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Posted: Sun May 12, 2002 2:38 pm
by Guest
Anyone used the Wipika Hydro 7? I'm thinking of purchasing that along with a 11.8 Airblast.

Looking forward to any comments.

Posted: Sun May 12, 2002 4:35 pm
by enzo
...IMO too much of a gap....I would go with the 9.0 Hydro, that's what my last set up was and worked perfectly. Unless you're much lighter than 60 kilos the 9 Hydro will get you out confortably up to 25 knots and if you have a wakeboard you can add few more knots to that. Unless you live in a very windy area I reccomend you go with the 9.
enzo

Posted: Mon May 13, 2002 9:18 am
by Guest
I've got a 140 and 160 twintips, and weigh 70 kg's. During winter the wind ranges from 7-25 knots, and summer from 12-35 knots.

With my rhino's I use the 9 and 16 for any season as a two kite quiver.

comments?

Posted: Tue May 14, 2002 7:44 am
by Guest
the hydro 7 is an excellent kite, very stable an easy to use - fast, but not nervous, but the gap between the 11.8 and the 7 is quite big. I'll also recommend the 9 as next size, but again I wouldn't miss out on the 7 for windy days. I have the Hydro 11,9,7,5 in my quiver, covering from about 5-20 m/s - Haven't tried the 5'er yet, but looking forward to it :smile:

Thomas

Posted: Tue May 14, 2002 2:34 pm
by lndpnt
Hey Thomas, where's the 15.0? : )
I too have the 9 and 11, but I must say there's quite an overlap, even Wipika posts them as 9= 14-22 kts and 11= 12-20kts the 7 =16-26kts so maybe anonymous could get away with that stretch..Lane

Posted: Wed May 15, 2002 4:35 am
by Guest
Hi Thomas,
Could you give more info on the Hydro?? Do they perform upwind??
I could see one, only on a floor of my local shop...
I heard they are a bit slow, how slow compare to other kites?? (CO2??)I am not looking for a very fast kite anyway..
I have been rekon to take the 9.0 and the 13.0, do you think there is not too much strech??
Any comment will be appreciate..
Thank you
Claude
Whistler,BC

Posted: Wed May 15, 2002 8:58 am
by Guest
Hi -

I think the gap between the 9 and 13 is perfect, my 9 and 11 are a bit to close.

It's true that the hydro is a bit slower to get to the window than high AR-kites, but not than the CO2 -the turning speed is fast enough to let you do whatever you like - It's my impression that the hydro needs less input than the CO2 to turn. A cabrinha kite takes some musclework to steer, but the CO2 i besides that a lot like the Hydro. I sail a lot with a very good wakeboarder (Morten Lander, 25th at red-bull skyride, Tarifa) who uses CO2 - the sizes of CO2 matches the sizes of the hydro, and they have the same caractaristics - upwind ability, low end etc..
The hydro is super-stable, but still a good performer. Last year I used Airblast, but i really think that hydro is a better kite for most people. It' so easy to control in even difficult conditions. That type of kite is what we've been waiting for. I use it in competition as well, and I have never regretted it. I've seen people learn to go upwind on their first kite-day with the hydro 9 sa well. This new concept is bringing a lot of joy into kitesurfing for many people, including myself.
It is even possibly to fly them very overpowered, as they will never jellyfish due to the low AR. Last thursday i didn't bother to swap from my size 11, even though that the second biggest kite on the water was a 8,4 and most people were using 7 or less...

ps, I' try to test the 13 as soon as possible, but we have got to much wind at the moment :grin:

/Thomas

Posted: Wed May 15, 2002 7:54 pm
by Guest
Thomas and others

I have spoken to others, and some recommend I take the 7 Hydro coupled with the 11 Hydro, rather than the 11.8 airblast.

The reason I wanted to go for the 11.8 airblast is because it is slightly bigger, and due to it's higher aspect ratio it will be a little bit faster to use.

How does the 11 perform, and what is the windrange. On my 16 Rhino I can get up in 8 knots.

Carlo
http://www.kitesurf.co.za

Posted: Wed May 15, 2002 10:25 pm
by Guest
hi

last year i used the 11,8 AB, but i now use the 11 as my biggest kite. It starts just at early as the 11,8 and has about the same windrange, may take a bit more wind...

It steers fine without too much musclework, unless you+re completely underpowered, then it will make you sweat a bit. Today I went in 8-9 knot and could just come back without going downwind, but it wasn't too funny....more wind please :eek: