Need recommendation for a new 12m and 9m kite. Pls help.
I am looking for the best intermediate level 12m kite. I want a kite that takes little effort, does exactly what I want and let's me enjoy kiting.
My criteria are as follows:
1. Low bar pressure. I suffer from mild kiters elbow so I want a kite that has little bar pressure.
2. Good/great boosting. I love jumping, especially nice floaty jumps. I want a kite that is easy to boost and boosts high. I don't want a kite that boosts well when you get it "dialed in" because I'm no Dimitri and so I can't get it "dialed in" easily.
3. Crisp responsive feel. I want a kite that is responsive not sluggish. I really dislike initiating a turn and then waiting.
4. Relatively easy relaunch and good depower. Because even though I'm a good kiter, you never know what **** can happen.
5. Handles gusts well. Because I never have perfect kiting conditions.
6. Decent wave kite. I don't kite the waves often but when I do, I want a kite that can handle it decently, e.g drifts back without stalling etc.
I don't believe any store or kiting rep or kiting instructor since they always push their ****. I have my doubts about the kiting mags since they push their biggest advertisers. I don't want any small brands since they can't afford to spend money on r&d and make ridiculous claims. Go ahead, call me cynical. I have read many of the online reviews.
I am considering the following:
1. North Rebel (worried about bar pressure and 5th line getting f'kd up when the kite roles over in the waves)
2. rrd Obsession mkV (worried about stalling when using it as a wave kite)
3. Ozone Catalyst (seems to have developed quite a following; ?performance in the waves?, boosting?)
4. Naish Park (looks very appealing but the online forums are always taking about the line attachment settings and that has me worried)
5. Bridled C kite? May be too expert for me ? and besides, the 2014 Ozone C4 has mediocre online reviews.
I have had experience with quite a few kites in my day. My all time favorite was the 12m Eclipse Thuster because it was just PLAIN FUN but it relaunched like ****, couldn't handle gusts and had zero grunt. My worst kite? Don't ask, the list is too long. (And I don't want to incite the raving online bloggers.)
Am I just too picky? Or is there a kite out there that I will truly love?
(If you work for a kite store or as a rep or get ANY cheap or free gear from a particular kite company, please DON'T bother responding... )
cross the obsession off your list if you want a wave kite .
they do like to stall . I've just gotten rid of my obsessions both a mkII and mkIII for ozone catalyst and edge's .
If you want to look at a wave kite from RRD look at the religion
Mate all those criteria really ring true of the new catalyst.
I know jason at westoz uses the catalyst as their teaching kite now (was watching the other day while I was demoing the 12m cat).
Easy to jump, relaunch, just enough C for some unhooked if you so wish and as all ozone kites great bar pressure.
I haven't had it in the waves as yet...No waves in the pond or penguin island inshore...but I did ride at it hard several times in a row and threw bar to fully depower..just sat back very reo like (been on the reo a fair bit).
Watched an 11 yr old boy getting lessons and relaunching this baby and the wind was relatively marginal when out.
The cats are well know for their good behaviour in gusty conditions, know guys who use them in that 25 to 35 range.
Check out kiteforum, some dude on a 4 and 6m in crazy conditions.
Know a guy who has edges and cats and says his jumps are getting close now on the cats as on the edges. I'd have to try that myself and I do have my doubts about this given similar size kite in similar wind but what i did notice is this years cat builds apparent wind not unlike the edge...well like a watered down edge but still it is there. Also loops really nicely and you can control the speed and power really easily.
I'm no retailer, I get no kickbacks... just what I've found.
Don't reckon you'd go wrong with the naish park to, but I know nothing about this kite only what I've read and never flown it.
Not the rebel...a kite I have flown...a lot. Not what you are after by the sounds of it. Great kite, but doesn't match your criteria close enough.
I just got a NRG 10 meter liquid Force after flying the kite on a demo day. I have been kiteing for two years. I had flown and own Fly surfer Unity, Viron , Cabrinha Nomad Epic, Eclipse , Gastra , WInman , Fluid and Peter Lynn kites. You can read so many reviews but you have to fly\test the kite before you purchase. Go to the local kite shop and ask for a demo kites. The kites are expensive and you don't want to get it wrong. cheers
Actually the NRG farqin rocks! A high aspect kite, that drifts unbelievably well and boosts bloody big. If i had the money I have a 10 NRG sitting next to my edges for those big swell days. Again the drift is something to behold...doesn't make sense, but it works.
Little slow on the turn...like the edge...the 8m though would be insane!
Yep don't hear much about this kite, its a bloody winner.
Demo this on man...unhooking though and looping...mmm same probs with all high aspect kites...grow some big balls.
I have actually been kiting for 9 years. The Eclipse Thrusters were around about 4 years ago.
i'VE BEEN kiting for a little longer than two years and I vouch for the NRG though..
Yeah, Thruster is a great kite. But not so good for waves.
May be it's better to get two different kites, as wave kite is not going to boost well. I've heard that Wainman Smokes are very good in waves and can be jumped well. Never rode them, can't comment.
I hope I will get a demo of Epic Screamer, may be it's not so bad in drifting and water relaunching as Thruster.
a wave kite is not going to boost well
thing is the NRG does do both....weird you would have to try it...except it does turn a little slow...not too bad but you need to adjust technique on a wave...not for drift though, outstanding.
Yeh I'm in that above school of thought at the moment, get specialised kites for specialised purposes.
As allround kites go the bandits by f one would-be high on my list if I wanted a do it all kite, along with the catalysts, a good rider can make most Kite work
I had that many kites because I bought them, used them and if I don't like them sold them. I have a few cheap kites for sales to pay for the new one... I love the sport and the people just sharing experience. I am not showing off mate.
I moved from RRD Obsessions and Type 9s to Religions partly because of tennis elbow - much lighter bar pressure
Thanks for the feedback.
I'm reading that the NRG has high bar pressure and slow to turn but boosts well / very floaty and relaunches easily. Sounds like a Airrush Lithium. Doesn't fit all my criteria.
Mmmm didn't notice a high bar pressure not as high as the lithuim. Also boosts much much better than the lithuim, no comparison. Drifts much much better as well.
Bar pressure hey? Didn't notice.
Sounds like you would suit the park. Don't worry about the settings they fly well straight out of the bag. Easy to jump, plenty de power. Good in waves. Make sure you go 2013 not earlier. Solid construction and very light clean bar, no big heavy bits that would knock you out (unlike north bar)
Take one for a spin if you can. Lots of float in the 2013 model. Direct connected back lines with front line bridle so no lag.
^^^lol love my new north bar whats the issue
i do agree with ya on the park tho or the new cat
