I think next year, ozone should bring out a new, truly dedicated kite.. the 2014 Ozone Plummet
Plummet, have you tried the new 10m cat? If I was in the waves even 25% of the time I doubt I'd ride anything else....though I'm loving the new C4 and honestly felt only slight difference in new cat compared to years gone by and would likely stick with C4 even in waves as I know some do. The way the C4 rips you off the water boosting or popping is worth the little more difficult relaunch-only negative I find with C4. It's like a cat with the boost wound up several more psi IMO
I spent Sunday morning on a 12m Cat (thanks westoz), helping a young bloke out who wants a more all round kite than his 10m reo.
Don't know emanjay...I'm starting to like this kite the more I get on it. It develops far more apparent wind than the previous models and it loops much better.
It's kind of got some edge and C4 in it...like a softened down half way aspect of each. You can really notice it, but it takes a while to see it and the right conditions (my fourth time on them now).
And I flew as fast as I could under it, throwing the bar ...did it seven times in a row.. one after the other (no waves to actually test it, damn) and it was on the lightish side...and it drifted back nicely just like the reo...
I still need more time in some better conditions, but I'm starting to really appreciate the cat. It's park and ride ability through apparent wind is most definelty better than the previous models. Not exciting enough for this edge loving maniac...but for most...perfect.
Not denying your call though...you have ridden them for years...have you ridden an edge and reo though and the older C4's...It's like you can feel all those influences..man that dude is a clever dresigner.
After a few sessions finding the 13m bar pressure a little heavy for my liking (definitely used to the old ozone feel - light and direct). I have developed a mild case of kiters' elbow which I have never had prior :(
Next session will change the bridle to the freeride setting and maybe it will lighten it up a bit (already have light on wing tips). Love the kite, just not dialed on the bar pressure atm
Eppo, funny you describe cat as between c4 and edge as I see the c4 as between the edge and cat....at least for aspect ratio which is one of the few things a simpleton like me can easily differentiate.
I've not ridden the reo and as I kite in surf less than 1% of the time I figure its not for me. I also never touched a c4 till this year as I never felt the need....as I've probably said few pages back, this year I wanted something with more zing, more exciting and C4 delivers-it's fun to fly and likes/needs to flown to get the most out of it (make any sense?) Load the lines and send it hard from low in the window and bang :-). It's got me playing more with looping, trying new things that I'd given up on. Put simply I love it.
re the edges-when the 2011 came out and those videos of Tamatoa going huge came out I wanted to swap entire quiver next day. I've listened to everyones advice since and went for the C4 and not sorry but still had a hankering for an edge, boost sessions and that gliiiiiiide. (think your love affair with them partly to blame :-))) That resulted in me buying Munro's 9m this week and I've been getting to know it over the last few days. I don't want to make snap judgements and will persevere however so far I cannot get anywhere near the savagery in the boost department that the C4 delivers and while the glide is fun, the relatively gentle rise and fall is a little sedate for my liking....In comparison to my only other experience with high apect kites (switch nitro) the edge is very easy to live with and much less brutal in gusts and at top end of range. I'll see how I feel after living with the edge for a while longer yet but initial impressions are that my quiver will move towards cats being replaced by C4's and keeping at least the 6m cat for storm sessions. Fact is none of them are bad, just different styles for different riders tastes/preferences....
WTF with the wind today-23 odd knot sw turned to less than 10knot easterly in about 5 minutes.
default-definitely move that bridle setting. I shifted mine straight out of the bag so cant tell you how big a difference it'll make. If you read the ozone blurb they specifically state freeride setting for lighter bar pressure opposed to heavy bar pressure on freestyle setting. Interested to know how much difference you notice.
Yeah using the new C4 bar with short lines. Interesting how they run the 45cm bar on all sizes. I think they made the bar pressure exactly how they wanted it and would guess the shorter lines are for looping performance as this seems to be what guys who are loop crazy do.
+1 massive difference between settings !
i can only run freestyle when under powered which happens pretty quick lol
freeride at top end of range
thx Dafunk, how does the kite react on freeride settings is it faster ?
Can't wait to have some more sessions on the 9m, just to cold here yet and no wind !
i dont really notice a difference in flying speed or turning, but i dont feel the xtra bar pressure either !
do notice it sitting further in the window with better load n pop on freestyle .
better upwind and depower on freeride .
hope the wind is on tommorow ???
Just thought i would throw up a review from a pro kiter, he does not ride for Ozone, i got him to fly it for a few sessions and he came up with this. BTW he was throwing big Slims, Kiteloop 3's, 313's and put the kite through a decent test in tough conditions!
Ozone C4 9 meter 2013 Review
Conditions: Side-on 22-34knots. Large Chop.
Kite: 2013 Ozone C4 9 meter
Bar: 45cm 2013 C4 Bar 23m Stock Lines
Rider: Advanced
Board: Tona Pop 138 w/ Ronix Ones
Bar
The C4 bar is clean, simple, and effective. The leash attachment point is perfect placed for riding “suicide”, and keeps your leash out of the way while you're on the water. I prefer a shorter depower throw, and didn't find myself reaching at all on this, even when at the top end of the kite's range. The bar has a soft feel on the hands, yet still has sufficient grip. The C4 bar comes with a larger chicken loop, which is awesome for unhooking - what this kite was made to do. Sheeting is done with a cleating system above the bar (not usually my favourite) but the system works surprisingly well and I didn't have any issues at all. All in all the bar is near perfect, with the exception of the fact that the bar ends are not soft.
Kite
First Impressions:
As you would expect with any Ozone kite, the build quality is top notch. The Ozone factory hand checks every kite, and ensures that you are getting the best product for your money.
