Just got the new vegas 06 a few days ago and i have flowen all sizes
7m,9m,10, and 12m in the past few days.All super good.

I have made one ajustment to the bar set up. I have found that riding the vegas with an extra long chicken rope you get the most out of your depower, round about 40cm long.

Today i rode the 7m in 30knts with 5ft to 7ft swell at currumbin and the kite just goes off!! So fast.
Later on i flew the 10m and the feel and smoothness of the kite was great, didn't matter where it was you always knew where it was.

I have flown 90% of the kites that are on the market and i have noticed that the vegas seems to carry itself easyily thru the gusty conditions and power is very smooth. People have been out riding at the same time on other kites and have come in complaining about how gusty it is, but you just don't feel the gusts with the vegas.

Hang time is very simliar to a bow kite. Jumps great.

If you want to find out more about the vegas wingtips and cambatterns, just checkout norths website.www.northkites.com

More than happy to answer anyone questions.
Cheers Paul Jackson

Is your riding style "against the knot", or do you have the bar constantly pulled in?

I can see with the Vario cleat that you have a number of options limited only by your arm length and type of harness you ride. A dwarf riding a waist harness is probably going to have significantly less depower than an orangutan riding a seat - if you get my drift.

I have ridden bows and hated the constant pressure being an "against the knot" C-kite rider generally (i.e. fly with one finger) & plan on setting up my 14m Vegas in the same way.

Hope to get a ride of it tomorrow & will post a review.

One immediate comment is that the North leash is very suboptimal compared to the Slingshot spinning leash - I will be using my SS instead.

i find riding it with a 40cm chicken i still can ride against the knot if i have to. The bar pressure is so light anyway unlike the bows.
If you set it up to short it will just fly like a normal c shaped kite. why have all the depower there if your not going to use it?

Leash isn't a sucided, it's only ment to be used with the 5th line.
If you want a good sucide just make one up.

Cheers paul j

if you are using the ajustable clet, then give both methods ago. see which one you like the best.
Paul j

Paul,

whats the deal with cambattens in the waves? IS there any reason to be wary of the cambattens doing damage to the canopy if the kite is downed in the waves?

Have north replaced the chicken rope yet? I heard they had trouble with the cam cleats because they slip on the rope so they were planning to change it.

Did you try any of the other settings on the kite or did you leave on the fastest setting? If you did, how did the kite perform?

One last thing...how does the kite turn when it is fully sheeted out? Does it lose any of its turning speed when depowered? The RRD wave kite does not lose any turning performance when fully sheeted out because of the the bridle line that runs from one tip to the other.

Its awesome to here some news of the kite...looking foward to trying one!
Cheers
Dan

Rode my 14m today for the first time. Settings were:

Front lines connected to the very front setting, rear lines to the very rear setting. Fronts connected to the knot nearest the kite on the pigtails (i.e. likely to be less power).

Bar setup with around equal lengths chicken & depower above cleat.

Impressions:

1. Fast....flys as fast as my 10m traditional C.

2. Smooth...no getting pulled about with this kite - it goes where it is meant to be and stays there.

3. Depower/Power is on-tap. The usual C kite chicken depower works in a steady gradient from less power to more power. The Vegas works more on a "sweet spot" that is easy to find then maintain the flying in that range. I rode fully powered for the whole session - no need to pull on the depower strap.

4. Jumping...jury is still out on this until I ride some more. I was initially unimpressed with the jumping until I started to get very aggressive with the kite. I usually only send my high aspect C kite back to 1 o'clock. With the Vegas you swing it as far as you like - much more like jumping with a smaller C kite. Pop was good and kite control in jumps easy and smooth. Even hooked into the fixed micro loop once when pulling on the bar in a jump and kite was still very controllable.

5. Turns...the Vegas is just superb at this - instant power whenever you want it - could lead me to getting very lazy on technique here as the kite compensates beautifully.

6. Upwind... I was pointing further upwind as opposed to fellow rider on a 18m kite - goes upwind effortlessly.

7. Speed...OMFG...you just fly along - so much so that I will have to adjust my footstraps as I started to get quite loose in them due to the increased speed - and I used to think I rode my C kites quick.

8. Waves...too early to tell as the waves were just sloppy chop today - again easy to edge back onto the wave with the instant power/depower.

All in all for a first session - great. Will try different setup types in the next couple of days and report back.

