Test : Shockwave / Waroo / Vegas06 / Speed

[Detlef]

Three weeks ago, I had the opportunity to test the Waroo-9m², Shockwave-9m² & -12m², Vegas06-9m² and Speed-7m²
on a (frozen) lake in Italy (Reschensee). Many thanks to the organizers and sponsors of this event:
Marco, Element Sports (for Best and North), Flysurfer and Naish.
Last year in August I could test the Crossbow-12m² from Susi Mai in Cabarete for three hours,
and I guess, my next kites will be Bows (or SLE’s). I don't ride unhooked and I like the depower,
especially in waves and at spots with gusty winds and a lot of traffic or other obstacles.

Shockwave 9m²:


Shockwave 9m²: Among all the kites in 9m² the Shockwave had the shortest lines and it looked (therefore?) the biggest,
and it was the heaviest. It is not so flat like the Crossbow and the trailing edge is not concave,
but the flight characteristics were bow-like: Huge depower and close kiteloops with or without power (depending on bar position).
Because of the transmissions (pulley) at the bar, the steering is effective but slightly indirect.
If you power the kite (too much), the holding forces at the bar were heavy.
You can easily re-launch the kite reverse (backwards) in the power zone, just by pulling both steering lines.

Shockwave 9m²:



Waroo 9m²: As surprise this was my favorite kite in this test. In the air (see the picture) it looked more flat and bow-like
than the Shockwave. And the flight characteristics were also bow-like with one exception:
There are no transmissions at the bar and therefore the steering is a little more direct und the holding forces are light at the bar.
I could not feel restricted depower or too long ways for depower. The Waroo flew convenient, stable and straightforward.
Unfortunately I could not test sufficiently the lift and hang time (on the snow).

Waroo 9m²:



Vegas 9m²: People, who were accustomed only to C-kites, were happy with this kite. But I was disappointed.
The depower was far less, compared to the Shockwave and the Waroo.
It was comparable to my Boxer-10m² from 2004, which I flew on the next day in more gusty winds.
And the radii of kiteloops were much bigger (compared to the bows) with the same position (turn) of the bar.
The only big advantage was the direct steering. Otherwise to relaunch the Vegas, you have first to turn it over
with the fifth line, and to move it to the edge of the wind window. You can not start directly in the power zone.

Waroo 9m² and Vegas 9m²:



Speed 7m²: The Speed was powerful, although it was the smallest kite in this test.
But the force evolvements and the reactions were soft.
Sometimes the kite collapsed in sudden lulls, but I could manage these situations with careful depower.
If you are unhooked and let go the bar, then you can land the kite in the power zone (only connected to the safety).
And you can re-launch it from this position.


Speed 7m²:



Unfortunately I could not yet test other bow kites, like Switchblade, Turbo Diesel or Halo.

You will find more pictures in my gallery:
http://gallery.kiteforum.com/gallery/vi ... me=albuq06

Detlef

[gumball]

Why were you surprized that the Waroo was your favorite? Nice review.

[Detlef]

It was the first time that I flew a Best kite.

In my opinion the marketing of Best is too agressive and too noisy (Hellfish).

But the Waroo looks good for my style.

Maybe I will buy one or two (when I get a good offer).

Detlef

[Tom183]

How much time on each kite?
Were conditions consistent?
Anybody else get to try them?
Were you actually riding or just static-flying?

Nice pics!

I see a Flysurfer PULSE 7m - did you get to try it?

[roby naiche]

If you intend to use on snow, I'd suggest you to get a pink waroo, would match greatly your snow outfit

[Detlef]

@ roby naiche: It is my wife in the pink snow outfit, not me.
But for safety reasons: I do like fluorescent colors on the board and in the kite.

@ Tom 183: Two days of testing, approximately half an hour for one test.
I tested the Speed and the Vegas06 only one time, and the Shockwave and the Waroo three or more times alternating.

We were riding. In the picture you can see a crash. The result was a broken shoulder.



Here are two videos of this event:

http://www.astrooptik.com/downloads/ReschenWeb.wmv

http://www.deegee.de/video/kwc206_large.wmv

Detlef

[Tom183]

Yeah, that snow looks pretty hard...

Is that you on the Speed 7m in the first vid?

And I saw PULSE 7m (in the pics) AND 10m (in the vid) - did you get a shot at either? I know they're just protos but they should be near final by now. It's Flysurfer's answer to the bow, I'd be interested in hearing back-to-back comparisons.

[Detlef]

I didn't test the Pulse. But I heard from other guys, that the Pulse has a big depower range, but is less powerful compared to the Speed.

Speed (high-performance) --- Pulse (intermediate)

Detlef

[Sake]

Your finding on the depower of the Vegas seems contradictionary to other rider's findings
I remember BITW saying:
In order to get the depower you do have to use a longer chicken loop stroke. I normally ride a C kite with only 4-6 inches of stroke.
For the Vegas I am riding 10-12 inches and love it.
What was the depowerstroke on the Vegas?

I relauch my R5-16 very often in light winds in the powerzone.
Frankly in utmost light mind, I can hardly relauch at the edge of the wind-window (water on the tips) but can in the powerzone.
So why no relauch in the powerzone? Did you not try to use the 5th line by pullling it?

[Detlef]

I didn't measure the depowerstroke. It was the original bar for the Vegas06.

My (conventional) re-launch on snow with the Vegas:
Pulling the 5th-line to turn the kite, then walking sidewards so that the kite is at the edge of the wind window, then start.

My re-launch on snow with Shockwave and Waroo (this will work also in the water):
Pulling both steering lines and the kite starts backwards, when it turns to one side, take the bar. It's quick and easy.

Detlef