This is probably going to just lead to pimping of brands, but I'm an optimist that there will be some truthful feedback given. So to the guys who have demoed a range of wave kites, which do you think was the best of 2013 and why? And I suppose- which do you think was the worst and didn't live up to the hype?
My opinion,
Cab drifter hands down. Has great power, turn, drift.
BWS for down the line park and ride. Did not turn so well.
Worst,
Any kite claiming it can be freeride and surf by changing the bridal
I heard the drifter was only good in the smaller sizes 9 7 etc. I liked the reo like a lot of people.
I ride old catalysts and they do the job for me, my 7 fuel is not bad either so don't think I'll bother next time with wave kites just get more C kites
North Neo: great drift and great turning speed.
North Dice: great bottom end, drift and good turning speed.
Hendo within each class of kite there, in this case a wave kite, there is no 'best' kite. It depends on the rider.
What board's do you use?
What wind and wave conditions do you normally kite in?
What weight are you? (A highly underestimated factor in terms of particular kite choice).
What type of 'wave' riding are you looking to do? Park and ride, fly and follow, strapless freestyle...hitting jaws anytime soon???
Then crew can give far more informed feedback for you.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Hendo within each class of kite there, in this case a wave kite, there is no 'best' kite. It depends on the rider.
What board's do you use?
What wind and wave conditions do you normally kite in?
What weight are you? (A highly underestimated factor in terms of particular kite choice).
What type of 'wave' riding are you looking to do? Park and ride, fly and follow, strapless freestyle...hitting jaws anytime soon???
Then crew can give far more informed feedback for you.
Hmmmmm, So many questions, so little time.
Eppo- I think you missed the pointy of the post. Just curious to hear people's thoughts on the wave kites of 2013. Kinda like the title says
Cheers.
Okay fair enough. Questions still relevant though when discussing the best wave kites, but as freeze said so little time...lol, that was a funny one.
Loved the BWS pro, the dice, airush wave, didn't rate the envy, didn't think the bandit cut it properly as a wave kite per say, reo confused the hell out of me (really need to spend more time on it and I will) and I would loved to have tried the drifter!!!
...although these are all 2014 kites that came out half way through 2013 so I give up really!!
2013, reo 8m was a gem.
Select to expand quoteHendo84 said..
Eppo- I think you missed the pointy of the post. Just curious to hear people's thoughts on the wave kites of 2013. Kinda like the title says
Cheers.
Fair enough, but I do think what Eppo says does matter. The wave kite for gnaraloo in cross, off is a different beast to the horrocks / Gero more cross on. But I know ****, and Eppos a detail man with huge experience.
Me, I'm just happy to be out there
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..Hendo84 said..
Eppo- I think you missed the pointy of the post. Just curious to hear people's thoughts on the wave kites of 2013. Kinda like the title says
Cheers.
Fair enough, but I do think what Eppo says does matter. The wave kite for gnaraloo in cross, off is a different beast to the horrocks / Gero more cross on. But I know ****, and Eppos a detail man with huge experience.
Me, I'm just happy to be out there
"and Eppos a detail man with huge experience"
Hmmmmm, +1
Ooh ooh forgot to mention the rally...park and ride , wonderful wave kite.
Ooh the neo, never ridden it but watched Kim from GSS just shred sh1t apart....
Ooh ooh...there's so many man, even seen a local guy ripping on a lithium and on an envy (which I personally didn't like)...
Depends not the rider, board choice and conditions man.
Slight hijack. Ive been getting more and more into my wave riding over the last couple of years, done a great trip to Indo, and am starting to realise the more I learn, the more I learn that I don't know ****! Im an ex surfer so I thought it would be the easiest transition for me when I started kiting. But Im still struggling with the basics of where to put the kite.
Eppos comment: What type of 'wave' riding are you looking to do? Park and ride, fly and follow, strapless freestyle. Struck a cord with me. Im trying to figure out how to go to the next level.
Whats the best instructional vid out there for wave riding? I see Ben Wilson has a heap. Any other recommendations?
I agree with Eppo - depends on the rider. Like you though, i'm first a surfer. And for me the NEO wins hands down. Its a kite that allows me to surf the wave and forget that a kite got me there in the first place. Amazing drift. And it can pull me out of sticky situations when i need it. For me, its NEO all the way.
I like the Airush Wave,
Drifts well, has a nice balance of power
and turns on a dime, well constructed to.
Select to expand quoteIoz said..
I like the Airush Wave,
Drifts well, has a nice balance of power
and turns on a dime, well constructed to.
Yeh I liked the precise feel on the wave (goes where it wants you to put it and indeed finds the right place by itself a lot of the time) , the new BWS had this as well.
Ben Wilson pro , hands down best wave kite , if your after just a wave kite this is it , have tried most of the others and these drift better than any other kite out there, been on religons , drift ,reo , wainman , all good kites the pro just lets me ride the waves and parks itself ready for you when ready to get out of there.
Best for me anyway.
Select to expand quoteIoz said..
I like the Airush Wave,
Drifts well, has a nice balance of power
and turns on a dime, well constructed to.
I have a 2013 9m Wave and it is directly connected to your brain. Flys well on 25m, 23m & is awesome on 20m lines
I've yet to find anyone who dislikes it
I also have a 2014 12m Wave, it is very similar to the 9m in feel, but it does not have such the huge wind range the 9 has
I use them with a Shinn Dundee or W18
also with an 5'8" active Chop top
I'm 100kgs
