

For my wave riding I like fast turning fast flying...if you ride in on shore conditions the faster flying kites are even more important, as the sending the kite through the whole wind window usually requires the kite to fly fast (the way i think you mean?). I do like a medium grunty kite. It should pull, but if the kite pulls to hard, in side off condition it tends to pull the rider through the wave, or at least when I've had super grunty kites, they invariably...especially in gusty conditions would pull me through the wave instead of moving fast forward...

Well, I only ride waves and never boost since I am strapless, and like to keep things simple. But If you nessesary want to boost, then do it when you are too powered to do anything else. Then you will get that flight you like

But when buying your gear - look for the kind of riding you prefer and buy gear specified for this. Then when doing other stuff "for fun", you can compromise. All kites can do a bit of everything. Off cause some are better than others for specific areas and others are just crap, but I guess you know what I saying.
But I have extreme difficulty resisting the urge to boost as high as possible going out through a break before riding back in - or maybe my answer is to hold down the largest wave specific kite.... power up on going out and max depower coming in, as that is pretty much how I use my Helix's
I am 100 percent with your thoughts on this one - and will also say, that a kite that is good at both boost (hangtime) and waveride does not exist - as they are at the very far opposite ends of kite types and characteristics.

So you have to choose a kite that is equally bad at both, or two different kites

I dont fully agree about the low/high AR difference you mention Plummet - as it is personal choice IMO - but that does not change that we agree that the kites for what is desired are maybe the most complete opposite kite types - thus not possible to find one that does both well

One that does both "okay" yes, but not well

I have chosen to have my big kites as the "boost" kites, and the smaller ones as my wave kites - and where they meet in the middle, I got both a power boost kite and a fast depower wave kite almost the same size - to be able to choose what I want to do in "medium" wind ...




I think i am tending towards the latter (except i will be demoing the new C4 of Jason when it comes in so this may change...ha ha)


From all my research and demoes and money spent on bloody kites, I believe for me anyhow, agree with aspect changes, but thing you are best getting the best at what you want to do. Half way doesn't mean okay at both, it means to me bad at both. because relative to what you can do with a specific kite, it is bad. Again riding style may alter this and also experience. As I spole to one guy on email, he's been at it since 1999, so he gets what a specilaized kite can do.

Starting to really move away from the all rounder idea, the edge has pulled me away at a rate of knots.

Don't believe me, I dare you (not you plummet of course), to get on one and go big.

Anyhow philosophies abound and everyone has their own take.

The other big booster I'm keen to try is the screamer. That is indeed a specialised kite!

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pilotpete said...
Nice review Eppo. Jason and Sonja at west oz let me demo the 13m edge 2013 (the only guys in WA that would demo them). I went back and purchased a 9m, 13m & 17m from them with a std bar and a race bar and lines. Moral, if you don't demo you wont make the sale.
Full marks to Jason and Sonja great service.

ah that was you who had the 11m and meant I had to crack open a brand new 13m - you prick! LOL...cheers for that....yeh I saw them race lines you were getting looked nice....

and agreed above about westoz. it doesn't come cheap demoing kites, even writing them off through tax to a certain degree i would assume. Even so they still have to wear the upfront cost and cashflow differential. What ****s me though is how many guys demo kites then buy somewhere else. Don't know why but when I demo from someone I buy from someone, unless the price is stupid of course, but it invariably isnt. Or course there are those that can only afford second hand so that's fair enough. The rate I'm going with damn kite changes I am quickly falling into that category. Instead of the wife glare I'm getting the wife speak now, which is a bad situation at the best of times.. I'm sure jason my bestess of bestess buddies will do me a good deal....lol

Good on ya pete. Christ mate what business ya in buddy, that's a lot of kite$ their man.

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Emanjay said...
To add some more to Eppos review.....Can't normally be bothered typing a review but hey I've got time so why not.

Had a chance to review the new Edge and Cat recently and heres what I thought.

First up

Rider: Weight 75kg ,Level advanced beginner :-)
Style: Freeriding, BOOSTING
Weather: 17-19 gusty
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: I learnt on Ozone lights, only owned 1 kite other than ozone cat (6,8,10), being a 12 switch nitro.

