First off sorry if this review is a bit all over the place I am suffering the Flu, but managed to get a further good ride today.
Initial impression when first inflated is of a very high quality kite, moving manufacturing away from China appears to have paid huge dividends. Reinforcing stitch work etc cannot be faulted. With the amount of kiting we get I have real peace of mind with this construction. Right I have now ridden the 8m and 12m a few times, in flat to pretty decent sized waves, from 12 knots to high 20s.
First off 12m, as Joe has already said silky smooth through the air, no canopy flutter, I managed a little with a horrendous F16, quite a pasting but the kite was fine. Lovely pull through the loop very predictable and very nice unhooked, something I couldn't get to grips on the Nemesis. Low end power 12knots on a surfboard and the kite is quick enough to turn and fly through the window to be able to bear off down the line, in the past in this light wind I have struggled to link more than a couple of turns before I lose control with slack in the lines. This has made me rethink my quiver, I have not enjoyed light wind waves before now, I might even be able to become LEGIT! (no footstraps for the unitiated). Sheet in absolutely no sign of backstall, relaunch, this is no delta, it is a performance kite, so relaunch does require a little technique, not much though. Boosting is effortless, and great glide predictable feel, lovely soft landings.
Now for the 8m, what a machine, I could talk on and on about this, fast and lively, not quite wing tip pivot turns but super quick. Bar pressure is ideal, I suffer a bit from sore elbows as do a lot of W.A kiters, 3 hour session no issues. The mini bridle with no pulley's allows the kite to relaunch easily after some nasty tumbling in the waves. I have not used this yet in flat water but I can't think of any faults for the freestyle crew, the second attachment point for the rear lines really slows the turn and again unhooked is faultless. I really can't praise this kite enough, high quality and performance, as our local dealer said after trying them "they will sell themselves". Remember it is not a Delta, performance is faster, and relaunch does require rider input, as anyone who has ridden non delta will understand, obviously I will get a few red thumbs, mostly from sponsored riders of other brands as they should, but please do yourself a favour and give them a try. Ah quiver wise for me this year will be 5.5 kahoona, 8m and 12m TABOO!! that will cover me at 74kg from 12 to almost 40 knots. Cheers, happy summer.
A few kiters have asked the wind range of the 8m and a couple have said they do not have much low end, the past 2 days kiting (Wednesday/Thursday) according to the Geraldton Port Authority readings, I was kiting between 2-4, showed conditions over the 2 days from 15 to just gusting to 30 knots, I was comfortable the whole time on the 8m(74kg), that to me is a great range for a kite good bottom and top end. Cheers.