No replies yet zarb, thought this was a very interesting post but I'm not a wave rider per say and wave kites on a SB (well sometimes for kicks and giggle)...but I'm waiting for some who are. I will say there is a difference between direct feel through the bar as you are riding and steering the kite. I know having been on the VX for a season(and had a number of hours on the wave) feels direct enough but you can't get away from a little spongy delay / feel when ya turn.

Not much help but hey that's all I got. Lol.

Ps all those kites apart from the dice and the neo (and it is obvious this too is an accomplished wave kite) I've been on, and they all kick serious ass! Depends on ya style.

Think bridalling must be a HUGE FACTOR. (Something I learnt only recently, shucks)

Have a look here, we are having a discussion on the topic

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/2014-North-Dice/

If your wing design and bridalling is correct for its intended purpose then you don't need pulleys.

Or if you are using pulleys then the wing design and bridal config needs to change.

Either / or it depends. Airush make awesome kites, but so do ozone. So yes I think that is bull**** for sure. And if it is true then you need to learn how to use a kite properly and not rely just on a depowering kite....plus depowered kites fly like crap.


Come one you technical kite dudes where are you, this is a decent topic I thought.

Zarb chuck this on the Kiteforum mate, got some real techno heads on that site.

Hi Zarb,

Wave kites are a little different to some other areas of kiteboarding in that the designer will try to build a kite in the form of what makes sense to them in terms of what they want in a wave kite. Rider input is also sought but some of this depends on the testing conditions and more.

Kites like the BWS Noise work best in side to side off conditions. RRD, North and Ozone tend to do much better in the cross-on as well as cross off.

Kite feel is very personal as everyone rides in different conditions so any review is going to be subjective and bias to the riders personal style and body weight.

Some kites like Ozone tend to work better for lighter riders on surfboards whereas North have much more power per given size and so suit heavier riders or twin tip riders.

Most agree that the best wave kites are the ones that deliver the smoothest uninterrupted power, so in this writers opinion open span kites tend to be too on/off with their power as the kites pivot turn and stall in the turn thus disrupting power during a bottom or top turn then "spiking" the power as the kite re-accelerates across the wind window.

The more vertical larger wingtips force the kites into radius turns which give very consistent power making it easier for the rider to anticipate board trim and body balance during maneuvers on the wave. This equates to a more smooth and less jerky method of riding a wave.

The problem is that a kites shape can only offer you about 1/4 of the characteristics of the kite. Wing tip shape, span, pulleys and bridles, canopy profile, and aspect ration all have significant bearings on the "feel" and performance of a kite.

When riding in cross off conditions a less responsive kite with good depower is more important than a ballistically fast kite with excellent drift capability. Drag and power have a huge impact on the demands of a rider on his or her kite. Assuming we are talking about 20 knot winds, a heavier (100kg) rider on a twin tip will not get enough power out of a Reo 10m, compared to a 100 kilo rider on a twin tip on a North kite. This situation is reversed when a light rider is using Norths in strong winds, they simply have too much power when a Reo will be much easier to deal with.

There is no such thing as the one single kite being perfect for everyone in all conditions. All wave riders should remove their blinkers and shut out the opinions of others and should independently evaluate the kites for themselves with a demo in the conditions they will most likely be riding in. If a rider can objectively try several different kites, they will find one works better than the other for them. I am not dissing and brand or model here, there is a kite that is perfect for every rider but you won't find out what is perfect for you unless you try for yourself. "Don't believe the hype" - Public Enemy.

There are lots of great kites on the market, and some not so great. Enjoy the search for what works for you.

DM

Told Zarb, darren would be worth listening to.

Ta mate always a pleasure tapping into your experience buddy.

Given the criteria puppet put up, I'd say for me personally something like the religion is more suited. Constant power, quick turning, fly and follow sort of kite. More powered style.

Some local guys rip on reos, rip on RRD religions (one in particular is just an insane powered madman), rip on Wainmans (not exclusively a wave kite per say but this is its forte), rip on envys....not many norths in these parts which is weird cause they are every where else! Lol. Haven't seen a local Airush wave kite yet, maybe this year. Hope so love to get a sneaky peak.

