No way we need more models mate. Ozone do things their way, they don't follow the crowd and have been innovative since entering the water kite market. More sizes, yes, but definitely not more models.....

Kitepower Australia said..

No way we need more models mate. Ozone do things their way, they don't follow the crowd and have been innovative since entering the water kite market. More sizes, yes, but definitely not more models.....

Spent a lot of time on the cat and the edge and now the zephyr. I disagree (although Steve I do totally respect your opinion), there is too large a gap in aspect between the cat and the edge for freeriders who want some aspect. Thing is, I just dig ozone.

Perhaps if you would spend less time on the forum and more under your kite having a play tweaking them, you would fill this gap without having to buy another one.

maybe if they beefed up the edge a bit for the freeriders a bit, although superbly made they are a bit light and dont like a good spanking especially since 2011, its a fine line between performance and durability, this is where say north has it covered with the rebel, its a great performer but can take a flogging, but does it fly as well as an edge absoulutely not, i read a while back that mentioned ozone may have a 2 edge model one for the racer and one for the freerider reverting back to the extra strutts and with more reinforcements, boosting huge on a kite with dental floss as a bridle makes your arse tweek a bit more though

lotofwind said..

Maybe just switch to airush then,,,,just as an example.

Been there, great kites have that ozone refined feel, but until they realise that you cannot get away with delayed steering through pulleys they will can't match ozone for what I want. Although the razor is especially direct given it has pulleys, but that's not how I ride.

Oh no, I'm an ozone fanatic! But...the discussion is worth while.

Kitepower Australia said..
No way we need more models mate. Ozone do things their way, they don't follow the crowd and have been innovative since entering the water kite market. More sizes, yes, but definitely not more models.....

To start with, I really rate Ozone kites. Build quality, bar, lines, inflation system, kites designed so well they negate the need for pulleys..

But: "definitely not more models"?? That statement would have been better if followed up with 'IMHO' don't you think?

I've ridden the 2013 models, in 2013 there is definitely a wider gap between the Edge and Cat. I'll not waste time here explaining. If people can't tell by riding, they are not in a position to legitimately comment (IHMO)

Eppo has a good point. However, a lot of folks will not understand what he is getting at.

It's not just a case of "beefing up" an Edge either. (Road legal tyres & more impact resistance on an F1 car anyone?....) Don't fark with perfection. Can an Edge be 'detuned' with bridle positioning or does it require a change in AR and other canopy subtleties.. For clues, as Eppo has pointed out, look at the Zephyr.

Anyway, let's see what 2014 brings. Personally, I'd like to see the Cat moving a bit further out of C4 territory into 'Edgesville' Rest assured, if budget allows, Rob is the man to do it..

Edit: Or I could always buy my fantasy quiver of 17, 12, 9, & 7m Zephyr

Over and out

Hey Cauncy no need to defend the edge so vigorously I agree it is a great wing. But it depends on each persona definition of freeride. I also agree with your opinion on the north kites. But I feel there is a large gap between the cats and the edge and the new cat sits too close to the C4. I think based on your premise their is too much of an overlap here. I'd like to see the cat move more towards or have a bit more aspect to it. In between the C4 and the edge. Not where it currently sits.

I ride the edge as hard as the next bloke, including looping and wave riding with it. But I do maintain their is a place and a market for something less than a full blown race kite. I'd like to see rob push the edge right into race or as far as it can go anyway given basic physics and provide a kick ass high performance freeride kite. The cat is nothing is the sort. And yet the edge is too full on in terms of aspect. But that's where I am at the moment. Again worth discussing. Respect your opinion.

Now what bit of ocean you thinking of transversing?

Reo................... cat................2011 c4............ edge

That's what the old c4 used to do for me. sit in between cat and edge. It was a great kite before they changed it in 2013.

For me the perfect 10m size kite would be a morph between edge and old c4.

Personally, Selfishly I think ozone made a mistake killing the c4 for freeride use. But let us see what they do for the next batch of kites.

I'm a diehard ozone fan. Been on ozone since 2006.


PS the new flysurfer looks interesting. flysurfer.com/project/cronix/
probably sits in that gap your talking about eppo.

Subculture said..

Kitepower Australia said..
No way we need more models mate. Ozone do things their way, they don't follow the crowd and have been innovative since entering the water kite market. More sizes, yes, but definitely not more models.....

