Trying to get my head around the difference in kite design for wave kiting. I have rev2s that I've ridden to death that now need new lines, bridles etc, so am looking to upgrade before they snap…. and getting demo is difficult because of time, work, wind, distance to kiteshop blah, blah
My priority is throttle. Not so into drift or massive boosting. Want a kite I can stall a few secs in the impact zone on way out then hit throttle to slide up over wave, or if I'm too late to get over a big jacking up wave, I want to turn hard to shore with full throttle for a second or so then swing back hard to get over wave but still be able to throttle down over the back, or if I mis-time my turn onto a swell I want some throttle to get down onto the face of the wave. Throttle on-off-on
So there's the reo/drifter/TRX etc style with squared wing tips that get talked up for waves, vs the argo/edge/rally etc style which sound better for boosting. I've been thinking of reo/TRX style but not sure if they have the throttle power- that they're more made to drift and turn fast but they may not do it with power
At their top end they'll all have the power, so it's more mid-range to low end that I want the grunt. I've a 7m rev2 that seems to have a truck-load more grunt than my new 6m reo and that's taking account of the 1m diff, although I've not really had a chance to give the reo a serious work-out
Anyone tried both styles and know what I'm talking about? And i'm not saying these kites are identical, but just trying to get my head around the design impact on how they throttle on/off
I have BWS noise and a Slingshot Rally.
The BWS is quite grunty and seams to better if you have a nice clean wave and you can just drift it down the line.
The Slingshot turns faster and is good in messy waves where you want to change direction often.
I guess it depends on what kind of wave your going to be riding.
Saying that, both off these kites out perform my abillities 
I had a Rev1 9m and just upgraded to a 2013 Rally 8m. Turns faster than the Rev. Drifts well in the surf. Done a couple of decent jumps on it. Can't really fault it so far, sounds like it would fit the bill for what you're after. I'm no expert though, there are probably other kites just as good out there.
yeah i ride powered in the waves. (on a mutant).
I think any of the wave kites will work just ride a size up from most of the sb riders and yourl be powered.
Usually i'm not getting onto my 8m cat until 25 plus and don't think about the 6m reo unless the gusts are hitting past 35 knots.
2013 TRX is an awesome wave kite,been riding them for the last couple of months and am rapt with how they go,didn't like the lack of bottom end on the 2012 model so switched to riding furys but the 2013 is a totally different kite,quick tons of low end and still drifts like a dream,have been monstered a few times with total slack line only to pop up and see the kite just drifting back waiting for me to pull on the power,well worth the demo even though I am biased
The nrg was a bit like that even though it is a higher aspect kite than most wave kites per say. That throttles on and off if you need it although when turning it does have a bit of forward turning, so that might not be what you are after.
Now I'm not a fan of the rebel in the surf, but from what I'm reading that is a kite that will stall like you said through a pivot turn, then bangs on the power real quick. Has that throttle thingy you are talking about although it can pull you off your line due to its aspect.
Not sure that's about all I have for you on that.
There is the wainmen, that has that throttle thing going on though and its a bloody good drifter as well, also boosts okay when you need it to.
I'd say in general if you do want that stall and throttle you would want your back lines shortened a bit to creat that stall effect, then ping it off the throttle to fly it forward. That might work.
Guys I read above and it doesn't seem you are answering the stall, throttle question...you keep banging on about drift, that's not his focus here.
thanks guys, and yep eppo i'm more focused on the throttle... and maybe to be a bit clearer, in the impact zone i need to stall to a halt then gun the kite to full power, and go from full throttle to zero. But in turns- i only ride sb- i like big full powered carves, don't want the kite stalling through it- am happy to ride the power
Radman, the 2013 TRX sounds interesting, and eppo the wainman too
and the Rally too, i also hear the Switch Method is worth a look
I'm kind of getting the answer about the shape/performance through the kites that are being suggested
eppo, do you mean shorten the back lines, or just pull the bar in to stall, then release?