The latest BWS ( which I saw first hand the other day) is a much more fly and follow type kite for cross, cross on, so the local riders may go for them more than the older ones suited to cross off. This may be more popular this year, much better construction, real nice design hey.

Each to their own in the end. Man had a blast today in the swell, how good was it! hard to choose the right kite size...lol

zarb said..

So does a quick turning kite then automatically disqualify it from also being a park and ride kite?

What about so many of those companies that claim to provide a fast turning kite when sheeted in, yet a perfectly behaved drifter while sheeted out? That so called "on/off" power delivery.

I cant attest to the experiencing all the wave kites as I've only tried one and that's my little. 6m reo.

But yes you can let the bar out and drift it or work it.

personally I love to work it. looping it, wang it.

But I am not a true wave rider so all my babble is worthless.

The more compact the shape and the larger/wider the wingtips , the better it turns:
- wider wingtips give more steering
- a compact shape gives has less momentum (mass to turn)
- a compact shape has also a longer center-strut which give earlier planning which allows you to use a smaller kite

This is why I would never use C-type of kites for wave but prefer delta shapes as the North Sea requires fast turning.

Remember this one: Takoon Pure

Aside it could fall out of the zenith (like a Bandit I and Dos due to the straight center strut on a delta) it turns as quick as a RRD Religion but one can use one sqm less.

Kiteforum has an interesting discussion going on about pulleys...
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2381552&p=804964

I'm looking at getting a 2014 7m Airush Wave, but I am a bit worried about all of the pulleys.

From Darren...(AKS)

Most have discovered how to make a kite drift so this is no longer a selling point in my opinion among the top kites. They can all make a kite that turns fast and relaunches easily, so it now comes down to smoothness, power, upwind ability, depower, position in the wind window and feedback through the bar.


So true...read those 6 characteristics and look for them when demoing...Bloody good criteria for reviewing a kite a think.

Puetz said..

eppo said..


Think bridalling must be a HUGE FACTOR. (Something I learnt only recently, shucks)

... I've been saying this for ages, and why I've not been a fan of bridled kites. Being heavy really shows off any slight problems loud and clear to me!

But, these new generation bridle kites seem to be much much better, taking the Zephyr as an example, its the most non bridle bridled kite I've ridden so far!!!

The big boy and my little boy with the bad boy zephyr in hand. Lol!!!

Thanks for the launch robbie, just wondering where ya put ya beer down?? Normally its in hand.

eppo said..

Puetz said..

eppo said..





Think bridalling must be a HUGE FACTOR. (Something I learnt only recently, shucks)

... I've been saying this for ages, and why I've not been a fan of bridled kites. Being heavy really shows off any slight problems loud and clear to me!



But, these new generation bridle kites seem to be much much better, taking the Zephyr as an example, its the most non bridle bridled kite I've ridden so far!!!

The big boy and my little boy with the bad boy zephyr in hand. Lol!!!

Thanks for the launch robbie, just wondering where ya put ya beer down?? Normally its in hand.

... tee hee,,, beer put down on beach,,,, just out of shot!!

Hey, is that your boy's first launch,,,, not sure if you know but he was the only one holding it for a few seconds so technically, he launched you, I just assisted!!

Sanur man, yep great for the families. A little slower (a lot actually) than say Kuta which I'd be happy to never visit again.

We stayed at jankies place, (check his website out) walk to the kite spot, and go. Walk back via a restraint for a nasi goreng and a beer (or two).

Yeh man but hey it's Bali, we got lucky with the wind, don't hold me to it if ya miss some. Bring ya biggest kite and board.

Only problem is the rowdy Aussies from Darwin drinking all the beer at the club house so they kept running out all the time. Lol!!!

Met some awesome crew from around the world to. Always nice walking past the hotels to on the way, plenty to look at...he heheh

Classic. I want to know why you were taking a picture of me from behind though robbie, damn man.

Yeh busted right.

Yeh lucky I got a rubber neck hey!!!