To start with, I really rate Ozone kites. Build quality, bar, lines, inflation system, kites designed so well they negate the need for pulleys..

But: "definitely not more models"?? That statement would have been better if followed up with 'IMHO' don't you think?

I've ridden the 2013 models, in 2013 there is definitely a wider gap between the Edge and Cat. I'll not waste time here explaining. If people can't tell by riding, they are not in a position to legitimately comment (IHMO)

Eppo has a good point. However, a lot of folks will not understand what he is getting at.

It's not just a case of "beefing up" an Edge either. (Road legal tyres & more impact resistance on an F1 car anyone?....) Don't fark with perfection. Can an Edge be 'detuned' with bridle positioning or does it require a change in AR and other canopy subtleties.. For clues, as Eppo has pointed out, look at the Zephyr.

Anyway, let's see what 2014 brings. Personally, I'd like to see the Cat moving a bit further out of C4 territory into 'Edgesville' Rest assured, if budget allows, Rob is the man to do it..

Edit: Or I could always buy my fantasy quiver of 17, 12, 9, & 7m Zephyr

Over and out

Definitely IMHO, I'm just a brand rep and no way am in charge of anything to do with design. But you guys are, and for sure I'll be taking these comments to Ozone and believe me they do listen, and especially to Australian riders because we have a long season and many of us ride a hell of a lot. Haha a Zephyr quiver!

Plummet said..


Reo................... cat................2011 c4............ edge

That's what the old c4 used to do for me. sit in between cat and edge. It was a great kite before they changed it in 2013.

For me the perfect 10m size kite would be a morph between edge and old c4.

Personally, Selfishly I think ozone made a mistake killing the c4 for freeride use. But let us see what they do for the next batch of kites.

I'm a diehard ozone fan. Been on ozone since 2006.


PS the new flysurfer looks interesting. flysurfer.com/project/cronix/
probably sits in that gap your talking about eppo.

Thing is they did need a specific and full blown C kite though...not sure Andy Yates would have liked the old C4, lol. Nor the hardcore wake style rides. Just us finicky freeriders, man we are a pain in the ass...lol

Ps my bro has a 2012 c4 8m I will have to get on it a bit more.

Definitely agree the edge needs more sizes. I have a 9 and 11 m but it would be better with an 8m instead of the 9m.

NthScb said..

Definitely agree the edge needs more sizes. I have a 9 and 11 m but it would be better with an 8m instead of the 9m.

I predict and its only a prediction that given the ever increasing market share of ozone and i feel edge riders in general as the market has matured, that there could be more edge sizes in 2014.

Macca Wollongong said..

Whats the difference with the 2013 C4?

I have been riding Ozones from day dot, I think I was one of the first handful to get the instinct from KP with they first came out.

Right now I have a 11m Sport +, '12 Edge 9m and a '07 Sport 7m

Im heading to KP today ( Expect me in the shop after lunch steve) to replace the trusty old 7m, My 11m sport + is now useless since I got the 9m edge, The edge is a better ride in light winds over the truck of an 11m the sport + is (Im 65kg wet and ride a 125)

I want a kite with near all of the grunt of the edge, but some more depower of the older ozone kite for when the wind gets over 20's Ill ride my 9m edge into the 20's but on my small frame I have to stop throwing the kite around and watch where I put it.

Most other kites bore me now I have owned the edge for a while, I love the sheer power of the thing.

I was planning on getting an 8m 2013 C4 today, but this thread makes me need to know more about it. Damn you all!

look at the 7 edge ive been on the 8 cat as my high wind kite for a few years, very happy with the change

hey eppo how cheap are you getting kites to dribble on about ozone this this long, seriously mate if your not getting kick backs you should be

terryzarmzof said...
hey eppo how cheap are you getting kites to dribble on about ozone this this long, seriously mate if your not getting kick backs you should be

No kickbacks mate. My intentions are totally pure here. I have held my tongue for a long time now ha e been thinking like this for a while. Especially after spending time on the zephyr then getting back on the zephyr. Aspect to me equals performance well performance I dig. I thought the new cat would bridge a gap between the edge and their lineup. I think the gap has increased especially with the new C4 for us small population of freeriders. (Sarcasm of course).