Freeride/surf kite for TT

Park powers in the loops and jumps big, the Dice drifts nicer though.

Ozone Catalyst will be better than REO for your twintip. The 2013s were fractionally more grunty than the 2014s, but the 2014s are smoother and have a slightly bigger range overall.

I'm considering 2 kites for my main 10m kite. one for boostathon and one for waves.

So I'm thinking 10m edge and 10m dice.

The reality is you can't have your cake and eat it too.... ie great boosting and great wave riding. So you must compromise.
But what gives you the greatest joy? down the line in waves or boost factory?

For me I want both. Potentially more boosting that wave riding.

Thanks for the opinions fellas (good to see no sh!t slinging either)

Ok - just to clarify..

I like a fat-ish kite that sits back in the window ( but still manages a decent boost).
Yeh I know combining the boost/drift/stability is the holy grail. Well the 2012 Lithium did it, just my 10m was too big overall (sooo much low end!)

I don't throw down kiteloops, instead for me it's 90% downwind freeride in mushy waves but I do like to boost BIG and floaty.

I LOVE power through the turns (to the point most would feel they were almost pulled off the board) and it's a big seller for me, but about as popular as a pork chop these days.

Kite must have good stability (and be house trained ).

Have tried the Wainman 9m from 2 yrs ago, not really my cup o' tea but not a bad kite. Maybe it's evolved a bit?
Didn't like Best Kahuna one little bit (but supplied with very poor set up by shop)
Had an 10m Ozone Catalyst 2012 briefly. Very nice kite, but total pivot turns with zero power through the turns, and not for me. Very little low-end for 10m kite too.

Hmm.. time is always the enemy, so demoing (speshly this time of year) is tricky.

I guess finding something very similar to the Lithium 8/9m is the go, but if I had to gripe I'm not wild about the bar on the Airush.

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cauncy said...

Hadlow
These would be worth a run

UR obviously suffering from RCCDS Cancy??? (ie remote, crowdless, condition, disappreciation, syndrome)
OR else
"PLS EXPOYN" how a Hadlow suits Perth metro slop - on the wave .... woooahhh 200M downwind .... wheres that wave gone ...... Oh well lets just do a few wakestyle handle passes for the crowd & worry about getting home later

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puppetonastring said...

cauncy said...

Hadlow
These would be worth a run

UR obviously suffering from RCCDS Cancy??? (ie remote, crowdless, condition, disappreciation, syndrome)
OR else
"PLS EXPOYN" how a Hadlow suits Perth metro slop - on the wave .... woooahhh 200M downwind .... wheres that wave gone ...... Oh well lets just do a few wakestyle handle passes for the crowd & worry about getting home later

The hadlow id is a completely different kite to the hadlow pro,

Hey djdojo,
Thanks for the tip. 2012 Cat was a good kite in most respects but was woefully gutless for it's size. Plenty of room for improvement on bottom end there for sure.
I guess I'd still have to go for the 10m model to fit my needs (85kgs - TT - 16-25kts).

Do the later Cats sit further back in the window and drift reasonably well? Upwind was very good on 2012 but not a feature I need or want.

er.. Naish Pivot? Maybe it's just a name but my pet peev about a lot of kites these days is the pivot turn (with no power through the turn radius and then flash across the window before powering again). Ha ha - not that I can afford a $2.5k kite anyway.

Does anyone have an opinion on which kites generate more grunt through the turns (and possibly sit further back in the window when riding) out of:
2013 Cat 10m
2014 Cat 10m
and
2014 North Evo 9m?

Pretty tempted by these 3 (lol and Dice to be honest).

Cheers.

Naish Pivot. i have the 7, 9, 12 but only ridden the 7 so far. It impressed me enough to buy all 3. Great low down grunt, drifts amazing, boosts good with surprising hang time, light bar pressure and fast turning. Downer is the above the bar swivel. Satisfies my need for a combination of waves and free riding.

Switch Element v3 Tighty?

As you know I wanted to like the v1 switches but was left utterly cold by the method (v1).

Never got to try the Element and imagine v3 has ironed out the kinks so I'm open to the idea. Just need a decent Southerly.

I noticed on the switch site the other day they are sold out virtually across the board so not sure if I can get hold of one, even if I likee likee.

You know eclipse kites well, so keen to know your thoughts on the closest available thing to my 09 Nanno. I'd be happy with a Nanno 9m style again (but a little better boosting) and a tinsy bit faster turn (but still powered through turns).

