Rider: 75kg, advanced
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Freestyle
Weather: 12-22 knots
Build Quality: Won't bother answering, as we're a shop, we're not going to say 1/10 are we??? North are always awesome
We just got back from our Shark Bay Trip, where I managed to get a ride in on the 10m and 8m 2010 Rebels. We had about 3 days of decent wind up there, and all in all it was a super fun trip for all who came. A few of us managed to get in a wicked ride at Coronation Beach on Friday, when the storms were up.
First of all, improvements:
Even though you should have simply PUMPED YOUR 2009 KITE UP NICE AND HARD, so it doesn't fold, the 2010 Rebel will never have that problem, with the centre strut put back in, but in a "floating" form. This allows for greater structural stability but still with the awesome depower that the Rebel has become well known for.
I'm sure a lot of you had the problem where you crashed your kite hard and connections between the Leading Edge and Strut may pop off and subsequently deflate your whole kite. This year the connections are super strong (The North Rep said at the conference they were stretching the rubber tubes across the room and the connections still weren't releasing!!
)
The kite seems to fly through the window better than last year. When you are working your kite in light winds it no longer stops and pivots (causing you to lose power) but now flys and turns with speed and in a fluid motion that allows you to get a bit more bottom end power out of your Rebel.
The bar- we haven't got it yet (coming this week) but trust me, it's awesome!
Summary:
Once again it has a lot of Dacron on the trailing edge, which makes it very durable.
I rode the 10m in Little Lagoon in Denham, in very gusty conditions, and I was boosting a lot bigger than everyone else and managing to stay upwind a fair bit easier. I rode the 8m at Coronation Beach, Geraldton, in 1-3m surf, in about 15-22 knots, and it boosts MASSIVE just like last year, with awesome hang time.
I'm really impressed with the amount of R and D North but into their kites this year. All of last year's minor problems have been addressed, and the result is an excellent kite that's a joy to ride.
Pictures of the gear coming soon...
We have the 8m, 10m, and 12m available 7 days a week, ANYTIME, so come down to Safety Bay and try it out for yourself, and make up your own mind.
The 2010 Kontact and Wam are also in store for Demo, we are allowing "take-away" demo's down to Secret Harbour (or any other closeish wave spot) so you can try out the Rebel and Kontact/Wam in their preferred conditions!
Cheers
