Hi.
Need help from other ozone riders to give me an honest oppinion on the 2013 catalyst.
I just got my 14 and 10m this week and tried the 10M well lit up. 12ms and weighing 90kg.
I have ridden for five years with mostly c4 and ss rpm kites. Loved the C4 kites.
The catalyst has gotten great reviews so I took a chanse without testing.
The real problem was that i really could not time the jumping of this kite.
As mentioned I was well litt up going fast with the kite really low pulling it hard to 12 o`clock as I was pulling the bar in when the kite reaching top. I could not really feel the kite building tension just before it was at 12 o`clock: at 12 o`clock it got power but the I was off ass this was strange for me.
With the c4 and the rpms i could really feel the pressure in the kite building up and really get pulled of the water. With the catalyst the power came really late so i could not get any decent air.
So dissapointed. Unhooking was ok but iut was gusty so focused on getting air without any success.
I forgot to shorten the the steering lines as others have mentioned but I was well lit up so this really should not be the problem?
Please give me some input.
Br
Trond
Shortening the backlines made my cat a greatly improved kite much more powered resonsive and connected, it took me a few sessions to dial it in compared to my bigger edges, I'm 89 kg and the 8 was my big wind kite, as for boost no complaints just took a bit more flying overhead to get great hangtime, when timed and redirected you get a great double lift , imo a kite change takes a bit to really dial in
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
Shortening the backlines made my cat a greatly improved kite much more powered resonsive and connected,
How did it effect performance at the bottom end of the wind range?
I have a 10 Cat. Not keen compared to my Edges.
Select to expand quoteRob S said..cauncy said..
Shortening the backlines made my cat a greatly improved kite much more powered resonsive and connected,
How did it effect performance at the bottom end of the wind range?
I have a 10 Cat. Not keen compared to my Edges.
hey rob dont know about the bottom end, as it was my big winder, in the lower wind itd want to backstall i think, too much backline tension usually does this, but honestly couldnt tell you, im on the edge 7 now though as my 30knt beyond kite, takes a bit to adjust especially in the jumping transitions compared to the 9 10 and 11, no arcing pull very overhead needing more body movement to position yourself, but ive done my biggest boosts on my 7 on a wind for size comparison, but you land pretty hot though,i think once youve ridden the edges it hard to go elsewhere, hope to see you in dongara soon on your yearly travels, november usually from what i recall, hows exmouth going ? top bloody spot hey, travel safe
And rightly so you should be disappointed. It's not a big jumping kite.
If you were happy with what you had what possessed you to buy not 1 but 2 kites that you have never demo'd b4?
Costly exercise built on kook reviews
I've got a 2013 14m Cat and 2012 C4's in smaller sizes.. I think I noticed a diff technique required in boosting between the 2, but really, they are quite different kites and you can expect a slightly different technique is required in pretty much every facet.
Can't put my finger on the exact technique difference in boosting but just keep at it and you'll nail it sooner or later because I can't see any probs boosting the new Cat.
Unhooking a more noticeable difference for me in that I find I need to pull in a tiny bit of depower to have the kite behave the same as the C4 unhooked - where no depower required at all.
Definitely shorten the back lines, especially if you have a new or newish bar. I did this with my new bars beginning of last season. However I think I'm at that time where I move back to the middle knot as my front lines have stretched a fair bit. Now the kite's position when unhooked or at full power seems to backstall a bit too much for my liking and losing its power/pop. I was having to pull in a bit of depower to negate this. Really noticed this last session so next one Im moving to middle knot to see how the kite sits.
It doesn't like a full blown C technique for jumping. You still need to keep some speed in the wing and let the kite breathe a little more. Depower slightly, then send kite (from about 10), stamp that back foot and swivel hips upwind, as you leave the water pull in on that bar. And as cauncy says be active with it, when in the sky.
Hope this helps.
Had another thought. Remember this kite is an all rounder. It is designed to be decent at most disciplines. Its not a jumper so to speak. As you know there are more specific kites for that.
Thanks for all the feedback.
NoBs - I wanted to try new kites and all the ozone kites i have tried before were great. I know a couple of people that ride the cat and they all said it was a good jumper and did an ok job unhooking. I liked the kite but boosting it I need to figure out!
I will try to shorten the back lines a bit and play with my jumping technique next session.
Rails - nissefyr.
Trond
Eppo is on the money a bit required technique. If you get it tuned you should still be able to go large! Maybe not as big as some other Kited though.
