Anyone tried all the available Hybrid's and if so 1) do they invert like my Halo occasionally does? 2) which 1 is the best for hang time?

Rocket WA

The EH Ripper is awesome for hang time, high aspect SLE, doesnt invert.

Hey

The Catapult Joker which is coming out soon in about 3-4 weeks, is ment to be really good for getting the hang time and height...
Also only has 3 struts in the smaller kites
and no batterns in any of the kites
www.catapultkiteboarding.com

sam

I assume by SLE/Hybrid you are talking about bow kites with a 5th line system such as the North Rebel and Ozone Instinct. The Slingshot Link can be used as either a bow or a 5th line hybrid.

The Ripper is a pure Legaignoux licenced bow kite, not a hybrid. Like all the Legaignoux licenced kites it most definitely can invert. I have seen it happen. I have not ridden one but Eric Hersten has pretty good reputation so you would think it would be a good kite.

A mate has tried the Link and the Rebel and he bought the Rebel. He is a sponsored store rider and he could have his choice and he really likes the Rebel.

A bunch of us tried the Link and it was crap. Slingshot are releasing mods to the 4 and 5 line bridles to fix the problems.

Well the ripper has SLE braded all over it sooo... yeah. I think you will find even C's can invert if you allow them too. As of yet I havent had any major problems that havent been able to be fixed right there on the water without disconectiong the lines.

If your into hang time the ripper is one of the highest aspect bows/SLE's out there also has a very big wind range. IMO you could almost get away with a 10m as a one kite quiver for perth.

Flew the rebel the other day, bit more bar pressure than the ripper and much lower aspect, very nice kite for unhooking and a bit less powerful than the ripper although it was a 9m. Depends what you are looking for in a kite both offer a very different feel and probably aimed at slightly different performance areas.

You cant go wrong with either I have tried.

sounds like you are repaying the kn deal you got on the kite SM

They are nice kn kites keith, but theres only one way to know for yourself. All kites this year are pretty decent, from what I've seen in all the new kites they have definately improved stacks on the first generation bows.

My advice if you want to know what the best SLE/Hybrid is would be to try em all because lets face it everyone is biased and I used to say how much I loved my old battered 04 Fuel. If you think your going to find a definative answer on the forums which is the best SLE Hybrid for boosting then you are mistaken.

As long as you got some gear to keep you on the water its all good.

i loved my pilot until i had finished with learning the fast and low tricks, im going to get a joker if it lives up to what they have said about it, only cus i ride at a ****ty, gusty, blown into a tree spot

HI Spacemonkey, who stocks EH in perth?

Thanks for the info guys. (and girls if so, I am so PC) What I mean by Hybrid is the new kites that are a mix between mostly Bow and slightly C as in the 2007 Airush Flo, Naish Shockwave and I think slingshot might be coming out with 1 late this year.

Laters

Hi Rocket

Yeah As I understand it that is exactly what is being used to describer a hybrid. Basically a Bow kite with a C kite bar, usually with longer chicken loop strap and a second suicide line which lets the kite sheet out miles when the safety is pulled.

A lot of bows are doing that now so there are no pulleys on the bar.
The EH fits this description as does the Flexifoil Atom and probably a dozen others.

You will probably only invert a couple of times and then you will know what triggers it and when to watch out. It happened to me on my first couple of sessions nad hasn't happened since.

Just gotta be fairly vigilant about kepping some tension in the lines, which is not that hard once you are concious about it, or shortne your loop and lose some depower. I find my short arms struggle with reaching the powerup toggle on a couple of the models but its a small price to pay for the benefits and feel and depower of the kites.

Flexifoil Atom looks cool in its rasta colours. If you buy a kite based on colour this is the ****.

(It's actually really well built and for under $2k it is really good value)

quote:

---

Originally posted by dave......

Flexifoil Atom looks cool in its rasta colours. If you buy a kite based on colour this is the ****.

(It's actually really well built and for under $2k it is really good value)

---

the flexifoil atom isnt just really good value wiht sick coulours its also one of the best flying kites i have ever ridden!!
i used to be a very pro C kite kiter but the flexifoil atom took about 5 mins to convert me now with SLE kites like the atom around i cant see any real benifit of C kite over SLE. i know its a big call but hey....

