Rider: 82kg, intermediate
Style: Freeriding, Surf
Weather: 5 to 20 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure: Sponsored by whettingsteel super fund
Other kites, 2011 rebel 10(ok), 2012 rebel 7 (love!)
Board: Wam, strapped.
My Comments:
Finally got a session in on the Zephyr after 4 or 5 failed attempts to get out on it, so thought I would pass on my first impressions. It's taken a while to get out, because I've been trying to use it in 10 knots or less and for me, and my skill level it just doesn't work at these wind strengths. The kite feels like its going to drop out of the sky at lower than 9 or 3.
Now I know I need 12+ my expectations are reset and all good.
Setting up was easier than expected, with the big inflate valve it's actually quicker to pump up than my rebels, and the 4 lines are quicker and simpler to setup than the 5. I've been launching tethered, and it's quite a task to flip the beast and lug it into position, but once on its tip it sits nice and stable.
Out on the water, a couple of dippies to get up to speed and wow it feels good, very stable just sits there and cruise up wind maintains speed through gusts and lulls. I found the depower made a lot more difference to the power than with my rebels, where I normally don't worry about it unless badly overpowered. Seemed quite sensitive to the setting. I opened it up a bit and got a heap more power. Gybing takes a bit of learning with it. With the rebels I would whip them over and carve the board hard against the pull of the kite. Doing that with the zephyr resulted in going airborne and flying off downwind halfway through the turn! Need to do more flowing turns that match the speed of the kite.
Out at point Moore there were some young guys out on 10's and 12's struggling to get going and definetly not staying up wind, whereas I was well powered and having a ball. That was worth buying it for on its own!
Riding the shore break, about waist to shoulder high was also a real treat. Sheet out, and she just drifts beautifully down wind while I played with the wave, then gybed off the back of it.
So it's slow, but very smooth, powerful and controllable. Haven't dropped it yet, so don't know how she relaunches....bit nervous about that!
I'm happy I bought it, it covers that 12 to 18 range where the 10 would struggle.
Am looking forward to doing some boosting with it, I think it will have unbelievable hang time.
Sweet dave.
It is a kite that you grow into. It is also a kite you won't find that slow after a while either when you learn its idiosyncrasies.
Took me a good 5 rides, then spending everyday on it in Bali well it just became better and better.
I watched an experienced rider whose a big lad throw that thing around like a rag doll in the surf in Bali. Looked like he was on a 12. So rider experience is also a factor with your lofts on the gybe...its a 17m after all.
It does jump, in a very controlled manner and is super sweet in 15 knots on a wave. But I wouldn't say its the most supreme jumper. Just right to dial in some tricks you don't want to try in 20 knots plus. Nice hang time for sure.
Having ridden the edges I was ale to dial into the DNA built into this kite. The power, Its not as screaming obvious as the rebel. And yet it has a better degree of static grunt which you have more of in the rebels than the edges. Also this like the rebel and edge don't be afraid to stay on it in the higher teens it will keep its shape and keep its attributes.
What I am saying is, report back after you have have 5 decent sessions on it. See what you find.
For sure Eppo, it's going to take some time to get the best out of it. I thought it would be good to post first impressions as a relatively inexperienced kiter. I'm pretty excited to own it, and have been itching to post something on the kite!
Also try moving the knots under the floats to the shortest rear line setting ( move lines to the knot closest to the bar) should give you a bit more bottom end. Try a bigger board than the wam, you will get better/lower than 12knots, if thats what you want. I can ride mine and stay upwind from 8/9 knots on a Sector one design, but 10 is about the bottom on a 5'10" surfboard and I weigh 75kg.
Thanks for the tip KPA. What you are saying correlates with my experience in terms of weight, wind, board etc. I probably had a little naive expectations about sub 10 knots performance. And some desperation to get a kite session in the winter doldrums! Now I have a better feel I'm pretty happy.
It's a great kite Dave . Same weight as you and use wam and nugget. Similar experience too.
Comment from the crew in Bali who had a go on it was it was as quick to turn as 14m rebel. Maybe not quite there but is very close.
Being newish to sb s I have found that as you tend to ride towards the kite more when in transition you need to manage line tension differently to tt.
Skinny wind up here exaggerates the problem for us. We are not spoilt by solid wind to say the least.
I have learnt to keep the kite lower in transition , so lower in the window while turning upwind on the board to increase line tension at the initiation of the turn . This means the kite rips rather than cruises through the turn. Kite first then turn board towards the end of the turn .
