Anyone ridden the new 9mtr Rebel.Feed back on wind range and relaunch would be great..
Hi Surfrod66,
Yep! I've been out on it for two separate sessions now both in waves. First session was in double o'head + onshore wind and reef break and the second was in Scarbs beachies messy head to head and a bit surf in cross onshore.
The kite is a completely different beast to last years 09 Rebel. This years is very very smooth, seemed like it has a huge top end as I have flown it in everything from 15 knots to mid twenties +
I haven't tested it's relaunch yet but have no doubts as to it's ability in a normal wind strength for it's size. I did put one wing tip in several times and hauling on the opposing backline just scraped it around and back up with less resistance to the water than other kites I have flown lately.
There is more detailed reviews on my web on Rebel and other kites and several of the new North Boards too. I add reviews as soon as I can get the board or kite demo'd, so if there isn't a review of the kite you're looking for, check back the day after each big breeze. Next kite going on test is the 10m 2010 Vegas. 
http://www.aksonline.com.au/index.php/kite-reviews/north-kites.html#Rebel
Cheers,
KH
Hey Ruffryder,
Too windy for Vegas today 
So had to go back out on the 9m Rebel with the new bar
I really like this kite, not great for freestyle as it is a little too sensitive to bar input but it freerides excellently. Boosts Big Air (fully powered up today whilst test riding North Jaime).
I also tested it's water relaunch. I drilled it into the water at speed to try and get the kite directly down wind. First attempt failed and the kite rolled instantly and made it's way to the edge of the window with no bar input, just resting on the stopper ball.
Second attempt, I rode a bit faster and drilled it down properly and it went fully leding edge down directly downwind. I sat back and oonly needed wait about 3 seconds before it started to curl away to one side and make it's way to edge of the window again. Nice (Auto relaunch????)
Third time I fired off the quick release and the kite dropped into big chop/shore break and landed leading edge face down directly down wind of me. I pulled in the bar and began to release the safety 5th line. About half way to the stop, the kite perked up and hot launched straight up. I had a hold of the 5th so it went up slowly and I eased it out as it rose up. I got dragged maybe 4 metres in 25knot winds. Pretty sweet.
I have let others demo the kite to favourable responses and would appreciate their feedback/reviews to remove the weight of bias. C'mon guys/girls, surely I'm not the only one in Oz to have ridden a 9m Rebel?
Cheers,
KH
Saw many of the latest kites in action recently and North looked very good......nice low end, fast and build is tops. Don't know about the fifth, but want to demo one. Kites are still making advances, but the changes are incremental now....but eh, I'll take another 5-15% improvement if I can afford it.........I'm forbidden of buying new gear for the mom
...but I'll work something out with my sponsor soon. At the end of the day, I don't really care what kite I ride as long as it can have my logo on it, because then it can be free
The per kite budget is 2K with logo.
2010 9m rebel = sweetest kite i've ridden. period.
(and the new bar is a work of art)
had a little fly of the new 9 M rebel on sunday and was very impressed, almost wish I hadnted gone cheap and bought a 2009 kite.
