oh.... sunday i take possession of the 2013 10m c4... now watch the wind evaporate so i can't try it out.
Ooh please let us know how she goes mate, the differences that is. I really really liked the 15m C4. What a kite!!
And the verdict is?......
drum role........
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Hate it. I'm selling instantly.
bar pressure is too high, turning response time has a second or 2 delay. once it starts to turn it turns fine. but they lag time combined with bar pressure is a deal breaker for me.
I can see why wake stylers woukld like that set up. you could do all sorts of silly moves tweek the bar slightly and the kite wouldn't budge. but for my dynamic flying style this is not the kite.
Its the first stuff up i've made buying kites in years. I should have been more patient and waited for more reviews to come out.
**** hey! Fair enough. I was on the 15m C4 so expected some bar pressure but interesting to here thoughts in the most common size crew will get.
Did you have it on freeride or the C setting. How many sessions you had on it plummet.
Not what I expected...
Adjusted it from high to low bar pressure, tried it standard and freeride setting and hated it in all settings. only one session. thats all i needed, i hated every second of that session. no need for more sessions i've already chucked it on trademe (nz ebay alternative).
Wind was a punchy 18-25. Swell was decent with head high sets coming through. I would usually love a session like that on my 2011 c4. not so on this thing.
But hey one mans rubbish is another mans treasure. i'm sure somebody will marvel at the rock solid stability as they rocket through the air unhooked doing some crazy handle pass to blind.
plummet, dont mean to be a smart arse but the new c4 has been advertised as more a wake freestyle kite this year, i may be wrong but after reading your posts i was suprised you got the c4 ,you sound to me like a perfect candidate for the mid size edges, ive had the edges since their release and they are a lot different now than a couple of years back, i wouldnt go any bigger than the 11mtr as they become a very different kite, so dont think your 13 would handle similar to the 11, i think most edge riders would agree the 9 and 11 are the most dynamic in the edge range, i have been wrong about a couple of kites in the past in my quiver, i got an 8 mtr cat which was my high wind kite and wasnt too happy with the power delivery even over 30knts, but after time im getting to really like this kite ,ive tuned it , cleared my head that it aint gonna fly like an edge and started from scratch with it, the c4 is also a kite that needs to be ridden and will reward you the more you ride it im sure, dont be too hasty dood get back on it and give it another blast, f.....g sucks that feeling that youve made the wrong choice mate i know what your feeling, you sound like you get off on similar conditions that we get and ride like me , one thing i know is i wouldnt be looking at the c4, hope it all works out cauncy
Try a Catalyst instead,got a 8 10 and 12 meter and love them.The 2013 version is a different kite compare to the 2012 and 2011 model.
There is always the 2012 C4.
Plummet has a philosophy of reducing aspect as the kite size reduces. Another edge would spoil this plan.
I just can't believe this kite can be so different from the last.
Plummet,
I'm not sure that I like any kite > 9m in the surf. A floater board is required for lighter winds though. I've played around with small wake-style kites (Switch Combats) in the surf and they do work but you have to be more aggressive on the bar, 20m lines are a must to minimise the steering lag. Great for unhooked wave-riders but the Naki is probably a bit too gusty for that style of riding.
The biggest problem that I have with true C kites in the surf is that the power surge on a turn can be too great and blow you off the board if strapless. I don't know how powerful the new C4 turns, the previous ones were pretty mellow. The Raglan boys seem to really like the new C4, but they are mostly riding in the channel rather than in the waves.
Saw it on trademe, good to see somebody being honest in reason for selling! Usually I get a pretty good laugh reading thru people's reasons for selling (some pretty far-fetched excuses out there sometimes!).
Just out of interest - how did you rip it? On the first sesh with it? You must have been spewing about that!
I'd have to weigh some support behind cauncy here. On a surfboard forget it. But on a mutant as I ride, I highly rate the edge now. Especially the nine. Got myself a mako king which allows me to get out early and use the nine. And yet the board feels so small underfoot and I can throw down all my limited gangnam stabber dog style moves. ( yeh I'm going with that description, its perfect).
It carries you through the turns, the apparent wind generated by the edge. Then if on a big wave, just leave the edge where it is and park and ride, slashing as you go. A slight change in technique for sure but I am most pleasantly surprised by it.
Still if was plummet I'd get a new as possible 2012 C4, why not he loves em!!
I'm a little perplexed now with this move by ozone. They are trying to grab some market share in the true C market, but they in my limited mind never compete with say the fuels or torches.
Sure they've beefed up the cat, but I'm not sure it is beefed up enough for someone like plummet who rides similar to us. Aggressive slash and burn, boost and cranked wave riding on a mutant/ shinn in your case cauncy.
Hey who am I, I'm sure ozone know what they are doing. But plummet is a prime candidate and has been a Hugh exponent of this kite. To find they have changed it so dramatically makes me wonder.