These big kites require quite different timing to what most are used to. Some one like the big fella and a few other top enders have this skill to a tee. When done right the zephyr rips through the turn.
This might seem obvious to some but just passing on what I have learnt and sharing the stoke.
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
Thanks for the tip KPA. What you are saying correlates with my experience in terms of weight, wind, board etc. I probably had a little naive expectations about sub 10 knots performance. And some desperation to get a kite session in the winter doldrums! Now I have a better feel I'm pretty happy.
Oh yeh man shortest knot for sure, don't ride it any other way. Can't stall these ozone kites mate. The only one I have been able to stall is a REO on the shortest knot, full power and I was unhooking...but the edge, cats, zephyrs, C4s haven't been able to stall one yet.
That was an acute observation by Eddie actually. Found the same, the reason being the edge in the kite means it has gears. You will not get a power spike which I hate in kites (some love). On a TT even, I turn the kite hard when it is low, then crank around. Well actually I do a forward loop real low and follow but same same. Why just turn when you can loop and get more power I say!
And I agree, glad you posted your first encounter and it will be great to hear your feedback after a few sessions.
Honestly its my fav kite, and my fav kite of all time. Weird hey being a 17m, I must be getting old
.
I'd love that canopy profile in a 10m! Infact looking right now but further afield it seems
Thanks Eddie, good stuff. You're right, thinking about it when I was gybing, the kite was going quite high through the turn hence being lifted. It wasn't really a problem, quite a laugh actually! But yeah, next time ill fling her through nice and low and see how that goes.
Cool. Low as well as back foot pressure against the kite and bar out on initiation of the turn.
There will be variations according to conditions but that's my take. This habit can catch me out occasionally when it is actually windy here and pull me off the board. 
Good to hear your loving the big girl, I've had it for a fair while now and as Epps says the more you get on it the better it gets, don't worry about relaunch in 10 and over its very good, below that takes a bit of finnessing , same with the knot settings fine on the last knot but when its low I go middle, you can change the pigtails to a multi knot one saving time sliding up your floats, slow everything down a bit with the kite and you'll be sweet, maybe think of a tt to broaden your use nothing too big as you can ride it into the low 20s, for me it has a sweet spot around 17 knts I spend as much time in the air as on the water, especially jumping transitions I find them so smooth with the perfect amount of loft to complete y thing , its good getting filthy looks from undepowered kiters, on the 1st zephyr you'd see them trying to read the name on the kite
Thanks Cauncy, reassuring I haven't completely misunderstood it's bottom end.
GPa seaview was reporting 10-12knots southerly this arvo, but I couldn't tether launch the kite. For me, I need a good 12 knots steady. But I agree that it would still be manageable in low 20's.
So where are these knot adjusts you are all talking about? I checked the bridle and steering lines at the kite end, and all the connections at the bar end... Could not see anything! Are they hidden under those neoprene covers or something? That's all i can imagine ... Many thanks guys.
yeh dave as kp mentioned under the foam floats, youll see why i mentioned changing the main and mini bridle pigtails to a multi knot, ozone have really reduced the diameter of the floats and they can be a bit sticky sliding up and down especially when youve not had wind for weeks and everything in its power is trying to stop you from playing, give it time youll be swearing at those little f888ers
i put the lines to the knot furthest from the bar as suggested and wow what a difference that made on my 15m edge today . Knackered atm
Just had a the first shot on the zephyr in Darwin in home conditions. Buff creek at its gustiest best.
85 kgs etc.... On nugget
Wind ranged from 10 to 20 I reckon ( BOM reports 17- 22 at best )
Was a bit concerned riding a big kite knowing how it can be at this time of year with bullets coming through and my experience but had no problems.
In the gusts the kite behaved predictably and smoothly. In the heavier gusts it sort of breathed through the moment then settled. Easy to control the power.
Really pleased with its maneuoverability and now impressive wind range. Did some punch outs and relaunches to see how it behaved being used to 5 line kites. Relaunched easily , re engaging the chicken loop is simple . Boosts smooth , powerful and easy to redirect to land with plenty of glide.
Still find it a bit of a reach to bar in depower position - but am met with disagreement so will take that on the chin.
The big fella had a follow up ride also. Seemed to be happy with it as a replacement for the Dyno ?
It's a great kite. Bit pissed off that my new 14 might now be redundant....
