Select to expand quotePlummet said..
PS Yes Eppo I understand your demand for a kite thats more punchy and glidy than the cat but better in the waves than the edge. I want that kite too.
If we could jam the best bits of edge,cat,c4 into a kite that would be the ideal 10m kite for me.
Thanks Plummet & Pearl.
I should add, the Reo is the kite I learnt on and the only one I have ever flown since my lessons.... So I guess I should probably demo a few others before deciding on buying another or more.
Either way 10 & 8 sounds like the way to go though.
Cheers
So after chatting to KP I ended up with a 7m C4, swapped the C4 bar out for the regular control bar (still a 45cm bar) for more depower throw, and thankfully for me it will sit closer to me due to the smaller chicken loop, Damn my short arms haha
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Classic! Lol. if I thought I could design kites I would! But alas I feel that is beyond my capabilities. By a long long way.
Mauritius hey. Via Bali Sanur which I'm hitting in a week lol. might be some kites I can try there!! Lol.
You get what I've been going on about Plummett don't ya? It seems I'm in my own vacuum here and everyone is posing the cat as the solution to all freeriders out there. But it really isnt i can assure you, been on every size for a decent amount of time to on different boards in different conditions.
Eppo, someones had a go of "Surfing a Home Made Kite"
Christ I have never used a sewing machine in my life! Can't even put up a shelf! The eppo design would surely kill me or someone else. LOL..
No seems there are other options coming to the fore in the part of the spectrum (Arc and aspect). Shame Love ozone kites rather not change.
Was out again on the zephyr on a crazy fly cruiser pro in 8 to 13 knots yesterday just having a blast. What a kite...perfect combination of aspect and arc for me, no pulleys, quick inflation, tidy well built bar design...and just throwing down all I do. Pretty cool cranking back roll back loops in 10 knots!
I know crew doubt my reflections and they are entitled to, but from where I stand I am becoming more convinced of my own theory after each ride of the zpehyr. Pretty sad when my favourite kite and the one I look froward to getting on the most is a 17m!
OH S**t don't tell me it's time for another eppo quiver swap, gotta agree though mate it's sad when your hangin out to fly a 17m ,don't get me wrong love my 15 fury it's awesome in the light winds but it's my go to kite when I can't ride the business end of the quiver would rather be rid in the 7 9 or 11 any day.
I recall not to long ago having a conversation with you eppo about big kites. You hated them and how slow they flew and didn't want a big kite!..needed a fast turning kite...
Now the 17 is your fave!
Though i went through a stage of not liking the 13 edge and hardly riding it. at the moment its my go to kite and i'm having a blast on in... Its just so sweet to be punching off a wave lip fully lit on the 13 ahhhh... punch. glide .... downloop beeeeeaaaaaauuuuutiful.
I think it's time for an intervention.
OK Eppo, let me get this straight - you're stoked with your Zephyr and your 8m Catalyst, yes?
You used to be totally in love with your 11m and now 10m Edge - has this changed?
Forgetting grand plans (if possible) for a minute and getting back to an actual quiver, is it simply that you want something between 17m and 10m that's like a 13m Edge but a bit more playful? The fabled 13m Zephyr?
My question is this: even if Ozone produced a one-off tailored-to-you 12.63m2 Zephyr, what's to say you wouldn't find fault with it in a few months and start scratching away again at the sore of discontent?
I'm not suggesting you or anyone else put up with crap kites - hopefully it's clear that's not the issue (you're already riding Ozones for fark's sake, basking luxuriantly in pleasures of which only the discerning minority have any idea).
Clearly we all love that gear develops year to year. We love finding gear that suits us as well as possible. We love striving for improvement. However, to obsess over it - spending a session thinking about how it might be different - reduces the possibility of actually enjoying what we have right now.
Peace.
So Eppo what happened to the 14m edge your good wife bought you for your birthday ?!
Have to say you have sold me on the zephyr. Too long between drinks this time of year with a 10 rebel being my biggest.
Epps me ol mate, you only dig the 17 zeph so much cos u havnt tried the 19 edge yet! Man up-Go Big!!
Thanks for the intervention Djodjo..lol. No I appreciate all your comments, truly I do.
The Cat suites it purpose, stable and punchy with enough drift on the mako in waves, especially during winter. The correct aspect and arc for me in those kind of winds.
The zephyr allows me to ride as I normally do in lighter winds and indeed even when it gets in the upper teens. Especially fun on the cruiser 10 to 14 and real fun on the popping machine the laluz.
It's only the edge that I'm looking at at 10m. My main kite in summer.
Don't get me wrong something would have to be an exceptional wing for me to consider a change. Also I still love being on the edge and on an ozone kite in general. Something that doesn't need pulleys or battens, fast flow pump, an effective simple bar system. i.e. no silly gimmicks and just relies on a well defined wing, is something that is superior in my mind.
