2008 Core Combat GT

Rider: 88kg,Level (advanced)
Style: Surf,
Disclosure: Man in the street

My Comments:

I don’t work for Core, but when trying to research this kite, other than the corekite website (www.corekites.com.au), I couldn’t find any customer based posts on the GT on the net – probably because the GT model has recently come out. I hope this helps someone out there.

I have had the Core Combat GT’s, for about 3 weeks now and have had wind between 10 and 25 knots on most days, so I reckon I have about 20-30 hours on the 12, 9 and 7, mostly in cross-onshore waves.
I have only ridden these using a strapless surfboard, so haven’t tested the jumping and hang time ability, but it feels like it will do it.

First of all, the GT, as would be expected from a German manufacturer, is constructed really well, is light weight, and has a good distribution of reinforced areas.

The bar is high quality and one size fits all. The bar is fitted with a micro loop, which allows you to hook in fully powered for the long trips out. It comes with a spare loop, so if you don’t like it, you can cut it off and replace it if you ever want to sell the kite.

There are three fixture points (2 on the 12) on the leading edge of the kites, where, by changing the position, you can set your bar pressure from light to “direct”. Moving this positioning changes how the kite feels and responds quite dramatically.
There are also three fixing knots on the back edge, which also affect the responsiveness and power of the kite.
.
After fiddling around I have settled on the middle knot on the leading edge and the innermost knot on the back lines.

The 12 GT is about as fast as my 9 late model bow kite and jumps ahead of my 12 bow, which seems to wallow in the window in comparison. I have used the 12 for wave riding and for a kite that big, it is extremely fast and manoeuvrable –if the 12 is fast, the 7 just whips around and the speed is scary to start off with, but once past the initial “wow” phase, it is really fun.
It also feels different to my last years bow in that it feels a lot “lighter” in the air and has a “softer” pull.

It is really great when riding the waves, and I find it easy to park the kite, so I can surf the wave, and when I need the power, the reaction when sheeting in or out is instantaneous, or if I am fully powered already, because it is so quick, it is quick to get it back in the power zone. The quickness in the air is also great for transitioning from riding left to right, smacking the lip, and then transitioning back to riding a left again. The power and depower is also instantaneous.
Relaunching the kite is a no brainer; it simply rolls onto its swept back leading edge and takes off. A few times I have over shot my turning point and ridden towards the kite and lost the pull from the strings, it has simply floated down without tipping over, so it is facing the correct way by the time I have been able to adjust my riding position to get power to the strings again.
Unhooked riding is easy, and the positioning of the donkey dick makes it easy to hook and unhook (the dick is fastened to the edge of the loop and not the middle, so if you unhook, the dick points out of the edge of the loop and the loop stays completely open, which makes it easy to slot into and out of).
The power and depower straps are easy and light.

In summary, I am stoked with my choice of kite – I feel my riding has already improved and will still get better with more time on these kites.

Hi Lance – it has been so quiet from your side that I thought you’d gone troppo!

There are three fixing points on the leading edge on the 7 and 9 and 2 on the 12, where you can set the bar pressure.
I have never tried the setting with the least pressure as I like kiting with a fairly direct and immediate response. I ride on the middle fixing and it is lighter than the combat.

The bridle is longer, so there is probably 1-2 meters added onto the line length compared to the combat, so the GT is marginally slower than the Combat, but are still very fast.

The flying characteristics of the combat and GT seem pretty much the same if they are ridden on the direct response point, but change depending where you tie the fixing point on the leading edge and which knot you tie to on the back lines..

They are both delta C shape and the differences that I picked up between the two are:
• The GT is about 200-300mm narrower than the Combat,
• The stroke on the bar of the GT is 500mm compared to 400mm on the combat
• There seems to be a bit more of an aerofoil shape on main strut of the GT.
• The bridle is different, longer and the fixing points are in a different place
• The 5th line setup is different

I compared the plan shape of the GT to a 2009 Bandit Dos, and although the fixing setups are different, they are pretty similar.
I
Next time you are back in civilisation, give me a hoi if you want to feel how they go.

Hi Kenno
Yes, it is still a four line kite like the Combat.
The fifth line setup is a bit different to the Combat, but difficult to explain but I will give it a go:-
GT
On the GT, the internal lines setup is as follows:
Chicken loop (5th line runs through a hole in the middle), then
Double dyneema lines 500mm long (5th line runs parallel), then
Depower straps (5th line is kept in place by a few loops), then
3-4m long dyneema line (5th line runs parallel), then
Splits into two standard kite lines, then
kite.

When you engage the fifth line, the bar can slide up the centre line for about 3-4m before hitting a stopper ball, which totally depowers the kite.

If you have the kite overhead and ping off, it floats to the ground without dragging you along.

I flew the 10.5 Combat GT over the Chrissy new year gap, wind was light to start with, I really did not think I would be able to stay upwind, even with a 1.44x45 Switch board.
No other kites were out or able to stay upwind.
From the moment I launched it there was a feeling of power with this kite, combined with nice pivotal turning.
Stayed upwind and eventually the wind picked up to around 18-20 knots in which the kite was awesome, huge jumps with exceptional hangtime. The Combat GT has a lot of lift and I think that was one reason why I was able to stay upwind, just need to let the kite breathe and ride the board flatter.
When the wind was 20 knots there was still tons of depower, I had not touched the trim strap.
Crashed a few times and could not keep the thing in the water, just pointed the bar and relaunched, kept my board on my feet every time, nice.

Really like the bar setup with the fully spinning fifth through the centre of the c-loop, easy to replace 5th with just some 3mm amsteel.
One bar size suits all sizes, has adjustable ends.
Yes I am going to sell them, the 10.5 will retail for those that order or purchase in January at an introductory price of $1798

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCore

Steve
When I first posted at the beginning of December, I had just ridden fairly onshore dumpers, which do not lend themselves to unhooked riding for any length of time.
Since then I spent 2 weeks kiting some good surf at a fairly long left, and was really pleased at how easy it is to ride these kites unhooked – give it a try!

Bermand sent me a link to a review here:

kitemovement.com/gear/core-gt/

Hey Jonno,

Our kites are stuck some where in Sydney. I hope to learn more tomorrow from the shipping agents. Maybe have ours on Wednesday unless they fly tonight.

Spewing!

Good winds,

I will have my GT's tomorow , will fly on friday & post some pic's, of all the boy that have bought them in action. at Maroochy, feel free to come & demo one on friday avo the Cores may be at Caloundra on Sunday might see you here or there.[}:)]
Cool

Hi Peeps,

Hooray!, the kites arrived today .....finally!

The Core Combat GT is a sweet kite, I rode both the 10.5 and 9m today in winds from 13-14 knots on the 10.5, up to 17-20 knots. I was fairly depowered on the 10.5 in 17-20 so changed down to the 9m GT. Perfect!

The first thing you notice is the simplistic but high quality construction. These kites are well made from top materials and look the goods. The bar is excellent and safety system is amazing. Everything spins and untwists itself, it is impossible to get the leash twisted around anything and unspinning lines is just automatic as the swivel is below the bar, not above it like on every other kite.

The power is amazing, so grunty with great lift in jumps, the kite moves quite quickly and turns fast all with huge power! I felt quite powered up on the 9m in 18-20 knots riding a 132 Jaimie Pro board.

These kites loop easily and with smooth power and good pull, the relaunch is almost automatic and fast with a little tug on the steering lines. I tested flag out and it was great, this kite is a sweet unit and has good bar feedback, moderate bar pressure and stable but direct steering, just park and ride!

I'm stoked, demos available, just ask if they aren't on the beach already.

Good winds,

Hi Orynoco,

The 9m is sweet as! If you don't like the bar pressure, move the aft bridle attachment point back to the last position on the leading edge. On the 9m it made a huge difference to the bar pressure and also turning speed. much faster and lighter.

I was really powered in 20 knots on the 10.5, I can't imagine the power of the 13.5

Try fiddling with the tuning settings, it makes a big difference.

Good winds,

Hi orynoco,

Big Dave borrowed my demo 9m the other day in strong wind for a boosting session, Dave loves going big and is quite good at it. Wind was 23-27 knots and Dave took her for s spin with no depower on the trim as he was unsure as to which loop to depower.

I saw Dave two times boost as high as I've ever seen anyone boost from extremely choppy water where he complained of not being able to get a decent edge. He was still clearing well over 35 feet!

They're not really supposed to be boosting kites, but .......

I've ridden the 7m once on a surfboard in about 15 knots of wind and was able to stay upwind by just hooking the chicken loop into the micro loop and working the kite with one arm. So fast! Just can't wait to put it through it's paces at Kitestock in 30+ knots.

Just love the power and speed! I think these kites will really surprise people. Very similar to Dos, but with more power, steadier flight, and a much stronger pull in turns.

Good winds,