The C4 is a true c-kite, despite having a small bridle system. This enables the kite to fly off of 4 lines rather than 5, and in my opinion, the benefits well outweigh the negatives. If you're looking for a freestyle/wakestyle machine, be sure that you've found it in the C4.
Power:
The 9m produces power true to size. Like a true C, the C4 generates a lot of power through it's turns. Once speed is built up through turning the kite your board speed will carry you very quickly with correct edging and kite placement. The kite is very solid in the air and doesn't budge through the gusts.
Turning Speed:
The C4 is a responsive kite, but is by no means twitchy. With a lot of bar input the kite will turn very fast - great for getting going quickly. During tricks a smaller kite such as this can move around on you, but I found the 9m C4 to stay put very nicely in the window to maintain power through unhooked tricks.
Looping:
The C4's looping ability is great. Hooked in megaloops are smooth, powerful, and fun. It gives a nice consistent pull through the loop, and then goes straight up to the top of the window again to catch you. For unhooked kiteloop handlepasses, this kite is one of the best I've used. With correct timing, edging, and pop, the kite will shoot you straight upwards, catch you at your apex, slack perfectly for the pass, and let you land softly.
Unhooked:
Ozone has really perfected the C4, and the attention to detail is really felt in what the kite is best at - unhooking. The kite gives you great board speed going in to the trick, allows you to pop smoothly and powered, and then slacks the perfect amount for those technical passes. Again, the kite doesn't move around on you during your trick and will allow anyone from someone just learning to unhook, all the way though to a pro to enjoy every session.
Relaunch:
The easiest relaunch I have experienced on any c-kite. All you have to do is pull on a steering line for a couple of seconds and you're back riding again. This is an overlooked category by many companies with their C offerings. A 5th line can be a big hassle if your kite flips over, so I much prefer the simplicity of the C4's 4 line design.
Overall:
Anyone from an intermediate through to a pro will appreciate the C4's smoothness, unhooked, looping, and even freeride abilities. With a simple 4 line bar, bomb-proof construction, superb unhooked capability, and amazing looping, it is safe to say that anyone who gives the C4 a go will be wanting one.
Great to read a review from someone who is good at this style of riding. It's official the C4 is indeed a C kite for C kite freestyle riding.
nice. Getting on with my down grade to 2012 c4. in little waved today nice bar pressure and drift. broke my foot strap and kept on kiting half strapless.
Well....seems you guys have completely written off the C4 as a freeride kite
Been living with mine for a month or 3 now and I'm by no means a new skool wear my undies on the outside boot wearing gangsta and I am only loving my 9m 2013 C4 more every session.....Ozone market it as their freestyle kite for sure but also as a freeride kite with bridle setting adjustments.
Put simply I can choose between a 9m edge, 8 or 10m cat or the 9m C4 for 18- mid to high 20's and the 9m C4 just makes me smile more
Amazed at how early the edge can get going and glides nicely but I just don't find the cat/edge's as much fun to fly/boost. I'm starting to try more than my normal tiny arsenal of tricks too and the C4 is the right kite for this. The bar pressure issue...yep definitely high for ozone but lower than my switch nitro and 2013 wainman smoke in the config I tried......
Horses for courses but I just think it'd be silly to not consider/write off the C4 for aggressive freeriding with loops and trick or 3 thrown in. But hey, I read most of the gear review posts and I think Mr Plummet and Mr Eppo should be on Cats! I know if I lived at wave location thats prob what I'd do-or stick with C4
PS-C4 relaunch tip. I was out little while back in solid 23-25 knots when the wind swung from sw to almost dead east and max 10 knots....crazy ****. Relaunch was not happening-then I recall how yanking rear line opposite to steering line you are pulling for relaunch was recommended for my big skinny switch nitro. Doing this was able to relaunch 9m in wind you'd never normally rig this kite for-and quickly.
to b fair if the bar pressure was less on the 2013 i'd still be flying it. my old man pissant elbows can't handle the bar pressure. gives me golfers elbow... well kiters elbow.
I do agree tho c4 is a glorious kite. for me the older models with less bar pressure much better. i'm now set for a couple of years with the 2012 c4. i hope in that time they lighten up the bar pressure again so i can continue flying it.
Been living with mine for a month or 3 now and I'm by no means a new skool wear my undies on the outside boot wearing gangsta and I am only loving my 9m 2013 C4 more every session.....Ozone market it as their freestyle kite for sure but also as a freeride kite with bridle setting adjustments. Amazed at how early the edge can get going and glides nicely but I just don't find the cat/edge's as much fun to fly/boost. I'm starting to try more than my normal tiny arsenal of tricks too and the C4 is the right kite for this. The bar pressure issue...yep definitely high for ozone but lower than my switch nitro and 2013 wainman smoke in the config I tried......
Anyone who can tell it's experience on the new C4 ?
Still freezing temperatures here, this winter is holding on too long now !
Well, since the ozone plummet still hasn't arrived...
I've demoed a 2013 C4 11m in it's absolute low end ( which for me was somewhere around 15 knts ). Unfortunately I read about the back line trimming after the demo.
This thread has answered many questions, but I'm still not ready to pull the trigger on a new C4 set.
Can someone shed some light on the short throw bar, how big is the depower range available ? Should I expect "100%" depower, or will there be a lots of pull when the bar is released ( in case of my frequent crashes :D )
Is the 2013 C4 still ok for big airs? I know the float is not like the edges or bandits, but can it reach the same heights?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rogier,
I fly the 2013 C4 8m with the (standard) contact bar. It works just fine for me. I don't feel the need to unhook, so no need for the really big CL of the C4-bar. I do like some extra depower on the (contact) bar throw, since I never use the depower strap to depower. The 8m boosts as expected, no complaints at all
. Ordering the C4 with a contact bar is possible, but if you want to resell the kite in future most of the potential buyers will look for the C4-bar.
