ozone catalyst/ fone 1 b6 14m review anyone

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Djodjo is someone worth emailing.

I am getting mine sometime this week fingers crossed. (Could have done with it for the last 4 weeks!). Have demoed it twice and the 12 and 10 but...not enough wind each time to make a definitive call, so keeping my mouth shut until I really know.

Through winter I should get a good idea of it's wave potential, but a bigger kite in the waves....mmm ho hum, we will see.

havent been on a b6 but ive ridden the b5 12 & 14m i now own a new 14cat as my biggest kite at 70kg the 14 b5 seemed more suited to a heaver guy in the same conditions lighter guys are riding 12's the cat has a more direct feel easier relaunch in lighter condions im quite powered under 15knts 134x40 tt or if its really light the north nugget does the trick for me

azza that's the 14m right not the 12?

Yeh my mate has a nuggett, has saved soooo many sessions for him hey.

Yep, reviewed already. Enjoy!

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2013-Ozone-Catalyst-Plug-and-Play-Perfection/

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Beginner-friendly-large-kites/?page=2

you mean shortern the rear lines by 10-15mm to pride more power yes?

Yeh now I remember that review...a few pages of it...lol

Djdojo mentions he actually shortens the shortest knot by 10mm on the cat, then trims accordingly.

I'm just on the shortest knot now, don't know if I will go shorter. We will see.

Stalling these ozones to the point of having them fall back and out of the sky is near nigh impossible except on the reo I have found.

Such a great wing.

Well I owned a Bandit 5 12m, so I'm sure I can add some good info' to your decision making process. I also went down the 12m as my biggest kite routine, didn't work, too many days just not enough to have fun, just enough to try and stay upwind.

LEt ya know.

No, after the bandit, with the rebel and Vegas, then I went the VX 's with a 14m lithium, then to some Wainmans, then to the edges....

Now the edges and the catalysts.

I know its sad, but I was determined after 13 years to make no compromises. I was gonna get the perfect kite,s for me. Along the way demoed nearly everything with a bladder!!

I love the ozone feel, it suites my disposition, but I still rate all the kites mentioned above.

Another super kite is the liquid force NRG, boosts and drifts, two weird opposite spectrum qualities. When I say boost, boosts edge wise! But drifts as good as anything I've ridden. Still puzzled over that one.

Just picked up my 14m cat from westoz

But probably too strong today to test it out.

Don't know about being more nervous? They are very similar in a lot of respects, but the rabbits per size are quicker turning and drift better in the waves. The float of the lithiums is better and more forgiving on landings. Both boost well enough. The rabbits have a more direct feel, ( can't get past those pulleys and longer bridals) and the wainmans are better unhooked. The lithiums fly further forward in the window, but the 2012 has heavier bar pressure. 2013 have that other lighter bar settings on the leading edge so don't know how that compares.

In summary the lithium I found better for free riding in the waves, but actually on the waves the rabbits (smoke especially) is not just a good wave kite I highly rate it. The bottom end of the rabbits to per size is extraordinary. The wainmans are no slouch on a surfboard either.

But...the lithiums have that smooth refined airush feel, the rabbits I found the pull a little ....muddy, is the only word to describe it. Comparatively that is. Either or, great kites.

Eppo,What about the transition of power through the range,depowered to power on a single setting?

I often think this aspect of a kite is overlooked in reviews,as 'feel' is normally based on predecessors bar pressure rather then 'smooth gradual power' or 'quite on/off'. I know the bandits,among others but not the cat.

Okay I know some crew were waiting on some feedback on the 14m cat as a potential 'lightish' wind kite. After today I'm in a position to comment.

Yesterday the wind built to a level that I'd be having fun on my 10m edge, even on my 140 mako ( smallest board), not grinning but able to through down my usual and stay upwind easily. So on the cat at least I know there is a very decent overlap as although I was lit, I think I could have easily gone a couple of more knots. But then again when one gets used the the power of an edge, your limits do controllability seem to increase somewhat.

