Hi All,
For most of the time we have had Ozone kites we have been mostly flying the Edges and Sport II's whichhave been great, but I have intentionally neglected the Lights as I figured they were more of a school kite and would have little interest to the average rider.
Today in conditions ranging from 17 odd knots up to around 30 knots I gave the 7m Light II a run on the surfboard in head to double overhead waves and west to WSW winds (pretty much directly onshore most of the time ... challenging to say the least!).
Bars and bags been done to death so I'll speak only of the kite and it's performance.
Firstly, the Light II is only 3 struts all connected by a good one pump system and with the same narrow leading edge and micro thin struts as the Edge II and Sport II, it took seconds to inflate to 10 psi.
Self launched easy enough and after adjusting the back line tension I grabbed the Airush 6'4" Converse Surfboard. I had no problem getting out throught the rather largish waves even in the onshore wind. The Kite points really well upwind and had nice bar pressure, a bit more than the Edge II and Sport II, but still light and comfortable.
The power was adequate in the lighter winds and I was able to stay upwind and beyond the break in the lighter winds by sining it quickly but it wasn't incredible, but being fair it was only a 7m. In the strong winds the kite just performed better and better. I never really got overpowered on it but it probably only nudged 30 knots at it's peak.
The Light II, turns quite responsively when the bar is pulled in for power and moves quite quickly with pressure on the bar. When you sheet the power right out with the bar, the canopy flutters and the kite slows down significantly which is helpful to stop the kite racing to and then thru neutral. It depowers about 90% by letting go of the bar without luffing.
At one point I managed to get on the face of a rather large wave and had to turn towards the kite to avoid an overhanging lip. The lines went totally slack and I bottom turned around the carnage to stay on the face and used the waves power to speed along. A second or two later of riding the wave and I looked up to see that the kite had drifted back nicely and had retensioned the lines and I quickly looped it to pull away from the bomb close out. I couldn't believe it, I had some serious confidence in the kite after that incident and really started to have a lot more fun with the kite and tried stuff that I may not have done due to concern for the kites wellbeing in the big surf.
It still boosts nicely to get over the large walls and was a blast riding it in the most challenging conditions. Never used the depower at all and rode it fully powered the whole time. It just felt great through the range of winds and was stable to as.
I never dropped the kite once and it behaved absolutley flawlessly as a wave kite. It's light weight and lower aspect ratio make it perfectly suited to wave riding and I can't wait for tomorrow to try it in more cross on conditions. This has been the best wave kite I have ridden to date.
Demo's are welcomed to see for yourself. I'll be at Cottesloe tomorrow and possibly Scarborough on Saturday.
Good winds,
Update!
I had the chance to take the 5m Light II out for a ride in large waves and side shore conditions.
Again on the 6'4" Airush Converse surfboard and wind was 20-33 knots.
The 5m is a very small kite, but quite powerful and really a lot of fun. Not too fast and had a bit more bar pressure that the 7m which I countered by having my hands an inch or so wider on the bar (I like to ride hands together in the centre normally).
The kite was very direct and everything a high wind wave kite should be. I had an immediate improvement with my wave kiting once I was powered without being overpowered. Speed and control on the face of the wave were much easier to handle with this little kite and yet upwind was a breeze also. Such a fantastic kite! I love it even more than the 7m.
Good winds,
Nice reviews Darren,
I haven't heard much about the Light II's so far, your experience with the 7 sounds pretty much like my thoughts about the original 7m Light.
Great wave riding kites, as you said, you can totally drift them and ride the wave towards the kite.
I just picked up a second hand 9m at the kind of price that makes me want to take chances.
I use all my Ozones on a modified 2007 50cm bar, with the new 2008 chickenloop with Beal line, and I replaced the trim strap with the spare 30cm of Beal line, it looks a lot like the 2008 bar, but costs 60 bucks to modify.
Hey Tobes,
There are upgrades for the Ozone bars as you have discovered. You can upgrade the trim system, centre line, the chicken loop and even the leader line sets. It is all replaceable, every part!
I reckon you'll be stoked with the Light 9m. For surf riding, it makes it just so easy to go hard with reckless abandon.
Have fun!
Good winds,
Guys,
What size Light II would be recommended for a beginner - 75kg 170cm tall?
I live at Gerroa so Seven Mile Beach will be my home base. I guess I'll be wanting a kite for winds up to 15kt or so.
Cheers
Hi Guys,
@vk2him, Tobes is right, 15 knots is about the minimum you want to wave ride in although Geroa is clean and gusty but cross offshore so it should be easier to get out if you are riding a surfboard. I'd recommend a 12m although the 14m is wicked too. Quite fast, turns real quick for a big kite and also drifts like crazy with slack lines. I've had it flying on the beach in 4-5 knots! The light II's have an awesome feel and are super surf friendly.
@ Kitedevil, due to the super skinny leading edge, the Lights, as with all the Instinct range, are really easy to edge to the neutral under load and drift back without stalling easily. They are simply one of the best wave kites I've ever flown. For dedicated cross off conditions in Tassie (stronger wind), you'd have to also consider the Edge II with an inch of trim in.
Find your local stockist and grab a demo, don't take my word for it!
Good winds,
