Started riding on a 09 12 m Naish cult helix.

Looking at purchasing a new kite probably a 10m kite and have been suggested a 10m Ozone Catalyst.

Want an all round kite for flat water and some waves which will help me progress from beginner to intermidiate.

Anyone have a ozone catalyst 10m 12 that can provide me with some positives and negatives or does anyone have any non bias suggestions on what kite has helped them progress.

Im 90 kg and will use this kite mainly in winds from 15 to 28

Only other kite i have ridden is a 10m 2012 Reo and found that to be pretty simple.

Cheers

Ben

hi ben what weight are you and in what winds do you ride, ive got the catalyst 8 as my high wind kite nice allround kite , depends on what your goals are , and what conditions you want to ride in and on, possitives awsome in strong gusty conditions awsome depower, good boost, quick turning close to the reo at this size, and the usual ozone quality build, negatives are it doesnt get into the mid 30 knts regular to make the most of this kite on a tt, if you want to ride the waves its the reo if you want to nail tricks its the c4, fast freeride with big ahuge air and hangtime the edge ( awsome kite) , most brands have their specific kites so youve got a big choice

soory ben im a retard didnt see your weight and winds at first glance, a tricky one with the winds, the 10 would be perfect at the higher rate of knts , but well underpowered at the lower, at the lower no 10 or 12mtr kite is going to be epic, the catalyst 10 would have a similar power output as the helix 12, with those winds and your weight id be picking the 12

cheers for the reply cauncy

The problem im facing is the days im missing out on over winter with the frontal conditions looks like im probably going to have to go for a smaller kite also 8 - 10 - and have the 12 helix for when im experimenting with new spots as its already met a tree.

or go a 9 - 12 combo

Ive been kiting now for about 4 months and can cruise fine but havent started jumping yet would going straight to a C kite be to brutal ?

Are the edges easy to relaunch out of the water ?

10m cat will be very similar to a 10m reo. the reo more drifty the cat more lifty.

10m cat will be a nice kite but its not my choice for the wind range you list.

i say go for a 10m c4. thats the kite i use 16-30 knots. its faster turning more dynamic taht the catalyst and still rides waves sweeeeet.

pd no the c4 wont be too brutal.

if you want something to sit above your 12 then go to an 8m catwhich will work 20-35 knots.

As cauncy says the cat willl be a better gust muncher in storm conditions.

don't bother with the edge for now. it will build too much speed/power to quickly for you with only 4 months under your belt. wait a year before you consider it.

Thanks for the reply plummet looks like ive got afew decisions to make !!!

Few months to sorte my quiver out before summer breezes cant wait !

Kiterben, I've had both the 12 and 8m catalysts - both have their pros and cons, and for wind range you talking about, be better those sizes than a 10m. have used 8m on twin tip 20k onwards to 37k and 12m 15 to 25k

I would consider going the 10 and keeping your 12. Most seabreezes will be enough for the 10 and is so much better than a 12 in anything over 17kn

TurtuleHunter

Yeah that's the conclusion I've come to get a 10m keep the 12m and maybe at the start of winter next year go for an 8m as well for the fronts.

I know my other newbie mate can hold his rio 10m in 30 knots an he is 20 kg less then me so I recon the 10 m and 12m combo should keep me happy this summer.

Thanks everyone for the information greatly appreciated!

For a 50:50 split of flat and waves, I'd go a C4. Not a 10 though if its a one kite quiver cause thats pretty heavy for a 90kg rider...

If you want to progress as you said and ride 50/50 in the waves and an ozone kite, then you have to go the C4 for sure.

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eppo said...

If you want to progress as you said and ride 50/50 in the waves and an ozone kite, then you have to go the C4 for sure.

I disagree Eppo
The Catalyst kills the c4 in the waves and unless your fairly advanced the c4 will feel gutless and only really improves your kiteloops and unhooking.
Of coarse for someone like you Eppo with more experience on c kites the c4 has that natural c feeling too.