Today was perfect. Started at 8 to 10 knots, increased 10 to 13, then settled at 12 to 15 for half an hour or so before shifting very quickly to the south east! Gotta love those big ass highs sitting in the bite!

Sent a mate down with the kite and when I arrived he was losing 50m or so of ground on a north nugget in 8 to 10. He's been only been kitesurfing for a year and is still working in his light wind technique. I got on the nugget and was holding ground, if not heading a bit upwind. Got on my skim the same result. But to his defence not soon after the wind start to build slightly to 10 to 13 knots. So was I having fun...well it did take some technique to stay upwind lets say 8 to 11 knots. Still planning with some speed, but I wouldn't call it fun, be lucky to throw anything down and get back to your mark unless you went a fair bit out. Not worth jumping, just mowing the lawn and concentrating to keep board and kite speed up. Better than nothing though hey.

Once it steadied though at 11 to 13 (few whitecaps appearing), no problems at all crankin upwind on the nugget, even my mate was holding ground. When it hit 13 to 15 I was smokin upwind on the Mako King and could have changed down to the mako 140 at that stage, but would probably want more. So was able to throw down my gay style hooked in back roll back loop etc stuff, from the heel or toeside.

Some side comments here. Please take note this was done in the ocean, not on flat water. Although there was no great swell and the reef system does create a more flatter ride than say at some beach break slop, it was still choppy ish and there was still enough current and swell to counter the board and kites speed. In flat water you could do a lot better.

Another side note before I conclude, my brother at the 13 to 15 knot stage was powered enough on his 11m edge, could do some okay jumps ( well gay jumps compared to this kite at 20 knots of course) and was holding ground easily on a 150 Mako. He weighs a good 5kg more than me to. It just shows you how efficient and powerful these edges are, do yourself a favour even if you would never think of owning one of these kites, just for your own education do yourself a favour and get on one of these. They truly are a remarkable wing!

So what was my/our overall thoughts. Yesterday I was doubting the Cat, well me on it. I was trying to fly it like an edge. I was craving for that apparent wind and unrivalled speed. And when I was out with my bro who was on an 11m edge I was starting to get a little ....depressed.

But....

I reset today and started to fly the catalyst, like a catalyst a lower aspect stable kite, with a bit of C chucked in. I slowed everything down, I flew the kite not relying on that insane apparent wind to get back to my mark( the edge is effortless in that regard). Then presto I started to smile again.

The loops are much more crisp and controlled than on an edge. You feel the kites pull through loop, loop with a rotation etcThe canopy is so stable when I fell in the water trying to turn my skim around (that Farqin skim is doing my Farqin head in, still can consistently turn that Farqin thing...but I won't be beaten!!), I wasn't worried about lack of line tension I do on the edges in 10 knots from falling out of the sky). I enjoyed the more constant power through the bar as the cat won't keep flying to the edge of the window, so you can hang of it and use slight body movements and edging to lift and drop the kite to keep your speed up with little depower movement. I started to have a bloody good time. I started to enjoy the bit of C4, bit of Edge and the old stable cat built into the canopy. I started to employ the quick turning capability of this wing and I was only on my normal 50cm bar!

While I have been told by a few that the cat can jump like the edge, well I can say that's officially bullsh1t. But the jumps are much easier to execute, going vertical is easier and very forgiving on the descend. Gives a nice bit of float that more adventurous of us could use their advantage.

So is it a light wind kite. Nah! Forget sub 10, even 10 to 13 is okay with good flying skills and the right board, but you'd be having way more fun on a say a Zephyr, core or a fat lady.

But 13 to 20, the cat is a bloody good option for those crew under 80kg or say 80 to 85kg coupled with the right board. It also provides a more constant pull through currents and swell, whereas a high aspect kite like an edge won't like the drop in board and kite speed. The upstroke of the cat gives you as much power as the downstroke if ya know how to use it. I did unhook it accidentally so thought stuff it and rode for a bit (after scrambling to trim as I have my bar set on the shortest knot), yep perfect to learn some unhooked stuff.

Anyhow that's my bit, hope it helps.

