Plummet said..

PS Yes Eppo I understand your demand for a kite thats more punchy and glidy than the cat but better in the waves than the edge. I want that kite too.

If we could jam the best bits of edge,cat,c4 into a kite that would be the ideal 10m kite for me.

Thanks Plummet & Pearl.

I should add, the Reo is the kite I learnt on and the only one I have ever flown since my lessons.... So I guess I should probably demo a few others before deciding on buying another or more.

Either way 10 & 8 sounds like the way to go though.

Cheers

So after chatting to KP I ended up with a 7m C4, swapped the C4 bar out for the regular control bar (still a 45cm bar) for more depower throw, and thankfully for me it will sit closer to me due to the smaller chicken loop, Damn my short arms haha

eppo said..

Classic! Lol. if I thought I could design kites I would! But alas I feel that is beyond my capabilities. By a long long way.

Mauritius hey. Via Bali Sanur which I'm hitting in a week lol. might be some kites I can try there!! Lol.


You get what I've been going on about Plummett don't ya? It seems I'm in my own vacuum here and everyone is posing the cat as the solution to all freeriders out there. But it really isnt i can assure you, been on every size for a decent amount of time to on different boards in different conditions.

Eppo, someones had a go of "Surfing a Home Made Kite"

OH S**t don't tell me it's time for another eppo quiver swap, gotta agree though mate it's sad when your hangin out to fly a 17m ,don't get me wrong love my 15 fury it's awesome in the light winds but it's my go to kite when I can't ride the business end of the quiver would rather be rid in the 7 9 or 11 any day.

I think it's time for an intervention.

OK Eppo, let me get this straight - you're stoked with your Zephyr and your 8m Catalyst, yes?

You used to be totally in love with your 11m and now 10m Edge - has this changed?

Forgetting grand plans (if possible) for a minute and getting back to an actual quiver, is it simply that you want something between 17m and 10m that's like a 13m Edge but a bit more playful? The fabled 13m Zephyr?

My question is this: even if Ozone produced a one-off tailored-to-you 12.63m2 Zephyr, what's to say you wouldn't find fault with it in a few months and start scratching away again at the sore of discontent?

I'm not suggesting you or anyone else put up with crap kites - hopefully it's clear that's not the issue (you're already riding Ozones for fark's sake, basking luxuriantly in pleasures of which only the discerning minority have any idea).

Clearly we all love that gear develops year to year. We love finding gear that suits us as well as possible. We love striving for improvement. However, to obsess over it - spending a session thinking about how it might be different - reduces the possibility of actually enjoying what we have right now.

Peace.

Epps me ol mate, you only dig the 17 zeph so much cos u havnt tried the 19 edge yet! Man up-Go Big!!

Dave Whettingsteel said..

So Eppo what happened to the 14m edge your good wife bought you for your birthday ?!

Have to say you have sold me on the zephyr. Too long between drinks this time of year with a 10 rebel being my biggest.

you mean 14m cat right

The Zeph has great top end......had a 2011 for the last 2 seasons, now on the 2013.
I've ridden the Zephyr up to 25 knts and never stained my pants!
At 100Kg+ and on a board that easily holds an edge like a Shinn Monk, its manageable.
And oh boy, lots of hang time with that much kite above you in its upper ranges.
Current quiver 2013 Edges 11m & 13m & 2013 Zephyr.......waiting for the new release to add a 9m Edge to my quiver.
Anyone know if Ozone are releasing the 2014 kites with a new bar? Specifically any changes to the quick release?

EPPO,I HAVE THE 2011 EDGE 11,2013 EDGE 9,LOOKING AT A 2013 ZEPH FOR LIGHT WIND,AT 88 KG AND A W18 SPEEDBALL,WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUN WIND WINDOW IN KNOTS WOULD BE?LIKE CAUNCY SAYS,IM NOT INTERESTED IN THE BELOW 13 KNOTS,BUT 13 TO 17, WOULD THAT BE SWEET ON THE ZEPH?
UNDER 13 KNOTS IM GYM, BIKE,FAMILY,IN THAT ORDER! CHEERS

I reckon on the speedball that would be the perfect setup for the winds you mention. Infact at the top end of that range you mentioned you'd be fine on a normal TT. That about cauncies weight and I figure he's okay on his monk at 16/17. On the speedball reckon you'd be lit of your ass.

