I am looking at buying two new kites.
I want an all round plug and play kite, sizes 9, 12 or 10, 14. (I have a Ozone Zephyr which I will keep)
I weigh 85kg and ride a twin tip or surfboard in onshore mush.
I dont ride wakestyle and am too old and damaged to learn.
No pulleys and no fifth line. I would prefer a short bridle so there is less chance of it catching the wing tip.
I am thinking 2013 Slingshot Rally, Ozone Catalyst or North EVO.
I cant demo any for about another 4-6 weeks as coming back from injury but am trying to get as much info as I can before hand.
I would appreciate any feedback if anyone has ridden these and am open to other suggestions.
Thanks in advance
The north evo is a great stable allrounder.
I was going to say the north rebel, but as you don't want 5th line then the answer is a north fuse.
Ive owned all 3 kites (rebel, fuse and evo) over the years and my favourite is the fuse.
its basically a 4 line bridal rebel.
if you check
www.northkites.com
there is info on the fuse.
the site doesn't have the new one, but it is available.
it jumps well, has good low end, high end and relaunches.
what more do you want
Well I have been looking ( in a lot of detail as per normal ) into the wainman rabbit version 2 series of kite. Demoed them over the past week ( ta WOK). I also got on the new catalyst today, nice as per normal with the ozone feel, bit an allrounder, mm kind of. Also flown the Evo but only 2012, nice kite, but mmmm again. The rally is really only a surf kite, I wouldn't put it int he realm of all rounder. But other might disagree and I haven't ridden one, but I know crew that own them.
But for an all rounder, you have to demo the wainman series. Never knew much about them before as let's face it, the ozone and north numbers have reached critical mass now and it is all you see and hear about. ( here come the red thumbs, infact if I get a red thumb it proves my point, go ahead).
I'm an all rounder in my style and I can safely say this is the best all rounder I have tried. The tuning options are mind boggling. I wouldn't call it a bridle but there is a very short one, very direct feel. If you don't like the bridle, take it off, it has a specific non bridle setting.
Plug and play is the key to this kite, its a no brainer and yet this allows you to push the boundaries without worrying what's going to be thrown back at you. Unbelievable construction to, same as the north kites really. Bullet proof.
Drifts in the waves, turns on a dime and gives you perfect feedback through looping and jumping.
Can't speak more highly of this kite and for someone whose been at it for 13 years I don't get surprised much, this kite has.
Put this in the mix man. Want more PM me. Take the rally off ya list. Also the fuse is not an all rounder in my opinion, but boosts like a madman, but you did say all rounder and that's what I do.
If you like Ozone my call is a 10m C4 and then an 8m catalyst!....
The 10c4 more dynamic and fun in the medium18-28 winds and the 8m catalyst a ball in stupid gusty conditions 25-40 knots.
.
PS i am 82kg ride a mutant in a cross on solid wave location.
my quiver is
15m flysurfer speed 3
13m ozone edge
10m c4
8m cat
6m reo.
I have my best sessions on the c4 and cat... mmm
Naish Park is another one to look at.
I read good things about it, but never had the chance to use one.
Supposed to be great in the waves and do everything else just fine.
The mutant is going so well i'm considering selling the surfboard. I look at the sb and think to i want to do a surf only session or boost and surf on the mutant. the answer is allways boost and surf.
Yeh man, I know exactly how you feel Plummett, although it's not the same control of speed and ability to throw that verticalish cutback as a SB, but soo much more fun and with so much more versatility. Spent a year or two on a SB, miss some aspects but I kept getting on the mutant. I do think some crew are tainted by the number of previous crappy designs out there.
There is only one problem with a split quiver. you have to adjust your technique to the different style of kite. but the imo the benifits of having the most suitable kite for teh conditions out way that easily.
True, but that keeps it interesting as well. Also they would all have that ozone feel.
Hey Plummett, what;s the C4 like in the waves and to boost? I only was on it for an hour or so, so not enough to really understand it. Does it have any drift qualities?
Would you consider it an 'allrounder' kite in the right hands.
if you like staying hooked in and want responsive steering through your turns then go the rebel or fuse.
if you want to park the thing and surf away then go the Evo.
after having all 3 (rebel, fuse, evo and now rebel again) ive found that the rebel is better suiting my needs at the moment.
saying that if i wasn't racing then the fuse would be the pick, simply for its ability to still fly if it goes down in the surf.
ask for anne or sammy and Wind, surf and snow (collaroy) or if you heading to botany or cronulla give me a shout.
i have a few bits a pieces, both kites and boards you can try.