At that weight in my own opinion and from experience, you'll be better off getting an 11m to cover that wind range (different brand as Ozone Cataysts only in even numbers) and then get an 8m Cat or something similar later to make up a good two kite quiver as I presume your Helix will eventually get too old depending condition. There's alot of great 11m all rounders out there now that do the job in waves/flatties

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TurtleHunter said...

eppo said...

If you want to progress as you said and ride 50/50 in the waves and an ozone kite, then you have to go the C4 for sure.

I disagree Eppo
The Catalyst kills the c4 in the waves and unless your fairly advanced the c4 will feel gutless and only really improves your kiteloops and unhooking.
Of coarse for someone like you Eppo with more experience on c kites the c4 has that natural c feeling too.

Yeh but he did say 50/50 that's all? Will he really progress that far on a cat on flat water? Just was taking that into account. But yeh from a beg to intermediate ya prob right.

I agree with eppo.

you will progress more with a c4.

cat will be the safe choice for learn. c4 will take you further. .. . . . . .

Hey wonder what gutter mouth has to say. Be interesting to hear his experienced opinion.

Hey,

I have decided for now to get a cat 10m for the summer conditions this year and get abit more miles under my belt.

Im prepared to update my kite every year and keep a two kite quiver.

Ill keep my naish 12m and get a cat 10m for summer and then at the start of winter after the seabreezes have gone get a 8 m c4 to keep me going durring winter. Im 90 kg and see alot of little frames munching frontals on the 7m so ill probably have to go abit bigger.

Ben the only thing is, the catalyst would be better as your winter kite, it is more 'stable'? and predictable and make the 10m a C4.

cheers lol quite a complicated thing to choose a kite !

Thanks everyone for the help !!

Hey KiterBen

I havent flown a Catalyst, but did test a 9m C4 several years ago (2010)
At the time I was flying Rebel's and I wanted a kite to progress to that next level as I found the Rebel was pretty much pull and go.

To make that next step with a C4 style of kite, you have to really get your timing right and work the kite really well. The C4 will allow you to do that without trashing you as much as the old C style kites. My only complaint was it was a bit underpowered for the relevant kite size ie the 9m had the power of an 8m.
Another friend who was a much better kiter than I, agreed it was a little underpowered for the size but he could get more out of it than I did.

I believe the later models improved slightly in this area. They are a great kite just be careful with the size you need.

I may be able to contribute here having owned Cats in the 6m, 8m, 10m and 12m sizes.

If you've tried the 10m Reo, it is similar to the Cat. See if you can borrow it for a few more flies in different wind strengths to get a better feel.

I'd suggest that at 90kg on a twin tip, you will need:

- 12m towards your lowest wind range of 15kn
- 8m towards your highest wind range of 30kn

With Ozone sizing we all have the problem of which sizes for a 2 kite quiver. Assuming you don't keep your 12m Naish, you have the following options:

- Cat 12m, 10m
- Cat 12m, 8m
- Cat 8m, 10m

With this in mind, it becomes a choice of either maximising the wind range OR maximising the sweet spots of the kites. The 8,12m combo will provide maximum wind range but leave you slightly over/under powered at the end of each kite's limit. However a 10m will provide the sweet spot and will probably end up being your go-to kite most of the time if you have a 8-10-12 combo. Further, and I reckon this is important, if you had to fly a one kite quiver it would surely be the 10m.

SO, while there is a strong argument for a 8-12m 2 kite combo to maximise wind range, there is also a strong argument that you should simply start with the 10m if it's the one kite which best suits your weight and wind range, then you add another kite size where you feel you require it.

Another consideration is what boards you will be using. Surfboards allow you to go down significantly in kite size.

Due to Ozone sizing and wanting to maximise sweet spots, I have ended up with 6-8-10 Cats previously and now 6-8-10 Reos (70kg).

Thanks bene313

Yeah ill definitely hang on to the Naish as it was the first kite that got me up and going and I think you develop abit of a soft spot for the kite that does that. It is still a fun kite to ride and is good for the 15 to 25 knots but I can't seem to push the bar out far enough in winds over that.

