Acute observations mark.
I have in the past never been a big fan of this particular mags reviews, but I sent the link below to 4 other riders of the dice and we all agreed it was really close to the mark.
http://www.iksurfmag.com/issue41/?page=107
Unlike a lot of you we have had this kite over here for a couple of months now and we have all had at least 30 to 35 sessions on the dice from 12m down to the 7m so listen up if ya keen to know something about this kite.
Here is a great example. Yesterday we were on the ocean 19 to 23 knots and a rising swell. Three on TTs, one on a SB. Extremely intuitive in the waves, people talk about drift all the time with all rounders but this kites forte is its drift. some Kites are good for park and ride, some fly and follow, this kite does both. This I think is one due to the stability of the wing, but more so I do think that slider works so that the first half of the throw there is a somewhat linear change in angle of attack, hence keep it pulled in and fly and follow. But the later part of the throw the angle of attack really changes exponentially, allowing you to kill the kite and park and ride.
What's more it will boost nicely on the way out. Look its no high aspect jumper like an edge, screamer even a higher aspect all rounder like a trigger, but it will go with the correct application of proper C kite boosting technique.
Rights today, wind easterly, flat water session on the estuary. Powered flat water hooked in freestyle plus some unhooked soft freestyle (rally S bend, none of us do the handle pass thingy, we are hoping the young bloke in our crew gets that down pat and it should be soon).
As mark said it isn't the be all and end all, it is what it is. An exceptional wave kite that can boost enough, and a ripper for freestyle for those that don't want a punishing C kite. It is apple wing and will appeal to a lot of riders. We are all powered type dudes, but there was even one guy today an older bloke cruising strapless on the new 5'5 north nugget. Actually on the nugget my mate has an old 2012 nugget we laid them side by side. That new nugget looks so much more surf able hey, a much sleeker design, just looks right hey.
Easy to fly in the hands of beginners but also plenty of Potential for those further advanced.
The red 5th line slack allows for some front line stretching that will occur over time. But I agree it is a bit messy up there, especially when you rotate etc as much as we do. But hey you make work with what you have and it is functional enough the bar, well built and f*** me, until you exceed the wings potential (which most of us won't) I'm not complaining about the bar, it is fine.
Great kite along the sme lines as say the park, rally, bandit etc There are some bloody ripper wings out there. I can't wait to see what they do with the second generation dice, because they go the first one spot on already. Maybe a bit more low end. Each of these all rounder type kites have their forte, pick one that suites what you are trying to accomplish. For us it is waves and freestyle, this kite is ideal for that. You want waves and to boost, then I'd look at the rally more from example.
On that matter I am hearing a lot about the low end. As I have said we have been on them a lot longer than most and well we are not finding this a big issue as some. Its a C kite, learn how to fucking ride a C kite. More specifically utilise the upstroke as much as the downstroke. There is a lot of power in the upstroke, pull inthe bar come off your edge a little and use it. I see a lot of guys trying to generate most of their power from the downstroke and try and lock it off like it s a high aspect kite like an edge or something. This kite needs to be worked. Quick flicks of the kite back into the wind window, using the upstroke more, THEN lock off. And trust me once you have speed this thing will rocket upwind to your mark. Sometimes I think we have all been dumbed down by the delta/ bow revolution, its a C kite, learn to fly one.