Cheers,

Funkster

I was actually thinking the Nitro 3, it's a lot different to the Method you tried.

I still love and usually fly Methods but I got a 10mtr Nitro 3 for playing around on the tt (and hopefully for things like the L2L and LOC if we get enough wind for a 10)
It is a great all rounder really well behaved and boosts insane, knowing what you like I am sure you would like it, it doesn't really sit back in the window though (which is a good thing as far as I am concerned).

Hopefully there is some wind not to far away and you can give it a try.

Hey funky, I got ripped off with the method v1 also. One of the worst kites ever IMO.
A lot of Sunniecoast downwinder riders like slingshots RPM's and Rally's. I know more guys on drifters down here but the RPM dude's here love them.
Riding into the wind the RPM hasn't a hope against the Rally, but on a long run, different story, depends what you're after.
Bandit's are awesome, but the trust is supposed to sit back further... Dice are awesome. Drifter's are sick, the OR prodigy is an awesome, sick kite, but more in the Rally mould. So much choice...
Maybe a bridled Fuel would do the trick?

Righto, a quick follow up.

So I ended up getting a 2014 9m North Evo after recommendations and advice from peeps who want similar things in a kite as I.

Have had bugger all chance to ride but finally got out on Thursday in less than epic conditions.

9m Evo, 22m lines - medium bar (on wider setting)
15-18kts (max) sideshore choppy waves.
151ch TT
I'm floating in at 88 kilopies at the mo.


OK, this kite has a very good bottom end. I was never under powered in 15kts. I did have to move the kite a bit at times but no teabagging.
Physically it is a big kite for a 9m. I'd say it was almost as big as the 2012 10m Lithium I had last year and similar bottom end.
I'm a tad concerned I may have gone a size too big and could have gotten away with an 8m. Likely in fact.

Early days and will follow up when I've ridden the kite in more typical 18-25

Ok, I liked this kite straight away.
It is intuitive, gives good feedback at the bar, stable and responsive.

It is smooth, powerful and has tight turns but powers through the turn. This is one of the must haves for me. I HATE kites that do not power through the turn.
Compared to my previous Lithium I'd say the Evo had a tiny flat spot of power as it reached the mid point of the turn but will wait until I'm lit on it to be sure.

This is a kite TT riders who like to crank through turns should try.
Park n ride floaty turning surfboard riders will most likely get pulled of an edge.

turning is responsive but (in the light winds) the kite felt a little heavier than the 3 strut kites I am used to riding. No where near as heavy as a Rebel though.

Boosting, especially for light winds, was excellent. I'm looking forward to really dialling in the timing on this kite (pretty easy so far tho) in cranking winds and can see myself getting a few nosebleeds.
I reckon in better winds the float and landing will be pretty deluxe.

Stability was pretty good. The Evo has some drift but will possibly drift better in higher winds also. Pretty sure it's going to drift as well as I expected it to and need it to.

Didn't try the relaunch (Hey it's the most exxy kite I've ever bought and didn't want to get it wet 1st time out!) but hearsay says it is good.

Comparisons? Well it's similar to the 2012 Rebel I tried a while back without feeling as heavy and 'stiff'. Bit more all rounder for sure and likely to be almost as good boosting but better in the surf etc. Upwind on the Evo is ok, not as good as rebel but not a factor for me on downwinders.

Compared to 2012 Lithium the Evo is a higher aspect but still feels medium aspect and grunty as fek. I much prefer the North bar but hope the placcy insert doesn't wear out. Bar feels nice in the hands but could be a tad softer with thicker padding. Stopper and customising options are good. I'd prefer straps over cleats any day tho. Chicken loop, quick release and donky is first rate.

Bar pressure is medium, prolly going to be on the slightly heavier side in decent winds.
I used the kite in stock settings all round, so medium back line attachment. You definitely feel the kite and feedback is good, but some users may need to go to the softer pressure setting. I have always ridden grunty kites and don't mind medium pressure at all. Perhaps in nuking winds I may want to change to lighter, time will tell.

Oh, I should ad that at full power in the 15 kt winds I did get a bit of back stall goin on. I will do a bit of checking but I'd say a tweak to the line settings will sort this out.

OK, so far so good. Can't wait for some decent winds and a chance to really flex this kites muscles. Woot!