Hi All,
I have just started kite boarding and I have a friend who is will to give me his Wipika Tribal Kite from last year. However I have don't know anything about the brand or the the kite.
I was just hopping someone might be able to give me some feedback on it.
I'm not sure hey, It could be one of those. I have found information on the Wiipika Matrix but can not find any info the Tribal.
Thanks for the info
Okay fellas,
The kite is an F-One Tribal.
F-One and Wipika are owned by the same people or something like that, I dont know the full story but they are run by the same people.
So your kite is an F-One Tribal, which your friend who is giving it to you is mistaking it for a Wipika.
I'm not gonna comment on the kite as I have never owned or flown one, but my brother learnt on them in 06.
by just looking at the kite and bar and learning a bit about it, I wouldn't say it's a bad kite. It is a C-kite so that could be your benefit for Freestyle, but then again it could be the downside of the kite.
If you learn on a C-Kite then that's great because as I said they're great for Freestyle if thats what you are gonna get into, but they are a lot harder to use.
and then again, i've never used a C-Kite so I wouldnt know why it is a more difficult kite to learn on.
If you're looking for an easy to use, quick re-launch, fast turning, good low-end, great top end, super stable kite with an excellent safety system then look no further than the Slingshot REV. Also the benefits of the REV are that it is a HYBRID kite, so it has the performance/feel of a C-Kite and is the perfect Freestyle/Wakestyle kite when you slow it down by modifying the bar once you're more experienced. And also has benefits of a bow kite which is why it's great for waveriding aswell (the kite was designed for Waveriding, but i think its even better for Freestyle, that's my opinion atleast).
go to your local shop and ask them about the Slingshot REV.
Thats just my recomendation as this kite suits my style, there are many other kites just as good or maybe even better than the REV but this is just my recomendation!
ADEN.
I've got nothing against the kite.
I said i've never ridden one, but i said that it is probably a great kite.
I would be riding that kite as i said my brother has got one, which he doesnt use anymore, except its not right for my conditions.
I was just recomending the REV incase you wanted more info on other kites. I also said there is plenty of other kites equal or better than the REV, except the REV suits my style and conditions, thats why i ride it.
I took time to type that last post for you, you could atleast appreciate me trying to help you out and giving you some info!
I also said that most other kiters say Cs are harder to learn on, but I dont and never have ridden a C so I dont know much about them.
ADEN.
F-Ones are great kites. So were Wipikas before they stopped innovating. These two companies virutually pioneered kiteboarding. Even now F-One generally comes out with the newest technology first--and the other manufacturers copy the bits that work and call it their own.
The tribals have excellent depower as well as heaps of grunt on the low end which make them good for learning and progressing. The rounded tips also give them excellent relaunch which help the newbie. Also the 5th line Safety on them is top notch.
To answer your question...Grab it with both hands. It's a good kite and definetely suitable for a beginner.
Check out the F-one website. www.f-onekites.com. The bandit is the next big thing, but the tribal will suit you just fine for now.
I have no affiliation with F-one other than I used to fly one a couple of years ago (I fly a north at the moment)
I have used a Wipika kite or 2.
They worked super well for the time. People like Alvaro, Eli Zarka, Mauricio and sometimes even Lou used to use them.
Never heard of the Wipika model Tribal?
Its probably is a kite sold by the Fone/Wipika Distributor called M8.
Good guys, I know them well.
I've flown both the Tribal and Matrix - Loved them both... Fast, stable and good quality...
I'm an instructor - and used to love teaching with hybrid C's like the Tribal/Matrix/Hifi etc, the fact that you can't depower the kite past the point where it stops turning makes your learning curve a lot faster, and you will be a better kiter for it in the end... Technically speaking you would learn SAFER on a bow kite - but your definitely going to learn FASTER on a hybrid...
The bars were very nice on Tribals, good 5 line system too so your safe as houses if anything goes wrong...
Grab it cos you won't regret it...
I agree, most likely a Tribal 2.
Plenty of my students and customers are still on them with no plans or reason to change.
Tribal 1 came out Dec 05, and the first T2's November 06(07 model)
If it is a Wipika then probably a Matrix, still a great kite but the wingtip battens need to be removed, something there about design input from Ultra high wind junkies.
Well guys, thanks for all of your feed back, it alll has been great. I think i will grabe the kite and run with it. I have had a hand full of leasosn and picked up on fly the kites very quickly. I also have a very stong wakeboarding back ground so I think this should also help me. Again rhanks for all of your feed back.
