The5MetreKid said...
Hey eppo,
Can you compare the jumping characteristics of the Varial X with the Edge, and why did you prefer the edge?
Really good question buddy. Jesus I love it when we actually talk about kites and boards and not all the other sh1te, so much.
Okay everything needs to be tempered by the fact that I'm turning 40 in April. Been at this since 2000 and this sport plus football days have taken its toll. But that won't stop me, better to bust than rust. Plus I'm as ugly as a donkeys ass.
The VX is a bloody good kite, and if the above wasn't apparent, especially the ugly part, I'd probably still be riding this kite....maybe. Both kites hunt the edge of the window and are fast through the air. Both develop apparent wind, not unlike the old foils from yesterday. This is a feature I really missed with the bow revolution. Instead of using your edge and weight with minimal bar adjustments, we were forced to use the depower throw of the kite. But that was the price we paid to extend the wind range of kites. Deltas gave you more of this grunt, but sat to far back, were sketchy in their upper range, and developed their power through canopy exposure rather than apparent wind. The mix and match of bow, delta and C DNA then refigured and differentiated the market, to the point where I can safely say that I have not flown a kite lately that I cannot find a good thing about it. The kites these days are just exceptional, all of them taken the riders needs into account.
Right, they both move fast and hunt the edge of the window. But the VX is far more aggressive at doing this. This is a function of its SLE DNA and very short depower throw combined with a high aspect. The use of pulleys on this kite still gives a remarkable direct feel, but you cannot diminish that spongy feel completely. Also the movement through the air is very quick and can give a more jerky ride...but this is all relative to the edge.
The edges builds much more apparent wind, but it does it in such a controlled and smooth fashion. Under the right rider, especially on old school prick like me, this gives you the ultimate in control of kite board and kite speed. This creates the ability to take the edge out in very high winds even at my weight, control speed then let the speed run and build in a controlled fashion before a boost. This apparent wind pull also and this may be a shock to some, creates a bloody good kite in the surf on a TT. On a SB is would suck cok, but that smooth consistent pull really allows for a strong heel side bottom turn with a somewhat vertical cutback/reentry which the kite then pulls you back through. Also this pull creates a consistent down the line, park and ride ability on a wave. The edge drifts better than most think. Remember this is for TT riding only. The VX is more short and sharp, you can easily ride under it, it can stall and I have dropped this kite out the air. The edge, no chance. The VX shines when dead onshore as it is so fast around the window, but any cross shore it starts to become manageable but not great.
Okay this leads to boosting. Both are technical kites to jump and get the most out of them, but in a very different way. The VX require almost a bow technique, from low with a very aggressive send. In the air because of its very short depower through, you need to fly actively move this kite through the air or you can drop. But get it right and it takes you aggressively vertical and big big big! Also fly it right and redirect it right with a downloop ( this is a given with this kite on a massive jump), a very soft landing indeed.
The edge, you need to create intense speed and keep it much higher in the window, then you needn't move it a great deal. If you aggressively send the edge it loses kite speed and hence height and also takes you downwind, you will pendulum under the kite. To go vertical it really only needs to be moved, although quickly to 12 o'clock, keep your shoulder pointing in the direction you are going, the kites momentum will then take it to 1 o'clock. The jump doesn't rip you off the water except in extreme conditions, it is more like a paraglider effect. It softly takes you up and up and looooonnnnng. The VX cannot compete with the edge on actual hang, air time. You needn't actively fly it as much, except if you go stratospheric. The downloop helps, but not necessary most of the time. For instance crew on the beach have said when I'm about a couple of metres above the water and redirect, you get this long horizontal movement parallel to the ocean surface before you land.
In summary I think someone said the edge is a gentlemans kite. The VX is a killing race car machine.
The VX asks the rider to ride extremely aggressively. You can't pussy out on the loops either or it will spank you for being a farqen wimp. But dear god loop it does. The edge loops better than most give it credit for and you have surprising control of the loop, even mid loop. If ya too hot you can depower this kite somewhat to take the heat off. The VX is all or nothing relative.
Also the edge gives me that direct feel, the only thing I missed from my north kites when riding the VX. The engineers have done an outstanding job with creating a SLE kite that is so direct in the VX, but you can't get completely immune to that spongy pulley feel in the steering. It is the steering that suffers, there is that slight delay and bang! The edge ( and the norths) have very direct steering, which I prefer.
But recently I have ridden the new Cat, the C4, the wainman smoke, punch and boss, the reo, the rally, the lithium, the epic screamer, even had some sessions on the 2012 rebel and Vegas. Plus a few others I can't be bothered writing down.
They all have their pros and cons. They all are fantastic kites.
Each rider needs to search until they find the kite that suites them. Sometimes it takes its financial toil as with me.
Also I feel sometimes the question we ask is the wrong one. Ask yourself, given a set of kites in a certain market, what is the kite asking of me. Rather than trying to make a kite fly like you want it to, get in tune with the kite and ask how is it asking me to ride. It is a bit of both but my problem was asking the kite to fly as I wanted it to fly. This creates conflict.
Hope this helps, only my opinion of course.