Hi TrondE
I can't explain why some people and its to me to be only the same few, think that the Ozone Catalyst does not jump well or unhook well. I found it jumps extremely well, the technique is simple. Ride fast, make sure the kite is trimmed so that you arms are not too extended and you are able to control the speed and power with a good body position. Rear leg bent, front as straight as possible and just prior to jumping edge upwind a bit harder, and at the same time pull in on the bar and turn the kite back as hard as you can, you will literally get ripped off the water and you will go huge just like Patrick does in this video. I think the unhooked parts of the video speak for themselves. 2013 Catalysts especially the 10 and 8 were my favourite kites last year, and favourite ever actually! The 2014's are very similar, just a bit more refined and even smoother.
buy a 6mtr reo, approx 16 m/s little boosting machine when dialed in, wasnt trying that hard either
Select to expand quoteKitepower Australia said..
Hi TrondE
I can't explain why some people and its to me to be only the same few, think that the Ozone Catalyst does not jump well or unhook well. I found it jumps extremely well, the technique is simple. Ride fast, make sure the kite is trimmed so that you arms are not too extended and you are able to control the speed and power with a good body position. Rear leg bent, front as straight as possible and just prior to jumping edge upwind a bit harder, and at the same time pull in on the bar and turn the kite back as hard as you can, you will literally get ripped off the water and you will go huge just like Patrick does in this video. I think the unhooked parts of the video speak for themselves. 2013 Catalysts especially the 10 and 8 were my favourite kites last year, and favourite ever actually! The 2014's are very similar, just a bit more refined and even smoother.
?rel=0
Hi and thanks for the reply.
Yes I was also surprised since I had only heard good things about the catalyst. Not here to bash ozone since i love the brand.
As mentioned I was well powered but did not need to ajust the depower since the rear line was on the middle setting under the floater by the bar.
No arms streched or anythng. I know how to jump - but maybe i dont since I could not manage to get it dailed.
If anothing i could have had more power but it was blowing 11ms so should be good.
I could se that the rear lines were pretty darn long(almost reminded me of the cult).
I think it mustbe the rear line settings that are screwing ut up for me.
Do you move the thrid knob even closer to the bar? I have read that some have done this with success. But there are som fabric here in the way of doing that. can i remove this if i need even more Power than the third knob? about 1 cm.
Br
Trond
Hi Tronde, 2013 catalyst use the shortest steering line setting on all sizes off cats, knot closest to the bar under the floats. At the lower wind range for each size they can back stall, add depower if necessary, when over powered then go to middle knot, will not boost much though. Cats boost well when well powered up, boosting try some of above suggestions, it will come with some practice. The smaller sizes boost easier and higher, the 14 and 12 were more for all round light wind riding.14m you should boost between 5 and about 15 feet above water , 10m boost between 10 and 25 feet depending on how powered you are. Me 95 kgs and enjoyed riding/boosting my 2013 catalysts for last summer and winter, sizes 14 down to 6, in winds ranging from 14 to 42 knots. Catalyst do boost ,enjoy.
Select to expand quoteTrondE said..Kitepower Australia said..
Hi TrondE
I can't explain why some people and its to me to be only the same few, think that the Ozone Catalyst does not jump well or unhook well. I found it jumps extremely well, the technique is simple. Ride fast, make sure the kite is trimmed so that you arms are not too extended and you are able to control the speed and power with a good body position. Rear leg bent, front as straight as possible and just prior to jumping edge upwind a bit harder, and at the same time pull in on the bar and turn the kite back as hard as you can, you will literally get ripped off the water and you will go huge just like Patrick does in this video. I think the unhooked parts of the video speak for themselves. 2013 Catalysts especially the 10 and 8 were my favourite kites last year, and favourite ever actually! The 2014's are very similar, just a bit more refined and even smoother.
?rel=0
Hi and thanks for the reply.
Yes I was also surprised since I had only heard good things about the catalyst. Not here to bash ozone since i love the brand.
As mentioned I was well powered but did not need to ajust the depower since the rear line was on the middle setting under the floater by the bar.
No arms streched or anythng. I know how to jump - but maybe i dont since I could not manage to get it dailed.
If anothing i could have had more power but it was blowing 11ms so should be good.
I could se that the rear lines were pretty darn long(almost reminded me of the cult).
I think it mustbe the rear line settings that are screwing ut up for me.