The 9m Edge. Wanted to try for donkeys as Eppo says. I thought it might be similar to the Switch I have being high aspect and based on what I'd read ie loves speed and gets more powerful the faster you go and faster the more powerful etc resulting in scary speed. Well it was a lot more civilised than the switch in that way, which I find needs a lot more edging, speed control in decent winds else you'll be doing warp speed in no time. The edge did build power with speed but in a nicer way...more refined?? It had a lot more depower on the bar than I'd expected and while it wasn't as much as the cats, I expected little so was really surprised. It was slower to turn than the cats but expected and not what its meant to do. I know its a race kite but I have no interest as yet in 2m long fins and giant expensive boards and going in a straight line (else I'd be into windsurfing ;-))))) so my main interest was boost. I had big expectations and wasnt dissapointed. The lift is not savage but not gentle either. My most memorable sessions are on the small cats in 30+ and being ripped off the water....it doesn't do that but it does give MENTAL hangtime which I would take a very long time to get bored of. So in a sentence, much friendlier than I'd expected, great boost, not sure you could get more hangtime without buying a paraglider, relatively slow turning and better depower than you might think. If you want to ride fast and glide around the place, perfect.

The Cat 10m. Fast. My 10m cat isn't actually a cat, its the light xc which was what the cat replaced and I think is very similar. I learnt on mine, my mrs learnt on mine and so did my brother. Its been punished.....dumped in waves a couple of times etc. It just won't die and still flies great. The new cat is 4 models newer than my 10m and apart from feeling a little quicker, I notice not a huge difference! The new cat looks smaller in the sky (think this is down to the new arc shape) and felt a little weaker for size. I suspect it is actually a little smaller than my old 10m contributing to increase in speed. From the few people who've reviewed them, the feeling is its a totally different ride- used to be a beginners/wave kite, new one so much better etc. Sorry, I don't feel it and this is probably down to my lack of awesomeness but for me its hugely similar to the last few years-which is an awesome all round high quality kite that doesn't seem to do anything badly, so nothing wrong with that.

As soon as Jason gets the new C4's I'll be demoing and probably buying about 30 minutes later. I think the C4 will be a good compromise of performance and forgiveness/usablility. I would like a complete quiver of every Ozone water kite but this is not going to happen. I love the edge but I have a shared quiver with my wife who would probably not enjoy it to much + I want to start getting into looping and this is not the kite for this as far as I can tell. The Cat does nothing wrong but I just think the C4 will be more fun to fly, and hopefully rip me off the water much better as well as give some more power in turns for carving action (cat is a little weak here). I want a C4 with bottom end similar or slightly less than 10m Cat but will wait and see what the feeling is regarding this years batch. They seem to get more bottom end every year from what I read....recall the first C4 being consistently rated as weak for comparable size...will see.

Cheers

PS Jason and Sonja at Westoz (who give me nothing to say this other than good service) are great to deal with as above people have said. Jason will happily pull new kites out for you to demo and is hugely knowledgeable in lots of different riding styles but humble and understated (good aussie trait) and Sonja could teach a lot of people in retail how to do business rather than just order product, add 50-100% and sell. Always calls back etc...just good service, hard to find these days.

Really nice review dude. Refined is a word you used well. Agree it builds speed just right, infact I would go as far to say you build the speed as you wish...to a certain level ha ha...

Also I agree it is not a rip (although in the right conditions with the right technique others might differ, but yeh I'm a donkey as far as these kites go to), but the hangtime and glide is, well it's the farqen best there is, full stop.

I was trying to be nice on my little Cat expose, but nw it's out there, I agree.

Soft cock comes to mind but that would be very indecent of me. It's like doing a silent pffff fart when all ya wanna do is rip out a big one. Yes I'm all class. But that is what was going through my head when riding it. But again, it needs to be in higher winds, and in those winds you would be loving that stability. Gotta be fair, hey.

Also I always greet sonia by saying the brains of the outfit! Just to give some **** to jason but there is truth to it. They make a good team, jason is relaxed give some info but never pushes his ideas, Sometimes I wish he would, so I could make a decision, but that's not his style. Yep all good.

C4 maybe, don't know it falls into that category i was talking about. I mean it is freestyle, wakestyle C. So what do we do, bang it on freeride and leave it there. Well that's what I would do. Don't know man, I reckon if the surf was up I'd wanna be a surf kite, like a reo. Why farq around, infact the reo loops reall good as I found out the other day, really pulls ya through, which surpised me actually. But alas I do see sense as well to what you and Plumett are saying.

