Please help me in choosing a new kite....
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:50 am
Need recommendation for a new 12m and 9m kite. Pls help.
I am looking for the best intermediate level 12m kite. I want a kite that takes little effort, does exactly what I want and let's me enjoy kiting.
My criteria are as follows:
1. Low bar pressure. I suffer from mild kiters elbow so I want a kite that has little bar pressure.
2. Good/great boosting. I love jumping, especially nice floaty jumps. I want a kite that is easy to boost and boosts high. I don't want a kite that boosts well when you get it "dialed in" because I'm no Dimitri and so I can't get it "dialed in" easily.
3. Crisp responsive feel. I want a kite that is responsive not sluggish. I really dislike initiating a turn and then waiting.
4. Relatively easy relaunch and good depower. Because even though I'm a good kiter, you never know what shit can happen.
5. Handles gusts well. Because I never have perfect kiting conditions.
6. Decent wave kite. I don't kite the waves often but when I do, I want a kite that can handle it decently, e.g drifts back without stalling etc.
I don't believe any store or kiting rep or kiting instructor since they always push their shit. I have my doubts about the kiting mags since they push their biggest advertisers. I don't want any small brands since they can't afford to spend money on r&d and make ridiculous claims. Go ahead, call me cynical. I have read many of the online reviews.
I am considering the following:
1. North Rebel (worried about bar pressure and 5th line getting f'kd up when the kite roles over in the waves)
2. rrd Obsession mkV (worried about stalling when using it as a wave kite)
3. Ozone Catalyst (seems to have developed quite a following; ?performance in the waves?; boosting?)
4. Naish Park (looks very appealing but the online forums are always taking about the line attachment settings and that has me worried)
5. Bridled C kite? May be too expert for me ? and besides, the 2013 Ozone C4 has mediocre online reviews.
I have had experience with quite a few kites in my day. My all time favorite was the 12m Eclipse Thuster because it was just PLAIN FUN but it relaunched like shit, couldn't handle gusts and had zero grunt. My worst kite? Don't ask, the list is too long. (And I don't want to incite the raving online bloggers.)
Am I just too picky? Or is there a kite out there that I will truly love?
( If you work for a kite store or as a rep or get ANY cheap or free gear from a particular kite company, please DON'T bother responding. )
PS Many kite stores DON'T let me try before buying, e.g. REAL
I am looking for the best intermediate level 12m kite. I want a kite that takes little effort, does exactly what I want and let's me enjoy kiting.
My criteria are as follows:
1. Low bar pressure. I suffer from mild kiters elbow so I want a kite that has little bar pressure.
2. Good/great boosting. I love jumping, especially nice floaty jumps. I want a kite that is easy to boost and boosts high. I don't want a kite that boosts well when you get it "dialed in" because I'm no Dimitri and so I can't get it "dialed in" easily.
3. Crisp responsive feel. I want a kite that is responsive not sluggish. I really dislike initiating a turn and then waiting.
4. Relatively easy relaunch and good depower. Because even though I'm a good kiter, you never know what shit can happen.
5. Handles gusts well. Because I never have perfect kiting conditions.
6. Decent wave kite. I don't kite the waves often but when I do, I want a kite that can handle it decently, e.g drifts back without stalling etc.
I don't believe any store or kiting rep or kiting instructor since they always push their shit. I have my doubts about the kiting mags since they push their biggest advertisers. I don't want any small brands since they can't afford to spend money on r&d and make ridiculous claims. Go ahead, call me cynical. I have read many of the online reviews.
I am considering the following:
1. North Rebel (worried about bar pressure and 5th line getting f'kd up when the kite roles over in the waves)
2. rrd Obsession mkV (worried about stalling when using it as a wave kite)
3. Ozone Catalyst (seems to have developed quite a following; ?performance in the waves?; boosting?)
4. Naish Park (looks very appealing but the online forums are always taking about the line attachment settings and that has me worried)
5. Bridled C kite? May be too expert for me ? and besides, the 2013 Ozone C4 has mediocre online reviews.
I have had experience with quite a few kites in my day. My all time favorite was the 12m Eclipse Thuster because it was just PLAIN FUN but it relaunched like shit, couldn't handle gusts and had zero grunt. My worst kite? Don't ask, the list is too long. (And I don't want to incite the raving online bloggers.)
Am I just too picky? Or is there a kite out there that I will truly love?
( If you work for a kite store or as a rep or get ANY cheap or free gear from a particular kite company, please DON'T bother responding. )
PS Many kite stores DON'T let me try before buying, e.g. REAL