Hi guys,
Has anyone tried the new rebel in 12M? Just been reading some mag reviews which look like North advert and I´d like to hear the views of someone who actually did had a go with it.
Thanks in advance.

We have been flying a couple since June, are you asking the difference from 2015?

Yes he is.

I have tried the 2016 13m rebel but it was only for 20 minutes or so on a crappy 12-15/16 WSW winter wind so reluctant to make any comment. I was riding it back to back with my dynos.

Have just picked up a local WA surf team riders' 14/10 2016 rebels and have a couple of weeks to have a squiz.

If the wind plays ball I may be able to give some feedback for you.

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BrisKites said..
We have been flying a couple since June, are you asking the difference from 2015?

... how about the 16m, have you tried it yet?

Hey Coaxial,

Where are you located??

Let me know and ill try and organize you a demo, so you can try for yourself.

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JBFletch said..
Hey Coaxial,

Where are you located??

Let me know and ill try and organize you a demo, so you can try for yourself.

Fletch not sure you can organise a demo in Spain? Maybe you can...

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Puetz said..

BrisKites said..
We have been flying a couple since June, are you asking the difference from 2015?

... how about the 16m, have you tried it yet?

We have one rider here with the 16m, waiting to hear back from him. I know there is a 16m in Darwin, why ask me?

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BrisKites said..

Puetz said..

BrisKites said..
We have been flying a couple since June, are you asking the difference from 2015?

... how about the 16m, have you tried it yet?

... I know there is a 16m in Darwin, why ask me?

... 'cause you've been flying a couple since June

Not the 16m sorry

What have you found on what sizes?

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BrisKites said..
Not the 16m sorry

... cool...!

Spent all morning at kids triathlon now as basketball so I thought why not ....

Had a couple of hours on the 2016 14m rebel Friday arvo. Was was a little variable but a fairly consistent 16/17 sometimes up a bit towards 19 ish. To give some relative input one guy said he was pretty powered on a 12 2015 rebel, one was jumping quite well on a 12m dice (about 85kg) and my bro was on his light wind TT on an 8m dice doing his usual looping routine.

So what can I say? Well, the extra aspect and lighter build is noticeable. On the light bar setting it's surprisingly quick as well. Usual rebel characteristics, obvious 'grunt' but the above changes allows you to bleed out and/or use this power for some surprisingly high jumps. Was going as high or higher than my 13m Dyno, although at 75kg (on a 134 by 40 TT) I did have to manage the load for vertical ascent (this was on flat water by the way). To add, the extra aspect and lighter build does allow you to get this relatively large canopy to the edge of the window better control speed. This was better than previous years for sure.

The hang time afforded has also been a rebel trait, but as you would expect with the design changes, this is noticeably better. Felt I had as much as the Dyno, although that extra lift one generates on a race kite as you redirect was less. That being said the actual float was far more predictable and much less attention was needed in the throw (and kite position) for board offs etc on the rebel and if it was my own kite I felt even after half an hour I could give some more 'adventurous' moves a crack. But it wasn't so I kept it all simple and controlled. The race kite will punish slight mistakes on kite positioning and bar throw.

For water slides, dark. Jesus walk etc it gives a much better consistent pull than the Dyno. So better for this kind of stuff I felt as well.

So it's as you would expect, it's a smooth and refined rebel, but in this size (and I assume the 16 - same profile) it makes for a much better high end free ride kite if going big, board off rotating thing is your ticket. I suppose just basic jumping and cruising it would also be as usual pretty good. I did ride at it a few times and it does sit back nicely enough I suppose a function of its overall stability. But this has always been the case.

Hopefully get on the 10m over the next few days. Not expecting a whole lot of difference though, from reading between the lines the 9-12 sizes haven't changed a whole lot.


Ps oh my bros GF happen to take this grainy iPhone photo yesterday.

Eppo,

I read on the North website that this years bigger size Rebels have a much better low end. Can you comment on this.

Will be looking to replace my 2013 17m Dyno soon. Wondering if the 16m 2016 Rebel will have a similar low end.

Thanks Dan

Well until one rides the 16m in different conditions and different boards whose to know really?

But it if one would be so bold to extrapolate...then I'd say 'what do you mean by a better bottom end?'.

Given the same rider on the same board I suppose it's more a case of 'accessible' bottom end.

...and this really does change depending on how efficient the board is, given the same rider in the same wind speed and water conditions.

The dyno is built much lighter and let's assume the aspect is still higher as well (wish north would publish AR and a lot more technical details to be honest). But even given the aspect is the same, you are dealing with less heavy Dacron, much thinner struts and the ability to pump these struts and the leading edge to 10/8 psi given no one pump. Actual profile also comes into it....but hey lets get to the point.

Rebel is still built much stronger, heavier Dacron used far more, has a one pump system, leading edge and struts are much thicker.

It it all adds weight. This reduces over all efficiency.

So my basic answer is no, how can the 16m rebel have a more accessible bottom end Even with the current changes. 1m bigger and weighs significantly more (still).

But it if you are banging through heavy current on a less efficient board, the extra 'grunt' of the rebel may come through.

Any my other conditions, I'd say no way.

What do you ride (board wise) and in what water conditions? Also what style will you be using it for?

Ps it's not a simple yes or no answer I'm afraid, although some would like you believe that.

Thanks for the detailed response.

Due to work and family I usually kite whatever wind I get on the day I get free so I use a 17m dyno for sub 15 knots. Or I use it for boosting in 18-20 knots.

I mostly use a TT and sometimes a SB if the wind is light. Flat water and waves. I am 95kg low intermediate doing back rolls, basic loops etc. I really like boosting so like using both rebels and Dynos for this. I like to ride with power.

I guess what I am really asking is if I traded my 17m dyno for a 16m rebel would I have as much fun below 15 knots using the same boards.

Thanks.

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danatgbay said..
Thanks for the detailed response.

.. ... I guess what I am really asking is if I traded my 17m dyno for a 16m rebel would I have as much fun below 15 knots using the same boards.

Thanks.

... hey danatgbay,

In my humble opinion I don't think the 16m Rebel will be as capable in light winds as the 17m dyno but I am hoping I'm wrong too.

Good question btw and kind of what I'd like answered too so hopefully some one with direct knowledge can chip in! Only real way is to try it for yourself but that's easier said than done hey!

Just to add a bit more to the discussion, I have a few thoughts.

I still own 2013 17m Dyno (used as my back up light wind kite) and a 2014 14m Rebel so the closest I can get to the discussion. I used to also ride a 2010 16m Rebel a few years ago, which I loved, but it was no where near as good in light winds as the 17m. The old 16m was waaaay heavier especially on the bar. I pulled it out a while back and was shocked at how much of a heavy beast it was,,,, I used to think was good in light winds but not compared to the 17m.

I haven't ridden the 2016 16m Rebel but logic tells me that no it won't be as successful in light winds as the 2013 17m Dyno which is a great park and ride kite, due in part to its light build but also from its high aspect ratio design. The 17m can just float with bugger all winds but if you can sine it a bit and develop some apparent wind, she gets up and boogies and great upwind as you would expect. The bar pressure gets lighter and lighter as the wind picks up so even if your over powered, the kite is easy to ride.

The 14m sits further back in the window and super stable so you need to give it more sining and edging of the board but it also has bigger power spikes so can be a handful if your too aggressive with it. Bar pressure stays the same so technically speaking, is heavier in stronger winds only because the dyno gets lighter as it picks up. Power spikes is not a problem in light winds in fact its a plus when you trying to get up and running but I noticed that I can't park it as easily as the 17m,,, it takes more.

The rebel is definitely a better jumper and less technical to jump than the dyno but that wasn't the main aim of the dyno design. The rebel is better than the 2013 Dyno on a TT as it can handle a bit more drag from a TT when edging hard, it won't shoot too far forward. The rebel sits just a little further back so has more constant pull and easier on the rider.

Good luck on your hunt and hope you get to try one first.

Cheers,

Robbie

Thanks Robbie. Appreciate the comments.

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Puetz said..

BrisKites said..
Not the 16m sorry

... cool...!

Have heard back from the owner of the 16m. Here is his email-

HI Jason Thanks for the email. The kite is very good. I was on the water already 3 times with the wind around 10- 12 knts It is much faster than everybody expected. I could easily do the tricks with kite loops. Soon I will send you the new email after few more sessions
Cheers

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BrisKites said..

Puetz said..

BrisKites said..
Not the 16m sorry

... cool...!

Have heard back from the owner of the 16m. Here is his email-

HI Jason Thanks for the email. The kite is very good. I was on the water already 3 times with the wind around 10- 12 knts It is much faster than everybody expected. I could easily do the tricks with kite loops. Soon I will send you the new email after few more sessions
Cheers

... cheers Jason!

Well I said I'd comment on the 10m. Had three sessions on it now. Today was 16/17 getting up to 19/20 at times. In the ocean, some waves about, but also some nice ramps To see how she flies.

Well to put it simply the marketing of this new rebel is bang on.

Didnt notice much of a difference between 2014/2015 but if you want to increase your height and hang then the 2016 (from 10m up I suppose) then it would be worth a ride To see. Great bar feedback, steady as a rock Glide, smooth as silk aka rebel.

Really balanced, likes actually to be sent aggressively if one wishes, quite a vertical yank (for a non C kite) and plenty of hang for old school shenanigans if that's your thing, even in the 10, which was surprisingly good. Nice pull through the loops when doing darkslides etc.

On a TT pretend wave riding, it was just fine. Did the job well. It still has maintained some of its all round free ride qualities in this sense, which always worries me when they mention increase aspect. Went pretty hard left down the line and it held its own.

gave it to my resident kite consultant (who happens to be the best jumper of us all) and he really showed what it was capable of. He jumps with a real combo of old C kite style but with a bit of depowered bow bridal style chucked in, really effective. He rarely gives the thumbs up regarding kites as he's a picky prick, but he gave it the thumbs up (which is good enough for me) and actually said he wished he hadn't flown it .

Anyhow for those that are freeride boosting oldschool orientated, who still likes to smash around in the waves on a TT, this is an excellent option to consider.

It was an unexpected surprise actually. I like.