Yeh so enough of the red thumbs hey, unless you have recently been on an edge, ride mutants and ride the gangnam stabber dog style. Then again go ahead I suppose your call. Personally I don't even use the damn thing, just seems slightly childish and cowardly to me. If you don't agree speak up, add some entertainment. Add some informative insights even.
went for a blat last night 16-24 knots on the old 7 strut 13 edge. again lumpy sea. head high sets coming through.
managed to get that beast drifting a little bit!! hit some nice ramps for sweet gliiiiiiiiiiiide.
any way it got me thinking. as i have the 8m cat. if i want to do a more surf style session i can just step into the cat at 20+ knots.
so... maybe an edge to replace the c4 is not a silly idea. 10m edge sounds quite appealling.
Whats the top end of your guys 9's and how much do you weigh. The 2010 11 edge i had was good to 25 knots then it started to get very silly. i'm geussing 10m might be good to 28 knots.
Yeah I always fly mine on the shortest setting.
Rpm is nothing like the c4. It's like half the size of the c4 with those chopped off wing tips
Actually plummet Mr kitepower has a good point there as he normally does. ( actually it was him who got me thinking into trying the 15m C4 in the first place as we are near the same weight).
I have the rear lines shortened for sure, added that extra grunt on the edge and quickens the turning speed by a Huge margin actually.
I also to was on the standard 50cm ozone bar on the 15m and I still can't remember having the same experience as you.
But then again lets face it you are the more experienced C4 rider.
Edge, mmm I'm yet to find the top end. Agree with the 11m, 9m I have had it out in 22 to 28 north wester crapola ( yesterday) and could have gone more. And I'm only 74kg.
But I don't know man, I understand the dynamic flying characteristics you are chasing, especially after demoing the nrg liquid force yesterday. I'm still not certain the edge is what you are after.
I mean I fly the edge like an all rounder though, and I make it dynamic. But in the surf as good as it is, a kite like the nrg and the old C4 will offer you much easier drift.
But then again I prefer the power delivery of the edge, so smooth, so linear, so controllable so Farqin fast. And all done with light bar pressure.
The 9m turns perfect for me on the middle setting, the 11m needs adjusting but doable. The 10m on the fast setting could just be about right.
I'd say the 10m could take you up to 30 at your weight. Why? Because the edges although they have a great bottome end due to apparent wind build up, they become even better near their top end. They get better and better unlike most kites I have used. They love wind, they'd crave it and they turn it into insane speed, height and hang time.
I'm with kitepower man, give the C4 a few more gos mate. You will adjust and might find stuff you love about it above and beyond the old one.
The cat....nah man its not for you. You are a power junkie like me and at your weight and using a mutant I reckon with a 10m you will be constantly underdone in that 18 to 25 you are looking for. After this get on the cat 8m I reckon. That's a kite I will be adding to my quiver eventually.
At 18 you will be well powered on a 10m edge for a cool trick, wave session, at 21 to 25 I reckon you will be in that sweet spot.
Talking to a buddy today who has 11 and 8 c4. he said he had to shorten the rear leaders by 3 inches......
makes sense if its optimised for unhooked action the rear lines will be too long while hooked in and bar out.
So i will test is varying settings.
still think its dead to me with that bar pressure tho....
Posted review little while back, had lot more sessions on new 9m c4 now. 3rd session i followeds Steves lead and shortened rear lines. Very noticeable difference-for the better, mostly bottem end. Ive never touched settings before as my logic tells me fiddling with rear lines is exactly the same as using the bar so why bother....I also think why mess with what the designers think is best way to ship kite. Well with c4 on freeride and rear lines on shortest setting Im glad i did as only liking kite more every session. As such ive been riding it when i really should have changed up or down but want to stay on c4.....result is i can say bottom end improved with rear lines shortened and kite is quite comfortable into high 20s. Having fun from 18-26 and could go higher by why? I love small kites and sarvo ill be back on the cat for first time since arrival of new c4 so will be interesting to see how i feel.
Funny reading this thread as i know my reason for getting on the c4 was motivated by multiple sources and plummet and dj fellas past reviews were certainly 2 of them and now theyre off them!
I wanted savage boosting, power in turns, just more excitement than cat and i got it.
Only downsides and they are minor- slightly more difficult relaunch and higher bar pressure than cat (rspecially since shortening rear lines)
Boost is more rapid, higher and better glide than my old cats (as mentioned last time cant detect major difference in new cat...)
Ideally a quiver of all ozone kites would be nice to suit mood location and conditions.....ok leave out the reo for me to be sensible haha!
Wouldnt be giving up after one session any way plummet....
I found the boost of the 15m C4 really good actually. Nice reply their mate, I like your logic.
boost of the 9m rips you off the water lke the C4's of old but i just dont seem to get this with the 12m? anyone else experience this?
