Where were you Naishrider when the westerlies were on? Probably hiding under the table waiting for it to die down to a gentle lemon scented breeze so you could put on your little skirt and come out to play! .........

Thanks for the info Voitek, I managed to fly the 13m octane and what you say is spot on. I have placed an order via my local shop.
Constant winds,
Baz.

Rode the 13m in light winds in exmouth. Biggest kite is an 11m 2010 fuel and havent ridden a hybrid/bow for 2 years until then. for a 13m, it turns fast, relaunches effortlessly, and rides very well unhooked. I dont usually kite under 15knots, but this and a skimboard and you can ride on the plane in 10 knots upwind even for a 90kg rider like myself.
had a little play with the 13m Nomad in the same wind conditions 2 weeks ago without a board. The octane is better/superior in every regard, especially smooth consistent bottom end power, and relaunch in light winds

15-18 knots surf review of 11m octane (it has a centre strut)

I tried the 11m Octane today having ridden a few hours on my 2007 12m crossbow (in the surf)
I was nicely powered on the crossbow (going upwind etc) and it didn't fall out of the sky once.
The octane was very unforgiving (i.e if you edge too little/too much you kill its power instantly) and not very powerful.
Turning speed was amazing, so easy to flick it around the sky, flicks around like a 9m.

Perhaps it wasn't windy enough but if you make a mistake and ride at it too much, or get washed towards it a bit by a wave, it comes PLUNGING out of the sky everytime. You really need to think ahead and flick it the other way EARLY before you stall it.

I also didn't like how little bar pressure it had, i think in the surf you need to feel a touch more so you know where it is.

In terms of the build quality this kite looks very well built and strong and it didn't break when I crashed it in the shorebreak and the other guys crashed it too.

I think it was windy enough because there were a heap of 12m crossbows, switchblades, griffins, and some revs out too. They were all getting along quite nicely and they weren't midgets.

I really did not like this kite, but am hoping maybe I can demo it again in 25knots.

Liquidforce 2010 envy 12m is WAY nicer.

Easy jordy, everyone needs to have there own oppinion!

Its just his is wrong.

And I agree learn how to ride you must really be doing something wrong if the kite is falling out of the sky in 15kts+, and remember it can take some time to get used to a new kite if they handled like the old ones why would you buy one. Different designs need to be flown differently and sometimes a new kite strait up feels crap but ride it for a couple of weeks and it may just be the best kite you have ever used. Give it a reall go and i bet you change your mind.

Im just guessing your starting to really love those new octanes Jordy

wishy said...

I think that it could be good for surfing waves because of how flicky it is and the ability to turn the power right off but I definately don't want one.

In regards to your last comment, "I think that if anyone was to read your review and take anything out of it then maybe you should kite together." - I hope you are seriously awesome to be cutting me down like that, and look forward to receiving a spray of water in the face from one of your MASSIVE octane powered cutbacks

I guess another good thing about it, not that I really care what my kite looks like, but the octane is sexy (the mostly black with blue one)

I think your trying to compare apples with bannanas.

You are riding a 12 CB3. They are a full bow with pulleys on the bar. Barpressure would be twice if not triple the amount of the Occy on the light setting.

Because of the lack of barpressure, the Occy would feel underpowered compared to the CB3 (and its not a full bow).

Like I said, comparing apples to bannanas. You ar comparing a slow, grunty, park-and-ride bow kite to a fast, nimble, apparent wind hybrid.

I sort of tend to agree that the Occy feels less powerful then the rev, but it is faster and makes more apparent wind, so not sure. It still gets the Glide going upwind in a fart of wind, but isn't as park-and-ride as the rev.

COL said...

Wishy, I can only assume you still have the 3" rear line pigtail extensions fitted.

I think you are right. Something was not quite right with it, so this was probably it.
I think slingshot should make their kites more idiot proof to benefit people like me

p.s. Very nice pictures under your profile COL, looks like you shred.

I rode the 11 occy in 25knots plus at st kilda today and all i can say was its a beast.
i have never flown a kite as smooth, stable and responsive as this kite so far.