Hi,

I'm just venturing into the world of unhooked kiting.

I currently use Ozone Edges but understand they are not designed for unhooked kiting.

I want to buy a 9m kite for learning unhooked riding/tricks etc preferably second hand or last seasons model for cost savings. If it were a good kite in the waves also, that would be a bonus. I have no interest in C kites so am only considering bow/SLE/hybrid styles.

What would people recommend as a great 9m kite for unhooking ? What are the attributes that make a kite particularly good for unhooking ?

Cheers,

IAN

I unhook on my edges. Pulling a little trim in helps. I'm no unhooked wonderboy flip flippitty man, more of a flying pig really, but I enjoy it

I used to ride a Switchblade 2 10m and now ride an 11m REV. The switchblade is an excellent unhooking kite but I prefer the REV. I doesn't seem to need to be depowered that much before unhooking - has anybody else found this? and what could the reasons be?

Hey there a kite that is good for unhooking is one where you can control the kites position in the wind through edging on your board. Hence a lot of the bow kites will drag you down wind and not allow you to use your edge to get it to the edge of the wind window. This is where c kites have always excelled.
Kites like the rev and other hybrids were developed specifically for this purpose.
I currently ride a T3 9m which I love for unhooking awesome pop and you can still edge it, the 9m rev is easier to edge buut a little to quick for me to do inverted handle passes, but that speed is awesome in the waves.
My advice would be to try and get yourself a demo :-)
have fun kiting

i have to say go the rev, its quick and solid when unhooked and its got a quick relaunch, prefect for freestlye and wave, have to admit it is abit quick for the handlepass atempts

The LiquidForce Hi-Fi is an awsome kite for unhooking on... I ride a 9 and a 12 have learnt all my unhooked stuff on em.

Dude the ozone edge will be fine for unhooked riding, just give it a go and you'll see. i think it would be one of the best bows/hybrids around for unhooked stuff, because it's so stall-resistant and responds very well to edge control.

dude the edges r fine aye!

Lincoln said...

I have a gin Nazca its a awsome kite to unhook on and its also good in the surf to

Lincoln have you ever been in the surf with it?

EJ said...

Lincoln said...

I have a gin Nazca its a awsome kite to unhook on and its also good in the surf to

Lincoln have you ever been in the surf with it?

yeah while i was at Byron Bay

Hey Ian,

The edge will be fine for unhooking but a better bet may be the Sport II. My team rider Abel is an unhooked rider most of the time and he spent plenty of time trying the Sports and Edges before he finally made his mind up on the Sport II. He rides the 7m and 9m.

He is definately a stand out rider and turns heads when he rides. I think he chose well. Grab yoursef a demo. BTW, they work very well in the surf too.

When unhooking, the Edge can be a little slow of the mark in accellerating and turning when it has no forward speed when you trying an unhooked move and the kite ends at 12 o'clock whilst you make your landing. The Sport is more nimble and quicker to react from a stationary position. It also kiteloops with much more power.

See ya and Good winds,

REV

Ispi,

All your generally, and I do say generally, going to get here is everybody recommending the kite that they own and ride. Best bet is to try a few if possible. I realise this is said often but that's because it's true. You are going to try and find a kite which is stable and doesn't pull your arms from their sockets when unhooking. A 9m is also often a quick kite so even more reason to try before you buy. Until you master a few unhooking fundamentals you will find you will be sending the kite inadvertently. Therefore a slower kite is a better idea, unless you're wave riding of course.

In short, get to the shop, try some and make up your own mind. Only then will you get what is truly best for YOU.

Ispi you are dangerous enough hooked in. I suggest for the safety of those standing on the beach, you do not attempt to unhook!!!! Do i have to start wearing my helmet again?

Thanks for the info Steve but I live in the southern suburbs of Sydney and we don't have any good kite shops out this way.

My 16m Crossbow 1 is still my fav for unhooking....learnt all my handlepass moves on it- ah those were the days.