The C4 is the kite from Ozone that you should be trying based on what you've said about your riding style and more common riding conditions IMO.

The Edge is more of a race/old school hooked in freestyle type of kite, the C4 will go better in waves. We don't recommend the Edge for average beginners because it has the least amount of bar depower of all the Ozone kites. On any day I would find it hard to choose between the 2 unless I was riding in surf, when I would choose the C4 over the Edge. The 10 or 11M C4 would be the size for the winds you picked if your weight is in the 75-90kg range.

Can't really comment on the Norths, Darren can, but from what I've seen of them the Rebel and Evo (4 line rebel?) are very similar and would suit your needs too.

poor relative said...

I've got a quiver of the Rebels - 7 and 9 they suit me for most conditions in Perth. I'm gonna pick up a 5 later in the season as well just to keep for those wild days.

The Rebel is a great kite for what you want, it goes great in the waves, is very stable has a fair bit of grunt but is also great for freeriding. By freeriding i mean boosting board offs and that old skool stuff.

I used the first Edge when they were 5th line in the surf and free riding. No-one understood why really, given there were far better surf/freeride kites out there. However the Edge trucks upwind like no other and boosts to another dimension - that has only got more refined as the Edge has matured.
The C4 is exactly like an old C kite except it won't punish you like in days gone by. Its very controllable and very fun. SammyJ was using the C4 purely in the waves last year. So i guess it must work. I've only had a quick blast on one so its difficult to have a formulated opinion.
However if it was me out of those two i'd probably choose the C4 - for sizing your better to yarn with your retailer as i really can't comment.

If you chose North i would go a Rebel. At 16-25 knots probably a 9m depending on how chubby you are. If you don't like the 5th line (personally i do) then go the fuse.

But that's just my opinion.

+1,
love the rebels, i'm 78kg and have the 5,7,9 quiver, great for perth, the best all round kite at the moment

the walks said...

poor relative said...

I've got a quiver of the Rebels - 7 and 9 they suit me for most conditions in Perth. I'm gonna pick up a 5 later in the season as well just to keep for those wild days.

The Rebel is a great kite for what you want, it goes great in the waves, is very stable has a fair bit of grunt but is also great for freeriding. By freeriding i mean boosting board offs and that old skool stuff.

I used the first Edge when they were 5th line in the surf and free riding. No-one understood why really, given there were far better surf/freeride kites out there. However the Edge trucks upwind like no other and boosts to another dimension - that has only got more refined as the Edge has matured.
The C4 is exactly like an old C kite except it won't punish you like in days gone by. Its very controllable and very fun. SammyJ was using the C4 purely in the waves last year. So i guess it must work. I've only had a quick blast on one so its difficult to have a formulated opinion.
However if it was me out of those two i'd probably choose the C4 - for sizing your better to yarn with your retailer as i really can't comment.

If you chose North i would go a Rebel. At 16-25 knots probably a 9m depending on how chubby you are. If you don't like the 5th line (personally i do) then go the fuse.

But that's just my opinion.

+1,
love the rebels, i'm 78kg and have the 5,7,9 quiver, great for perth, the best all round kite at the moment

78kg hey what's ya bottom/top end on the 9?

Hi Eppo,

It's been a while and thanks for the vote of confidence, much appreciated.

OK, I have flown all of these kites and can offer an informed objective opinion. Firstly, the things that group all of these kites together is they all boost HUGE, they are all fairly grunty, however, in saying that, their grunt is all very different, and they are all what I refer to as "Premium" brands. A premium brand is one that uses the best available technology and materials and has an unhealthy obsessive attention to quality and detail of finish. Thats about where the similarity ends.

The North Rebel - was our biggest selling kite last year and for good reason, it was amazing for what it was made for (waves and freeride). The D2 cloth made a big and noticeable difference to the performance across it's entire wind range with a similar feel to the kite regardless of over or under powered. The turning is very direct and very quick and the power is mad. The Rebel is touted as a wave and freeride kite and to that end I reckon it pretty much nails it although I reckon it freerides better than it wave rides IMHO.

The Rebel when compared to say, an Ozone Reo for instance, is not as good in the waves, but that's like comparing a a Hummer to a Subaro Forrester, they are built for different needs.

Rebel boosts and has quick, on demand power and responsiveness but no power in loops or turns as it is very hybrid in design and pivots in tight turns. It's a bloody fantastic kite and was duly reflected in the numbers we sold.

