Rider: 81kg, landing big hooked in moves, basic unhooked and kiteloops. Comfortable in waves upto 2.5m.
Style: Freeride & surf
Weather: 15-40 knots, many different conditions.
Build Quality: 7/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Disclosure: Also own 6m & 12m, have tried the 5m & 7m. Boards 134x42 & 5”10 North Wam.

My Comments:

Build quality is superior to other brands I have used (Naish, Cabrinha & Slingshot), the kite feels very light and efficient. It demonstrates attention to detail and instills confidence in the user. The bar is simple and well thought out, the safety system has minimal objects for the 5th line to snag against. What needs to be improved is the life of the depower line and 5th line. Mine lasted just 2.5 months and replacements cost around $80.

In the air the kite demands respect, its not going to do anything that wasn't asked however when I committed to hard turns it responded with a punch generating a lot of power quickly and evenly. It's a very fast kite which pulls like a truck when parked, allowing corrections of speed and angle to be made with the board while keeping the kite static.

The low end of the kite is exceptional, which means it will get you through lulls down to about 15kts, I have had full sessions at 16-18kts and had lots of fun. The high end isn't as good however, at about 28 knots I will stop looping and unhooking, beyond 30 knots I'm really starting to feel uncomfortable. It doesn't have a lot of trim depower as say the Naish bar so its range isn't as great.
When jumping the kite is very floaty and forgiving, it does go quite high with minimal effort. I have found with the 6 & 7m that the kite will drop you if you make a mistake in positioning however this is not the case with the 8m. When unhooked it requires a bit more attention given the kite drifts so well it will regain tension in the lines quickly and start to generate power and turn just as fast, overpowering the user. There is no turning speed setting on the kite other than shortening the bar.

Although this kite performs very well there is still room for improvement. I have had the trim line wrap around the bar causing the kite to death loop, there is no way to get around it other than to release the secondary. Also when the trimmed the trim line doesn't stay on the Velcro provided grip and therefore the little bit of trim line wraps around the 5th line, this reduces if not cancels out the primary release system.

Overall, although I've rated this kite a 7 it is very high performing on my scale and gives it a bit of room to improve on. The kite will suit a powered freerider who wants freedom, flexibility and hassle free kiting.

ive been running a 2011 7 and 9 meter rebels and find them fantastic, nice and responsive but not out of control!

Tested the Rebel 9m 2011

Very technical kite, fun to play with and to grow into

Just bought a fuse 10 and am going to be getting a 7 to go with it soon.

Being very similar kites i was wondering if you have tried any big loops with it and whether it caught you or not as i have noticed the pull stops as the kite heads back to 12 once the kite has looped dropping you like a stone?