But it's a full blown race kite, a very flat profile and the cat does not enough aspect to afford what I like. As I said sits too close to the C4.
But I got the edge because it does what it does better than anything else. Glide, smoothness and speed, compiled with immense controllable power.
But the static pull afforded on the zephyr and yet enough apparent wind build up...well that seems to click with my style.
So ultimately I'm just putting out there and predict no change to my quiver at all. Maybe, just maybe the ozone gods may smile upon me...in 2015!
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
So Eppo what happened to the 14m edge your good wife bought you for your birthday ?!
Have to say you have sold me on the zephyr. Too long between drinks this time of year with a 10 rebel being my biggest.
you mean 14m cat right
So yesterday arvo I rode the new zephyr on half power up to 23knts, so it may sound mad but the isn't any reason why a heavier rider couldn't manage it up to 25, so if they did make a smaller zephyr a 10 would make a great 2 kite quiver, as for the 19 edge against the new zephyr IMHO the is no way its better than the new zephyr in any department other than true lightwind performance, if anyone's looking for a sublime big kite it'd have to be up there, I get as excited when its 15knt as I do when its 30knts, my 7 edge 10 edge zephyr quick is working perfectly
The Zeph has great top end......had a 2011 for the last 2 seasons, now on the 2013.
I've ridden the Zephyr up to 25 knts and never stained my pants!
At 100Kg+ and on a board that easily holds an edge like a Shinn Monk, its manageable.
And oh boy, lots of hang time with that much kite above you in its upper ranges.
Current quiver 2013 Edges 11m & 13m & 2013 Zephyr.......waiting for the new release to add a 9m Edge to my quiver.
Anyone know if Ozone are releasing the 2014 kites with a new bar? Specifically any changes to the quick release?
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
So yesterday arvo I rode the new zephyr on half power up to 23knts, so it may sound mad but the isn't any reason why a heavier rider couldn't manage it up to 25, so if they did make a smaller zephyr a 10 would make a great 2 kite quiver, as for the 19 edge against the new zephyr IMHO the is no way its better than the new zephyr in any department other than true lightwind performance, if anyone's looking for a sublime big kite it'd have to be up there, I get as excited when its 15knt as I do when its 30knts, my 7 edge 10 edge zephyr quick is working perfectly
No ****...23 knots! You are a fkn animal. Agreed sublime kite and you are so right...I can't wait until its 13 knots now!
EPPO,I HAVE THE 2011 EDGE 11,2013 EDGE 9,LOOKING AT A 2013 ZEPH FOR LIGHT WIND,AT 88 KG AND A W18 SPEEDBALL,WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUN WIND WINDOW IN KNOTS WOULD BE?LIKE CAUNCY SAYS,IM NOT INTERESTED IN THE BELOW 13 KNOTS,BUT 13 TO 17, WOULD THAT BE SWEET ON THE ZEPH?
UNDER 13 KNOTS IM GYM, BIKE,FAMILY,IN THAT ORDER!
CHEERS
So much zep love. I have flowen the zep several times and be bored by it each time. Though I haven't flown the 2013 Zep.
There's plenty of days can start sub 15 and finish mid 20ish the 13 edge is a better bet for me. Theres a couple of zeps locally and they don't seem to get out any lower than I do on the 13. Same goes for the couple of 14 cats.....
Oh well horses for courses.
I reckon on the speedball that would be the perfect setup for the winds you mention. Infact at the top end of that range you mentioned you'd be fine on a normal TT. That about cauncies weight and I figure he's okay on his monk at 16/17. On the speedball reckon you'd be lit of your ass.
Lets put it this way the other day was the most fked wind, like 8 to 13 and more like 10/11 and I was on a crazy fly cruiser pro, 145 by 44 and had enough power to actually get a fair bit upwind. But it was on flat estuary water with little current and I'm about 75kg.
So putting it all together I'd say you re spot on. At 13 knots I'm amped with that setup. 13 and up I'm on a 132 TT laluz and having the time of my life.
2013 is a much different kite I keep hearing the comparisons with earlier model, don't, there's no point. Too much edge in it now. The edge 13m is a fine machine but the zephyr allows that static pull I keep taking about, and also with jumping not as technical. Gives you that constant pull and predictable loft that a,lows you to chuck in more stuff than on the edge. You can do that on the edge but you gotta be more on ya game. If you want glide though well its the edge. Can't beat the physics on a flatter profile. I just find that with the zeph they have out enough edge to give you that apparent wind I crave, but the canopy is not as flat so the race edge qualities have been toned down. Hence everything is done a slightly slower speeds. And hence you need less speed to jump well.
