I am looking at upgrading my light wind kite.
My current light wind kite is a 2006 17m Slingshot fuel, generally use it in surf (crappy shore break, 10-15kt with surfboard or 142 twin tip.)
I am not sure whether to look at the Ozone LIght 14m or the Ozone Zephyr.
Will the Light continue to be manufactured in 14m now the Zephyr is released?
I am basically looking for something with a bit more range if the wind picks up during the session and a little quicker.
I was contemplating a Light last year but the Fuel is in great shape still - so it would have to be a marked improvement in range and performance.
Hey Flying High,
The Ozone Zephyr is pretty damn awesome. Myself, and little John and anyone else who cared to ride the demo Zephyr's today at Pinnaroo had a great session. I think the rest of Perth had a bit of a shocker. 
We have ridden on the Zephyrs quite a lot this year, much more than I would have ever imagined. It's all about time on the water rather than sitting on the beach waiting for a few more knots.
We rode right through the day up until around 6.30pm despite light winds and the lack of white caps. I ride the Zephyr from around 8 knots on a race board or the Airush Sector 60 and can be well powered in these conditions. It is possible to ride in less wind than 8 knots, but you need a little 8 knot gust to get you planing, then it's all good to sail through the light bits.
I also have no problem holding onto the Zephyr in 22 knots on a race board and probably up to about 24-25 on a twin tip. It wouldn't be my choice to rig it for 20+ knots, but if it picks up, there's no need to panic, just trim it in a bit. 
It really is an awesome kite! I'm sure you could get a ride on one at Kitepower in Syd.
The Light is finishing up this year and will be replaced by a new model sometime in January.
Cheers,
KH
Here's a few pics of 8-10 knot blasting, well powered! You may notice the absence of any decent whitecaps, you will see the odd wavelet cresting, but only small. You may also notice that this is the Indian Ocean and you are looking upwind where whitecaps show up most easily, not some offshore gimmick photo. Whitecaps start to form at 8 knots!
In these photo's I rode upwind faster than Mikey (Photog) could get upwind to the point for his vantage point in the dunes. Board is the North 2010 Race LTD and I weigh about 95 kilos with kitesurfing gear on.
Select to expand quoteKitehard said...
Hey Flying High,
It is possible to ride in less wind than 8 knots...
Here's a few pics of 8-10 knot blasting, well powered!
What size ?
Ta,alex.
KH
Does it turn:
a) faster
b)slower
than the Titanic????
(I dont mind if you answer the question either in reference to the titianic in 1912 or as she is in 2009)
Also what do you rate higher:
a) posiibility of relaunch in under 10 knots???
b) Life on Mars??
c) meaniful outcomes from the Copenhagen Climate Summit??
Wal
hi,
i have owned a few big kites. i had the contra 17m which was such a pig of a kite. i traded it for the T3 17m (many people don't know they made one this big). It's certainly better than the cab but still hard to fly in very light winds and getting upwind is a struggle.
Main problem is firstly that they are so slow to turn it is hard to keep the power in the kite. second issue is that due to size there is just so much more kite in the powerzone that the pull down wind is great and it's hard to make headway upwind - especially if the wind is light and you need to keep the kite moving.
I have virtually given up on 17m kites but if the Ozone solves these issues then maybe i might have a look.
Final question, what is it like to jump? i find it hard to handle for this because if you time things wrong you get into serious trobule - expecially if there is a little more wind.
LOL,
Yep, I too was massively sceptical about the useability and even the suitability of a 17m kite for WA conditions, and so didn't order any despite prompting from Ozone and vocalised my scepticism to them.
After a few weeks of reading reviews on the net, my curiosity got the better of me enough to order one as just a canopy, no bag, no bar and lines so if it was a dud, I wouldn't blow too much dosh.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago when speaking to one of the owners of Ozone, I had to make a humble apology and eat my hat. The Zephyr was everything it was talked up to be and I have since placed orders for quantities of Zephyr kites. We have only had stock for a week or two and have sold two already and I guarantee you'll see more on the beaches near you real soon.
The owners will be easily recognizable as the only guys on the water having fun whilst you sit on the beach whinging about the wind. 
The kite can be looped without any special effort and this isn't the amazing part, the fact that it can be looped using a 54cm bar is the impressive bit 
To answer your questions:
The Zephyr is about as fast as a 14m in turns but much more powerful. It's lightweight so it flies in about 4 knots (although you can't ride in this wind).
The relaunch isn't quite as easy as Ozone would have you believe. In the really light winds it can be relaunched in about 8-10 knots with the right technique. In 12 knots, it's just a matter of sheeting out the bar and pulling on a steering line leader.
I welcome you to come and have a ride and to see for yourself.
Cheers,
KH
get a 13m one of these,=,serious nuts.
