Replacement for an 11.8 Airblast (16meter)?

[Guest]

Greetings,
I have been extremely happy with my 2001 Airblasts, but they are showing some wear. I am interested in replacing my 11.8 (16m flat), but am concerned about moving to other brands. I really like the speed of the AirBlast and the incredible range. I am also totally sold on the front line tension style. Anybody have an opinion? Actually, I would prefer opinions of those who have actually flown the kite that they are recommending. I got caught up in the hype around the X2 and bought a kite which I regret. It doesn't have anywhere near the performance of the Airblasts (in the larger size). But, that's the subject for another post. Sooo, what's the kite that would be comparable to the Airblast 11.8?

Thanks tons,
Gray

[Guest]

How about a 2002 11.8 AB, which is what I have. They are built much, much better than the 2001 models and still have that AB feeling and fantastic range.

The only disadvantage I have really noticed is that they do not appear quite as grunty at the bottom end.

[andré]

hi,

wenn you like the wipis wait for the new "amp" they tell it will have more lightwindperformance!



greetz andré

[ptraykovski]

Check out the 2002 takoons scoops, either the 12.5/17 if you want a bit more power than your 11.8 or the 10.5/14 if you want about the same. I switched from 2001 ABs to takoon in april 2002, and felt like the takoons had all the positives of the ABs with a few of the negatives fixed up. They definitely fly a bit smoother with a slighty less on/off feeling, but still plently of depower. A bit more lift in the jumps. In my opinion the 17 tak was a much nicer handling kite than the 18 x2 which I only spent about 1 hour on one lightish day. With the x2 I was only getting small jumps and could not find any power in the lulls..no smile on my face..it just felt heavy and awkward...I switched back to my 17 and was immediately poppong med jumps/transitions,etc the smile was back. I think it was the same guy Bruno L. who designed them (ab and tak) so basically the tak is the evolution of the ideas that went into the ab 2001..or so it seems to me from flying them.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ptraykovski on 2002-09-27 14:28 ]</font>

[Hernan]

Peter:
I fly airblast 02 and happy with them. I want better low end than the 11.8 so I m buying a X2 20. As a 20 is not so much bigger than the 18 X2 than you tried, do you think it would be a better move go for a takoon 17 replacing the AB 11,8??
(less money, less kite to pump)

[aklbob]

The X2's are quite Airblast like in their flfying, but have more low down grunt, you'd feel right at home with them..

[ptraykovski]

I found the opposite. That the x2 18 had the least low end grunt unless flown really fast or ridden with lots of board speed. My 2001 AB had more low end than the x2 and the 2002takoons have more than the AB's, but these are all not very grunty kites like a rhino or a aero or something..I guess everyone got a different opinion!

[aklbob]

That's interesting, cause so far with my 12 X2, it has almost the low end of my 11.8 AB..haven't tried the 18 properly yet..

[murdoc]

-airush lift 12.2
-gaastra gxr 16.5
-fone mach I 15.1 (if you wait till nov., mach2)
-airblast 2002

are the kites to check out
they all got the frontline style and a huge depower-range.

[BLOWN AWAY]

The X2's not a low end kite... goes bloody marvellous on a directional but you have to go fast for the power to kick in....

In what way does the AB outperform the X2?

BLOWN AWAY