C4 Demo will tell all. let's bang on again for lengthy posts, I'm already starting to **** myself and I'm doing the typing.

just another though re the split quiver.

apart from the extreme light and extreme high wind at any one time i can choose from 3 different kites.
15-20knots 15,13,10m
20-25 knots 13,10,8m
20,30 knots 10,8,6
35-35knots 8,6m

So what does this mean? eg well if i feel wave orientated on a 20-25 knot day i can take out my 8m sweet in the waves, if want more boosty 10m but still cool in the waves, stupid gliding 13m....

So I never miss out on a session i feel like because i can draw from a selection of different kites on any one day.

What i'm trying to say is you can have that specialist glide master but still have options for waves at the same time. . . . . .

The bad side. sometime i take the wrong kite and and think. man i'd be having more fun on the XXXX right now.

Today i turned up at the beach and wave greeted with 16-22 knots of cross on clean head high waves. it was an imaculate wave day in taradice. same wind as my epic 13m session the other day. except this day had super wicked waves. So i slapped up the 10m c4 and had so much fun it should have been illegal.

PS the only time i find the c4 not quite as good as the reo is riding down the light its not as drifty. but i prefer it in every other aspect. so let us know how the c4 test goes!...

All true plummet but my wife will have a cow if I have 5 kites! 3 really, and maybe an el cheapo hidden somewhere in the back shed!!

Hey got some idea of the light end spectrum of the 13m today. Looking at the charts in Mandurah look at 3 to 4 o'clock, yes we live in a farqen wind hole. You can stop laughing now

But I have to say you need to add a couple of knots the weather station is in a stupid place tucked in around doddies. It was well 12 to 15 maybe. Anyhow kept my ground on the cb wave and tracked upwind 500m before I got bored on a LW choptop. Same size as a sector but with surfboard fins a little more rocker. Picked up a bit at the end, so mighty fine effort really.

Ooh get the 11m edge on Saturday. C4 can't wait to try. Also gonna try an epic screamer, but me thinks very similar to the VX, which ain't a bad thing mind you.

hehehe... i operate the " its better to seek forgivenss than ask permission and be denied" theory.

Plus 5 kites last alot longer. so your overall spend over the years is the same!

Ah you speak wisdom again, its the old buy two pairs of shoes and they will last longer than one pair bought after the old ones have died idea. Kite selection grasshopper I stand learned again.

Hey plum had just an awesome session today on the 13m edge 2013. Was blowing a healthy mm 14 to 17, you know that wind just before the sand starts to move.

Was swapping over the kite with my bro, as I had the kids, one on the beach and all that jazz...anyhow the first thing I noticed was how smooth my brothers style had become. Now he rides my old 2012 11m rebel, which is a smooth kite that tracks upwind, but the difference was remarkable.

We were using his TT (left the shinn at home), and he was riding some good waves with it, powered TT style, just ripping into sections albeit at high speeds ha ha ha. Jumping smooth, rotations exact, came out and just said quote " well that is the best farqen kite I have ever flown, I want one". Then I told him the price, man he's a tight ass. Lol.

Anyhow plum I got real aggressive at the end, almost manic as I knew it was the last 10 min, and i had swapped the thrusters of my cb wave mutant for TT fins, so on a 147 board, 143 wide i was real powered and just boost, cranking into waves, back out, jumping, gliding onto another, jumping, jumping, then one tack through a jump forward rotation transition and I'm back where I started! didnt even go out that far, damn these things track. Don't run out of breath kiting much, but I did.

I just can't wait to get on the 11m, oh yeh what bar pressure do you ride it on, we changed it to the lightest, much quicker turn, more vertical jumps, but you needed to redirect properly. On the middle setting don't matter how you bring it across, you just glide.

Which one you use?

Anyone out there ridden both this and the 2012? Any major differences apart from the arimid bridles?

Anyone?

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eppo said...
.... on a 147 board, 143 wide .....

That's a really wide board!

Next year I'm in for an Edge too! So far I sold a 2013 11m and a 13m and both buyers are stoked. They and I usually ride Cats and C4s. I'm waiting to fly my new Cats as soon as the winds picks up in the Netherlands. C4s will be here within 2 weeks.

Oops 43cm. Yeh 143 is an insanely wide board no wonder I was powered up. Ha ha ha

yep running out of breath or wearing yourself out!!.. done that before. epic stuff. playing right in the fun zone of the swell, back and foward, back and foward,,,, oh yeah.

