Had the fortune to test drive the waroo yesterday, (9/2/06) at Lancelin with Carbine, wind 20-25 knots South west.

Great session, really good, stayed mostly in the flat waters on the southern end, tempted to go to the waves, but mast high waves scare me with the kite.... go to the reef, get closer and closer, see a set and gybe Back in running scred.....need more skills

anyway my disclaimer.....not affliated to any brand, shop, hamster, etc i buy my kites with hard earned cash though am always open to a potential sponsers offers. I am a rider of intermediate level (though VB man would disagree) and am fat weighing in at around 90kg on a bad day 85kg after a vindaloo/guinness.

I've been flying the Crossbows since July both the 9 and 12, prefer the 9, and always try to take that out when i can as apposed to the 12. Need 20knots for the 9 to start showing the goods.
so...

Kite
Waroo looks good, its well made, looks more bullet proof than the bow. small struts, five in all across the canopy smaller LE compared to bow. The kite is more "staggered" in the tips leading to a squarer shape there as apposed to the Bow which is swish back. The bow has 7 struts? (memory fading) of reasonable size. Bridles on both kites are the same or near enough. The waroo is alot more c shaped than the bow. which is flat. Liked the waroo.....love the bow. The waroo somehow looks bigger than the 9 bow..??

Bar
Bar on Bow is well, i've adapted...there is definatly more pressure on the bow than the waroo which at times felt non existient. The bow has dingle dangle bits with bobbles at the end that can flap around. The waroo has a strap you pull to power up, and pull another one to power down. Easy
Both bars can be vastly improved IMHO, the bow needs to reduce pressure, (the fitzy fix) organise the trim strap better and the best needs tidying up, those straps are difficult to guage how much you've trimmed or how much you've released. Also there is no swivel off the centre lines which was a pain. There is no stopper on the waroo, which i didnt like, but could probably adapt to...the bow has a stopper and i like it.
On the Waroo the bar feels kinda 'floppy' and i didnt feel like i had a lot of feedback from the kite through the bar because of this.
The bow is clear responsive and nice

Flying
The waroo is faster than the bow in turning. Less hang time on the waroo, and i found hard hitting on the way down...difficult to time. But again this could be a "getting used to" thing. No prob on bow floaty, easy....but i'm used to it. I like the performance of the Waroo too, but its let down with the bar.

Conclusion
Only had a brief ride on the Waroo, so i may be a bit skewed, i'm sure Carbine will add to it, he looked like he was having a blast all day long.
Overall i prefer the Bow, but thats not taking anything away from the waroo, its a damn good kite, only let down by a crap bar. Same with the Bow, damn fine kite, let down by the bar.....
Would i buy one, ummmmmmmmmm errrrrrrrr i'd certianly consider it. The waroo IMHO is a contender, but for now i think i will stick to what i am used to.

Thanks to Browneeeeeeeeee for the loan of the kite, very kind and trusting of you.
And thanks to Carbine for driving
What a damn fine day it was......

would be happy to try any other bow that anyone else cares to lend me...