14M SwitchBlade 3

14M SwitchBlade 3
Wind 15kn at start – Building to 20kn+
Board – FLX 152 & 6’4” Unstrapped Surfboard
Rider – 97Kg’s Dry without gear(Intermediate rider)
Location – Dolls Point
First Thoughts – Nice new Graphics, Build quality looks tougher and feels stronger than previous years, and little things like covers over the one-pump locking valves, tarp material inside bag, good bar holder on side of bag etc
I have no affiliation with any brands or stores ( though appreciative to demo a kite for a day)and currently ride a 12M SB 2

My first gear review so bear with me, a bit long.
I first setup the kite up in marginal wind 13-15kn(Reading off Seabreeze), thinking that I would fly it on the beach and wait until wind picks up.
Self launched the kite effortlessly, standard procedure, as soon as I put tension on the lines, the kite rolled onto LE, no sliding into window etc, then turned straight up on the edge of window, kite wouldn’t have move 1 meter from where I set it up.

Feeling that I had a bit of power, I jumped on the 152 FLX, and charged straight out. I was on the end of a run out tide, so assisted a little. I held ground straight away, and after a couple tacks, started to boost around 10 feet. Very floaty jumps and smooth landings. Another smaller guy was out on a 12, not keeping ground.

Found the kite quite fast for a 14M, keeping in mind that I didn’t enjoy the previous years 14M, found it quite slow, sluggish and doughy and a struggle to stay upwind. The 07 turned very similar to the 12M SwitchBlade 2, maybe just a slightly longer arc, however still very responsive.
After a short session, I jumped on the surfboard, thinking with such a big kite, I would just get dragged off (beginner on surfboard). The power delivery was so smooth, no problems on the surfboard, even went up wind on toeside, still struggle on a TT.

Then jumped on a FLX 132, only a couple tacks, realised I was under powered, though still made it back to where I started.
Back on the FLX152, I headed to Towra Point, got there in 1 tack from the southern side of Dolls, Only ever managed it on my 12M in 20kn+ before…just.
Had a great play at Towra in maybe 18kn, nicely powered, nice boosting, kite flew quite fast, making the most of apparent wind, and turned quickly to be able to send it for jumping. The kite feels a lot like the last years 12M SB 2 just a tad slower, I have normally found with big kites, you need to keep them high in the window so you don’t get dragged down wind, with this, I just rode it like a 12M, down low in the middle of the power zone and still trucked upwind.

After a play, I tacked from the western point of Towra towards Kurnell. 1st tack, made it to the point on the first rock groin, 2nd tack nearly up the 3-4 groins to where the other kiters where, final tack took me into the loop with other kiters. Keeping in mind as I crossed from Towra to Kurnell the wind picked up to around 20-22kn and gusts to 26kn (again reading from seabreeze)
The kite held the gusts really well, normally I’m pretty lite in 26Kn on my 12M,

I was still riding the kite as per a smaller kite, sending it for jumps no problem. Down turns and powering out nicely, The kite was still very stable and quite forgiving though quick to react to bar commands. Around 25kn I started to lose my edge a little while sending the kite, however a bit of wind chop never helps, others kiters around where on 9’s and 11’s.
Headed back to Dolls, lots of floating jumps on the way, really like the way this kite jumps for a big kite.

Overall, found the kite really nice to ride, feels like a smaller kite, though got me going in a lot less wind than my 12M, It doesn’t turn as quick as the new 12M SB, however miles quicker than any other big kite I have flown, Bar pressure fairly light, almost the same a 12M SB 2, My elbows don’t cope with bar pressure, and I spent 4 hours on this without a problem. However enough pressure to know exactly where the kite is in the sky.

My opinion is that this kite really fills the gap for larger riders that don’t like to ride 16M's and ride a 12, however want to ride a 10M for 25kn+ days and think the gap is too close between 12M and 10M. The 14M and 10M combo would cover most wind ranges around Sydney.
Would have liked to try it in the 20-25kn+ region with a smaller board, to see how much I could load it up and get out of it, I think I would still be comfortable in 25kn, then would be happy on a 10M. I only put it in the water once, LE down on edge of window with slack lines…don’t ask. I waited until the lines got tension then simply turned the kite with the bar back into air.

I left the day, with a different opinion of kites bigger than 12M which I have steered away from, and never really enjoyed. This year I was planning on getting smaller kites eg 9 and 11 etc, however after having a blast on this for the day, i have to re-visit the bigger kite idea.

Would like to hear other opinions and or questions.

Cabron

Sandblaster,
The over-ride (stopper ball) system are the same as SB2 06, which was quite a nice setup. I'm the same, and don't use the stopper much at all. However nice to have there when just cruising. Don't quote me, however I think there might be some minor changes to the bar itself???. Would have to check the website or ask the store. It's nice having the spinner at the chicken loop, Untwist the lines while riding easily, good saftey release, strong donkey's doodle, and the ability to clip your safety to either side of the bar when it all goes pear shaped.