I've been learning to kite during winter so it has been a little bit frustrating with winds to strong then not enough ect. My fellow learning buddy purchased a REO as his first kite knowing it was a dedicated wave kite but he could get it for a good deal because it had been a demo kite. His been able to kite a few more days where I have been restricted to the beach because my kite has been to big. The 27 - 30 odd gusty conditions which he seems to handle ok on the REO especially as he is only 70 kg.

At my weight im hoping the 10 m cat will cover a broad range of say 17 to 28 which would mainly be the conditions I will kite in.

I have used the 10m Reo quite a few times now and just really enjoy its simplicity. Nice and easy to fly set up and pack down. Nice and light so it floats back alot quicker than the ole naish as it tends to roll back on itself abit if I head towards it on a wave ( this could be the user ).

I'd go and buy a 10m Reo but when we both progess to the jumping stage i want to go higher hahah.

I'm riding a 141 X 42 Fr Cardboards


Then abit further down the track ill go for an 8m to cover beyond that.

Ben

17-27 will be the sweet zone for a 10m cat. buy it!

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KiterBen said...

At my weight im hoping the 10 m cat will cover a broad range of say 17 to 28 which would mainly be the conditions I will kite in.

You have the opportunity to borrow your mates so I'd be doing that and testing his 10m in 17-20kn.

Might be pushing it at 17kn but both board choice and skill advances make a difference. Kiters often look at increasing their wind range through multiple kites, however another option often overlooked is board choice. Eg, use a wide surfboard on light wind days and a twin tip when it's nuking.

You wont regret getting the Cat. They are great allrounders which are simlple, fun and easy to fly.

Hey,

Well after all that I ended up getting a good deal on a 10m C4. Have only managed to use it twice so far once in about 13 - 15 knots so I just flew it on the beach and stuffed around in the shallows on a 6, 8 surfboard and today in 20 to 25 and absolutely love the kite. It's responsive, powerful and the re - launch is great even in bugger all wind it relaunched and floated in the sky no worries at all. When the breeze gusted up a couple of times it was pulling like a tractor.
I'm not experienced enough to be able to utilize the kite to its full potential but hopefully it will help me get there.
Had a bit of trouble self – landing as the only other person around was kiting but other than that im completely satisfied.
Decided against the catalyst in the end because my kiting buddy and I share our kites with each other so thought I would add something a bit different into the mix.
Once again thanks for everyone's comments.

The right choice Ben, regardless of your reasons. Much better kite.

sweet.. 10m c4 is my fav kite on the water....

They solo land sweet on a teather. thats my prefered option.

or I hover the kite 1m off the deck the big the front lines a harty yank. as the kite falls foward i wind pull in 3 meters or so of top front line and that drops the kite on its nose.

Ps be ready to ditch it on the safety using the yank and pull method. it works most times but can be hairy in 25+ knots.

To get the most from the C4 work it like a bitch. the more you zing it around the better it goes and the bigger you grin.

For air time the same goes. slam that kite back hold it there and then slam it foward for a fast redirect and yourl get a nice soft landing. If your not agressive with the redirect yourl come down quite fast unless your really powered.

Enjoy.

I managed to try the methods of landing but for some reason the front lines got tangled around the bar so the kite began to fly out of control. I ejected the first safety that had no affect then the kite began to make a big ark fully powered so i just let go the other safety. The kite fell out the sky and i managed to grab it before it tumbled in the scrub lol


First time ive managed to stuff it up so badly but its all part of the learnig process.

Note: The beach was empty no one to be injured by a flying kite that is the only reason i attempted the landing.

Yeh had same experience well not exactly the same on the Vegas this year. Knew I was in the sh1t pretty early and released off the chicken loop and did the mad dash, reckon would have given bolt a run for his money. Pretty embarrassing after so many years kiting but hey we all have brain fades. Glad ya didn't stuff ya new kite man.

Very lucky !

Great conditions coming up for my local this monday so i will get to use it abit more cant wait!

Happy kiting

Ben

lets face it shiit happens every now and then no matter how good you are. have you tried walking up the front lines method? thats a little safer than the yank and pull method.