Hi everyone,

Was wondering if anyone has spent enough time on both to compare. Particularly interested in comparing sent jumps, hang time, bar pressure, turning, turning while depowered, hooked looping, gusty conditions, depower / top end and where they sit in the window. Mostly interested in old school hooked in, flat water and chop, but comments for unhooked and waves also appreciated.

Cheers,
Holgs

Can you explain further your requirements?

I have never ridden a Catalyst. I have an 11m 2012 Park and a 9m 2013 Park. I like the ease of use, fast turning (the 9m is almost too fast for my liking), how well it turns even when depowered or with slack lines, the light bar pressure and the high end control.

However, in the 9 m I would like some easier jumping and more float. I find my timing needs to be spot on to get air and a smooth landing. This makes grabs, rolls etc harder. I guess I am looking for a kite with all the features that I like about my Park plus some of the easy jumping and float of my Edge. Is the Catalyst anything like that?
Since I don't unhook I don't care too much about unhooked performance.

Thanks.

Select to expand quote

holgs said..

I have never ridden a Catalyst. I have an 11m 2012 Park and a 9m 2013 Park. I like the ease of use, fast turning (the 9m is almost too fast for my liking), how well it turns even when depowered or with slack lines, the light bar pressure and the high end control.

However, in the 9 m I would like some easier jumping and more float. I find my timing needs to be spot on to get air and a smooth landing. This makes grabs, rolls etc harder. I guess I am looking for a kite with all the features that I like about my Park plus some of the easy jumping and float of my Edge. Is the Catalyst anything like that?
Since I don't unhook I don't care too much about unhooked performance.

Thanks.

what size edges are you on, just the upper sizes are a less dynamic kite, the 9 and 7 are a very different kite in speed of turn, looping,and boosting, the 10 , 11 and beyond will give you great float and hangtime but not that vertical lift as the smaller sizes in the correct winds, if you tune the 7 to its optimnum itll turn as quick as youd want, plus the loft, hangtime, and smooth landings, same as the 9, basically dont judge the upper sizes of the edges the same, as for the new 2014 cats not too many reviews yet to compare

Hey cauncy, how do you find the edge 7? I got the 9 and 11 edge with the cat 8 2013 for my high wind kite,been thinking about the 7 edge but not sure if it gives you the amazing freeride that the 9 and 11 do?whats your thoughts mate?

depends what you require ste, if you want the edge ride in high winds its the go, to be honest its a tad twitchy as its hunting for the wind all the time, the arc of turn is totally different from the 9 and youve got to use your body especially in jumping transitions, certainly the biggest booster on a wind to size comparison though, the edges get a bit of flack as a slow turner, in the upper winds and tuned up its pretty good, enjoyed the cats over the last few years as a high wind kite , but they lacked that bit of power even in the upper wind range for me, sounds like the 2014 has some more grunt though so carnt comment, get a demo of both in identical winds and see what suits, however the are a few kites in this category now which sound like worth trying

Cheer mate,may also look at the new reo,you had a blast on one yet cauncy?

Thanks Cauncy. My Edge is an 11m 2012. I might have to give a smaller Edge a go then.