Well, JB's review's gonna have to wait... The arrows decided to turn red just when we were about to go.
Sigh...
You will get to fly both JB, eventually!
Em

YUP!!!!!!!!


If the SE announced for Sunday arvo doesn't suddenly evaporate, WINDSURFNSNOW will keep everyone informed and try to organize a demo on the North shore with the HELIX, as well as the REBEL 08 and the CROSSBOW 3!
I will keep you posted on Saturday, but if it doesn't happen, these kites are on our demo shelf, waiting for someone to love them!!!

Em

Heaps good out there today damn rain

I don't own a wetsuit and im still only a learner so i think ill still pass on today. hopefully next week will be better and uni doesnt give me any more work.

I got to try the Helix, Rebel and Crossbow3 today at Longy thanks to Em. Here are some thoughts on the kites. These are my personal opinions, I don't have any affliation to any brand. Sorry if it drags on a bit, never really done a review before.

I'm riding Sonics at the moment and get tennis elbow from high bar pressure so don't really like bars with pulleys. I've been kiting for 4 years and am getting into surfing with a kite on my mutant and unstrapped on a surfboard

It was 15-20kts pretty onshore with 2-3ft slop with a few bigger sets coming through.

First the crossbow 3 12m, a very stable kite with nice power delivery, easy to jump straight on and fly. I thought that it turned slower than my 14m Sonic, but when I watched someone else landing it I noticed that some parts ofthe bridle had no tension on them so it may need some adjusting. The new graphics make it look much better than the previous models.

Next the Helix 12m, also very stable but with much less bar pressure and faster turning. It took a little while to get use to the steering, as it kept wanting to drift down, in similar manner to the Turbo Diesel. I found I have to get the kite moving fast to get grunt during lighter patches of wind, but it never stalled or fluttered.

I rode with it on a skimboard and it was great at drifting back in the window when I was doing down wind runs. Once the wind came up it was really responsive and very powerful, I was riding my mutant. For wave riding it was good as it drifted back well and was still easy to steer. I got maxxed out and think it could do with some more depower on the strap as the steering was still very good. In the end I had to land it as I was getting that C kite pulling feel and losing my edge.

I stuffed up a transition and crashed the kite while under water, kite directly downwind, I was crapping myself thinking that a wave would destroy the kite, but it doesn't collect the power of the wave due to the leading edge shape, and the waves went under it. I drifted in to relaunch on the beach rather than chance breaking the kite so can't really comment on the relaunch.

Lastly the Rebel, which seemed to handle to increasing wind better than the Helix.The first thing I noticed was the turning, it was very quick and precise, more of a pivot turn than the helix. It had a lot more depower, and I was instanly more comfortable. I knew where the kite was all the time, and the bar pressure was low. I caught a few waves with it and due to the speed of the kite I was able to do decent top turns and head straight downwind, then recover the kite by zipping across the window.

The wind picked up and I was still completely in control and able to head upwind easily. I tried a few jumps and was impressed with and lift, it wasn't really floaty like the crossbow, just smooth.

Overall the Rebel impressed me the most, I really felt in control and knew I had the depower if I needed it. The Helix was so grunty it remided me of a C kite. I'm not in the market for a kite at the moment, but I would take the Rebel out of these 3 if I was, it suits my riding style.

Cheers
Gav

Gav,

Thanks for the impressions sounds great! what sizes did you compare?

Maui

cool! I've been itching to find a 12m rebel 08 impression, and I am glad that you liked it. i'm already in love with my 07, and sounds like it's even better now... I really like good bar feedback, and sounds like the new rebel is even better than the old one..

gav, did you find that it still had good steering with the bar out? it's one thing that i didn't like on the 07 and is supposed to be fixed on the new one...

the helix sounds alot like the 07 rhino, really grunty and agressive, i have one and it's not my style... maybe it'll be better to compare the new rebel to the cult that is coming out later...

thanks again gav...

Has the Cabrinha Switch Blade 3 been released as a demo?

Cheers )_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_u

quote:

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Originally posted by uturn

Has the Cabrinha Switch Blade 3 been released as a demo?

Cheers )_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_)_u

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Coming soon U! Will keep you posted!
Spacemonkey, I burst out laughing when reading your reply!
But sorry to break the myth here: Gav's been a long time C-kiter... He's got a lot of flying time behind him and has tried many different kites: I value his opinion and if Gav rides like a kook, well, then I suppose I can't wait to be as good of a kook than he is!!!

Had to take a stab, was also coplaining of bar pressure where JB said that the bar pressure was very light and there was no need for 2 to 1 setting even though it was available. It's good when a kite pulls, all that depower isn't going to account for much when you unhook is it? Just get used to it....

I Apologize if false kook accusations were failed but sounded like a kook thing to say.

I understand, I made a misjudgement. I was refering to the
"I had another thought about the Helix, I was using the bar in 1:1 mode, so I might have been able to get more depower range in 2:1 and not felt like I was getting pulled around so much." Personally I only like to depower the kite when I unhook, If I'm going to stay hooked I leave it so you have max power. It's pretty rare that I actually pull some strap in when just riding around, unless its like actually 45 knots or something. Actual pulleys bars sure do teach you how to edge so you would know about it.