Interested in hearing other riders thoughts and any setup lessons learnt. The North doco is lamentable in this regard.

Another session yesterday at Altona. Wind started out around 13knots and at the end was a base in the low 20's with occassional gusts higher. It seemed like a gusty southerly - but the kite did smooth it out nicely.

Front lines attached on the end of the front pigtails this time.

I can now confirm that jumping with the Vegas is excellent for lift and hang time.

For the first time I had to start pulling on some depower - by the end of the session I had about half of the depower pulled in and was riding very comfortably. Fawkner Beacon was reading low 20's base to high 20's in the gusts. I dont think it was that strong where I was - maybe knock 2-3 knots off as this is typical for Altona.

When I was first out in the underpowered conditions, I flew hooked in on the micro-hook and in this mode was able to go upwind without problem - I would say that it has the bottom end of a 16m "C" possibly even up to my 18 "C".

As the wind picked up I was the first kiter able to pull jumps - other kites out were in the range of 12m to 18m "C"'s.

Stoked so far - today promises 15-20 knot gusty southwesterly. Can't wait !

Another EPIC session today - wind meter reading 17 thru 23 knots.

Comments from other kiters about conditions being up and down and GUSTY....

On the Vegas I didnt feel a single gust in 3+ hours of kiting.

This thing is INSANE

I cant wait to find out what its top end really is..current guesstimate is high 20's - possibly even 30 knots - COMFORTABLY.

Whatever you do - demo one & see for yourself

Mr plow how would you compare the depower to a bow kite and its bottom end wind range to a bow kite.

quote:

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Originally posted by bigairman

Mr plow how would you compare the depower to a bow kite and its bottom end wind range to a bow kite.

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I have only flow bows a couple of times, so any judgement wouldnt be fair. In my experience with a bow you have to be very active on the bar and the bar pressure builds up over the session to the point where your elbows kill.

Vegas bottom end so far is around 13 knots - I weigh 85kg+....++ and ride a 155 board that is very thin, but quite wide....I ride this same board in all conditions with all kites & after a few seasons it now feels like a part of me !

Vegas bar pressure is LESS than my high aspect C kites and definitely far less than the bows I have ridden - although I havent flown the Sonic or the Waroo which are meant to have lighter bar pressure for Bows.

I'm thinking that this one kite has just made obsolete my 18 and 14 "C"'s and its starting to eat into the wind range of my 10 "C" as well....could this be the kiting holy grail of a 1 kite quiver ???

Early days yet - but this kite is better than sex.

I LURVE the 14m so much that it now has a playmate - Vegas 06 10m.

Flew the 10m for the first time yesterday. Actually I was the third one to use it as I leant it to a mate while I went out on the 14m for starters as I was demoing a new board & didnt want to change too many variables.

In about 20 knots with a weight of 70kg he was fully powered and even had some depower pulled in on the kite. I was nicely lit on the 14m - full power setting.

When I dropped down onto the 10m it was still only blowing around 20 knots. As per previous postings I weigh 85kg+, but this time was riding a custom-made 132 carbon & kevlar finless TT with so much concave it is almost parabolic.

First impressions - kite looks bigger than a 10m which is directly opposite to the 14m that looks like a 12m or smaller...hmmm. Fly's the same as the 14m - only MUCH faster. Setup the outside lines on the inside bar setting i.e. smaller bar as recommended by North.

Went out and started pulling jumps on my first tack - got hammered the first 3 jumps I pulled, so then cruised for a few minutes getting used to the speed of the kite before resuming normal jumping - this time much better - had it on a string - good jumps and hang time, lots of fun for fast hard transitions - got spanked a few more times, but the kite was always able to be handled i.e. depowered well and flew consistently.

Forecast for Sunday is for 30 knots - so should be able to put it thru its paces at Pt Henry. Cant wait !!

Hey there Mr. Plow. Rode my 12m Vegas06 this afternoon for the 4th time. Wind was a bit all over the shop, higher teens gusting to mid 20's. All lines set on knot furthest from kite and bar. Haven't played around with this too much yet. I have adjusted the bar length since I pulled it out of the bag. Initially, the distance was too wide and I would have been bent over when not powered. Haven't measured, but I think the distance is now 30-40cm. Today was a real test with respect to gusts and the kite handled very well. The most I had the trim strap pulled in was about 4 inches and that was plenty to tame the kite. Still had loads of line left to pull in if needed. Just wrapped about the wind range. So far it's looking like 13 to 25 knots with my 68kgs. Could probably get a couple of more knots out of it with more practice. Don't think a second kite will be needed. This one feels like it has built in shock absorbers when the gusts hit.

