I would Like to say thanks for the awesome info I've found on seabreeze and funny photos etc...But I need to look at new kites and a board and don't want to make a expensive mistake as I did in the past with sports equipment.

Basically the run down is... I ride Cab Switchblades and they have done well and got me into the surf and freestyling, and they got wrapped around many trees in the process, but are now self destructing, I've tried some of the less well known brand demos but wasn't really stoked on them and have found to go the whole way to Melboune and Demo Kites hasn't happened, kites are out today or wind drops etc...

I really want to aim at freestyling in the surf, I do occasionally kite on a surfboard but prefer the twin tip in the waves at the moment.

What I liked about the cabs was..(and coming from pole Flagging to tea bagging)
Upwind ability
Wind range
definitive power
tough construction, safety.

Didn't like.
Slow to turn.
Depower system was average.

Most importantly I want a kite that has good upwind and can handle the craphouse gusty winds Vic can get.

Also what twintip is recommended in the surf I tried the cab andre phillip Custom but found the rocker made it too slow and it felt heavy under foot.

What kite and board would you look at.......Thanks and cheers.

Yeah I was looking at BWS on the beach. what threw me was the sizes, I need a 10 but the BWS 10 was more the size of 12, could this throw my quiver out of wack.

Thanks mate, thats what I've read, The kites I've narrowed my search down to is the BWS 8, Rebel 10 and the Rally 10, I'm Sure there's plenty of other options, like the park, reo etc but some of the kites seem to lack upwind performance.