Kiteforum.com

Hello friends,
Just couple of days ago the New Ozone Catalyst 12m landed in front of my door.
Yesterday we had some westerly wind and we had the first chance to try it.

I also brought to the beach my Light XC 12m so that we could do a back to back test.
Wind was extremely gusty with about 1 hour of 11-16 knots, 1 hour of 13-20 knots and again another 45 minutes back to 10-15 knots.

We had 4 different riders to try the kite back to back and we have similar impressions.

The kite apart from the one pump, the graphic and colors are really similar in shape...
Can’t really tell the difference.
The new bar is nice and much cleaner, the depower throw is a bit longer, maybe 6-7cm and the depower strap is easy to reach. The side adjusters are gone and now you have a 3 knots adjustment under the floater to choose for the back line length.

Once you launch the kite the only difference you feel is that the bar pressure is lighter.
Flying characteristic are really same…
The way it turns with power, constant pull, progressive depower and amazing stability.
The general consensus was that the Catalyst turn a little little bit faster and has a little little bit less low end power.
But it could be that this impression is given by the bar been lighter.
(We use the attachment point closer to the TE that say lighter bar pressure)

Another thing that I notice when the wind got stronger is that the kite appear to have slighter more high end and depower but hard to say as it could have been the gusty wind and for sure the longer depower throw help too…

Our conclusion… The new Catalyst is a refinement of what was already a great kite.
If you are in the market for an easy free ride kite that will not hold you back then the new Ozone has probably the best value for performance in the market.
If you already have a Light XC and you are not a maniac of changing a kite every season there is no reason to upgrade to the new one, maybe get the new bar...

The kite is available at our beach for test and demo.

Bye Jankie

Thanks,

It is good to hear something from the new Catalyst...especially when it says that it is replacing the light XC, was done in a good way, no negative surprises.

How is that depowerline now, I do not see it as the white line with the red beads...it looks very simple but is it as accurate to use as the old one?
Isn 't it sometimes dangling out of reach?

Frank

Hi !

I took out the 10 catalyst last week and i share Jankie's impressions!
Kites does feel a little bit easier and faster overall!
Bar looks nice and works well and is super clean.
The 10m is in its higher wind range a good jumper also, to learn and do tricks on !
Super stable..

will let know more when the wind picks up here !

Twan

Hello Frank,
the depower line is totally new with a handle at the extremity.
Looks like the older line from 2007 and I think will hold the grip on the cleat quite well.
You can depower it only about 15 cm so there is not much dangling around.
Between the depower line and the extended throw of the bar you can depower the kite completely.
Back lines to totally slack.
You can see some pics on the Ozone web site.
Bye Jankie

Thx Jankie

Frank

Last week I had a chance to test ride the ride the Catalyst 12m, C4 12m, Bullaroo 11m and 13m all back to back. In short I liked all the kites - but not enough to buy one.
I was expecting a more crisp feel from the ozone kites, but to be honest I found them a bit slow on a 45cm ish bar and would have liked to try them on my own custom bar with 55cm and qpowerpro on it. I used this bar on the Bullaroos and they were nice but still just a medium aspect feel cruisy kite.

I'm really hoping the new Edge is going to rock my world and can't wait to try them!

Been interested in the epic screamer as well but demo's and availability to test is proving difficult here in Queensland.

Currently I ride 10,12 HP and 17 Zephyr.

why were you flying the Ozone on a 45cm bar that is just silly, i believe the bars are supposed to be 50cm

sorry - they may have been 50cm - it is whatever came with the kites stefaan....
you may want to check out this silly video clip at 0:53

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EY7lYRneHc