Do you move the thrid knob even closer to the bar? I have read that some have done this with success. But there are som fabric here in the way of doing that. can i remove this if i need even more Power than the third knob? about 1 cm.
Br
Trond
its not just the cat trond, usually all ozones come with the float lines set at the furthest or middle knot setting from the factory, not sure but the reason to me would be if they supplied the bar at the closest setting and you had line stretch youd have no adjustment, ive been playing with a multi knot pigtail on the bridles to give you a higher range and also close the kite face in stronger conditions, going too short in the backlines will give you backstall on any kite, even though your only shortening the rears 25mm youll be suprised at the difference, it makes a huge difference, if you still need a bit more rear line tension you could put longer pigtails on the bridle or knot the steering pigtails at the kite making them shorter, generally playing around with the odd 10 to 20 mm in good winds doesnt cause a problem, its in the lower winds youll have issues, if you do start adding knots remove pigtails and align them so they are identical
My biggest jumps ever have been on the 2013 8m Catalyst. Slightly different timing than C4s, but when you nail it - effortless height and glide.
(IMO) You want the kite to be climbing up the window slightly in front of you as you take off, rather than trying to get it behind you. Don't choke it on the way up - get a feel for how it likes to climb while still pulling, then you can pull the bar right in at the apex to keep the kite lifting and prevent yourself from swinging under it. The redirect hard for a nice hot landing.
^that sounds about right dojo.. Also tend to get that second lift with this technique which is a cool feeling. Great for jump transitions :)
I've always found the cat to be easier to get air of than the c4. But the cat certainly isn't going to tear you from the water in the same manner as the c4. its less extreme in that regard. it usually floats to better than the c4 and give a softer landing.
note. im still on 2012 gear so take my advice with a grain of salt.
Select to expand quoteTrondE said..Kitepower Australia said..
Hi TrondE
I can't explain why some people and its to me to be only the same few, think that the Ozone Catalyst does not jump well or unhook well. I found it jumps extremely well, the technique is simple. Ride fast, make sure the kite is trimmed so that you arms are not too extended and you are able to control the speed and power with a good body position. Rear leg bent, front as straight as possible and just prior to jumping edge upwind a bit harder, and at the same time pull in on the bar and turn the kite back as hard as you can, you will literally get ripped off the water and you will go huge just like Patrick does in this video. I think the unhooked parts of the video speak for themselves. 2013 Catalysts especially the 10 and 8 were my favourite kites last year, and favourite ever actually! The 2014's are very similar, just a bit more refined and even smoother.
?rel=0
Hi and thanks for the reply.
Yes I was also surprised since I had only heard good things about the catalyst. Not here to bash ozone since i love the brand.
As mentioned I was well powered but did not need to ajust the depower since the rear line was on the middle setting under the floater by the bar.
No arms streched or anythng. I know how to jump - but maybe i dont since I could not manage to get it dailed.
If anothing i could have had more power but it was blowing 11ms so should be good.
I could se that the rear lines were pretty darn long(almost reminded me of the cult).
I think it mustbe the rear line settings that are screwing ut up for me.
Do you move the thrid knob even closer to the bar? I have read that some have done this with success. But there are som fabric here in the way of doing that. can i remove this if i need even more Power than the third knob? about 1 cm.
Br
Trond
No worries, I don't think you are brand bashing, even the ones that say it doesn't jump I don't think that, I just think they lack technique. Like others here are saying and the video clearly shows, the kites do jump well and high. They also unhook extremely well.
Djdojo's and cauncy's advices are spot on, my method is aggressive and you will need to steer the kite back as hard as you send it, but it does make for an exciting jump and easier to downloop transition. The key to getting good jumps is keeping board speed up. Some kites you can ride quite powered and slower, and jump more by pulling in the bar and sending it from higher in the window (Edge and Cab SB for example), but not with the C4 or Cat.
More the rear line under the float to the knot closes to the bar, no need to go any closer, you will end up stalling the kite (even though its not showing signs of backstalling, backstalling is extreme stalling), moderate stalling will show up as slower board speed, and a properly trimmed kite will want to go fast and this is how you want it for boosting.
So, no don't remove that black webbing, at your weight you should not be getting much line stretch, but if you do tie a fig 8 knot in the rear line leader or pigtail instead.
Practice makes perfect, technique is critical with these kites, they don't jump well with the "pull the bar in when well powered method".
luv it 