... big fella ,,, hey, that's me,,,, anyway, here's my take on the new Zepher from a super-heavy weight perspective:
I've been a North Rebel fan since 2008 and a Rhino fan for years before. I have tested many kites and struggled to like anything else, always coming back to the Rebel. For my so called style, the Rebel has every thing I need from power, quick turning, direct bar feedback and super stability. Hard act to follow in my opinion.
Then I came across the new 2013 Zepher. I didn't like the previous incarnations, not my cup of tea. It had a few things on paper that I didn't like so with hesitation and insistance of my friends, I tried it.
On paper and using my previous tests of other kites as reference, I had pre-concieved ideas. I don't like bridle delay, I don't like folding/bend in LE in powered situations, I don't like how bridle kites handle gusts, I don't like the disconnected bar feel and I even don't like the relaunching technique in light winds. Sounds like I'm asking alot but if the Rebel can do it, why can't others.
As I took off on my first run I immediately noticed a direct connection to the kite, it felt like a perfect blend of bar pressure and quickness in response. Yep, turns quick and impressively for a so called 17m. I got it to turn really fast some times and reminded me alot of my 12m Rebel. Being heavy allows me to stomp on the back of the board and get the kite to turn very fast indeed so when I managed to catch a wave and carve really hard, the kite whipped around, just like my 12m. Yep, I'm starting to like this kite.
Hmmm, its quick enough, how about I give it a couple of loops and load up, lets see if I can bend or fold the LE. If your under 100 kg then you won't know what I'm talking about, I suspect most people will have no idea what I'm talking about here. To get an idea, under-inflate your kite then dive the sh!it out of the kite, load it up and you'll see what I mean. Anyway, to my surprize, it didn't fold or bend, it did flutter a little on the trailing edge but nothing like other kites I've tried. I suspect its fluttering because its going so fast across the window. I was staring at the zepher and an Edge on the beach after I noticed the LE is a little bigger around the quater strut, maybe this is the reason for it being more stabel.
Hmmm, no folding, ok, how about I test its upwind, surely it can't be better than my Dyno or Edge. It goes upwind nicely and I even found, once I was up to speed, I could pull the bar all the way in and it didn't stall but gave me enough power to charge upwind. It felt as good as my Rebel 14m upwind. The old Zephers would slow down on me in this situation and I'd have to sine my way back to speed just to maintain this speed. I even felt the Edge does this, but not the Zepher.
As Eddiemorgs mentioned, I tried it recently in gusty conditions and the kite ate 'em up but with a little bit of bounce in response, almost like a kid who's had red cordial and just been asked to sit still. I jumped back on my 2012 Dyno shortly after and the Dyno was alot steadier and power delivery was very smooth compared to Zepher but here's the thing, I really like the spritely feel, like someone just had one too many coffee's. It acts almost as if the kite were a smaller kite in stronger winds, and as mentioned earlier, very much like my 12m. The Dyno needed to be going fast to develope its power (like the Edge) where as the Zepher only needs to given one or 2 swoops and its on. The Zepher wanted to play some more so handles gust very well. Can't say what its like from a lighter persons perspective but I found it easy, like smaller kite does in gusty conditions.
I didn't have any waves in my recent test, just wind chop waves. Its all we have at this location this time of year but I wanted to some how test its drift. I did try in Bali in the waves but I wanted to test it here. I tried to run straight at the kite, as if to attempt to drift the kite and it sat there, infact it surprized me. In proper waves in Bali, it didn't drift like other wave kites but damn it did just enough that I could have a lot of fun. If you concentrate you can get it to do it. When I tried the same thing on a 2011 16m, 18m Dyno or a 19m Edge, there was no way they were going to drift, impossible but the Zepher came close. Its a 17m after all but it did a great job for what I wanted from it and coupled with my heavy weight, I could manage to chuck the kite around like a wave kite.
Another big plus, the Zepher is such an all rounder that it felt fun on a TT as well as my surfboard and although I didn't try it on a big directional race board yet, I can feel it will do it well on that also. If Eddie is kind enough, I'll try to use it with my Sector 66 and see how the Zepher goes. This is one area where the 2012 17m Dyno is great, get that board speed and you have all the power you want.
To keep things in perspective and not just a gushing love fest, I do have a couple of minor things I didn't like as much about the kite. Despite the fact that the ktie is aimed as a light wind kite, it won't do what my old Dyno can do, it doesn't have that low down light wind grunt that I need. The Zepher would be my 'good' wind kite which we don't always get in the "Sh!t wind capital of Australia". Yes it is a 17m but it doesn't have the static power for my super heavy weight. 12 to 15 knots and above the Zepher comes alive when used on a surfboard or TT but may have better bottom end when used with a race board.
