Can someone point out how to tell if a wave kite is better suited to cross on or cross off conditions . most kites would be fine cross off wouldnt they? some better than others cross on ?

I think the bigger question is this. Whats your kite flying style for waves?

Theres 2 camps. Those that like to work the kite and those that like to park it and drift.

Personally I tend to work the kite cross on and drift it cross off.

Hey plummet i only ride in cross on , thats all we get here been flying 2013 vegas so im used to flying the kite around .just remember reading a while back someone saying a kite was better suited to cross off conditions and i was wondering why that was and how to pick the differances .. ? Thanks

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azza86 said...
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Can someone point out how to tell if a wave kite is better suited to cross on or cross off conditions . most kites would be fine cross off wouldnt they? some better than others cross on ?

Just read a few page interview from rob whitall the ozone kite designer, in the interview he mentions the reo isn't the best kite for onshore conditions, it's designed for cross off but he's working to improve its onshore performance

Well I can't answer you question of which wave kite brand is best, as the only dedicated wave kite i've ridden is the Reo.

But I do know the conditions and what features to look for. The best advice is to demo, demo, demo. Find one to that you enjoy.

Cross off:
The cross off i usually fly is very powered and gusty 20ish deg offshore.
It means pushing onto the wave face is a very upwind angle. Once you carve down the line on the face your at broad reach. It means your still in the power zone with the kite. Its very easy for the kite to powerup as you speed down the face. I find I have to shut the speed down or I just end up going real fast. So a kite the has big depower that you shut the power off at the bar is ideal. one that you can stick above your head and drift works really well.

Cross on.
When riding down the line cross on. Your going too downwind for the kite to power up. So an overpowered kite is generally not a problem cross on. As soon as you turn down wind your kite looses its power. The task for cross on is to ride the wave without slacklining your kite to a point that it just falls out of the sky. In this instance I find that work the kite and looping it works best for me. So a kite that's quick turning and can handle some slack line without instantly falling out of the sky works best, It also helps if the kite doesn't power spike too hard when you get line tension again.


Being a North rider you really should try the Dice. I really enjoyed the Dice I demo's in cross on conditions.