My EH Ovando 13 came today....
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 9:54 pm
I'm a little tentative about the size because most people seem to be getting along fine with smaller kites. To me a 13 is smaller. I keep moving down; 20 Rhino, 18 Rhino, about 4 16's (R7-16 currently), a couple of 14s - this OV-13 - and a 12. I'm happy to leave 'whisper kiting' to Flysurfer - I no longer have any interest blog slow kiting. There have been times when I could have ridded a unicycle faster. And, as I have painfully found, no-air kiting in the surf is simply asking for trouble. I was always the timid kiter; putting up a smaller kite than the best guys - now I prefer to ride with at least 1/2 depower. I am myopically interested in elevation and speed. I will never be brave or good enough to be a Dimitri Maramenides, but it is the reason I pump up.
The thing that attracted me was Eric's new shape. I'm sure those kids in Cabarete could get 20' airs with a garbage bag on coconut twine, but there seems to be some quite obvious logic to the swept-wing shape. I like the promise of being able to work the kite in the sky. I love my Rhinos, but want a faster kite.
Here's some pics...
It's interesting to look at it nose-down but it gives you the mis-impression that it has gull dihedral. The bridle is straight forward .. and I was eyeballing the leash attachment to play with a 5th line..
I love the coloring ..and I am surprised. Actually, I prefer something brighter because I see this as a Brite sport, not something akin to shooting bambi or paintball. Thankfully, Eric didn't do his center logo in White, so the graphics are perfectly balanced. I still prefer Silver over Gold metallic. I can still image Slingshot kites in Cabarete years ago with the bright Sun reflected off their Silver compass rose: very eye catching.
I have the paint gun out because I give all my new kites a treatment of 303 Protectant or something similar. My local waters are full of tannin and mud; black does a real nice job of showing both.
Note the deep draft of the struts and fairly large size of the L.E and struts - interesting. These shots give you a better perspective on the 'swept back' L.E.
When I get a moment. I will do some overlays with my two 14's to see how they compare ..and then some ON THE WATER reports. Yee-hawwww!
Jim
The thing that attracted me was Eric's new shape. I'm sure those kids in Cabarete could get 20' airs with a garbage bag on coconut twine, but there seems to be some quite obvious logic to the swept-wing shape. I like the promise of being able to work the kite in the sky. I love my Rhinos, but want a faster kite.
Here's some pics...
It's interesting to look at it nose-down but it gives you the mis-impression that it has gull dihedral. The bridle is straight forward .. and I was eyeballing the leash attachment to play with a 5th line..
I love the coloring ..and I am surprised. Actually, I prefer something brighter because I see this as a Brite sport, not something akin to shooting bambi or paintball. Thankfully, Eric didn't do his center logo in White, so the graphics are perfectly balanced. I still prefer Silver over Gold metallic. I can still image Slingshot kites in Cabarete years ago with the bright Sun reflected off their Silver compass rose: very eye catching.
I have the paint gun out because I give all my new kites a treatment of 303 Protectant or something similar. My local waters are full of tannin and mud; black does a real nice job of showing both.
Note the deep draft of the struts and fairly large size of the L.E and struts - interesting. These shots give you a better perspective on the 'swept back' L.E.
When I get a moment. I will do some overlays with my two 14's to see how they compare ..and then some ON THE WATER reports. Yee-hawwww!
Jim