Hopefully this Saturday coming comes to fruition. Ride with someone who has come of the reo 10 now on the cat 10 and the reo whose a die hard SB rider and he has said a few interesting things. The cat drifts just fine and has a bit more park and ride ability. But a little slower to turn a d u like the reo which will turn when depowered the cat requires some power by pullin I. To turn. One thing is for sure the cat is a stupidly stable canopy. I will get on my SB strapless hopefully soon although I'd rather be dog styling it on The mako! But just for you mc ...

The 14m cat will have oodles more power than the 12m reo the cat has way more bottom end per size anyhow once you dial it in. But you can't beat the reo in the surf it is a wave kite after all.

Yeah I had some 3m extensions ready to go and planned on giving them a crack but the wind kicked in too much to bother. Next time. yeh you will get better at light wind kiting over time. 95kg is a decent weight though so I reckon ya doing okay. The trick is to use the upstroke as much as the down stroke. To let the kite breathe on the down stroke so it flies quickly then power up a bit while edging. Your actual arms shouldn't move a great deal. Keep them bent at the same angle and use your body to move forward and back to edge and to let off the edge. Also as you drop the kite drop ya windward hand, point ya toes upwind and get that kite as far around the window as you can. Might help. This comes from the days we didn't have depower!! Keep ya legs straight and dont hang off the bar like ya doing a sh1t.

Yeh the nugget will go much earlier than the King...all TT's are after all inefficient boards.

The nuggett goes as early as my skim actually. I've been on that board many times now and it has saved my friends ass soooo many times when the wind wasnt quite right. best buy he's ever had.

But you will need to learnt to jibe. It is not as fun as the King, but heck if ya out below 12, which is a strong possibility on the nugget with a zephyr...the nugget will allow you to tap into the apparent wind (edge qualities) built into the new zephyr. The King won't...to the same degree.

But it is a directional and to get the most out of it you will need to learn how to jibe, switch feet, which is a good skill to have under your belt.

or go and get an epoxy cheap surfboard. Strapless is the way to go in light winds in my mind as you can position your feet to get the board planning more quickly.

or there is the sector....? But the nuggett is doable kind of in the waves as well.

I think the B6 would have the lowest bar pressure (based on a B5) 12m. Then the cat, then the wainmen (say 12m which I have flown) and the lithuim the most, but again this is based on a 10m and 14m lithuim 2012, without that new light bar pressure leading edge connection. Can't comment on that. The lithium bar pressure was a bit much for me. Funny thing my mate who uses the 9 and 12 rabbit, smoke and boss respectively for quite a few years (he is one of the better riders around here and kills it on his day, we have a ball trying to push each other, btw I reckon he just has the wood on me, lol,) has complained about the bar pressure and is considering a change of quiver after winter. Looks like another round of demos!! Ha ha.

But I personally think it may be a function of wing design, I felt the the rabbits power delivery was a bit 'muddy' and on reflection I don't think that is quite right. The better answer would involve the lower aspect kites like the rabbits and lithiums pull you more downwind and hence you have to edge much harder against the pull. This causes the fatigue he is feeling. Not quite sure on all of this though.

Waves is hard to comment until this winter really. The rabbits are an excellent wave kite and as an all rounder wave usage is its forte in my mind. The B5 was no slouch and some people are raving about the B6 in the waves. The lithium likes powered riding in my mind, great for dog styling in the waves, park and ride not bad. I still couldn't get passed that spongy steering though pulleys provide. But that's just me I'm sure crew adjust reasonably well.

The new cat is still an unknown. We haven't really had any decent swell with wind yet. But among us we have cats and reos so by the end of winter will be able to make a much more informed opinion.

None of those kites though turn like a REO when depowered. That is the essential criteria only a dedicated wave kite can produce. But for this wave rider pretender (I'm only riding it in so I can boost like a madman on the way out), the cat is good enough. Infact the edge is good enough for me most of the time, but I'd hate to be in double head high in 20 knots plus with current on an edge! That's where the edge would be downright dangerous I reckon. Lol. Oh sh1t I've stopped, here comes the wave and where is my apparent wind. Aaaaahhhhhhh