North Rebel 2014 - wind range much worse than 2015 and 2013?

[Grejo]

By looking at the kite manual it looks like the wind range for North Rebel 2014 model dropped significantly in comparison to 2015 or 2013 model.

I am thinking about purchasing Rebel 2014 10m but what worries me is the wind range for this model is much worse that previous models and the latest one.

According to the kite manuals wind range for the same kite size varies as follows:
North Rebel 2015 10m wind range: 13-31 knots
North Rebel 2014 10m wind range: 15-28 knots
North Rebel 2013 10m wind range: 14-32 knots

Source:
http://www.northkiteboarding.com/north-life/manuals

Does anyone have any experience with those kites and is able to compare different years in terms of wind range? Or any knowledge that could shed some light on those discrepancies?
Tried contacting North dealer directly but no response.

[William Munney]

I'm sure Dan will comment. I imagine it's a judgement call by somebody more than anything.

[NYKiter]

who rides a 10m in 13knots...anyone...

[sarc]

My friend who is on a Neo 7m and surfboard goes upwind in 15knots... he's 70-75Kg or so. Pisses me off (dragging my lard ass around on a Rebel 12M and not keeping up with him).

So yea 10m in 13Kn is humanly possible if you are very light and very good.

About the original post : +/- a couple of knots on the published wind range means nothing.

[Grejo]

About the original post : +/- a couple of knots on the published wind range means nothing.

So let me put it this way, Rebel 2015 or 2013 model, average wind range for 10m is 18 knots (from 13-31 or 14-32). Rebel 2014 10m, average wind range is only 13 knots! (from 15-28) - this is not really a big wind range, even Evo 2014 has much better wind range ( 10m 14-31 which gives 17 knots).
So I am wondering why North changed those values only for 2014 models? Was there any construction changes or any other modifications that are affecting kite wind range?

Rebel is advertised as a kite with the best wind range on the marked(or at least one of the best), but 13 knots is not very impressive for 2014 model. You can observe the same pattern for all 2014 sizes when you compare them to previous or 2015 models.

And what annoys me even more is that nearly every website and seller publish incorrect wind range charts for Rebel 2014 model - example here: http://www.kitefinder.com/en/kites/1288 ... rebel-2014

[ThickAir]

That's surprising as North is usually spot on with their wind ranges. I can tell you that the 2013 had a relatively poor low end but almost unlimited top end. 2014 was back to normal.

[Dan-at-Duotone]

Not sure what happened in 2014... Somewhere between Ken giving the info to the guys at marketing and the information getting printed something got screwed up. 2014 and 2015 have pretty similar ranges, and both should have slightly lower low end and slightly lower high end than 2013.

From what I can tell the listing for 2013 and 2015 is correct (relative to each other) and 2014 looks like an error.

As to NYKiter's comment, I agree to an extent, in that I probably could not use a 10m in 13kts (though maybe on a foil), but I know there are some who can, so much depends on the person and the conditions and the board etc.

If you really don't know what size to get for your local spot, I'd recommend talking with your local retailer... They should know the local conditions and also be acquainted with the kites in our lineup to give you a better idea of what sizes will be best.

-Dan

[windfreak]

Hi Dan, or anybody who tried a rebel 2015 i read a review about the wingtips flapping a little bit in the high end of the 2015 ! Don t know if its because they remove the wingtips batten Westozzz

[flipper231]

My friend who is on a Neo 7m and surfboard goes upwind in 15knots... he's 70-75Kg or so. Pisses me off (dragging my lard ass around on a Rebel 12M and not keeping up with him).

So yea 10m in 13Kn is humanly possible if you are very light and very good.

About the original post : +/- a couple of knots on the published wind range means nothing.

Oh gimme a break, there is a whole world out there and it is really nasty... 85kg, clash 138x40.5 and I take my 10's (RPM 2014 and Nobile 50/50) in 13 knots... As long as it does not drop below this I am fine, at 12 i come back to the beach going downwind. Not that i inflate a 10m when i see 13 on the meter but we get 13 and 30 on the same day... The 10m is the goto tool for those days...

[Westozzy]

Hi Dan, or anybody who tried a rebel 2015 i read a review about the wingtips flapping a little bit in the high end of the 2015 ! Don t know if its because they remove the wingtips batten Westozzz

Nope haven't noticed that. Didn't they just remove the leading edge battens, pretty sure the wingtip ones are still there...Jesus can't remember ..I just fly the damn thing.