Get a Demo on an Airush Wave 9m
TBH, After a few days on it in varying conditions I bought the kite. I'm 97kgs and have found it works from 18kts to high 30's (yet to have more than 36kts at my spot)
I am selling my 10 & 12m Reo's as there is no comparison
<edit> I've been flying the Wave on 20m lines, yet to try it on 23m lines (standard length)
It's a fast mad little kite, that you sine or park, it rockets upwind. The more apparent wind you build, the faster it goes, edge it and it goes to the edge of the window it pulls cleanly at the edge of the window. it's an amazing experience 
I only ever want to fly that kite from now on. It *is* a revelation
Not a big fan of the Reo, have been riding Cabrinha Drifters 2012 and thought they where really great kites for waves, though a bit spongy. I demoed the New Airush Wave 1 month ago and was blown away. This has to be the best wave kite ever. The thing turns on a dime, you always know where it is , it drifts down the line effortlessly. Simply amazing. I traded in my Drifters for a full quiver of Waves and have not looked back. Go have a demo guys.
Yeh agree if I was to get a wave kite that would be at the top of my demo list. Had it conditions that needed a little more power but I could see what it would do with more wind over its wing. Its a no brainer kite, very very precise, you can feel the razor in it and also the lithuim for simplicity of use, drift and a decent jumper.
NORTH FUSE is the go, so much grunt when you need it and easy to handle when you dont.
its due out soon, stay tuned.
Yep I reckon fletch might be onto something here. As I said what you are after sounds very rebelish and the reason I didn't like them in the waves actually. But you seem to need this for your style.
The fuse is the four line rebel and I have heard in the past the power delivery can be shut on and off better.
Then you get boost potential as well. You want to get up and over the face of the wave don't discount the need for ease of boost in a kite.
Getting somewhere now I feel.
Tell ya was kiting with a a good rider today with 10 plus years under his belt on a wainman smoke. That is another fine machine in the surf that has instant power due to its real low aspect rounded shape. Great drift and really fast turning. He can boost that thing as well. Worth a demo hey.
It is interesting, throttle versus drift and boost.
I find there are a few contradictory comments with wave kites today.
Do crew want them fast, stable, lots of drift, throttle and boost or all of the above.
I havent ridden many current wave kites but I did test a 2013 10m Rally, I thought it was going to be my next kite. I was using 2010 RPM's and I had to say I was disappointed, it had throttle (so to speak) boosted great, very stable but very slow. It was the lack of speed that disappointed me. (The previous model was quite fast from all reports - haven't ridden one)
Having said that I only demo'd it for a couple of hours and I reckon you would get used to the speed and be able to crank it if you needed to.
I will test a Reo next time, but I am thinking I might be disappointed by the lack of boost (do I need boost in a wave kite? - maybe not, depends where the waves are?)
thanks guys, that's kinda helped, even the suggestions about what's an awesome wave kite which is good to hear but not what i was asking- Checking out each of the designs from all the suggestiosn pretty much leaves me figuring i've just got to demo the two styles to really work it out- do the "drift" kites lack that extra bit of on/off throttle power that the "boost" kites have but at the cost of drift?
Get a Demo on an Cabrinha Drifter 2013 9m
TBH, After a few days on it in varying conditions I bought the kite. I'm 98kgs and have found it works from 16kts to high 30's (yet to have more than 37kts at my spot)
I am selling my 9 & 12m Airush Waves as there is no comparison
I've been flying the Drifter on 20m lines, yet to try it on 23m lines (standard length)
It's a fast mad little kite, that you sine or park, it rockets upwind. The more apparent wind you build, the faster it goes, edge it and it goes to the edge of the window it pulls cleanly at the edge of the window. it's an amazing experience
I only ever want to fly that kite from now on. It *is* a revelation
you could stick with SS. get an RPM. it is a huge improvement over the REVs having owned one previously. you'll be right at home as it is still 4 line and just very user friendly. i reckon its great in waves. not sure how it compares to a dedicated wave kite tho not having tried any. probably a good all rounder tho if you want to do other styles as well. very much a power when you need it and none when don't kite in waves for me.
Hi gordknot, I will try and answer your question without getting to tech.