I have a 14m and a 17m contra bow kite and are going to upgrade to one of these. http://www.cabareteairforce.com/2010/ovando/index.php
I've not tried the Zephyr but believe it's pretty good - for an LEI. But really, you can't beat a Flysurfer for light wind. I kited in about 10knots in some chop at Queens (Redcliffe, Qld) last week. There were 4 kiters having a pleasant cruise with some floaty jumps:
1 * 19m Flysurfer Speed 2 Silver Arrow;
1 * 19m Flysurfer Speed 2 standard cloth;
my 17m Flysurfer Speed 1.5 and a
Flysurfer 15m Speed 3.
There were a couple of LEIs pumped up on the beach. Though I stand to be corrected I think one of the LEIs was a Zephyr (someone who was there - Henry/Jon? - please correct me if I'm wrong).
I know Flysurfers scare lots of kiters. And we all know that a light wind board is probably more important than a light wind kite. But, if you're serious about wanting to kite while your mates are on the beach waiting for wind, you'd be mad not to consider a Flysurfer.
The EH Ovando flogs other pump ups hands down and you get to ride a smaller kite.
Other than that a large Flysurfer always does the trick.
The Zephyr is comparable as low end to a Speed 3 15m Normal.
I know as I tried both of them back to back...
I also had it back to back with a Light XC14m and it give you at least 3 knots more in low end.
When my friends was struggling to stay up wind by moving the kite I was fully power.
The kite turn pretty well and I have been using for wave riding in light wind no problem.
I double the number of session In the water since I got a Zephyr.
If you are over 90 kilos you really need to give this kite a go.
Bye Jankie
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
I dont know too much about the foil kites other than what I have read on various forums, they sound exciting but there are not too many around where I kite. I also think it is difficult to find a demo in Sydney.
Again the EH Ovando looks great but the distributors are in Qld so a demo is difficult.
I will definitely demo the Ozone Kites in the new year if KP in Sydney have them available and make a decision then. The Zephyr sounds pretty good at this stage.
One last question, the replacement for the light is that going to be a entry level, light wind or surf orientated kite
i flew a 12 mtr 2010 naish torch the otherday in 8-12 knts and was powered enough to unhook and pull some moves and it didnt turn slow for a big kite either, 14 or 16 mtr torch would be awsome light wind kites
Nothing beats a flysurfer with water relaunch in light winds , that's for me a big factor for a light wind kite , sure a 19 meter inflatable can get you going in 12 but try relaunching in water that kite with the added water wet weight and it's a pig, flysurfers leading edge down just reverse launch direct downwind or trailing edge direct downwind and can "hot launch" by pulling the two center lines . Inflatables usually need to be put onto their back in light winds and even then the line drag can make the kite twist and distort and not want to relaunch. 
I own a 15 meter speed two and have owned 16 meter inflatable, I hardly use my speed but I hardly kite in light winds unless I'm desperate after three weeks of no wind or on holidays.
Hi Guys
I'm also considering a light wind kite. I'm 95kg riding a Cardboard 136x41.5 dual conc board.
As always my concern with the flysurfers is the performance. The pump ups in the smaller sizes turn faster, harder and jump higher. I know the 17m speed turns like the Titanic and hence doesn't really jump or perform how I would like. Maybe I'm asking too much of a bigger kite?
Overall the foils to me don't give you the performance. But then we're getting into
the foils Vs pumps and that's been done over and over, and it's really just a personal choice and what style you enjoy riding.
So I'll be interested to try the Zephyr and Ovando and Speeds.
Mal
Zephyr...... the best light wind kite I have flown.
8 knot days aren't so bad now. 10 -12 knot days so much fun
The Zephyr has opened up so many more kiting opportunities for me now. :)
totally stoked!!
Anyone tried both the Zephyr and the Ovando (13m)? Would be good to hear an objective opinion on whether these two are comparable. There is a rather long thread on kiteforum which turned into a bit of a pimping contest with nobody having tried both kites. kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2361510
I have a 14m Torch as my biggest kite and have recently tried the Zephyr in light wind with a very big board. I was impressed but then again it is a 17m kite which is much bigger than I have ever tried before. If the 13m Ovando has anywhere near the same low end (as the claims would have you believe) then this would be a very worthwhile option.
Dont think you can compare the 13 to the ozone 17....
Im about to order a flysurfer 19m speed 3 DE, I think this would be the best light wind kite, the ozone 17m sounds nice although you cant beat foils when it comes to light wind and they wont fall out the sky so easy.
I was out kiting here in Dubai and was on a 15m R&D and a door board 166cm /48cm (hired the gear) most other guys were on 12 to 15m kites, and everyone was walking about 150m after each 2-3min run out on the water.
The wind meter read 8-13kts. .
There was a speed 2 on the water and a speed 3, they were jumping and cutting hard up wind with regular sized twin tips - the guy on the speed 3 was even doing kiteloops.
The racing scene in europe has really focused on gaining more and more low wind performance. which in turn has prompted some kite design energy into this area.
this link has some interesting statements from not only one of the industries most credentialed kite designer but also a serious course racer.http://www.zeeko-kites.com/shop.php?produit=Notus%202010%2014LW