I run all my kites on the lightest bar pressure setting except maybe my 6m which is middle.

Much wisdom going on here....

After a bit of quiver fiddling myself, i've found some characteristics you can live with as a comprise and some are frustrating hates.

Everyone is different and enjoy kiting in different ways, maybe even the lawn mowers??

Righto, got out on the 11m today, twice. Once at the pond in about 20 to 23 (readings said 23 to 25 but I didn't believe it), then at secret harbour with Munro. Now his wind meter was saying 18 to 21, 22 gusting to 26, but at times it felt like a sh1t load more than that, yet less as well, it was a gusty day all round.

As wishy, cauncy and a few others have said to me, the 11m is the sick size for free ride in this particular kite concept and they are not wrong. Given my small time on these, personal technique flaws and the fact that it was a demo from Westoz( ta Jason.... Again!), I would say I was tapping into 40 to 60 percent of its potential and still going big enough to make me speechless at times and start dribbling incoherently as I venture out to sea wondering wtf just happened. Just a kind of perplexed slack jawed vacant stare as beeblebrox must have felt in hitch hikers guide to the galaxy when his mind was exposed to the universe for a split second.

So I went to secrets for three no four reasons ( would have rather just head back home to my platform friendly local), one to see an edge rider on the new ones and ask him what he thought, to get on his new epic screamer 9m, to see how my 75kg frame would hold up to onshore mushy crap in 20 plus knots on the 11 edge and also to actually meet Munro as he's had a rough trot lately. Real nice guy, was a pleasure to catch up.

Anyhow enter the amateur, choppy as hell, waves coming in at all farqen angles, 20 plus on the 11m edge, basically the worst set of water conditions for riding a kite that needs to be edged continually as the apparent wind builds, to add, just after what you could call waves, I would tend to call them dogSh1t, just rising and falling swells at every angel possible, yeh an edges nightmare. I thought Farq here we go...but alas although I had to hold my speed at sea, this was not a problem really, even when losing the edge, bang the back foot in on the next swell line and presto. Man it was gusty wind today, and the edges stability is amazing, it doesn't shoot forward and back, just absorbs it. I wouldn't say I was comfortable, but give me a month or so on these and I would be calmly cautious...although I probably would have dropped down a size.

Coming into the waves, I'm starting to consider this is a bloody good TT surf kite, a TT that can hold a big edge mind you. Wouldn't be caught dead on a SB on this beast, but the continual refined pull, can be translated into some real high speed cranking surf runs. Anyhow TT riding is not really surfing, but bloody fun nevertheless. Again some of the jumps even at 50 to 60 percent potential were outstanding. Do two jumps and you are a loooong way downwind, but one tack and ya back.

Anyhow enough from the edge smuck, enter the expert. Riding edges for a while this guy and been at it since 1999 so I already had respect for him ( yes gen y look it up in the dictionary you piss ant soft cocks), where was I, oh yes ...on his CB tempo (again respect) with minimal flex, yeh he was going up man. Smooth, glide and nice land, infact I crashed three times on his epic screamer looking back watching him jump! Well looking back and up up up.

More importantly than all that previous bullsh1t ( yeh even I know it is), he said the 2013 is a much improved kite in that he always had to watch his edge on the 2012, could indeed get too much speed ( I'm paraphrasing now as it was blowing a gale), but he always felt he could control it.

I think Munro said "yes this is kite is more efficient". So there you have it, at least I could bring you all an opinion of someone who actually counts as opposed to the stupid author of this post.

As a side I did go out on his screamer 9m, and I feel I went down another cog and found only 40 percent of its jumping efficiency, but Farq me that kite packs a serious punch, serious air, and if ya not careful it could rip ya balls off and stuff them in ya mouth. But that's for another post.

Hope this helps padres.

Another great (and entertaining) review Eppo

Thanks for taking the time

hahahaha.. I don't know what you said! that was half a dozen paragraphs of gobledegook. I'm picking its bable for an extremely excited kiter!.

None the less i enjoyed it.

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Plummet said...
hahahaha.. I don't know what you said! that was half a dozen paragraphs of gobbledegook....

I guessed it was Australian English..... Flying doctors and crocodile dundee ^2.

Just wante to a big thank to Sonya & Jason @ West oz, their customer service is top shelf.

