An unbiased view of Rebel 08 10m.

Experience: 4.5 years
Style: Surf unhooked/hooked, strapless

I’ve had the chance to fly the kite about 6 times now from winds of 11 knots through to 20. I have not tried any freestyle; only rode it using my surfboard.
I’ve come straight from 06 Vegas’.
This is the first bow I’ve really flown.

Out of the Bag:
First off, it’s pretty poor form to release a kite without the bar. I was lucky enough to be lent a 07 bar. Why release a kite without the bar?!

Colours don’t really matter but the white/green/yellow is sexy-as.

Well constructed kite although I would like to question why North have chosen to use fibreglass trailing edge battens instead of plastic (like the leading edge cam battens)? The (1) replacement in the bag is made of plastic! I have already managed to snap one when getting rinsed in the surf which has resulted in a small tear in the batten pocket. DEVO. Having the plastic one installed in the first place would have prevented anything like this happening.

In the air:
All the issues concerning back-stalling in light winds are beyond me. Simply lengthening the pigtails to the furthest most knot is a quick and simple solution.
This kite has an amazing low end. Going upwind in 11 knots (variable) on a 10m is definitely a massive bonus. It has made me rethink the need for anything bigger than a 10m. As a result, (for now) I’ll be going 7 and 10. Still awaiting the 7 though…

There is an amazing linear depower in the kite. It turns extremely well when fully depowered which is awesome when hooked-in in the waves.

Unhooked is very good; again no issues with back-stalling. Flies a little differently unhooked to the Vegas but nevertheless is comfortable. Again, I haven’t tried freestyle.

It’s a very fast kite but very easy to handle.

I can’t stress enough how this kite doesn’t stall; even in the lightest of winds.
I find that when using my Vegas’, when the kite was on either side of 12 o’clock, I had a lot of time to muck around with my board etc without touching the bar before I’d need to stop it from hitting the ground. I’m not sure if it’s a case of having a little bit more depower, but I find I have less time with the rebel. Nothing major mind you but definitely noticeable.

I’ve been tumbled a few times with this kite but I managed to put the kite down in the waves twice. I always know where the Vegas sits when I’m getting done but I haven’t completely figured this one out yet. Again, this may be due to the amount of depower available or getting used to it.

Relaunch:
I could probably relaunch my Vegas faster than this but I believe that it comes down to practice…I’ve never relaunched a bow before.

The whole 5th line relaunch method is definitely something that I believe should be worked on. If you’re in the waves, good luck getting it relaunched in time. Perhaps it’s a case of practice but I think that I’ll be going back to a suicide leash. Safer for kiters/people around me and easier.

When the 5th line is engaged, the kite flies about 1m above the water. At first, I wasn’t impressed but in hindsight I can see this as a bonus if you engage it in the waves and a massive set comes through.

Self launch is easy as although may be a bit hairy up north next to the rocks.

Overall:
The 08 Rebel is a pretty impressive kite. There isn’t too much of a jump between the Vegas and the Rebel in the way it flies which I believe is a definite bonus for those looking at jumping the fence.

There are a few issues that needed to be sorted; one on the distribution side (bars) and small adjustments of the design side.

In summary:
- Awesome low end
- Awesome linear depower
- Relaunch is alright although definitely use a suicide leash if you’re going unhooked
- Stability is great
- Fast
- North need to rethink their distribution methods/marketing

Would I buy it again if I had the chance? It is definitely hard to go past the 06 vegas as IMO it was THE kite of 06 (and better than the 07...but hey that's just my opinion) but I think for someone going to the dark side, it was worth it.