2009 North Rebel

I was told today by the importer that its going to be more like the end of August.

Here is some great info lifted of the North Kites newsletter. Its an 08 to 09 Rebel comparison.

" REBEL 08 VS. REBEL 09


Profile
The profile of the ’08 Rebels varies somewhat from size to size. Sizes 6 and 7 sported one profile; sizes 9, 10 and 12 another; sizes 14 and 16 yet another. In general we used a powerful, fairly draft-back profile shape with subtle tweaks that seemed to work best in their own size ranges.

For ’09 we kept this size grouping – (6,7,8) (9, 10, 11, 12) (14, 16) – and the related profile shapes, while at the same time tweaking the profile shapes to be slightly rounder in the front. A profile which is rounder in the front is generally less prone to stalling, so this was one step toward improving stall resistance.

Overall Geometry
The overall geometry of a kite comprises features like arc, sweep, taper and leading edge curve. The ’08 Rebel has moderate sweep, low taper, a curvey leading edge and a fairly flat arc.

By way of explanation we can point to the ’08 Vegas as having little sweep while the ’08 Rhino has a lot. The ‘08 Rebel lies between. The ’08 Vegas and Rhino are similar in taper (the ratio of center rib to tip rib) to each other, and both have quite straight leading edge tubes (from center to front pigtail as viewed from the side). The ’08 Rebel has a lower taper and curvier leading edge. As for arc, the’08 Vegas has more than the ’08 Rebel and the ’08 Rhino has less.

Sweep
With the ’09 Rebel we went for approximately the same amount of sweep as in ’08. More sweep doesn’t work in a basic 5-line design and less sweep results in unacceptably high bar loads. Interestingly, sweep has be fine-tuned to work with the desired profile, as a more draft-back profile requires more sweep. We worked hard on sweep, profile position and front pigtail position so as to get the right bar pressure – enough so that you know where the kite is without looking, but not so much as to tire your arms.

Taper and Leading Edge Curve
Building on knowledge gained with the development of the ’08 Rhino we went for slightly more taper and quite a bit less leading edge curve. The straighter leading edge leads to greater shape stability and less distortion under high loads.

One little tweak we made to the ’09 Rebel was to move the nose line attachment points farther from center. This results in the nose line distorting the leading edge less when the kite is sheeted in. We also doubled the nose line attachment points so as to ensure their strength and to distribute their load on the leading edge cloth.

To further reduce leading edge distortion, we positioned the nose line attachment points near the middle ribs. Since the ribs provide support to the leading edge, the overall rib-leading edge-nose line structure is now more solid and resistant to distortion.
One more tweak we made on the leading edge was to increase the intersegment arc angle at the seam where the middle ribs attach and where the nose line attaches. This is the point where the nose line tends to pull the leading edge into a straight line, so increasing the angle here is like putting pre-stress into the structure. There’s more angle at rest, but less under load.

Arc
The arc of the ’09 Rebel in sizes 9 to 16 is a bit more round than that of the ’08 Rebel. We went this way because big kites naturally tend to feel more mushy and less precise than small kites and by having a bit more arc we knew we could get handling a little more like that of a C kite – a bit more precise.

However, small kites tend to feel harsh, overly quick and erratic. One thing we were pleased to achieve with the ’08 Rebel 7 was a fairly soft, comfortable feel. Not gutless, but not intimidating. To keep that comfortable feel in the ’09 Rebel we had to go with a somewhat flatter arc than in the other sizes, which left us with an arc similar to that of the ’08 sizes 6 and 7.

Ribs
One of the things a kite designer looks for in a kite is good agreement between the arc taken by the leading edge and the arc taken by the trailing edge. For example, most designers don’t like it if a kite flies with a more “U” shaped arc in the trailing edge than in the leading edge. Of course, depending on rider weight, sheeting angle and wind strength even a good kite can take on a “U” shaped or even an “A” shaped trailing edge, particularly in very light wind. When this happens the kite can lose power and sometimes fly backward. Something we learned from our work on the ’07 and ’08 Rhinos is that having single center rib can contribute to this problem of an “A” shaped trailing edge arc. Setting two middle ribs fairly far apart, however, can minimize the problem and help keep the trailing edge in a smooth arc, even when over-sheeted in light winds.