You talk about throttle on-off . This is achieved by being able to stall a kite and then let it fly . When stalling a kite it causes turbulence over the top of the wing and prevents any lift being created. When the kite is getting smooth airflow over the wing it generates lift which is your power .
A deep foiled kite will generate power like a truck , it sits back in the window, flies relatively slowly, is very stable and will have that low down grunt that everybody talks about, it will still generate some power at very low speed making it difficult to switch off.
A flatter foiled kite will fly fast and so will generate its power at speed, When you choke(stall) the kite it will generate virtually no power (switched off) then when you let it fly it will generate the power through its speed through the air. The faster the kite flies the more power it will generate.
I have flown a lot of different kites over many years and have always found that each style of kite has its pros and cons and no one kite does it all UNTIL NOW...
I have been flying the Airush wave 9m and 6m for a few weeks now and find it the best kite I have ever used.
It is able to do it all, the control is amazing and the wind range is brilliant.
The kite has a very thin leading edge and a very flat foil making it very fast through the air (flies forward easily so smoothing out the gusts and can generate a lot of power by working it if necessary)
The thing that makes this kite so good is the bridal, they have been able to achieve a huge range of depower in the throw of the chicken loop line. This achieves the on-off ability that you talk about.
It is still a super balanced kite in the air to the point when the lines are allowed to go completely slack it will just float backwards and not fall out of the sky.
I can honestly say that this kite has the most significant change in design and handling that I have experienced ever. It has improved my riding and the things I can achieve on the wave instantly.
I could rave on about this kite for a lot longer but suggest you do try and demo it as I am sure this all sounds too good to be true .
Cheers Mike
Hey Mike that was a very clear explanation of the way kites generate power. Thanks for that.
And yes....I to found the wave to behave as you have described. It really is one out of the box hey.
For me I choose not to use a SB anymore, Im like to dogstyle ride and love my free riding edges, but I can vouch for this kite totally.
If I had the money I'd have a wave 9m in my kit, although the liquid force nrg is also a high aspect kite that drifts considerably well, actually mind blowingly well to the point it make no sense, cause this kite boosts to, not just 'oh it's a wave kite that can jump, no this thing can get almost edge like...well not exactly. Lol.
What the wave has over it is its precision developed by the razor DNA, which is a remarkably precise kite. Its turning quickness is well, its like a bloody trainer kite it turns that fast and yet it gives you so much forward turn and smooth power. This allows you to place it wherever you want, and yes gives you that power control. I also maintain that as a first gen kite it will get better.
Nice machine hey...
yeah eppo, what you say about it being super responsive and quick turning is true.
The remarkable thing is how predictable and easy it is to use, it never feels twitchy or that it is going to take off or turn unexpectedly.
Love these kites
I think you need both throttle and drift in a surf kite finding the right balance is the key as different kites need to be flown differently to get the most out of them,best bet is to try a few out and see what works for you.I was really suss on my new kites bottom end grunt but tweaked line lengths and it feels great now but Ill still try other makes as a comparison.
Just tryed the Airush wave 6m the other day in 22kn I am 92kg...outstanding the most I have been impressed with a kite in years. Prob going to get a couple...
Hi guys lots of interesting stuff here just one thing no ones mentioned yet. Part of the reason kites perform differently for different people is the amount of weight on the front lines [size of rider or even style of ridding ]
This is part of the reason one guy will say this kite or that kite works best , everyone is slightly different, generally small people prefer the kite that flys faster but has less grunt [it also usually needs less heel side pressure to fly] and big guys like more grunt, park and ride.[But they apply more heel side pressure all the time]
So as everyone is saying test your kite before you buy and be aware awesome big kites aren't always good little kites
have fun George
thanks MikeN
i'm starting to get my head around this now, but to clarify "foil" - thats' the curve from leading edge to tail edge? I can see that now as i check out the different designs. More foil better grunt, less foil = faster... but you're also throwing bridle into the mix, so it's obviously not that simple, more like jsut one thing to consider.
it does look as though most of the "wave" type square tip kites have a bit more foil in their design
