North Rebel 2012 review please!

[Er Presidente]

Has anybody tried this kite? I am seriously thinking if changing my quiver.
I am 90kg, surfboard only and need a kite with low bar pressure, very fast if you do down loop jibes.
I come from Naish Park, which I love except the awful low end.
When I go kiting in Brasil, people riding North always manage to ride 1 or 2 sizes below the rest of the kiters.

I read some issue in relaunching Rebels 2011. Can anyone confirm that?

Also is the 5th line really an issue when riding waves?

[Wawando]

I always ride on waves, always on Rebels and with 5th line. No issues. The only relaunch problem i have is that i ride them with so little wind side-on that it is impossible to relaunch when i drop them in the waves

Just arrived and ready to test

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[Cray]

Hi Presidente .

I read some issue in relaunching Rebels 2011. Can anyone confirm that?

I can confirm that your information is wrong .

I have a 14m2 and a 9m2 Rebel 2011. They both relaunch decently enough, they only times I couldn't relaunch was when the wind died . The leading edge isn't as curved as some other kites, but relaunching with the 5th line works like a charm.

[papand]

2011 - 2012 97% same kite, flies the same, relaunches the same 3% diffrent design.

[Wawando]

Hello,

To start i think that papand is right. No great change from last year as there is not much to improve!

I had a very good "test" session yesterday. 9m in winds avg 16 knots with lulls on 10 and gusts on 20 with powerfull 2m sets. Yummi!

The good part:
- The kite has a great look, the bag too and is all new. Impressive uh?
- In the air, it has great bar feedback. After testing with a setup of one side with the knot in each position, I had no doubt in choosing the harder bar setting
- It develops great power and i can really fly upwind with it. It is really clean and sweat in the air. This is great as it is my biggest kite.
- Comparing to 2010 it is really softer and felt like having great depower (need more wind to test better)
- Looping down the wave (in low winds i have to do this to keep it in the power zone) it has great behaviour

Just as a note a fellow rider that tried 2010 got very impressed by the smoothness of the 2012 (he is used to kites that have very little power)

The bad part:
- There aren't! Ok, i wish it had the speed of my super fast 7m But in all kite brands i tried, a 9m is a 9m. Not a 7m. The 9m kites that feel like 7m in terms of lowend (typically freestyle kites) are in fact 7m, and in those kites you need a 11m to have the power of a 9m.

So i think that the only thing i would improve needs some new kite architecture...

Rebel 2012 9m ready to ride!

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Back line adjustment prefered position

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[juaorpo]

Hello,


The bad part:
- A 9m is a 9m. Not a 7m. The 9m kites that feel like 7m (typically freestyle kites) are in fact 7m, and in those kites you need a 11m to have a 9m.

What's the bad part there? I prefer that a 9m kite acts as a 9m kite.... if not it can be confusing choosing sizes....

God blessed us... colors are a bit more decent in 2012!!!!!!

[Puetz]

Hello,


The bad part:
- A 9m is a 9m. Not a 7m. The 9m kites that feel like 7m (typically freestyle kites) are in fact 7m, and in those kites you need a 11m to have a 9m.

What's the bad part there? I prefer that a 9m kite acts as a 9m kite.... if not it can be confusing choosing sizes....

God blessed us... colors are a bit more decent in 2012!!!!!!

... yeah, I'd like to know what you mean too! Do you mean the 9m actually feels like a 7m but with the power of a 9m. Or does it have the feel of a 9m but the power of a 7m???

Anyway, can you explain this one a little better please!

cheers,

Robbie

[piccio]

this year had decent winds here sardinia ,used many times 6 rebel 2011 ,when the wind drops below 17 18 like yesterday I go home,do not even inflate 10 neo (a sadness)not to mention the vegas left in the car since may.Tried 9m 2011(not fall in love) also 10 m (uneuseful truck).will buy no more than 8 that compared ones with my 10 neo has same power but upwind and speed monstre,but I am 74 kg and during years learned that sensation change completely between guys with different weight and strenght so you should listen kiter like you.
seen many times rebel in waves,do not relaunch very easy like other brands,when they roll better unlock everything and start again from beach so if you need good relaunch mainly, wait and try before buying but if you need power and upwind you will not believe what you got.I can hardly believe I am using 6m when lulls ,holes, lacking winds etc. but she is up there, goes, flies
pushes,thats it or they stick smaller numbers on bigger kites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thinking at 5 for good wind ,6 between 18 27 and 7 below .
Do not yump on your seat guys!!!!!!!!!!! its an extreme ideas,not so many days here like SA or Brasil.
tried smaller wavando?
Hi all

[Wawando]

Hello,


The bad part:
- A 9m is a 9m. Not a 7m. The 9m kites that feel like 7m (typically freestyle kites) are in fact 7m, and in those kites you need a 11m to have a 9m.

What's the bad part there? I prefer that a 9m kite acts as a 9m kite.... if not it can be confusing choosing sizes....

God blessed us... colors are a bit more decent in 2012!!!!!!

... yeah, I'd like to know what you mean too! Do you mean the 9m actually feels like a 7m but with the power of a 9m. Or does it have the feel of a 9m but the power of a 7m???

Anyway, can you explain this one a little better please!

cheers,

Robbie

Hi guys, the "bad part" was ment to be a joke as far as i have tested there isn't.
What i was saying is that every 9m i try i have a secret wish it behaves like a 7m in terms of super speed. Until now, I have concluded that it is not possible at least with the current kite designs.

Sorry for the bad joke! i corrected to text to make it clearer.

I have a 5m to try but no winds yet. I ride almost always on 7m and i am always amazed how early i can use it with my 83kg and a small surfboard. Same for 2010 5m. Lets see how new 5m behaves.
5m+7m is a perfect combination!
Best winds,
Wawa

[Puetz]

... cool, I understand now, thanks!

cheers,

Robbie

ps I have a 9m coming so I was particularly interested in your opinions.