WA
451 posts
Hey,
Just wanted to clarify what people mean when they say "this kite is great in the surf"?
Are you reffering to its ability to drift or its ability to fly fast/turn fast(eg. Felix Pivec style)?
Maybe people could implement a classification of the style of surfing that kites are suited too? "Drift" surfing and "Felix" style surfing?(in the reviews section)
Thanks
Matt
WA
572 posts
stuff like this 1) total depower, but still flying and steering
2) fastest and tightest turning speed possible with linear power
3) power when required at any time
4) good drift (related to the 1st item)
5) linear power
6) super stable always and everywhere in the window (i.e.: full power relaunch or total loss of line pressure)
NSW
4382 posts
I don't ride waves much, but I have and used to surf a lot.
The main thing needed is depower combined with stability, the kite must not luff when you are forced to ride towards it, and you still need to be able to steer it, and not get pulled by it too much when you do need to steer it.
These qualities are found in a lot of modern kites, like bows, hybrids, and even a few c's.
The sort of riding that Ryland was doing in that clip from Gnarloo, seesm to be the sort of riding most riders I know aspire to, and he was using a Rev. There are many other hybrid and bow kites that could have been put on the ends of his lines.
The things that stood out for me about the suitability of the Rev in that video were the ability to slow right down and get some push from the wave (even trying to get tubed), and then to rapidly speed up and fly around (or float across) breaking sections, without the kite pulling too much or falling into the water.
There are a few local riders around Sydney finding that the Ozone Light is excellent in waves too, we are all looking forward to getting some Cabrinha Revolvers very soon to demo as well.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
WA
680 posts
I think it depends on your style of riding.
If you want to do long, fast & drawn-out turns or hacking the wave like you would generally do on a TT, you would want something fast across the window, something that does not stall.
I personally like the kites that can be stalled/luffed, in order to get up and down vertical (snap) and use mostly wave power. This is also a slower way of riding. Contrary to what Sir Rowdy or Asswipe thinks, it can be done, and is being done...but not consistently...yet. Back to the kite: it doesn't have to be fast, but when hooked in, needs to have linear depower.
Having said that, I don't think that a kite is more suited towards one style or the other. If Ry had been on either, it wouldn't have made much difference. For the most part, its the rider that defines his/her success in the waves, not the kite (especially nowdays where most kites are on even par).
I think generally when people say great in the surf, they mean the first description (felix style). Fast and steady.
The ultimate (wave) kite I think will be one that absorbs gusts. i.e. has depower available when unhooked so you don't get overpowered and miss 30 foot of the wave.
NSW
28 posts
Well said kiterdan!
Ryland is a class rider and he would rip on what ever he fly's!
NSW
16 posts
Don't think it had very much to do with the kite at all (NOT WANTING TO PLUG A BRAND) as Ryland produced all that and more on his Fuel.
Just like the wise naked man on the toilet on the verandah said.