This is one of the reasons we decided to go with four rather than five ribs on the ’09 Rebel.

Cloth Mix
With the ’09 Rebel we wanted to gain more shape stability and hence less drag in the tips. This meant having to choose between going with more battens, or more ribs, or with a stronger, more stable cloth in the tips of the kite. The stronger cloth promised to be the simple solution, but was also expensive and heavy. Favorable results in tests with four-rib kites settled the issue for us. We were able to eliminate a rib and get better low-end performance, then use the saved weight to add more stable cloth in the tips and get better high-end performance. The net effect on performance is all good; the effect on weight is about neutral (it varies with kite size); the effect on price is brutal, but what hell, North customers are rich (desiger’s perspective).


Construction Details
The ’08 Rebel has held together well, so we didn’t want to make too many changes to construction. Aside from Kevlar leading edge scuff pads being reshaped near the tips and the addition of two extra nose line attachment points, the area that got the most attention was the rib. We went back to our old “Fusion” rib joint between leading edge and rib. There’s not much difference in strength, but it looks a little nicer. We also went to a five-segment pentagonal rib construction. This works just like the six-segment HexRib construction but eliminates the bottom rib seam which is the one most vulnerable to damage and stress.


Bottom Line
When we started working on the ’09 Rebel we had real doubts about whether we were going to be able to make major improvements. After a few false starts, however, we hit on a 10-meter four-rib model that had no back-stall, smoother power development, smoother high end, more linear bar feel and quicker turning. It made the ’08 Rebel 10 feel to us like . . . well, like last year’s kite. That’s when we knew we were on the right track. After many more misteps we whipped the bigger and smaller sizes into shape. The only thing left to say is try one.

Tuning Tip
As the wind increases, the bar will start to feel heavy. Correct this by pulling the depower rope. The Rebel feels best when it’s set to totally depower when the bar is sheeted out halfway to the cleat."

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

HEy JB...

Sold my 2008 Rebels (Changing yearly)... Biginner on the water but better and better on the snow... I bought an EVO 15 m to finish the year... Now what... Sell the Evo and get 2 Rebels 09, Keep the 15m and get to Evo09 (When are they due for?)

I like one pump especially for the winter
I like the fact that the EVO is a 4 line kite (I did pass my rebel through the lines and crossed the 5th and a backline (not even sure if I could have flown the kite this way...

Thanks man...

That mean we'll see them in the stores next week..................

Tested the Rebel the other day in really light wind. Our main concern for the Rebel on the Sunny Coast has been our consistent light wind and the rebels bottom end.

The 09 Rebel doesn't have that issue, so will be a real goer this year. Yet to see if the top end is still where it has always been (off the chart). The lazy/one pump is as good as any on the market and the durability of the kite just keeps getting better.

Demo & Stock will be arriving soon, stay tuned.

Have Fun!
George

Rode the new Rebel on the weekend in 15 to maybe 20 knotts. I previously had the Rebel 08. The kite is definately different to last year.

Out of the bag I noticed it has more of a Delta shape and the material on the canopy is thicker.

The kite has more pull through turns than last years and it is also a little gruntier. I cannot comment on the low or high end as neither were tested on the weekend. There is also more bar pressure on this years kite which will be a good thing once I am used to it.

Camo

Hey guys, turns out the 2009 Rebel is a great light wind machine too. Just watched an 86kg guy cruising effortlessly ( kite fixed in the sky) on the Rebel 16 with an Underground FLX 44, in sod all wind. The rest of us just gave up or went downwind. Not a whitecap in sight. 9kts max. OK, I agree, not rad conditions by any means, but it beats the hell out of sitting on the beach even if the beer is cold!I'm getting one !

I been flying the 08 Rebels and was lucky enough to have a go on the 09 12m Rebel out at the Cocos (Thanks Jen).

There where a couple things I didn't try with it one being smashing it on the water hard and then re launching it as I'm sure Jen would have shot me as I was the second person to use the kite and Jen wasn't the first.

First thing you notice on the ground:

First the obvious 4 struts and one pump the one pump looks like a copy of the Slingy and Cab ones and works well

Second thing is the kite profile at the tips is a bit narrower that last years

Third reinforced sail material, oddly doens't seem to add any weight but the kite looks tough (the accent color is where the heavier material is see Green area on picture in 1st post)

Forth the 5th line bridal is attached to 4 points (each long leg has a short 10cm bridal for two attachments to the leading edge per leg)

In the air:

the arc profile is a bit different than last years if you look at the 08's the arc is a bit flat across the middle where this years has a bit more of a constant arc (or I've got my kites tuned wrong, entirely possible).

