Part 1: Independent review for 10m GTS2
First of all I am 185lbs on135x42 shinn monk and 5'2" directional.
I have been on the Core riot xr2 all season and at my weight 185lbs it is a one kite quiver.
The GTS2 is a new animal for core. I will compare both the riot xr2 and GTS2 to help those who can't decide between the 2 kites.
I flew the GTS2 and riot XR2 back to back a couple days ago at Sherman island. The wind was steady at 14-18 mph. Pretty light but very steady wind and on an ebb tide, so good light wind conditions. Every one else was on a 12 or 14m, and me the 10m only.
The kite in the air is an instant noticeable change from previous Core just as others have stated, and I agree here. So, here is the scoop:
Kite setting on stock rear line position which is middle position, front bridle I put on front setting for heaviest bar pressure and direct steering. Really light bar pressure and nice instant kite steering, no delay in steering response . Feedback is all there as this is a must for me. Any kite with light bar pressure and no feel is useless to me, so the GTS2 is excellent here.
One little dive with the kite and I took off nicely. This kite moves and pulls forward like the xr2 and once I got going I was able to just park the kite and go. Very fast apparent wind development and accelerates really fast much better compared to the previous GTS1 which needed more wind and more kite movement to get going in light wind. The kite blasts up wind better than the GTS1. Considering the light wind I didn't boost to the moon, by never the less I was having a blast jumping and kitelooping.
Without proper wind it is hard to comment on jump and kite loop performance, but for light wind it had quick loops tighter radius than the GTS1 and a better feel through the loop. The Gts1 turned slower and had a slower constant pull through the loop where this kite will let you tune it's speed on the fly so you can have either super fast or slower depending on your bar input. This is very nice!
I can't write to long so I will end for now saying the XR2 has alittle more grunt on the low end and jumps better in light wind. I went out back to back in the same wind. But they both get going early and essentially have same lowend. I don't bother with a kite bigger than 10m at all anymore. Kiteloops are fun On both kites but the GTS2 is going to be a blast I can tell already, really smooth flutter free kiteloops.
Really fun kite!!!!
Please post questions as I am pretty short winded right now and would like to get questions answered for those of you interested. Of course I will have more to say once I get some wind over 20kts..