Anybody notice the big creases on the north rebel 2014 in the canopy at the back of the kite near the struts when the kite is flying? Not a big issue as the kite fly's really well!
I don't know much about the technical details of things, but what I do know is that my new 11 (2014) has left me with a MASSIVE smile on my face playing in the waves last sunday, I know that it sends you to what feels like the moon when you jump, and that the flutter seems to be none existent compared to my 2012![]()
best of it.. the wind wasn't even that strong but there was just soooo much power. ![]()
LOVE IT! was a great kite sunday wasnt it dazza?!!
STOKED ![]()
![]()
![]()
elise:)
You bet it was - so many awesome waves -
You were cookin out there girl ![]()
Daz
... finally got a chance to try the missus 14m Rebel and although it didn't knock my socks off (which means it performed as I expected), it did have one interesting thing I noticed that stood out for me.
I was using the kite in 15 to 20 knots in little waves on a surf board riding strapless.
What I noticed was when transition and the kite scoots back across the wind window it doesn't power spike as much as previous years. It reaches the edge and remains well enough powered but not too much that it pulls you off your edge. I felt that it had a bit of Evo feel to it. Last years Rebel seemed to shoot hard and go so far up into the window that it needed attention when it got there, more race kite style.
I'd say it sits just a little further back so therefore remains just powered and steady and yet it still goes upwind just fine. What this all boils down to is that I found the kite behaved better as a wave kite and although maybe not as proficient as a dedicated wave kite, the Rebel does a damn good job but with all the other "allrounder" features. I am excited to use it in bigger waves and really test it as I think its really going to be more fun than previous incarnations of Rebles.
cheers,
Robbie ![]()
I've had a few more sessions on both the 7m and the 10m - as far as drift goes I think that we have to remember that in high wind with small kites they just drift - as long as the 7m rebel stays up there steady and you can fly to slack lines and know it will not fall leading edge down you are all good. the drift on the 7 in a recent 25+ knots day is perfect
Today on the 10m I had a lot of time in very light wind to chase the kite down the line - I really think that it performs very well in waves - I see no issue with it - perhaps its my style that has developed with the Rebels but if you are keeping the bottom turn to reo tight or driving down the line the kite behaves well. When starting at the peak you can whip the kite back behind the wave and get the slingshot down the face and it will sit back behind the wave driving you all the way, (westerly facing coat in north sideshore toe side)
But don't forget the hang time - even on a 12-15 knot day like today - staying up wind - when launching off the waves a few time the kite still had me hanging up there for ages - brilliant
Dazza