Took out my new Rebel 8m in 25 knots. Specs said range 16-34kn so I fugured no probs. Kite flies beautifully, great waveriding, great drifting downwind, super nice.

So I'm heading out thru the shorebreak and here comes some ugly chop so I sez F&^% it, let's just hop over this thing so I don't get my nice sideburns wet. Flick the back foot, a bit of pop, here goes...

Next thing I'm hovering 15ft over the chop with the expression Wyle E. Coyote has when he runs out of runway and starts falling in the canyon... same beady eyes, same disconcerted face like 'WTF??'. Like old Wyle I float in mid air for much too long just not going anywhere, then I depower a bit and finally I start coming down.

FABULOUS!

WHa..? Does this thing really jump? Then I send it to see what happens and kaboom... stratospheric like the Jetsons! Hey I can see the next town from up here!

Then I try again and I mess up my timing, don't know what happened by I get shot at 45' angle like a cannonball - no warning. If I was one of those 'boardies over wetsuit' kind of guys my shorts would have dropped down to my ankles. I never got yanked that hard even that time when I kitelooped a 7m in 30kn by mistake. Long story short, I go ballistic with no kite pull in the air then the inevitable splashdown 30ft downwind. I come up and the kite is still flying! *GRIN*

Well this kite is a real beast! Flies nice when you want but can a monster when you want it! I can't wait to see what it can do in 15 knots and in 30 knots! Well done North

(p.s. I hope the F&%#$&#* valves stay attached to the GOD#&#^#DANG bladders this time or I'm mailing 12 dozen cans of rotten sardines to North headquarters)

Had 5 sesh's on my 2012 14M Rebel. Smoothest kite i have ever flown. I have also owned 2 other kite brands from Major Companies this year. The Rebel does NOT want to fall out of the sky no Mayer what I do to mess up. It's got then JUICE!!!! Goes upwind like one of those Crazy Big foils.

For a 14M it's extremely fast across the window and when it gets to the other edge of window it keeps power.

My conclusion for gusty wind we have in fla is I'm done with 3 strut kites. To unstable in fluky wind.

14 Toeside

My largest is now a 13m 2012 Reb. More range and power than my Lithium LW 13. Flys fast for big kite. Im 5'10" 170 riding mostly in Ocean. I use it up to about 18-20mph. After that get somewhat lit up. It powers down nicely if it really starts to crank. Very safe. Can't beat 5 line for that although slight pain setup. The colors are pukey and I wish it had a central dump valve. Other than that, very pleased.

Could not help myself after reading your article
You should have titled it: NORTH REBEL 2012 = WHINE E. COYOTE

I'm with SupaEZ.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Lovin' mine as well. North has done a really nice job with the Rebels, they seem to be very refined this year. I also like the more durable D2 canopy material, colors, and the new bags are awesome.