The handling feels similar to last years with a touch less bar pressure. Jumping, well it's a Rebel last years loves to jump and this one loves it just as much if not more and jumps on it feel great.

Re launch it a couple times and it came straight off the water no problems

Low end seems good I had been out on my 08 14m before and after so no complaints on that.

In the end of the day there are a couple small refinements that North have done for this years kite and to me they seem very similar. It seems North went with if it ain't broke don't fix it, if you liked last years you'll like this years and if you stayed away from it because it didn't have one pump (well first off your soft) have a go at it this year might surprise you.

I know I'm saving my nickels for a new one

Well boys and girls I have now ridden the 8m quite a few times in serious wind including up to 36 knots. The kite is so smooth and steady and constantly under control that it truly is a new generation in kites.

Easy smooth and fast bar control with perfect bar pressure makes this a super wave ridding high wind kite. It is defintiely a full square metre more powerful than a 7m kite, there is still room or decision on 7m vs 8m. The 8m is the kite that you have becuase you are a bit lighter than the rest of the crew and 9m is too much punch, on the other hand the 7m just did not get used enough as it really needed balistic wind to even get going, the difference is the 8m will kick off in over 20 knots.

Thing is I have not tried a 7m 2009, but not likely to after using the 8m and still having my 07 7m

I was a bit concerned that the 8m was loading me up a bit too much, until I checked out the Hindmarsh Isld station when I got home to see that we were out in 30 - 36 knots.

very very happy with this kite, so steady and smooth and responsive.

I have updated my review to include the 8m www.southcentralkiteboarders.com/north_rebel_2009.html


Dazza

had the 10m rebel out yesterday in about 28knts, and coming from the 2007 models i am very impressed with the handling.

HOWEVER, i did have an issue, could be my own fault. I had a leaky pump, and could only get it up to around 6psi. I felt the kite and thought i was tight enough, i had just launched a number of mates kites that day who had their kites 'flimsier' and never had a problem. Anyway, after about 5 mins on the water, the rebel just folded up in on itself into some shape that i did not think would be physically possible. It looked like a ball of kite on the end of some strings.

Got it back to shore, lucky i wasnt far off, pumped it back up with a mates pump up around 8-9psi and it flew like a dream.

I guess im just warning everyone to make sure they are pumped up tight, i mean i thought it was tight enough but i think without that center strut its a little less stable if its not rigid.

how does the rebel turn.. radial or like the 08 with little power but without the backstall issues, is the bar input on the turn lighter than last years model or is the kite still heavy on the back lines and takes alot of input to crank the kite back the other way? one review has commented on turning power..that being, better than last years with more power in the turns, the canopy does look more arced than last years looking at photos.

I pumped my 09 rebel to about 6.5 on the gauge and the leading edge felt really tight. I got a bit paronoid it would pop if I pumped it any further. The manual recommended pump it to 7.5. The pressure on the pump was quiet firm as well when getting it to 6.5.
Any else had a similiar experience?

I had the same issue as Omega.

My new 2009 12m Rebel folded while flying it in reasonable conditions. The kite was pumped up to just over 6psi. The average wind speed was around 20 Knots with moderate gusts.
The kite had dropped back in the window slightly in a lull and a following gust powered up the kite causing the leading edge to fold towards me pulling the wing tips together. The kite remained locked in this position and dropped out of the sky. When I got it to the beach, I noticed that the kite had folded in half and was held in this position by the severe kink in the leading edge.
Leaving the strut valves open might have caused/contributed to this problem because the air in the leading edge can feed back into the struts when the kite is under stress. Closing the strut valves to prevent the air feeding back to the struts should result in a stiffer leading edge which is less likely to distort - well lets hope my reasoning is correct because it would be a great shame if this fantastic kite had a flaw!

Does anyone know what predominant colours are stocked in australia right now (in 07 there was quite a number of black/pink kites getting shipped out)?

Im not that fussed about colour schemes, but i just hate white because where i kite tends to make them look flithy from just leaving them on the beach.