get a Rebel 2010, you can't go wrong!

i found the 12m rebel nice for un hooking but its too big a kite for me to loop (i weight 75kg's and my biggest kite is usually a 10m). heaps of pop as well.

the evo has slighly more bar pressure, not so good for un hooking but punishing for loops. the 9m is super powerful for its size!

None of the above......

Hi

I have 2008 Vegas (excellent kite), a 2009 Rebel 8 and a 2010 Evo 9. The Vegas was my favourite, but I think the evo is my new favourite, it has huge bottom end, great boost and very powerful. It's also pretty much stall proof, just sheet and go, and it stays where you put it and doesn't wander. Having said that though, it is closer to the Vegas than it is to the Rebel (it's very c-shaped), it pulls hard and needs to be edged properly to jump. If you grew up on c kites, you'll like the Evo. If you learnt on bows and hydrids, you'll like the Rebel

I heard with the Rebel 2010 that the floating centre strut can be damaged rather easily if it goes under a wave... any comments on this issue?

Can anyone comment on the ease of relaunch on the Vegas? Do you have to pull on the 5th line to relaunch or is it as simple as pulling on the bar like the rebel?

I had a Nobile 666 NHP 9m before and i found pulling on the 5th line to relaunch a sketchy situation, pull too much and it flips on itself and twists.. this happened to me recently and I had to self rescue when i was 800m offshore with cross offshore conditions. NOT FUN.

Bigwavedave: what would you recommend? I would like to get a kite with 5 lines as I currently have a north bar.

Briskites: whats your opinion on the EVO?

Too many choices... grrr... (1st world problem, 3rd world problem = no choices, i prefer my problems...)

anyone? cheers

I borrow a demo of the 2010 Rebel 12m and 2010 EVO 12m from my local shop a few months back and rode them back to back a few times. Ive riden North Rebels and Rhinos now for the past 3 or 4 seasons and found the Evo a lot better for unhooking than the Rebel. I found when the wind was borderline for unhooking i was being yanked down wind by the rebel and was often out of control where as the Evo just made it quite comfortable and easy.
I did have trouble with jumping on the Evo tho. Didnt seem to get the vertical lift im used to on the Rebel and Rhino. It had huge hang time but just seemed to float down wind. The 2010 Rebel on the other hand had that great vertical lift im used too.
Found the Rebel really grunty and diving the kite gave instant power where as the Evo had to be dived a few times to generate enough apparent wind to get up and riding but once u were up the power was very smooth and comfortable.
Out of the 2 the Evo was my favourite and probably would have upgraded if it had had the vertical lift of the Rebel or Rhinos. Hopefully that helps somewhat, but is just my observations and opinion.