Did dump the kite 2 or 3 times, but relaunch was effortless. Kite wanted to get back up in the air before I was vertical again!

Overall.... 2 thumbs up!

Nice one mate - I was thinking I was the only one with a Vegas for a while there ! Everyone I have leant my kites to to have a blast has come back grinning and scheming of ways of convincing wives that they can upgrade their kites this late in the season.

WRT line length - I have done quite a bit of playing about with this & have worked out that the best option so far is to set the cleat at your arm length with elbow slightly bent i.e. same length as you would have had your C kite chicken loop. For all but the most seriously deformed kiters, this will leave you about 20cm of depower strap - which is still substantially more than I ever had on my C kites.

The trick is to get all of the lines the same length. Rather than ginning around with the kite end of the lines, just get the back line knots and front line pulley attachment in-line and you will be happy. I have flown my 14 in 25 knots + and still had a few inches of depower left - so I concur with your estimation of wind range for your 12m. How much kite you can hold down is directly relevant to your riding skill of edging, your board, your weight and the water conditions i.e. flat water you can hold down more kite than chop.

Every session I have had on the Vegas has been equivalent or better to my best sessions on C kites over 3 seasons....thats gotta mean something.

Some very good info - thanks fellas.
Seems to me that at 90 - 95 kilos I would find the 14m a better proposition than the 12m for the wind conditions and ranges you have been talking about,
any further comments
thanks

quote:

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Originally posted by Windchaser

Some very good info - thanks fellas.
Seems to me that at 90 - 95 kilos I would find the 14m a better proposition than the 12m for the wind conditions and ranges you have been talking about,
any further comments
thanks

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Definitely the 14m is the better option. Lighter riders may almost be able to get away with a single kite quiver of a 12m, but us heavier riders will probably have to ride the 14m to high 20'skn and then either have a second smaller Vegas - either 10 or 9m or keep your smallest C kite for when it nukes.

do you think i ( 55kg beginer/intermedeate) b able to hold a 9 in 20
knots?

cheers Leo

No idea yet regards 10m depower - again depends on weight & skill level of rider. I would guess/hope that it would go to mid thirties comfortably - and lets face it - kiting at 40knots is getting a bit extreme.

The depower in high winds should be used as a safety mechanism to get you to shore and down safely IMHO.

No idea what the wind range of a Spectrum 2 is. I have flown my Best Nemesis 10m in 35 knots previously and that was only possible as it was on a tight 5th line.

Depower is only one feature of these new style of kites - smoothing out gusts and maintaining shape should not be underestimated.

Ive had mine for a week now.

Unbelievable kite!

Low end on a 12 for me at 65kg is around 12 knots.
High end looks to be around 25. I was out today on a surfboard and unhooked in gusty conditions, my mate 20kg heavier than me on a 8m and a surfboard both having a ball! I am only saying it was gusty because me mate commented on it but I honestly did not feel anything.

I am looking forward to flying it on 4 lines in bigger surf so hopefully the flying characteristics of this kite dont change too much. For those going to try it on 4 lines, supposedly the knot halfway up the front pigtails are the ones to use.

The only downside is that North (as well as most of the companies these days) are still using that shtty depower rope...stuff wears down really quick. Wipika had an awesome setup in 2004 with a plastic sleeve over the depower rope.

I am not one for hyping kites but this thing is awesome.

Had my 12 out this morning again. Gusting to high 20's. Still had about 130cm of sheet left to pull in off the vario cleat. However, I left the back lines on the knot furthest from the bar and the lines were pretty slack with the depower pulled in as much as it was. Would have had better control if I put the lines on the next knot. Was able to walk out to the water without having to dig my heels in. Felt good. Although I was able to ride back and forth, I wouldn't consider it a "relaxed" ride, especially in the chop. I think 25 is a comfortable high end for my weight, ability, 126 board, etc. Felt a bit funny taking out a 12 when there were blokes up to 30 kgs heavier (some much better riders) on 8>10's. Good to know that you have that much depower up your sleeve, especially if you're out there and the wind decides to pick up all of a sudden.

