DILEMA
If god really loved me, he'd let win tatts or something then I could have one of each size. both Tribal and Impact.
I could have the Impacts set up with the unhooked kit that comes with them and practice the, new to me, raleys. plus experiment with unhooked wave riding.
then when I'm feeling lazy or can't be bothered with stopping for squalls and the like. I could hook in to the Tribal.
My weekend with the Tribal 13 was fun, firstly Friday night I used it for a lesson in about 11kts student 105kg, the first hr was with my teaching kite then onto the tribal. So Simon was perhaps the first person within Victoria to fly a Tribal. or is that fly a Tribal within Victoria.
He took to it like a duck to water and even in 11kts could pluck himself off the ground. And got to have some fun.
I'm seeing big advantages with this kite for teaching.
Saturday was Altona and a chance to fly the Impact 13 side by side with the Tribal 13.
In the air there is no visable difference, until you look at the lines. And to watch people using them, also no visable diff.
The feed back however was different and varied one rider would say one thing the next would say the opposite.
one rider would be unimpressed with the Tribal but excited about the Impact and visa versa.
the real difference is probably only in whether or not you like riding with the bar out on the stopper or like riding holding pressure on the bar.
Bar travel is about 50mm longer on Tribal.
Bar pressure is slightly higher on Tribal but this is usually in the extra 50mm of travel.
The Tribal delivers its power in turns a bit smoother and is very slightly less prone to choking.
Sunday only the Tribal was used at Pt Danger. This is a fun kite in the waves. It turns fast and smoothly, I wonder what conditions or agressive imput it would take to be pulled off a wave. I can be parked while you surf or flown thru bottom and top turns, you choose.
So I thinking those new to kitesurfing would really enjoy the Tribal and the 13 would happily be used from 12 to 25kts even in the hands of someone less experienced. Those under 80kg would look at the 11m.
Those of us who have a few years of 4line kite experience and don't need total depower would have more fun with the Impact. Having said that some of the least experienced that have tried them like the Impact more.
I sell F-one s in Vic. so it's obvious I have a vested interest here and thus you should take my words in this context. of course those who have tried them will know exactly what I am saying.
So ask around for someone who has flown one for what they think before accepting what I have written.
Best winds
Tony L
ABK
in the sky. any one else tried one yet
