I was down in Kite Point in Hatteras a few days ago and tried this new kite that Dimitri had. I think he is calling it the Thruster. It has a small bridle on it and the general shape of a C kite. I normally fly Airush Lift kites.

I have tried some bow kitres but it has taken me some time to get dialed in on them. When I took Dimitiri's 12M Thruster out, it had a feel of a C kite but had the mega depower of a bow. Pretty cool. The best thing was the hang time jumping. If you jump and just hold the bar in, it glides incredibly far. I ate it the first few times since it was not used to the extra time aloft.

Anyway, I would consider getting these kites next year mainly for the hang time, quick turning and short learning curve from a C Kite.

I did notice that when I fell and really put tension on the kite, the edges folded in a bit and the kite made a big FLAP sound. Dimitri said that they have fixed that problem from the prototype I was flying.

Sounds like an Instinct type kite to me

Saludos

I also had a chance to try the new Thruster.

I was only able to try the kite for a few minutes as there was a line of people waiting behind me. It was really gusty and really cold in the sound. We had just finished an ocean down winder and moved across the highway to get a little more riding in, but the sound was a bit colder than the ocean. (The reason I'm stressing the cold will be apparent soon.) When Dimitri gave me the kite I noticed that the harness loop on his bar didn"t have a donkey dick. I personally love the donkey dick (don't tell my wife) and always use one as I don't do anything unhooked. I had a safety leash attached just above the harness loop so I wasn't too concerned.

The first thing I noticed with the kite was that I didn't feel the gusty-ness of the wind. The kite absorbed everything without my sheeting in and out. It instantly felt comfortable to me, no strange new kite feeling and it felt like a C kite. As I was coming in I jumped and as I landed I pulled in a little too much and the harness loop came out. I didn't realize this and got a big pull on the hands and one (must have been the colder one) came off the bar. The kite started to loop, of course, and I let go of the bar, fully prepared to accept the jears from the crowd. As soon as I let go the kite quit spinning and gently flew up to neutral. I reeled in the safety leash and continued back to shore. I've heard bow kites do this, but have never experienced it.

I just bought some new 2006 kites so I probably won't buy one, but I REALLY liked this kite. If anyone has a chance to try it, do so. I think these kites will sell themselves. Due to Dimitri's shy and introverted personality, they'll have to.

I'd say that all these reviews sound like the reviews for every other 06 or 07 kite. Right now, the real deal has to be seen, tried, and priced right because Dimitri has to realize that he'll be competing against Best to get his foot in the door. I'd say good luck! It's looking pretty tough no matter how many good reviews his kites get. Also, get ready to get the pretty shitting reviews, especially from the competition if they feel threaten by his product.

K66

yeah thats true but more competition is better for the kiter on the street in terms of $$$$$ in the pocket. So a little competition for the big boys is bound to be good. Also if you look at where the big developments came from in 05 in kites it in most part came from the smaller companies, Globerider,Takoon with their designers coming up with new radical ideas, so its all good for us.

Sounds like any other new kite to me....

I too have been to Hatteras and tried the new thruster kite. Unlike most people Im not as concurned with hang time as I am with power and control. It seems like the kite is a true hybrid. It has great de-power but not a bow kite feel. It turns slower than a bow but faster than a C. Its got a simple 4line set -up with an ingenious cam cleat for locking and unlocking power. Its not like any other kite Ive flow. Not like the ozone or the link. Seems to have more of a basic simplifyed system with not a lot of bells and bagage. Am interested to see the production model and fly that.
Im sure that if Dimitri has something to do with it , it will be tweaked to the max.

Finally hooked up with Dimitri recently and was able to test his new kites. Spent almost an hour on the Thruster and maybe 15 minutes on the Chameleon. I have been a strict C kiter and honestly have not had much interest in the bow kites. They just don't feel comfortable to me since I can never feel where the kite is. Anyway, here is my 2 cents on Dimitri's new kites.

The Chameleon is one of the first bow/hybrids that I could probably get used to. The kite is fairly predictable and thus makes it easy to control. The wind was a little gusty but honestly the kite handled it perfectly. Turns on a dime compared to my current C kites. Very consistant pull through the bar, although a little more pull on my arms than I am used to. Seems less though than other bow type kites I have tried. Jumping was different but after a few tries things got better. The hang time is awesome on this kite. The only issue I had was not getting the height that I thought I should. Was probably something I was doing wrong though.

Now for the Thruster. This kite is amazing! It seemed to have all the benefits of a bow with the feel of a C kite. I could depower this kite completely while in a turn and the kite would still fly in control and through the turn. Come out of the turn with speed and sheet in on the bar and the kite powers back up and is right where I wanted it to be. Has a very simple but effective cleet for locking in the power but I never even used it. Kited for an hour in fairly gusty conditions and my arms were not even close to being tired. It is almost like there is no bar pressure but there is still enough so you can feel where the kite is. Overall bar pressure and wear on my arms was about the same or maybe less than my current C kites. Jumping was great as well. As much lift and pop as my current C kites, and hang time was insane. In the final version Dimitri might want to make it so the kite actually lets the rider come back to the water. Screwed up the first few jumps on it because I was not used to the hang time. The crashes were minimal thanks to how effective the depower was. The kite did pull to the left a little but Dimitri was aware of this and they have corrected in the next release.

Overall if you are looking for a kite with steady, consistant pull that flys like a C kite but has many of the safety options of a bow this kite is worth checking out.

Are these kites one pump? Dimitri, make 'em all one pump if you can. Once you go one pump, you'll never go back...sounds dumb but it's true. I would not even think about buying any kite that does not have a one pump system on it.

Good luck Dimitri!!

hey, what's the deal with all of these people that are "rare posters" suddenly getting the urge to give there 2 cents on these kites?? all posing as people just happening to be in OBX and stumbled upon these kites... seems a bit suspect.