Ive been riding the LF Havocs. (10& 14m)
They are a c kite with a bridle (as apposed to a flat kite without a bridle), so I can't imagine any invert problems. Ever.
As for hang time, I'm not the best rider when it comes to big air, but hang time is good because they are quite low aspect.
Good build quality - simple bar and rigging - great safety and relaunch, very stable unhooked.
They are a fair bit cheeper than most of the other brands too.
I am stoked with mine!

Hey Craigus

Thanks for the input. At this stage I am gunna go a Airush Flo 07 which is more Bowish, but if that doesnt work I will go the Havoc, which looks like its the other end of the hybrid, Cish. How much for a Havoc 12m???

Rocket

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rocket

Hey Craigus

Thanks for the input. At this stage I am gunna go a Airush Flo 07 which is more Bowish, but if that doesnt work I will go the Havoc, which looks like its the other end of the hybrid, Cish. How much for a Havoc 12m???

Rocket

---

Seems to me you have been misinformed, so many great kites out there and you are leaning towards two wet paper bags

Why not try some kites out and decide for yourself???????????????????????

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rocket

Hey Craigus
How much for a Havoc 12m???

Rocket

---

About $1550 I think..

I just got a wind wing rampage 2. I have found it just awesome! The range is amazing and i have found my 9.5 is all i need, i have been out in under 15 knots and still been going up wind and jumping.
As far as hang time goes theres heaps. My problem is i keep getting more hang time then ever planned.
This kite is cheap under a grand
They have a cruise control bar which has tons of depower and also stays where you let go so you don't loose all your power when you spin the bar after a rotation.

Hey Eye of the storm. Where do you get those wind wing kites for under a grand? i have found them on the net but they seem to be around the same sort of price as most other brands. Have you ridden other bow/sle kites and if so how would you rate the performance and build quality? Thanks for any opinions.

Look it will be personal choice i changed from c kites to a rrd hyper type and with out doubt the best kite for me i was riding a .06 fuel and this kite leaves it for dead . i tried all the bows and hybreds and this one suited me try them all but try them in good wind conditions so as to get a real opinion, but it will be personal choice at the end of the day,good luck

Rocket you want something with hang time and big jumping? Most of all the flats and hybrids give long floaty hang time. Alot of brands use High Aspect C kites for the big kite loops and big boost. ie the Naish Raven and North Rhino. If you want a kite that has similar depower on the bar like flat alot of the flat kites ie Boxer SLE, Turbo Diesel but has the safety of a 5th line, NO bridles and a C shape....TRY and have a look at some of the F-One Kites. ie.

F-One Tribal and Rival.

These kites REALLY jump and they HANG. They are NOT flat kites they are C shaped kites with a 5th line, no bridles and feature similar depower by sheeting in and out on the bar. I dont think they are real hybrids because they retain a C-shape but feature extended wind range.

The North Rebel is less C shaped but I recommend this hybrid! It jumps very easily and has alot of HANG

Hey Matric look at wind express for the ww kites they go for around the 700$ us.

ROCKET - Go the beach bludge, that's what I do. thats my advice( of coarse you gotta be able to kite)try all the NEW kites from any unsuspecting kiters on the beach, who have just spent/given new 2007 kites. They are ripe victums for the KITE BLUDGE. 1. Hi your NEW kite looks cool, can I try it for 5 minutes 2.Launch their NEW kite and try not to crash it into the beach, go and kite for 5minutes and you will either love IT OR NOT BE CONVINCED , personally I'm amazed by the RRD Hyper SLE as a fast, comfortable, exciting kite to use. I got the 12m - low wind tractor and 9m fast and PROGRESSIVE. I havn't tried any other 2007's as yet , but I'm on the BLUDGE. PS KITE BLUDGING IS OK, it is COOL, So anyone who wants to give my gear ago, feel free to have BLUDGE.... OK occasional someone will tell you to PISS OFF, no worries... BLUDGERS must have thick skins....

GO a Cabrinha Switchblade 2. The leading SLE/ bow kite

Hi Rocket,

We have a large selection of sizes Airush Hybrids in our school this year. We are running the DNA for school work and beginner riding and are offering the Flow SLE for our rental customers.

To answer your question, a true hybrid will not invert, the nversion thing happens to bows, or flat kites due to their wide flat section. A hybrid has more of a "C shape, in fact I best heard them described as flying toenails Due to the "C"/toenail shape, they won't invert even fully sheeted out in gusty winds.

