Rider: Weight,Level 82kg, experienced but unadventurous
Style: Surf, custom quad
Weather: mid high 20 knots scarboro sat pm
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: nil, buy my own kit, rebels 07 (good) 08 (better) 09 (crap), best yarga, airush that long a go cant remember what, wipika hydro+ (crappiest)
My Comments:
good sold seabreeze today to give the new rebel a crack in
was not a fan of 09 rebels, but was of 08 and 07
apart from bendy issues in the 9m i had ( not curable by air pressure contrary to vested interest advice), as noted by other reviewers was 09 were totally oversheeted and prone to stalling under full load especially in lighter conditions, which made for a frustrating experience when looking to power out of turns - all up a step backwards imho and like many i moved them on pretty quickly
10 looks a completely different beastie
naish like with angular joins as opposed to a smoothly curved le, a v shaped rear attachment point and bungy and the return of the middle strut
one pump too has been beefed up to stop last models weakness
pumped up hard and up she went
higher aspect than 08 that a m8 had up
well pleased to say the reworking has resulted in a few steps forward
smooth, relaxed kite that ate the gusts and powered up wind
no stall issues, mind u had it depowered a bit
has been slowed down so not twitchy or over reactive like many smaller kites in stronger winds, a bit too slow for a 7 imho, but i'll reserve final judgement after a few more goes
good depower on both letting out the bar and using the back foot
seemed to jump well thou i didnt try too hard
very stable sat where pointed and drifted nicely when doing cut backs down wind
all up smile on the dial
hope the 9m is as good, but wind forecast looks like that will stay wrapped up for now :-(
Was out on my new 6m Rebel on Saturday 25 plus, I'm 95kg and on a surfboard. Don't go past a 6m, a wonderful kite, useful from 23K plus. None of the usual small kite issues, rock solid, modererly quick but not fast, and trucks up wind. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. That is of course as long as you hold the bar in the correct way around
Auzzie nice kite loops on the beach mate, and you didn't destroy my spanking NEW kite.
Used the new 9m Rebel 2010 10xsessions aleast, as above with wind range from 15knots plus Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
12m Rebel 2010 a light wind beast ( 5-6 sessions) As above as well, 10knots plus and still really fun on surfboard as lond as you are really aggressive with bar. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
PS Hated the 25m lines for first 2 weeks, as used to shorter lines over last 3 years, but now LOVE the 25m set up, really suits kite and creates massive wind range.
See Johnny G at SOS, he lent me a 9m for a few days, sorry about the new bar I lost mate.....
JOHNNO