Lets put it this way the other day was the most fked wind, like 8 to 13 and more like 10/11 and I was on a crazy fly cruiser pro, 145 by 44 and had enough power to actually get a fair bit upwind. But it was on flat estuary water with little current and I'm about 75kg.

So putting it all together I'd say you re spot on. At 13 knots I'm amped with that setup. 13 and up I'm on a 132 TT laluz and having the time of my life.

2013 is a much different kite I keep hearing the comparisons with earlier model, don't, there's no point. Too much edge in it now. The edge 13m is a fine machine but the zephyr allows that static pull I keep taking about, and also with jumping not as technical. Gives you that constant pull and predictable loft that a,lows you to chuck in more stuff than on the edge. You can do that on the edge but you gotta be more on ya game. If you want glide though well its the edge. Can't beat the physics on a flatter profile. I just find that with the zeph they have out enough edge to give you that apparent wind I crave, but the canopy is not as flat so the race edge qualities have been toned down. Hence everything is done a slightly slower speeds. And hence you need less speed to jump well.

Yep each to their own. Becareful though you may end up in the same mind set as me, wishing for this profile in smaller sizes!! Doesn't look like that counts for much though..shame reckon it would be a winner.

Plummet said..

So much zep love. I have flowen the zep several times and be bored by it each time. Though I haven't flown the 2013 Zep.

There's plenty of days can start sub 15 and finish mid 20ish the 13 edge is a better bet for me. Theres a couple of zeps locally and they don't seem to get out any lower than I do on the 13. Same goes for the couple of 14 cats.....

Oh well horses for courses.

yeh plummet id have to agree with you on the old zephyr most of the time , however it did have a small sweet spot around 15 to 18 knts it was great, above that it became a bit heavy on the bar and hard going on the legs around 20, the new zeph is completely different , around the 14 to 20knt range its a long way off being boring

What are you guys dribbling about here? I tried to work it out but it's one big mess...

All Ozone kites have a purpose and I think the degree of separation between models is valid and an accurate representation of their marketing.

Catalyst - all round ripper. I could do anything on this kite and I feel comfortable doing it all. I actually considered taking this kite for next year.

C4 - More C feel with enhanced emphasis on unhooked tricks. The C4 is like the Cats big brother, it can also do everything pretty well if you want but it's primarily designed for freestyle/wakestyle.

Zephyr - Light wind machine. Get out when others can't and do what you want with it. It's like the C4 and Cats Daddy.

Reo - Wave riding. Less hard pull for down the line performance. You can hit the lip without getting whipped out the back of the wave. Most companies have copied this kite.

Edge - Racing. Watch every kite company in the business directly copy this model next season because it's the best.


As for sizes I understand some peoples frustrations here and I think Ozone is listening. The C4 will probably come in a 6m for next year and I'm sure they are adding other sizes to other models as well.
New bar setup with upgraded end-winders and C-loop will also be releasing this season and is looking pretty good.

Eppo, I've ordered a 17 zephyr from Kim.... He was not happy! But being the good bloke he is, no dramas. He was saying you guys were at Uni together. You have followed different paths for sure...

The deal was if he gets me the zephyr, I have to learn twin tip. Only ridden one once, and it did not go well!

I'm a bit worried that next week you'll say there is a better light wind kite, but cest la vie...

Still working my way into the jumps and boosts, so think I will stick with the straps for the time being thanks! Am pretty OK with feet swapping on the surf board now.

The Beast arrives friday, and have 4 days up at Horrocks to hopefully test it out.

Any tips on self landing the Zephyr? I'm pretty ok with the 5 line rebels self landing, but whats the plan with a 4 line? Presume same principle except pull on a middle line instead of 5 th to drop it once it is sitting on its tip...

I can always do a tethered land but its a bit more ginning around

Thanks

So just smash my shiny new kite into the sand from 27m up?

Hmmmmm, not convinced!