The Fuse - came onto the scene quite late in the season as it is usually mid season released. The Fuse being 4 line with a small bridle and pulleys has a less direct feel in steering to the Rebel but turns equally fast. The power from the Fuse is a little more than the Rebel and again is really "on demand". Pull in the bar and there's ample power to do what you need to do. I think the wind range is smaller on the Fuse than on the Rebel comparing 10m's the Reb 15-30 and the Fuse 14-26.

The Fuse is also a boost and wave style kite but I find it can be a little stally (is that a word?) when deep in the wind window in lighter winds when going down the line. It is easy to sheet out and get it going again and so you make compensations as you ride.

I think the Fuse will boost bigger than the Rebel (but not by much) if you can hold it down but Rebel is easier to manage when over powered and is easier to boost big. I think the Fuse would have sold almost as well as Rebel if it were released at the same time. Most noticeable feature is the bottom end power, it's just massive and put to good use, you can use it to get you out of sticky situations. Both Fuse and Rebel go upwind really well.

Ozone Edge - I am a little biased here because I love big air and appreciate a fine kite. The Edge is also quite grunty but doesn't have the "on demand" style power of the Fuse or Rebel. It's power is subtle until you let it build up a bit of pace, then the power doesn't so much as smack you in the head as it just kinda comes on like a performance turbo in a car. The faster you go, the more power it developes. I like this because it allows me to ride slowly keeping the power under control when I ride overpowered until I see a nice little ramp, then I let go the brakes, speed up and send it. Oh, the launch is awesome, so smooth and fast and the hangtime and height is really quite absurd. I mean man wasn't meant to fly but I do question that when flying the Edge at times.

You feel the paraglider/hang glider design built into the Edge as the designer, Robbie Whittal came from there in his past. It's undeniable and no other kite feels quite like it. The Edge is the most refined and perfect wing (I use that term purposely) I have ever flown. Having gushed on about it's flight characteristics, it is not without its short comings.

The Edge is not a wave kite, it's power cannot be shut off simply by sheeting out on the bar as is needed in a wave kite like the Rebel and Fuse. It turns fast but not as instantly as the Fuse or Rebel, once it goes, it is really fast and can surprise you when overpowered, but again, not a wave kite. There are better kites for this. It's just beautiful to fly, cranks upwind like mad and the power is strong, but only if you let it have it's way.

Relaunch on all three kites is simple and I like all three but for my needs, it's the Edge, for yours, sounds to me like a Rebel.

I hope this goes some way towards answering your questions.

Cheers mate,

DM

Glorious review AKS.

I too feel the paraglider insane feel of the edge.... VERY nice... The only other kites I have flown the compare in the glide stakes is the ozone manta depower foils. Infact they are less lifty but more glidy.... you glide long time on the manta. Not a coincadence that they are disigned by the same bloke.

Any way i have a question.

If you had to choose between 11m edge and 13m edge what would it be? I'm loving my 11 edge but i may not have enough funds to fun and 11m and 13m at the same time and i'm hunkering for lower end.

Hey Plummet,

I think you may have answered your own question. If you are hankering for bottom end, then the 13 would have to be the choice.

It's 15 to 30+ knots for me on the Edge, but I don't go running to it for the 15 knots stuff, I can go and go well but I like altitude, and altitude required wind strength.

For me, the Edge 11m starts to become really good fun in 25 knots, at 30 knots, I'm just frothing and gagging to get out there. I weigh 90 kilos bare nekid, so prolly around 95 with gear on. My highest jumps ever have been on the Edge, but no where near the scariest, I always feel in total control on the Edge and the flight time feels smooth and predictable. The height is breathtaking but not scary. I loop it just before landing in a big wide lazy loop which gives me a soft and moderately speedy landing but again in total control.

Core GT 7m scared the crap outa me jumping to the same heights, as it was all so vicious and aggressive. The refinement of the Edge is just gotta be ridden to be appreciated. Only an Edge rider knows the level of sophistication of this kite

I've not flown the 13m Edge but with bigger kites comes slower redirect which means less height but more hangtime. I like my jumps to be super high with hangtime.

I'd love to try the 7m Edge in 40 knots, now that would be scary!

Sorry, what was the question.......?

DM

Hey eppo for your riding style in 16-25 i would try a Park or a C4,my pick would be the 10m but youd prob get away with the 9m,love my cardboards wave 10m Park combo,does everything flat/wave/chop,havent ridden a kite thats as much fun as the Park in that range yet,but try both if you can,also i would try the edge but i doubt you'll like it as much in the surf.