eppo said..

Dathe true on the technique thing. The rebel in the waves never gelled with me. Some guys rave about them I didn't get it. Stalls on the turn then picks up way to much speed and apparent wind. It also doesn't drift that well and it shouldn't it's a high aspect kite and li some speed in the wing

Thanks Eppo, I'm sure it's 90% my in-experience but it does seem to want to blast across the down wind zone, or if I just board turn and leave it I get slack lines. But plenty of people ride them well down wind waves so I'm sure it is technique too. Plenty of sheeting out and gentle kite movements maybe. But I think I want to try a neo, Kim makes it look so good. But then again he would probably be as good with a rebel too.

Hmmm...

Whoa, 2014 Rally! Now please tell us about the bar pressure thing, as I too felt the '13 had a bit too much.

Other news on it too, please.

Thanks!

cutch said..

CarlBevo said...
I have just had the privilege of using the 2014 Rally in Mauritius for 10 days in awesome conditions, all I can say at the moment is this kite is very very good when you get to try this kite you will see why, there has been changes to the bar that in my opinion make this one of the best bars on the market and why below the bar depower can be so great stay tuned...

Lucky boy! Tell more, what is the bar pressure like, I found the 2013s a bit heavy but otherwise really awesome kites.

Hi Cutch
Yes bar pressure is definitely down it seems SS have really found the middle ground between the 2012 and 2013 rally's -they still have the grunt of the 2013 but lighter on the bar and a little bit quicker, No doubt photos will leak soon, very cool graphics - quite a different kite overall

what's with the red thumbs Grinch's - oh thats right I spent 10 days in Mauritius riding perfect waves and you didn't - I'm sorry

Also consider the Best Cabo or TS v2. I've recently swapped over to TS's and they have a great unhooked down the line feel. Had a recent session in 18-21Knots on a 9m and had plenty of power. Depends what waves you ride, Metro Mush or Gero gargantuan fire bowls P.S didn't see any Reo's, Rally's, Drifters, RPM's or Neo's taking on a fearsome Point Moore last weekend

Its a best kite dave. Visit the other main man up there, if he's still around. Been using them for A while now.

eppo said..

Its a best kite dave. Visit the other main man up there, if he's still around. Been using them for A while now.

yep its a best kite, the Cabo is the dedicated Best Surf kite and the TS more of an all-rounder, its a great wave kite too but more suited to a variety of wind/wave directions. Puppet put up post a few pages back hit the nail on the head, two distinctive wave kite groups, but how often do you get cross off, perfect park and ride?

I have been riding the Best lineup all over Australia for the past 8 months from WA's Margaret River, SA, Bells, Phillip Island, and just about every main break on the East Coast starting from Vic. I have had the Cabo, TS and Kahoona in every condition around OZ and this is my personal opinion on just the surf side of these kites. I only ride strapless on my surfboard and sometimes finless on a skim in anything from small mush to overhead. A skim rides a lot faster on the wave so drift is important to me.

The best kite thats allow you to actually surf the wave and use its power is the Cabo. It provides the most drift and you can easily avoid being pulled off of the wave. It unhooks well and it rides great in crap-perfect conditions. It is not just a perfect condition kite like most people state, it easily outperforms the others in perfect conditions. The kite isn't as fast as the TS but allows you to loop down the line without generating more power than you want. It is a 3 strut design which makes the kite lighter. When you are riding a wave at a certain speed going towards the kite it reduces the amount of wind the kite is getting. Heavier kites you need to loop them to keep them from falling but the Cabo stays up and doesn't need much attention. Anyone coming from a surfing background will prefer this kite. It is dedicated for waves.

If you ride strapped and pull yourself around in the surf you might like the TS the most as it's a very quick kite. The drift is the least of the 3 but still excels in the surf compared to most other kites. It unhooks well and turns quick while you are riding towards it. It also generates the most power while looping. If you ride a twin tip in the surf this kite is your best bet. It is the fastest kite out of the three and also allows you to ride other styles. If you like riding freestyle, unhooking, jumping and riding surf then this is the best kite to do them all. If I only had one quiver it would be the TS as I like riding all styles and it down extremely well at all of them.

The Kahoona is a 4 strut design which has a lot of drift and insane wind range. If you ride in light/marginal or gusty winds this is the kite to ride. It was Best's surf kite before they designed one specifically for waves. It turns the slowest out of the three and doesn't need to much attention while riding. The loops have more power than the Cabo but not the TS. It is also a good freestyle and race kite. I prefer this kite when the wind is all over the place.

My preference for just the surf aspect of the these kites are

1. Cabo
2. Kahoona
3. TS

www.daveserrano.us

^^ wild guess, he's sponsored by best kites!

I'm just explaining the Best lineup. I can't give feedback on any other brands as I have only tried a few others lately and the conditions weren't good enough to give reviews. If you would like a demo and are close by I can let you have a go, I'm in North Queensland away from the surf but will be heading south in a month or so.

Sorry for not clarifying that I ride with Best.


www.daveserrano.us

I had a bandit 5, s
And don't concur with the above. But to him he may be right but to me he is wrong, hence demo, just opinions here.

Bossstyle said..

Bws must be pretty damn good?

Try a bandit 5 or 6. Kicks ass over the ozones lot more fun as they are good and very refined at all disciplines but also killer surf kites.
As another guy said they jump and hang much better but have equal power, sped and drift as any of them.
Best all round kite I've flown over last last 7 years.

Are you in footstraps? Surfboard only, in waves or do you tend to do big jumps more?

according to my last girlfriend, my bar lets me down also......

Yeh we are scratching our heads on that one hey. In the end probably the REO I'd say. But for our use in our conditions, its harder to tell than you would think considering the dice jumps really well. If I was gonna stay on the surface (and I hardly see the point myself) then yeh I'd still maybe be looking for a REO or the new BWS on a SB but again i could be wrong hey. Lets see what further dice reviews say I think and remember the new REO is still to come!!

vendeavours said..

eppo said..

Yeh we are scratching our heads on that one hey. In the end probably the REO I'd say. But for our use in our conditions, its harder to tell than you would think considering the dice jumps really well. If I was gonna stay on the surface (and I hardly see the point myself) then yeh I'd still maybe be looking for a REO or the new BWS on a SB but again i could be wrong hey. Lets see what further dice reviews say I think and remember the new REO is still to come!!

Yeh i love the reo for the waves but it would be nice to have some attributes of the Dise Due to 70% of my kiting is in ordinary conditions.So i like to jump and back would loops to keep me sane But they are hitting the new Reo will have more grunt Here,s hoping Cheers

have you tried the catalyst vend? That is essentially a reo with more boost and grunt. sounds like what you need.

the reo is designed to ride waves with a surfboard, any jumping ability will diminish this and compromise it's surfability.
I hope they don't do this or it will just become another freeride kite