Hey Funkyman,

We do have a bunch of ex demo Ozone kites for sale and will also have the new Core Combat GT's available for demo from tomorrow on.
Everything is available for demo.

Cheers mate,

Hi guys,

ta for the suggestions chaps/chappettes.

Er... I don't think anyone was bangin on too hard about SB3s. Each to their own and no doubt some luv em and some not.

I guess we are all a bit spoilt for choice these days as there doesn't seem to be too many lemons around (forgetting the SS Link for a moment).

Ease of use and simplicity are definately a good thing, so I'd probably want to stay away from higher aspect kites such as the best Neme (even though they are raved about by users). I bought a cheap high aspect C some time back and whilst it has some positives, I really, really don't like it as compared to my lower aspect Cs it is a high maintenance trophy wife and never 'just sits where you want it' without constant attention!

Ta Paradox,

Funny you should mention these. I used to think they were a high performance high aspect C-ish kite and have noticed a few getting around Scarbs recently (had to rescue a blokes's board using one the other day) but maybe they are a go at the SS Rev/Ozone Sport side of things??

Any vapour users out there?


BTW - half of the reason i am asking so many questions is the lack of transparancy on product blurbs. They all say virtually the same freakin thing!! If they all are 'A dream to handle, relaunch and have massive wind-ranges suited to freestyle/freeride/waves/flatwater' then why are there 3-4 different models for each brand!?!? Keep real homey

Hey funkster.
honestly since you bought your best kites things have moved on considerably.
My suggestion to you would be to try everything you can.
Fortunately for you Kitestock is less than 2 weeks away, there you will be able to demo demo demo.
With that in mind wait the two weeks, try everything you can at kitestock then have a couple of days to absorb what you rode then buy.
Kites i would recommend - Ozones, Rev, SB3, Flexifolis, (these look really nice esp the 7 Ion 3), Rebel, Rhino, F-one.
Good luck.....

Sigh.. most of the advice has been cool. I always get suss when anyone re-inforces their product (kiting or whatever) by bagging the opposition. If your gear is that good there is no need to bag others I reckon.

Not wrong PR, I am in no doubt that nearly all the kites out there will be a massive (ha ha quantum perhaps? See other thread) leap forward on my old kit. Kites seem to very speciallised still and this gear is needed to last me 2-3 seasons so just want to get it right and not be unhappy for ages.

I got very lucky with my old kites and they suited me to a T, lasted ages and were a dead-set bargain.. Only bad thing is it set a new tightarse standard for me to try to repeat!!

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you demoing all these kites
Kitestock would be an awesome proving ground cos you can just test a series of kites back-to-back - the only variable being the kite, not the wind or water conditions.

You may have a tough decision at the end, but it will be a fun journey!

getfunky said...

Ta Paradox,

Funny you should mention these. I used to think they were a high performance high aspect C-ish kite and have noticed a few getting around Scarbs recently (had to rescue a blokes's board using one the other day) but maybe they are a go at the SS Rev/Ozone Sport side of things??

Any vapour users out there?


BTW - half of the reason i am asking so many questions is the lack of transparancy on product blurbs. They all say virtually the same freakin thing!! If they all are 'A dream to handle, relaunch and have massive wind-ranges suited to freestyle/freeride/waves/flatwater' then why are there 3-4 different models for each brand!?!? Keep real homey

I agree, they all spruke crap and say the same thing, although I can never work out why Airush are not more common in Oz, most of the design and test team are in WA and they have some bloody good kites.

The Generator is the Airush high performance C, the vap sits in betwen the SLE's and the C's.

I ride Vapor II's (8.5 & 12), and love them, especially the 8.5, it just rocks. They are a perfect mix of stability/safety and performance for me as an intermediate (still a gumby though). I agree with the independent reviews on them that pretty much all say the same thing - they are bloody good at everything, but do not excel anywhere. My wife is learning and I would happily put her on my 8.5, they are that safe, stable and easy to use -although realistically they are a bit quick for a learner.

I am about to upgrade to VapIII's which have just come out, and I suspect they will have them at Kitestock so get into one, i'd be interested in what you think.

Vap's are probably quicker than the Rev and Sport, but I have not flown either so can't really say. I suspect the Airush equivilent for those is the Flow.

Yep - I would love to go to kitestock and sort the wheat from chaff. Alas no holidays and no chance of a family leave pass... sigh.. like I said last year "I'm determined to get up there next year!" Pity as this year I'd have a reason to be demoing stuff.

Er.. no I haven't tried asking for a fly of someone else's kite. Might have to risk a refusal and give it a go.

everyone has their opinion sneakybutche sadly your the one with no idea. the v3 is very controlable at 30 knots, big airs and comfortable to ride. the only problem for you, not me. is that you cant ride one to see for yourself. just stay in your little shell with harry and fly what everyone else says is good.
i have no problem with any kite out there, the technology is up there with every brand, its just that some are clearly ahead of the rest.

Back on topic- I like my Cab SB IDS and I liked my SB 3, I reckon they are both great kites with a large wind range. The 12m SB3 was a little slow and for all round wave kiting I don't think you would like it.