Jumps are easy and has ok hang, my Dyno had better in that respect but I think with a little technique change, I would get it to hang better. I only tried jumping on my TT in light conditions so if I use it in 'good' winds it will perform well. Eddie was doing much bigger jumps than I've ever seen him before, and he hung alot longer than I'm used too seeing him do. I'd say him riding Evo's has taught him how to handle the Zepher so well.
I tried Eppo's Zepher in Bali and I did do a few kiteloops but out of respect I didn't 'give it to the kite' but I felt it had potential for sure. I did a couple of backloop kiteloop transisions and it didn't feel like it wanted to spank me. My ankles can't handle hard landings anymore so gentle landings are important to me, which the Zepher did nicely.
The bar is ok, love the way the bungie hides away in the bar ends so you can leave your bar tidy when packing up, but damn that punch out isn't very practical, especially if you have your right hand indisposed and you need to punch out with the other. In my opinion, nothing beats the 5th line or IronHeart punch out. Relaunching, especially in light winds requires a bit of input. So you'd have to change techniques, learn to relaunch the Zepher. I was lead to believe you merely pull one side of the bar but it didn't do this. My old Core was truelly automatic in this way, almost leave the bar and it finds its way to the edge, all by itself. I found you needed one hand on the middle lines, pull in an arm full in then as the kite tips over, pull one side of the bar and she starts to come around to the edge of the window.
Punching out to flag on one line is fine and again, IMHO not as convienient as the North 5th line but when you want to recover, you have to pull in a very thin front line to pull in to get back to the bar, then with 2 hands, re-assemble the chicken loop. I found this a little cumbersome. Wasn't easy but I'm sure with a bit of practice, you can get more efficient at it. I reckon Epic (or Blade) chicken loop re-assembly is the easiest by far, done with one hand.
Anyway, overall, its a great kite and from a heavy weight, not the light wind king but it does everything nicely. I really like it and highly recommend it.
cheers for now,
Robbie 
Just a great review robbie and a great contribution mate!
Wait a little while and you can get the zpehyr with the new ozone bar which should reduce some of those issues. Relaunching yeh...its not as low aspect as the cores.
Jumping, yeh its no race kite jump machine for sure. One i do like is you don't lose it in the air, always know where she is.
But you aint gonna get that race glide.
I did a huge jump on sunday, it hit 19 odd knots and I let it rip off a wave, just got the timing spot on...it can go big and it did glide plenty enough to land on the wave coming after the one I jumped.
Awesome review.
Good review Robbie!
I agree about the first safety being a big step down from the North Iron Heart. But I do like the little laccies that tuck away on the end of the bar. And I REALLY like the wide valve inflate/deflate!
Had a good session in 12 to 20 last night and was going so much better than just about everyone else out there. Good feeling.
Have more or less got the hang of gybing her now... keep that kite low, fling her across the window staying low, holding the edge, then snap.... the board hacks around with a load of back foot pressure and comes flying out real fast in a nice tight turn. Am still learning to jump on flat water... thats my next challenge, I only can get little bunny hops so far. Might have to crack the ice with a TT.
Loving it..
You of all people will appreciate the mini bridle on the tips Robbie, did you manage to fold her at all, they'd be great on the edges for a big bloke like yourself but due to it being a race kite I don't think we will see them
... cheers guys, only telling how I sees it! Select to expand quotecauncy said..
You of all people will appreciate the mini bridle on the tips Robbie, did you manage to fold her at all, they'd be great on the edges for a big bloke like yourself but due to it being a race kite I don't think we will see them
... yeah cauncy no folding at all, a first for me on a bridled kite (except my beloved 18m dyno). I could folded the Edges but then again I have only used the 17 and 19m so not sure on the smaller ones but I suspect they'd be the same. The Zephyr handled biggish gusts with me holding my edge hard against it, and yep, no folding.
I've had a 2011 Zephyr for the past 2 seasons. .....at 107kg she folded all the time when going hard. Now I've upgraded to the 2013 Zephyr and only had 4 sessions on it to date, but no folding as yet
Select to expand quoteHopey said..
