Hi Folks
I am due for a new kite but cant decide between these two kites. I am after a 9m kite with all round capabilities (currently riding a 9m Convert my other kite is a 6m SB with no additional bar or line, plan to keep the 6m). I am ~ 80 kg and ride in 14-30 kn either on a TT or S/board doing either d/winders, tacking to and fro and love the waves. After doing some research I have narrowed the choice to these kites, I did look at the rebel - don't want 5 lines, bandit and RRD Type 9. There are so many good kites out there now ! Can anyone sway my choice to either kite in the subject line or others that may be suitable ? Who will give the best trade for my 9m Convert

Cheers

MF

I cant say yet monkeyfish but I'll let you know how the 9M & 13M Octanes rate any minute now waiting waiting waiting

Anyone want a much loved 9M Rev2 or 13M Rev 2 (sold already) - see the buy & sell.
or great learners kite - 7M T2 - same place

The bar and line set up on the new Switchy is sweet as well. Cabrinha have done a great job of tidying up the new bar. Both the SS and Cab are great kites, fly them both and make your decision from there. You can't go wrong with either of them. Enjoy your new toy which ever way you go.

Yep, go the Switchblade as your coming from Cabrinha already - if you like the Cabrinha feel, you may not like the Octane's feel...

Good point - Why not the Nomad Monkeyfish?

Coose said...

Saffer said...

The Slingy will turn way faster, if you're riding waves, I'd recommend it over the switchy. The switchy is a great kite but its designed as a wakestyle kite and I don't think it will turn nearly fast enough for waves.

I dont look for turning speed in a kite as much in the waves, i really like the pull the switchy gives on the waves holding its lines well with very little slack making it very responsive while riding in the waves without having to deal with no control when the kite luffs a bit.

Guess it depends on the rider. Most of the waveriders I know want small faster kites but I've also seen riders like robby naish who like to lock the kite in one spot and leave them to do their thing.

Coose said...

Saffer said...

The Slingy will turn way faster, if you're riding waves, I'd recommend it over the switchy. The switchy is a great kite but its designed as a wakestyle kite and I don't think it will turn nearly fast enough for waves.

I dont look for turning speed in a kite as much in the waves, i really like the pull the switchy gives on the waves holding its lines well with very little slack making it very responsive while riding in the waves without having to deal with no control when the kite luffs a bit.

Agreed. People that want fast kites for waveriding so they can turn them around a million times aren't "waveriding" they are "wavejibing".....
Get a kite that can sit in the one spot and fall back without luffing out of the sky. Thats what you need to ride a wave.

sir ROWDY said...
Agreed. People that want fast kites for waveriding so they can turn them around a million times aren't "waveriding" they are "wavejibing".....
Get a kite that can sit in the one spot and fall back without luffing out of the sky. Thats what you need to ride a wave.

Apologies Sir Rowdy. I guess that means that some of the best riders are all wrong including Lou Wainman, Peter Peterson, Martin Vari etc. I'll ask them to humbly come and beg forgiveness from the all knowing Sir Rowdy.

"Apologies Sir Rowdy. I guess that means that some of the best riders are all wrong including Lou Wainman, Peter Peterson, Martin Vari etc. I'll ask them to humbly come and beg forgiveness from the all knowing Sir Rowdy."

just rembember to keep your kite low, so you dont look dangly and gay

sir ROWDY said...

Coose said...

Saffer said...

The Slingy will turn way faster, if you're riding waves, I'd recommend it over the switchy. The switchy is a great kite but its designed as a wakestyle kite and I don't think it will turn nearly fast enough for waves.

I dont look for turning speed in a kite as much in the waves, i really like the pull the switchy gives on the waves holding its lines well with very little slack making it very responsive while riding in the waves without having to deal with no control when the kite luffs a bit.

Agreed. People that want fast kites for waveriding so they can turn them around a million times aren't "waveriding" they are "wavejibing".....
Get a kite that can sit in the one spot and fall back without luffing out of the sky. Thats what you need to ride a wave.

I'm with Saffer on this, just because a kite is fast, it doesn't mean it can't sit in the one spot and fall back without luffing out of the sky when required..
Have you guys ever heard of a cutback?
With a fast enough kite and the right conditions it is (IMO) achievable with a kite, but hey thats probably not a cool move these days anyway.

MF, I haven't tried either of the two 2010 kites you have specifically mentioned and I don't think many would have tried both, so if you can I would be trying to demo them both (or others) but at a guess from what I have read and experienced from trying previous models the Octane would probably be more wave oriented.