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Hi all can anyone give me some info on the 16m Crossbow that owns one, about its jumping characteristics. I have read on several reviews that the 16 jumps long and low in the lower end of its wind range is this true?

I have ordered a 12m Crossbow and a 16 but the 16 will not arrive until october and after reading these reports i am considering keeping the twelve and cancelling the 16m

I am 95kg and ride my 20m BT Nitro in 15 to 22 mph winds and get
some really big air with it. Do not want to sell the kite and rely on the 16m Crossbow to cover this wind range if it is a pig to jump

any info would be most gratefully recieved.

Definitely you should have long and strong arms cause of the bar-pull.....with kind regards to the tennis elbow

Not sure if you should jump on the CrossBow hype without trying it. I have not flown one, but some of our locals have just bought a couple and are just starting to use them. My observation, watching today, a 12m CB & a 16m CB in 10 to 14 kt wind, dead on shore. Both were powered , 12m on a big directional and the 16m on a wakeboard. They seemed to be going OK, but there's something strange about the way the kite twists when it turns. Doesn't appear to be as rigid as the regular "U" shaped kites. Also, very slow turning. The 12m looked better, & turned faster than the 16m. Just my observation. Good Luck!

I finally tried my 16 m Crossbow today, and I think one of its strengths is jumping ability. Because of the range, you can ride heavily depowered until you send the kite back. Then sheet the kite in all the way and you go up like an elevator and float.

the big question though is--was that in the published mid to lower range(ie8-12 kts) or upper end(ie 16-20kts). In my opinion if it was upwards of 14 most 16m kites would do a decent job!!!

JS

Thanks for the info, would be interested to know how heavy you are and what board you were riding, and at what wind speed do you start to get high floaty jumps.

My friends and I got out on the water yesterday with two 16s and a 12. The other guy with a 16 was getting higher jumps than I was because he has had more time on the kite than I. This was the first time I have used the kite with power. my jumps were not as high but the float was very good. It is possible to control your rotation in foward or backward spins by letting out on the bar when you are ready to slow down. Kite loops will be very easy to do with as much pull as you might want. I did two by accident because the kite is so fast. I think the 12 will be the higher jumper but to really know I will have to go out in more wind. Two things to change on the settings are the back line knots and the overide pop off ball. Put another knot on the back lines about 5 or 6 inches up the pigtail so the kite powers up sooner and turns quicker. I moved the pop off ball down about 3 inches to the point where it just depowers. This made it so I can ride agianst the ball and unspin the lines without it poping. The bar wont have enough speed to activate the system if it only travels a couple of inches. The power lock might help in light conditions but I dont think I will need it in good wind.

davo wrote:the big question though is--was that in the published mid to lower range(ie8-12 kts) or upper end(ie 16-20kts). In my opinion if it was upwards of 14 most 16m kites would do a decent job!!!

AND

Thanks for the info, would be interested to know how heavy you are and what board you were riding, and at what wind speed do you start to get high floaty jumps.

I weigh 185 lbs and I was riding a finless Flydoor in 12-18 kts and 3 ft chop because I thought the wind was going to ease, but it didn't. It's a super fast board but not well suited to those conditions.

I definitely wasn't riding in the lower range, and maybe most 16 m kites would do a good job, but I was never able to jump as effectively with my Cabrinha Nitros. Maybe my skill level is just better suited to the Crossbow, but either way it worked for me.

BTW, the kite could have easily handled lots more wind. There was lots of extra depower available and the steering doesn't seem too effected by the depower.

JS wrote:I finally tried my 16 m Crossbow today, and I think one of its strengths is jumping ability. Because of the range, you can ride heavily depowered until you send the kite back. Then sheet the kite in all the way and you go up like an elevator and float.

flew the 12 today for the first time (on an xbow). did my first jump after about 50 meter on the way out. went into it fully powered and it felt like a regular kite. after a few jumps i figured out what JS says. whip the kite up depowered and then sheet in for a nice flight. much easier than 'regular kite'. turns very fast and super tight on it's axis. perfect for waves. can't wait to try it on a big wave day. bar pressure is an issue with these first models, but this is the future of kite design.