Rider: 90kilos,Level (advanced)
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Wake, Freestyle
Weather: 20-25 knots
Build Quality: 11/10
Satisfaction: 11/10
Disclosure: Own a school and a shop that sells this kite
My Comments:
It was more for the routine of testing all kites that I felt I had to test this little kite out, rather than having a burning desire to ride a "school" learner kite. But .... what a blast! This kite is not what you think!
For bar, bag etc etc see other reviews I have done.
This little kite is built the same quality as the other two but has two settings for speed and bar pressure although I doubt you'd want more bar pressure. It has only three struts with NO one pump so super durable for learners, but doesn't flutter hardly at all unlike the previous model Light II's.
The kite is grunty, and has moderate bar pressure but very progressive, it gets heavier as you sheet in. Really nice!
The 10m turned fast, I reckon as fast if not faster than the Sport+ 9m. It felt so good to ride, a really easy kite to park and ride. Less depower than the Light II, which makes me wonder about it's suitability as a school kite, but as a beginner kite it rocks.
I sent it for a few good big boosts and it jumps better than the Sport in my opinion, very high, less hangtime, but only marginally. No stall or luffing that I could make it do and it looped so nicely it was like it was on rails.
Everyone who rode this kite today came in with a smile on their face and were all prefering it to the Sport+. Go figure! I love it and reckon it will be sick in the surf as well as unhooking, so stable and grunty. I also rode the Sport+ 9m again today and it felt a lot better than yesterday as I get more used to it, but for pure plug and play fun, the Light XC blew me away.
Grab a demo and see for yourself.
Love it!
I'm pleasantly surprised by the Light XC and reckon they will be a real winner.
if it turns so quick wouldn't it make it not that good school kite? meaning the manufacturer didn't really acheive what they set out to do?
whats the RRP? (surely the RRP can be published on the forum as a guideline - especially as it is marketed as a value kite)
cheers.
Hi Guys,
The 10m Light XC is $1699. They pretty much go up $100 per size, and same as you go down a size. ie 8m is $1599
The Access XC is a depower foil Kite for back country snowkiting or mountainboarding.
Cheers,
Had the fortune of having a spare arvo so popped along to Kitehards van and demo'd the light....cheers Mr Hard
Rider: 90kilos 
Level: Individual
Style: surf, cruising boosting
Weather: 15-20 knots steady seabreeze
Build Quality: Perfect
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: I am not affiliated to any brand, shop or otherwise.
First up was a bit dubious, despite others saying what a great kite it is my cynisism said otherwise.
What a plesant surprise, its a really good neat kite.
I don't think this would be an ideal kite for beginers at all.
The kite is phenominally well made, with an almost obsessive attention to detail. The kite itself is three strut and as the name suggests its light as anything.
The bar is simple, though i wonder about the centre chickenloop line wearing out and the below the bar safety line that runs parallell to it wearing. That is a lot of stuff rubbing together and going through the bar.
Bar pressure is up from last year but not so much like other kites where you get kiters elbow but just enough that you can feel the kite and get great feedback.
The kite responds how it should to bar input immediatly and what surprised me the most is the grunt. This is a grunty little kite, quite low aspect and quite quick to turn. I bet the smaller sizes are just insane.
Reasonably fast through the window but nothing like the edge of 08.
Great great boost and good hang, not a rip you off the water like an 08 edge but nevertheless does like being treated agressivly.
I reckon this kite would be awesome in 20-25kn and waves.
My impression was favourable. This kite made me smile and got me checking my credit card balance.