It seems there is a lot of confusion about the name hybrid. A true hybrid is part bow and part "C" but not really like either. A lot of others like tribal, atom, boxer etc are just big depower "C" kites usually with 5th line type attachment for some centre span support.

The Flows have been amazing for us to fly with nice turns, and really smooth power, around 80-90% depower for the Flow and 100% for the DNA.

Jumping is good and you get long floaty jumps, not as good a the Halo, but neither it should be, the Halo is pure performance and as with any really high performance kite, they tend to be twitchy and technical to fly.

The Flow is about intermediate riders and riding simplicity, it's easy to fly and requires no thinking, it is as stable as hell so it works amazingly in the surf and is super sweet for unhooking. Big grunty and reasonable hangtime and height, especially the smaller ones, (10, 7).

We have them for rent in our centre at Pinnaroo and if you like them and decide to buy one, Airborne or Windforce will refund you the cost of the rental. Cant go wrong really.

Just thought i'd take advantage to add something different to the topic and throw in a quick shameless plug.


Good winds,

Hey Kitehard

I appreciate your shameless plug. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I assumed the Hybrid was as you explained (mix between C and Halo). The reason I am looking for an alternative is I started on a Airush Pilot, went to a Airush Halo and loved its upwind and depower, but to learn jumping with a Halo was kicking my arse. Inversion City. I’ve temporally moved to the Goldie and bought a cheap 14m C just to get me through until I get back to Margie’s. I find I can get more air than I want and no luffing and associated problems. “But I spend all day walking back up the beach”. When I know if I was on the Halo I make ground effortlessly.

As if kite god knew Airush came out with a Hybrid SLE Flow. Hence the question on comparing Hybrids. Thanks for your info I am definitely going to try out the Flo when I get back to WA. The Halo is still the wave machine.

Later Rocket

Hey guys most of the new 07 bow/Hybrids are very good all with differant pros & cons. There is an excellent review on 10 of the most common bow kites out there well worth a read if you get a chance.

www.iksurfmag.com/

I currently have a quiver of RRD Hyper Types which you are all welcome to try, been traveling round WA for the past 3 weeks, if you see me on the beach just come and ask for a go more than happy to let you try, apart from the Flexi Atom and the new Airush I think the RRD is def one of the best out there....

Always best to try one before bying though as everyone rides very differant and the only real way to see if you like a kite is too fly one..

Jez

Thanks for the post and the link - just what I needed!

When you say "apart from the Flexi Atom and the new Airush I think the RRD is def one of the best out there...."

Which Airush are you talking about, the Flow?

I am a newby I have got my choice down to a new Airush Flow or a Cab XFlow2/SB2, but have been reading quite a bit about the Cab being prone to inversion. So, have just about decided on the Flow but still doing some research.

Thanks for any advice.

Cheers.

LaurieP

Yep these forums are great. I am only a bit over a year kiter and advice from the long termers is great. I will be able to tell you about the o7 Airush Flo after Saturday (16th). I work on an oil rig in China and get back to Margies on Sat. I ve got a 12m Airush 07 Flo waiting there. I checked the comparison od 10 hybrid kites on the www.iksurfmag.com site (thanks jezmondo) and it was very unbias with the undertones suggesting the Airush Flo is one of if not the best of the lot. I will update early next week.

Later Rocket

Kitehard,

I think you may be a little bit mistaken on the Flexifoil Atom. It is definitely a hybrid kite. It has an option for a fifth line but this is only as a safety option. the optional fifth line does not alter the power of the kite. So it is a four line kite with a huge wind range and a bridled leading edge that is swept back to the trailing edge. Gee, that sounds quite similar to a hybrid kite to me. It has definitely got a flatter profile than the Fusion 2 aswell (now that is a high depower "C" kite)

I appreciate your dedication to Airush but please don't make false statements on other brands.

LaurieP

have a look at the Atom as well if you can.

LaurieP

Well I got the 12m Airush 2007 Flo out at Augusta. day 1 = 18-22 k's, day 2 = 20-25 k's. Wow! It’s exactly what I was looking for. Fast turn, fast, hell air and no inversion problems. Can’t comment on the others as I haven’t tried them but there was a few guys out that day who were better kiters than me (on 07 XXXX's), but I could get up wind easier, jump higher and go faster. One of the best features is the amount of adjustment the Flo has. It was still fine in the 25 k's. My next kite is a 7 or 10 2007 Flo for waves.

Later Rod.