Hi guys, just thought i'd get in on the act here, i have been using Naish and North kites for some years now, i am 102kg, my quiver is: 12m 06 vegas and 16m Naish Raven...thats it...i do have a kite school so if it ever does nuke..i have 9's :) Anyway, to the point...the North Vegas 12m 06 would be without doubt the best kite i have had the pleasure of using..i thought the 05 was awesome..but the improved the model again..and yes i have flown slingas..f1's...whatever. Demo'd it the other day and was flying in 3 - 5 knots...used it in gusty 20 - 25 knot easterly..smooth is the best way of describing it.

Nice one 'junkie - glad to see others are enjoying this kite.

Few more observations about this kite..

1. It floats,

2. It wont fly in less then a couple of knots,

3. I dont need my 14 or 18m anymore as this kite covers both of them,

4. It has as much bottom end as a 16m Crossbow,

5. Trim lines to be of equal length so you can use the micro-hook....this device is the business for trucking upwind with your body horizontal to the water

6. Fantastic though the kite is - in really gusty conditions - I think a bow is better....but thats probably about it. When I say really gusty I am talking >10 knot spread - which in Melbourne = westerly. The kite still works - but the session is not fun as you cant time jack.

Hey Plow,
What gusty westerlies?

I didn't notice any gusts.

OOPS wrong kite review.

Best winds
Tony L
ABK(now Matrix owner)

Yeah Yeah Tony Blah Blah

Keep your hard-earned credibility intact & don't try to claim that the Matrix (which is almost exactly the same cut as the Vegas) flys dramatically differently !!!

Westerlies - blah - I'm over them. I put them into the same category as kiting at St Kilda - never again!

Had some shocking news yesterday - my next contract now wont be starting until mid-May...ah well...I guess my intended holiday just got extended by a couple of months

Beach cred.

now that's what it's all about.

now where does a flouro green hat fit in the Beach cred scene?

Tony...if you wanted to borrow the hat for a few runs, you only had to ask...go on....you know you want to

To set the record straight - after I lost my previous white distressed number, I thought I would go for something easier to see if I ever lose it in the surf again....I have also improvised with a six inch nail to make sure that it doesnt come adrift when I am on the water.

anyone got a review on the 9m? wats the lightest wind you guys are getting going in? and how fast in the air are they?

cheers Leo

I just bought a Vegas 16m - trialled the 12m and loved it, so decided to get a 16 since at my weight (95kg) this will cover me from 15-25kts (have already had it in 25 and was impressed with the depower).

Anyway, I took it out last night and lost the wind, crashed the kite, and it got washed in by a few < 1 foot waves at Dolls Pt. It was in the waves for about 30 secs - 1 min and didn't get a massive hammering at all - but...4 of the cam battens were broken!

Is it just me or do these things break really easily?? The kite came with 3 spares, and I don't know what they cost yet - hopefully not too much (anyone know?)

Aside from that - I love the kite, but just thought I would raise it since this could get very frustrating (and expensive).

Broke 2 of my cambattens the other day. The local shop quoted me $5 each. The manual says you can fly the kite without the battens, so you don't have to wait around for your order to arrive.

quote:

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Originally posted by Wookie

I just bought a Vegas 16m - trialled the 12m and loved it, so decided to get a 16 since at my weight (95kg) this will cover me from 15-25kts (have already had it in 25 and was impressed with the depower).

Anyway, I took it out last night and lost the wind, crashed the kite, and it got washed in by a few < 1 foot waves at Dolls Pt. It was in the waves for about 30 secs - 1 min and didn't get a massive hammering at all - but...4 of the cam battens were broken!

Is it just me or do these things break really easily?? The kite came with 3 spares, and I don't know what they cost yet - hopefully not too much (anyone know?)

Aside from that - I love the kite, but just thought I would raise it since this could get very frustrating (and expensive).

---

$5 is not too bad - if they were any more than $10 I would be pissed off.

Flown my 14 & 10 for a few weeks now & no broken battens...mind you I havent taken them in the waves yet.

They have been to the water for a drink a few times - no problems.

As an alternative to using their battens - why not source a suitable alternative that wont break - I understand that the Matrix has plastic ones that bend and flex. Probably a trip to the hardware shop and a bit of experimenting will save you $$$

Any chance of using sailing or windsurfing battens?
Sound like an awesome kite apart from that,
Matt