Hi all,
Another epic day passes in tarifa, not so busy on the water today with maxed 12m wind onshore with big swell once again. Great to hear some positive feedback on the Cautions, they are going down very well with everyone who has tried them out here and I am getting more and more into the style the more I use them. I ride Skoops so it is a completely different style of kite of course but is very well suited to the waves, chop and strong winds out here at the moment. Today I flew the 12m all day on 28m lines + 5m leaders on a 60cm S2 bar and I have to say they do get high and float better than I thought at first, its just a case of me getting the technique dialled, coming from Skoops its more board speed thats needed to boost real high as with most kites and the wind today allowed for flying off da lip on my better tack. With the skoop well powered you can pretty much stall your speed, skoop the zone and up you go and this I like... personal choice as ever.
The upper wind range of the Caution proved itself today as many 12m kites left the water as the wind picked up as well as the swell. Tarifa is going off big time! The kite always feels very solid and predictable in the air no matter what is thrown at it. My friend is learning on one, and fair play too in these conditions, and I have seen the 10m dropped amidst big sets often and taking the beating as well as re-launching very well. The construction is super tuff and does what it says on the tin. The struts are especially interesting as there is no seam other than what is attached to the canopy.
Adam... yes, there is much testing going down but if I told you what I thought of all the kit at the moment I'd have to shoot you... I'd be shot anyway... best get Kitesurf mag and read Jeremy's write ups. Needles to say there is a lot of nice toys around for 2003 and some not so nice
Anyway its all horses for courses, there's only three of us testing and I'm sure we all look for different things from our kit to suit our own styles so we try to look for the good in whatever we are riding !
Dwight... sorry dude but the R2 sounds like a tiger moth! Safety wise its good though 'cos when its busy on the water you can hear it coming
L8r,
Sean.