I ride the 12m in 15 -28 knots this year....15knots is unhooking and 28knots is massive boost time...

The Rev seems good- wasn't my thing, the naish kites 2 for 2k seem like a good deal- I have seen mates rip on them. Liquid Force havocs might be an option too. All the kites out there are good you just need to find what suits you most. I have watched mates toss aside a dedicated wave kite and decide they like a supposed wakestyle kite with their surfboard as their chosen weapon to cut the top off a few...I have only commented on kites I have ridden a fair bit.

Go and ask crew on the beach funky- I am always happy to hand my kite to a competent rider so they can have a go.

airush geoff said...

Back on topic- I like my Cab SB IDS and I liked my SB 3, I reckon they are both great kites with a large wind range. The 12m SB3 was a little slow and for all round wave kiting I don't think you would like it.

I ride the 12m in 15 -28 knots this year....15knots is unhooking and 28knots is massive boost time...

The Rev seems good- wasn't my thing, the naish kites 2 for 2k seem like a good deal- I have seen mates rip on them. Liquid Force havocs might be an option too. All the kites out there are good you just need to find what suits you most. I have watched mates toss aside a dedicated wave kite and decide they like a supposed wakestyle kite with their surfboard as their chosen weapon to cut the top off a few...I have only commented on kites I have ridden a fair bit.

Go and ask crew on the beach funky- I am always happy to hand my kite to a competent rider so they can have a go.

hey sneakybutche can you elaborate? do naish have a deal? at the mo

Hi fellas,

ta again for the info.

If the hydra 30kts stuff is spot on then somewhere along the line either bottom end or some other variable is prob not quite as nice as on other kites I'd say. Juggling the variables always sacrifices somewhere along the line I guess as on all makes/models. Each to their own and the owners probably are happy to give in one variable and take on the windrange.

Yep - I saw the Naish deal too but (hard to tell from blurb) I thought this Alliance kite might be geared more towards the flatwater freestyle crew. I only ever ride ocean (still haven't bothered to get down to the river yet) and love boosting but don't go crazy with kiteloops (not intentionaly anyhoo ). Also - I know this is lame - I just can't get over the fact that I think these kites look really cumbersome and fugly to fly.

I did quiz a Naish kiter at the super gusty beach the other day - not the Alliance but a sigma kite - and she was now loving her new Cabrinha bow (although in her own words, possibly because it is her new toy) more than the Naish she had at the time.

What that tells me is that bow or hybrid/sigma etc do definatly work, and well. Also I should probably stop being so bloody angsty but spendoolies are pretty bloody scarse for this little black duck (spesh as i need a new pump, harness and vest asap too).

Anyway - my woeful story of poverty and angst is not unique but ta for helping with your experiances folks!!

Good winds to all - even the fugly kite owners

oh harry potter,

i dont recal rubishing anyone elses gear or brands, i simply stated that switchies have 8 pullys, im sorry that i forgot to mention its the ids, get over it, as for red thumbs it could be anyone tool.

as for trying to sell my brand, you cant buy them from shops over here that im aware of.

it seems that your having a hard time digesting all this true information about the v3, well heres a bit more for you,
the 14 meter v3 can be ridden comfortably in 28 knots.
plus i use my 12 in under 10 knots with a landboard,
you have to understand (hard for you i know) that these kites have a completely different set up to the average kite, with rear and front bridal systems. you can stand on the beach with the kite in any dirrection in 30 knots and not get pulled or out of control. you can walk normaly to the water, pull the bar in and ride.

anyway harry potter, mabey you should get the facts yourself before rubishing other kites, its not very profesional and makes you look like a kook

Hey Hydra, Where are you based? I'd love to come down and see this infamous kite in action when the wind is blowing 34 knots. I'm being serious here.

And secondly, you can't claim the use of a land board in 10 knots as part of the usable wind range. At what wind speed do you get going upwind on the water using a tt?

Back off topic again ... For all the non believers in hydra's claims of 10-34knts range for the Hydra V3 12m.
The following is from a review of the 12m I did a year ago on Kiteforum.com, and I Stand by my claims.
'Just tested the top end wind range of the Hydra V3 12m at Outer Harbor, South Australia. The wind was 24-34knts and I was sh!**ing myself pumping up a 12m kite. I am 65kg and would normally use my 8m sonic. I self launched with a rope and caribina tied to a pipe, it worked OK but would rather have had an assisted launch. (mate was allready on the water on his V2 12m). I really thought I would overpowered, but found I was in full control and could handle the gusts easily in an arms length on the bar. I only had to use the depower strap, 50mm, near the end of the 3hr session cause I was getting stuffed. I was boosting the highest and longest jumps I have ever done, between 30-50 feet high, and so was my mate. I still can't believe how totally awesome the usable wind range is on these kites, considering I can stay up wind in 8-10knts with the same kite on a bigger board. Can't say I've seen any other kite achieve this.'

Heres the link to the review and photos.
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2344690&hilit=genetrix+hydra+v3