Hey guys,

it would be really good to see a season/ year round up, a table of which kites/ boards were SH!T and which were hits.

A lot of times I see comments about dont buy an 07 XXX as they were crap. So for guys that arent buying the latest kites it would be handy to have a refereces table for each year that you could access the pros / cons of the kites.

It seams that every new kite or board is better than last year, but I am sure some are better than others.


could be good permanent addition

I'll start then
Cabrinha Caliber 09
Heavy, cumbersome, unweildy, pads like Guantanamo Bay detention shackes, and flatty refused, even when begged, to go upwind.
Like a boat, there were 2 days when i enjoyed it, day i bought it on the ride home from the shop, and the day i traded it in, once again on the way back to the shop!!!

bit harsh on the calibre...i thought it was a good board....

even the link with the bridle replaced is an ok kite to ride- I don't think you can definitively say that something is necessarily terrible, cos it may work really well for someone else.......

Caliber is a great board, one of the biggest sellers last season. Maybe just not for complete beginners.

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eightfootplus said...

Hey guys,

it would be really good to see a season/ year round up, a table of which kites/ boards were SH!T and which were hits.

A lot of times I see comments about dont buy an 07 XXX as they were crap. So for guys that arent buying the latest kites it would be handy to have a refereces table for each year that you could access the pros / cons of the kites.

It seams that every new kite or board is better than last year, but I am sure some are better than others.


could be good permanent addition

What i'd like to see would be something beyond the forum posting of reviews and something along the lines of either
www.kiteboardingreview.com/
or
something like they have over at BackpackingLight
backpackinglight.com/forums/forum/commerce/reviews/

I just think that the current review process

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inverted said...

Have tried the 2010 Helix 9m on two short sessions:
Rider: 85kg, IKO Level 2 Instructor
Style: Surf, Freestyle, some wakestyle
Weather: 15-24knots Small 1m waves with flatwater inside.
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Disclosure: Loyalty to good service at a couple of shops, work for a Kite school but no loyalty to brand or kites. I fly what impresses me.
Kite Type: Hybrid, bridled no pulleys.
...

could be taken a little further...

Howsabout opinions restricted to gear you own/ed so as to avoid the usual circus of brand XX is cr@p from rival company pimps.[}:)]



Own 9m eclipse Nano:
Rider: 85kg, intermediate
Style: Twin-tip Freeride, Mushy Surf, Downwinders - Perth metro mostly
Weather: 14-30 knots Small 1m waves.
Build Quality: 8.5/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: No benefits at all - just chuffed with the performance, build and cost.
Kite Type: Hybrid/SLE bridled one pulley per side. Kite has a bit less flat section than most SLE's (I think?).
Pros: Grunty , Great bottom end, Super stable and well behaved, relaunch is easy, 'Know where the kite is bar feel' (meduim heavy - not heavy), True allrounder, good boosts, good one-handed surf riding (dunno about unhooked tho). Nice bar padding. Straps above the bar, safety below.
Cons: Quick release is safe enough but a bit naff. Mini 5th could be a bit longer for better total power kill. A few minor details lacking but nothing essential.


Pretty chuffed (as documented here on SB) with my 09 Nanno 9m. Great allrounder and now i have had some good powered up seshs on it, the thing jumps better than i thought it would too. Not an exactly an electric excitement machine but very good allrounder. HIT!



Alas haven't tried any boards for a few years. Love my LF Drop 136 but looking for a replacement that is basically the same but 3cm wider? Love the round-ish rails and concave. Suggestions?

Go the Silly Mo Bro,

thats the idea, the kite or board type & year and then links to the reviews.