I do t go slow on the pies and at 6'2 clock in at almost 100kgs. I picked up a 2013 13m edge late September from West Oz and have been out almost every possible day, 30-50km each time on the GPS (btg-31)
There is alot of talk of taking the 13m over 30knots and that was my goal i worked towards. There has been some scarry sessions, the recent NWs a few weeks back and the likes of last Sunday at Woodies. Been riding it with TT (31knots max), air 5'6 converse, sector 60 ( in as light as 11knots) manaro v1(28knots last sunday) and its been awesome, in high wind manageable. Its been brillant and served me in well in a wide wind range.

I will say this, in over 25knots it wasnt casual careless fun anymore, it as survival!! Over 30knots fully depowered the feeling of being lifted out the water even when the kite is steady at 12, not pleasant.

Today i cracked open a 2013 9m edge from west oz and headed out in 22knots, the fun was back and the whole session i spent thinking why anybody would want to ride so over powered? In lighter wind than sunday on a 9m i smashed the max speed on the gps compared to sunday on a 13m (both times riding the M v1)
With just 2 kites (not counting the 2008 16m SW in the back of the store room) and a couple boards types, im now good from 11knots to 35knots without fearing i'll end up dragged to the hills or launched into oblivion!

Being new to WA Also a big thank you to all the locals ive been fortunatee enough to have shore side conversations with about regarding the edges, local conditions, local area rules etc.
Its a great kiting community and good to be here.

At the risk of being labelled a reformed "over powered junkie" pussy......or a conservatist.
I just would like to comment a little on riding over powered. I have a bad reputation in this area and having had a recent mindblowing day on my 9m edge ...winds gusting to 40 knots i would like to just add a word of caution to this thread.
Kiting overpowered is dangerous. Ozone do not recomend this. I watched the carnage at a particular spot 2 weekends ago of guys with only 1 kite in the quiver ... pumping up a 12m in 35knots with f..k all experience only to be trashed a short while later.. While some of us "burger junkies" or real size men can get away with holdng and edge its not just about that. Last year year i had a bad experience on an 11m in winds gusting up 40knots ... i got lofted and had to pull the safety for the first time in years. Shreaded the kite on the rocks and did some damage to knees and shins on said rocks.
Anyone reading this thread ... please dont think that Edge or any kite for that mater is safe when flying overpowered. Try and stick to the manufacturer recommendations. A quote from a kitpower blog i read earlier this week from Rhys a highly respected well known kiter.. if it 30 plus knots dont pull out your 12m single quiver kite ... pull out your credit card or your beach chair and a stubbie and watch.
I cant believe im writing this, but as i said what i witnessed the other was shear maddess.
Oh and Plummet .... yes the boosting on a 9m when the wind was peaking at the high 30s... low 40s was insane......
and Eppo .... glad you are loving the edge ..... i think gaga wrote a song about this kite ...... im on the edge the edge ....the edge the edge ...the edge the edge the EDGE. im on the edge of glory and nothins gonna get in my way....lol

Rusty you over powered junkie" pussy, conservatist!

I concur totally by the way. At 75kg this is especially true.

The edge is a master piece, the most precise wing I have ever encountered.

I just wish I had got on one years ago....Instead of pissing about with sub-standard wings.

As I said....slow on the uptake!

ps Rusty got some questions for ya' re sizes, will PM you.

dont beat yourself up Eppo .... some of the earlier models weren't that flash...lol

I'm not on the light side, around 95kgs and on my 2011 13m edge it stops being fun at around 22, 23 knots. In fact, at 20+ I would rather be on my 9m.

The edges have a massive amount of power and speed. Many times the wind will drop off and lighter guys will reach for their 12s while I am still blasting on my 9m.

No idea how you guys hang on to your 9m edges in 30 - 40 knots. That's just insane.

Out on an 11m again today. I'm in love.

Anyhow have it to a guy who really is a beginner. Learnt over winter, rides reos on a north nugget and north Wam, can stay upwind, carve a little, can't jump yet.

He said the kite was so easy to use, he looked smooth to!

Yeh 30 to 4o knots on a 9m damn you must go big!! Can't see my 75kg frame even with the water years on the monk allowing that!! Although was on the 11m on that crazy Sunday last week. ****ting my pants, but I was there nevertheless! A 9m would have been more practical. Ha ha.

Ps they must be popular Westoz just run out of 11ms 2013 but true to form they have me the demo to use until they arrive. Now that's customer service especially as I'm such an annoying Farq.