I've had a 2011 Zephyr for the past 2 seasons. .....at 107kg she folded all the time when going hard. Now I've upgraded to the 2013 Zephyr and only had 4 sessions on it to date, but no folding as yet
And its the tip bridle that stops this, soon as i spotted it on a trial i knew why it was there. As robbie mentioned youll only get this if you go hard or on the bigger size, the power response is very good on this kite, especially doing board and tail grab tricks. I find myself a bit out of shape from time to time with a bit of line slack, a pull on the bar midflight shapes up the kite and makes a hard landing very smooth. Ive had it out a couplel of times in building winds of 13 to 23 it takes on some of its older model behaviour when near 20. The hangtime is similar but the height is very improved, in approx 17 knts youll get that extra boost mid air with a bit of re direction, a rider who likes to boost will know the feeling. Dave mentions the bottom end , Dont get sucked into the low wind performance of this kite, personally it only comes alive around 14 ish for me at 89kgs on a tt,
Bridal tips hey... Will look at that next time I fly if cauncy. Never noticed I know f all about bridal configs hey.
Comes alive at 12 to 13 for me . 75kg, but 15 to 16 is just insanely fun! Was out in 19 knots for a bit the other day, still not depowered ( well I never depower anyway), yeh I was lit of my ass and right on the edge of losing it, but I did one almighty jump on it with that redirection and bar pull in thingy cauncy mentioned and damn I went almost edge like!! Actually scared me a little redirecting a 17m canopy down but no probs, soft as.
Might depower a bit next time, as I am on the shortest knot as well..lol
yeh in my mind it distributes the load on the wing tip from 1 to 2 points when aggressivly steering or applying load to the kite,
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
So it's slow,
Nice review Dave - good to see you reporting as you found it - leaving others to form their own opinion of this & other LW kites.
Just jumping in here cos of your one comment above.
To anyone reading about these huge lightwind kites.
Many kite cos. are making huge leaps forward with light wind performance rather than - as in the past - just scaling up there their regular range to huge powerful beasts which were really "beasts" with no inbuilt finesse to cater for LW conditions.
But regardless of advances in design & R&D they are ALL still big & slow.
Till there is some major break through in technology (if ever????) this will always be the case. Those chasing light wind kiting - as we all do or have done at some stage - just have to accept this as a given.
The same old rule applies - demo demo demo - in this case particularly with an open mind. None of them are going to knock ur socks off as a total adrenaline rush, power amped experience.
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
yeh in my mind it distributes the load on the wing tip from 1 to 2 points when aggressivly steering or applying load to the kite,
Okay will look for that. Man I love leaning new stuff...
And puppet...all good points mate. But to the adrenaline thing, try this kite in 15 to 20knots, there's enough adrenaline to knock ya socks off, especially at our weight!
get a raceboard and a big 2013 kite & it will blow your mind with adrenaline dripping from your brow & the power in the kite will scare you - In 4 to 12 knots you will be smashing along at 15 to 25 knots. I crack up every time we are out on the river in 4 to 10 knots for hours havin a blast and every other kiter on beach with a dumb look on their faces trying to launch their fast 12m kites that always fall out of the sky and will not even fly at 12 o'clock. We have been kiting since April 3-5 times a week every week on river not a problem. The big kites do turn fast on lite wind days - as they are the only kites in the sky. Been the best season for 12 years that I can remember....
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
So it's slow,
Yes, thanks puppet. I listed my other kites and how I feel about them as how I feel about this kite is totally relative to my other kites. So it's slow compared to the rebel 10 & 7 but I wouldn't have a clue how it compares to other big lw kites. It is also hugely more powerful and stable and a far better low end wind range.
It's like when somebody gives you a job reference about someone you are considering employing. It says as much about the person giving the reference as the candidate!
I have been kiting the last few seasons on the Ozone 15mt C4 for the light wind freestyle stuff (12-15) and the 17mt Edge with a race board for the super low winds (6-12knots) and these kites have given me some of the best kiting in years.
Not saying that I don't prefer to be super lit on a 6 or 7mt kite because I live for these conditions 
but getting out on days when every other man and his European girlfriend is out on the water is a rare thing 
The Zephyr has improved this again with better upwind ability more bottom end and a really nice bar pressure, it loops amazing for a 17mt kite and offers slack to give the unhooked stuff a good go, plus as Eppo and a few others have pointed out, this thing boosts well.
This kite is definitely in a league of its own at the moment and has added some of the more memorable sessions for me.
It doesn?t have the apparent grunt that is provided by an Edge but if you want to add a few loops and tricks then the Zephyr is the go.
PS: we have a demo available if anyone wants to see for themselves.
Wok ya wally, weren't ya meant to pick up that raptor pro Ltd from my house earlier!!
You went kiting didn't you, you sneaky prick!
