Rider Review of the 14m Vortex

Have spent about four hours on the 14 vortex now and I am very impressed, so I thought I’d right a review.


Rider

Average ability, about 92kg, love the surf and waves. Not really interested in freestyle, ‘cause I hurt myself enough as it is and don’t want to inflict any more pain.

Conditions

13 to 20 knots NNE, Surf, up to 1 metre, beach/reef break.

Set-up & Launching

Typical PLK kite, no pumping, just lay it out on the beach with the zip open, lay out your lines, connect them up and by the time that is done the kite is full of air and ready to go. I set the side straps tight and left the middle one loose. Launching is easier than the venom, I guess due to the lower aspect ratio. It just pops up and slowly drifts to zenith. Adjust the trim strap so that there is no back stall and you are read to go.

How the Kite Flies

First thing you notice is how far back in the window the kite sits compared to the venom, so the kite is very easy to power up. The kite moves through the air slightly slower than the Venom, so it delivers a lot more consistent power. Turning speed is comparable to the Venom. It’s not slow, it just does not accelerate out of the turns like the Venom II 13, which is what makes the Vortex just what you want while on a wave.

On the Water

This kite does not need high board speed or rely so much on apparent wind to generate power, and you are able to plane along at jogging speed and still be going upwind. This makes it real nice and easy when going out through the surf because you are not going at warp speed when hitting the waves and this inturn makes it easier to hold your edge and keep going upwind.

Once on the wave you able to dump nearly all the power and speed from the kite and this is what makes this kite so good in the waves. And because it does not accelerate too quickly to the edge of the window it always seems to be in the right spot if you need to power it up and it doesn’t jerk you off the face of the wave.

Upwind is excellent, and I was only having to do short tacks of less than 150m most of the time because I was staying upwind with ease.

Summing it Up

Overall, an awesome little kite and perfect for the surf on a twin tip or wave board. It makes riding in the surf ridiculously easy. Heaps of depower (not sure of the wind range yet, however have had it out in gusts of over 25 knots and it handled it with ease), handles gusts like nothing else and the best bit…. When you get dumped you just let go of the bar and when you resurface the kite is there waiting for you.

It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Crakas.

Toughen up,111111 get some kite skills.3 seconds ,I reckon you've
3minutes.

i have a vennom 2 just lerning so it hits the drink alot never a problem to water launch

I have to agree...the VII 13 is an awsome little kite, my favorite at the moment, however the vortex is just that little bit better in the surf....because of the way it turns and where it sits in the window.

With the VII's you are able to build a lot of speed and generate more apparent wind which increases the bottom end of the kite.

Everbody has different needs in a kite and it gets down to which kite allows you to have the most fun on the water. And really that's what is is all about.

Cheers,

crakas

I think the 14 vortex and 13 VII have the same bottom end for me,14 to 15, top end I'm not sure however I've had them both out in gusts over 30.

The vortex behaves better in the higher winds, not that the VII is bad.

My choice would be to have the venom's in the bigger kites and the vortex in the smaller kites for the higher winds.

The wind range is also relative to your weight, board size and skill level.

I guess Matt that your are after something to complement your 16 VII.

Maybe a 12 Vortex or 10 VII

Crakas

They will be close in windrange, saying that I think the 14 vortex may have a slightly better top end and the 16 VII will have a better bottom end.....it also depends on how much you are going to pay for it.
PLK say on there website that the vortex does not have as much windrange as the VII, however because of the depower characteristics of the vortex, I think they are pretty close.

Crakas

I think I broke something...oh well it doesn't get used anyway.

And you got it on film...don't show Clayton.... he will never look-up to his Dad again..

hi there i was just wondering if u have ever had problem with the kite colapsing when u jump but keep in mind im using the 10m and it could be small kite prob be glad 2 no 4 it did it to me 6times in 1 day

l learnt on PL kites, bomba then g2.
fantastic to learn on because they are so stable , and almost impossible to hit the water unless you steer it straight there.
99% time - launches immediately.
i would say it could be on the water for 10 mins and still relaunch.

how is the depower on the new vortex and venoms?
how do you manage to dump so much power???

bigmark100

I manage to dump so much power from the kite by using a modified bar. I have increased the length of the the trim rope and added longer leaders to the end of the bar, this inturn has allowed a greater depower throw. I very rarely touch the trim strap now.

The good thing about the PLK's is when you depower them, they don't fall out of the sky and you still have steering.