Ok, so hears the story...

The other day i was out with my dad helping him to body drag (yes he has already had a lesson). We were using a 9m 07 rebel. We had only been out for about 15mins when the crashed the kite and ripped, there is a huge gash in it. Atm it is being fixed and it should be fine but i want to buy and new, bigger kite anyway so that he can use the rebel for practicing. I know its the end of the season and i was going to wait till early next season before i bought another kite but i happened to stumble upon what i think is a bargain. $1100 will get me a BRAND NEW 11m 07 Fuel. I am around 73kg and kite in winds usually between 15 - 25knots i can easily stay upwind do turns etcetera and am just beginning to do jumps. My questions is whether the fuel would be a suitable kite for me? Should I buy the fuel now or wait till early next season before buying a new kite? And is $1100 for a brand new 11m 07 fuel a good deal?

thanks in advance.

The 07-08 fuels have huge depower for a C-kite. I had been using rebels and rhinos and dont really notice the "lack" of depower compared to these hybrids.
The big issue for yourself is you said you wanted a bigger kite.
The 9m rebel and 11m fuel have just about the same windrange. If you want a kite for 15-25 knots a 13m would be better for your weight.

maybe neil you need to learn how to kite with depower in you bar. Fuels are a great kite, but i almost think unless you do abit of wake/free style you should just get a hybrid. Felix have a look on the slingshot websit and see what they see their 07 gear for.

such an idiot meant to say a kite with out depower. People need to learn to use their legs and not rely on the kite features to control the speed and power.

demo, demo, demo!

Personally I'm intermediate and I just sold 2 ss fuels and bought 2 ss turbos, I recommend you try some demos of every kite you can.

Get the Fuel, you'll love it.
If you were a real beginner it might be a bit much, as Neil said, but if you've got the basics down and are confident and starting to jump, you'll love the Fuel.

I woulda thought an 11m would be spot on for your weight.

$1100 seems about right, not a great deal or a big saving. The 08s have been out for a while now don't forget.

Fuel's area mint kites though. My '05 9m changed my kiting life and I have mates on 06 & 07s who also say how great the de-power is for a C kite.

i have to agree with you neil, bows and hybrids are easy to learn on, but i just saying that does mean you cant learn on a c. I think ppl who learn on c have better kite skills. C's seem to teach you more

think the fuels are a better kite, but if you are carry some extra kilos then maybe they might be a go, it always depend what you want out of a kite and how you ride.

junglist said...

Oceaneer said...
People need to learn to use their legs and not rely on the kite features to control the speed and power.

Rubbish.

Like you have to learn to drive without power steering or ABS.

I have no opinion about any of these kites, but I will guarantee that the person who learns to drive without power steering and ABS will be a better driver.

Yeah yeah, off topic and opening that can of worms, but it is true.

junglist said...

God, there had to be one!

Horse and cart, governor, horse and cart, cant say you have driven a vehicle until you've driven a horse and cart.

I did write a relevant and educational response to your very sensible comment. Then I thought nah, bugger it...

Suffice to say that the horse and cart have nothing to do with cars and road safety and that this thread aint about cars, I am just suggesting you keep the comment relevant as your example is flawd.

Basically:

C kites: Little less low end but have enough depower these days that they have the same top end as bridled kites. From what i've noticed C kites depower doesn't happen right away, u sheet out but you have to use your edge to hold a gust for the first few seconds. Believe it or not this improves your style and makesd you a more confident rider.
Good for: unhooked freestyle as they tend to not move as much when doing unhooked tricks

Hybrids: Fast and a little more powerfull than C kites in the low end with fast depower
Good for: Wave riding mostly, becasue of their speed they are good for hooked and unhooked wave riding but for freestyle they tend to turn to fast.

Bows: Most low end so biggest range. On every bow kite i've ever tried the bar pressure is more significant to other types of kites, people do get used to it but i always preffered the C and Hybrid feel. Less power in the turns they are a more Park and ride type of kite with maybe a little sign wave.
Good for: people wanting a one kite quiver that arn't interested in unhooking (they tend to rip your arms off when they are unhooked)



This is what i've expierienced, ive flyed a lot of different kites in all three categories and they all tend to fit to this description. In summary -

C kites - unhooked freestyle and little waveriding
Hybrids - unhooked & hooked waveriding and little unhooked freestyle
Bows - hooked in freeriders

Recommend - If your a teenager or relatively young i wouldnt definetly go C or Hybrid and deffinetly not reccommend getting a Bow

Cal said...

junglist said...

God, there had to be one!

Horse and cart, governor, horse and cart, cant say you have driven a vehicle until you've driven a horse and cart.

I did write a relevant and educational response to your very sensible comment. Then I thought nah, bugger it...

Suffice to say that the horse and cart have nothing to do with cars and road safety and that this thread aint about cars, I am just suggesting you keep the comment relevant as your example is flawd.

Don't you mean flawed?



Cheers

J

felixk said...

dustin said...



Recommend - If your a teenager or relatively young i wouldnt definetly go C or Hybrid and deffinetly not reccommend getting a Bow

you mean you would advise a hybrid or C for teenagers...

opps typing too fast, yeah if your a teenager definetly C or hybrid.

felixk also look into a 12 meter 06 Vegas. Heaps of de-power, if you can pick up a 08 second hand vegas , grab it dude! Stay clear of the 07 models though – they where crap!

Am also thinking of fuels for next season, for increasing amount of unhooked riding.

Q - can you get away with a 2 kite quiver of fuels? Say for between 18 and 35 knots? 82kg rider.

PS. I agree the 06 vegas is a sweet kite.

dave...... said...

adz....you wont be kitesurfing next season, youll be babysitting
Got 9m & 11m 07 fuels that you're welcome to demo.

For Perth the 9 and 11 suit me as that is when the wind is consistent (18-30kn)
anything under that Ill still be on a big fat bow/hybrid as the wind is too light and gusty and the flat kites provide more uplift compared to weight Vs a huge C.

Adz you are an intermediate/experienced rider and would love these kites, they depower adequately for your level, but it will take a couple of sessions to adjust from a full bow back to a C. Once you time that first jump and get RIPPED off the water, youll be so hooked.
+30 in perth usually means storms, huge wind range and direction, I usually dont even bother. Last season I went out on one 30+ day that was consistent, not really worth having a kite here that can handle 30-40 knots that you might use 2-3 times a year, too expensive.

P1ss Funny dave..... I was thinking of a harness, for the little fella, up on the lines near the kite. Hell of a ride for him, and I get to kite still.

I think I'd rate myself closer to the left hand side of intermediate than advanced, but cheers anyway.....Oooops, am I allowed to be modest about kiting?