Yep each to their own. Becareful though you may end up in the same mind set as me, wishing for this profile in smaller sizes!! Doesn't look like that counts for much though..shame reckon it would be a winner.
OK, are the smaller Edges (7, 9, 10?) still freeride enough?
Is it just a matter of the Zephyr (call it a FreeEdge perhaps, or Epphyr, or Zeppo) in one smaller size, or two?
17/12 or 17/13/10?
A petition, with say a 20% deposit from each signatory, may be worth a shot.
Seriously, I have no idea how easily scalable the patterns are or how much testing is required to generate more sizes from an existing size, but if I was passionate about it I'd be lobbying (as I guess y'all already are.)
And hey, it's been fun, but I believe that the new C4 speculation thread will soon be absorbing most of my attention. Adios, djdojo
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
So much zep love. I have flowen the zep several times and be bored by it each time. Though I haven't flown the 2013 Zep.
There's plenty of days can start sub 15 and finish mid 20ish the 13 edge is a better bet for me. Theres a couple of zeps locally and they don't seem to get out any lower than I do on the 13. Same goes for the couple of 14 cats.....
Oh well horses for courses.
yeh plummet id have to agree with you on the old zephyr most of the time , however it did have a small sweet spot around 15 to 18 knts it was great, above that it became a bit heavy on the bar and hard going on the legs around 20, the new zeph is completely different , around the 14 to 20knt range its a long way off being boring
Ha ha the Zeppo. !! Nice one djodjo.
Steve is in Mauritius at the moment apparently he will speak to rob for us. who knows.
Yeh for sure the smaller sizes are decent freeride and over 11m to me they way to race orientated or the race design really kicks in. 13m manageable. Nice size to for sweet fast gliding.
yeh the new C4 post. Will stay out unless some douchebag dribbles sh1t. Some may say if the cap fits wear it. Lol.
Thanks your input djodjo, Plummett, Cauncy and some others I appreciate your input, advice and support actually. One thing is for sure we all know how good these kites are.
What are you guys dribbling about here? I tried to work it out but it's one big mess...
All Ozone kites have a purpose and I think the degree of separation between models is valid and an accurate representation of their marketing.
Catalyst - all round ripper. I could do anything on this kite and I feel comfortable doing it all. I actually considered taking this kite for next year.
C4 - More C feel with enhanced emphasis on unhooked tricks. The C4 is like the Cats big brother, it can also do everything pretty well if you want but it's primarily designed for freestyle/wakestyle.
Zephyr - Light wind machine. Get out when others can't and do what you want with it. It's like the C4 and Cats Daddy.
Reo - Wave riding. Less hard pull for down the line performance. You can hit the lip without getting whipped out the back of the wave. Most companies have copied this kite.
Edge - Racing. Watch every kite company in the business directly copy this model next season because it's the best.
As for sizes I understand some peoples frustrations here and I think Ozone is listening. The C4 will probably come in a 6m for next year and I'm sure they are adding other sizes to other models as well.
New bar setup with upgraded end-winders and C-loop will also be releasing this season and is looking pretty good.
I think they Cat had an sneaky affair with the edge and daddy C4 did some weird science experiment to get his bit in there to make the zephyr.
Seen and like your riding style rowdy hence understand your acceptance of the kite market placement.
Eppo, I've ordered a 17 zephyr from Kim.... He was not happy! But being the good bloke he is, no dramas. He was saying you guys were at Uni together. You have followed different paths for sure...
The deal was if he gets me the zephyr, I have to learn twin tip. Only ridden one once, and it did not go well!
I'm a bit worried that next week you'll say there is a better light wind kite, but cest la vie...
Ha ha. Yeh kim and I did know each other at Uni. Good bloke kim. Wy would kim ask you to learn how to use a Tt, he's an avid SB rider.
Nah you will love it man, plus plenty of days up there to use it ya lucky bugger.
Once you get the hang of it you will find a Tt easier to use than a SB that's for sure. It's more obvious using a large rail than dealing with an due and finnage and no gybing and swapping feet required. It's easier in the end.
You done any strapless on the SB yet? That's the ticket hey. ( not that I do it much anymore having too much fun on my mako and Laluz) but there's nothing quite like it.
Still working my way into the jumps and boosts, so think I will stick with the straps for the time being thanks! Am pretty OK with feet swapping on the surf board now.
The Beast arrives friday, and have 4 days up at Horrocks to hopefully test it out.
Any tips on self landing the Zephyr? I'm pretty ok with the 5 line rebels self landing, but whats the plan with a 4 line? Presume same principle except pull on a middle line instead of 5 th to drop it once it is sitting on its tip...
I can always do a tethered land but its a bit more ginning around
Thanks
put the kite at the zenith. let the bar go then pull about 3m of front line....
the kite will Hindenburg and you can run and catch it!~ 
easy peasy!..
