The ideal wave kite

1. Solid in the air, doesn't fall out the sky
2. Quick turning
3. Goes upwind well
4. One pump
5. Solid construction (kite, bar)
6. No bridle, 5th line
7. Bar pressure not too heavy
8. what else?

1. Mega fast turning, like ultra fast turning, like superman fast turning...
We all know thats what we really need to ride waves well, Mega ultra nanospeed turning kites. They just can't make them fast enough yet, every year they make them quicker but it's still not quick enough. At the moment you can still see the kite actually turn when you pull the bar, we need instantanious turning so we can really just whip it back and forward without thinking, sit back with your ass touching the water, get dragged around and send some massive rooster tails out in front ALLL RIGHHHHHTTTTT giggity.

Get in the way. More things to go wrong. Pulleys jam. Bridle lines stretch at different rates and need replacing.

5th line interferes with air flow and can chop the kite (unlikely, but there have been reports) if you drop it in a wave.

Just seems better without

But I wanna hear what others have to say. My current kites have bridles and I dont mind that too much. But what would be the absolute most nb features for a wave kite if this were the list you were giving to a designer.

Hey Lazarus,

You mentioned you don't want a 5th line, NEW kites have 5th lines but you can fly them without, great flyers, good upwind, turns quick with basic contruction.

I have the 7m OS and loving it but there is the NEW Alibi aswell that looks good but smallest size is a 8m.

Are you still in SA and if so what part, either way the NEW kites are a reasonable price.

The Jekyll I hear is a good kite, basic bridle without pulleys and dacron framing all over.

I also hear the Vapour X is a nice kite, bridled or 5th line but I don't know if it uses pulleys.

Cheers
Rich

I like your suggestion Cam, definitely gonna try it next time.

Im not pimping kites here,

BUT

Flexifoil do a good wave riding kite called the Ion 4. They are a bit on the pricey side, but they have the ability to change between a 4 and a 5 line mode. So you could try both and see what your keen for.

They have all of the above requirements as well. Bombproof construction, light bar pressure, etc etc.

I know a bloke up on the sunny coast that swears by them, and he used to have a kite shop, so you think he would know what he is talking about.

When I finally delve into my couch and scrape up all the loose change, I'm buying two or three of them.

Good luck,

Lemo

I personally have been stoked with the performance of the new Kahoona V2. The Sth African boys have been testing the kite longer than what we have, so if thats where you are you should look them up. Great crew.

The Kahoona has bridles, but I cant see a prob with that at all. Some of the hardest wave riders in West Oz have given this kite the thumbs up and are too stoked with its performance. One pump system is a debateable addition to a wave kite, I would prefer standard inflate.

price tag is great also,

Thanks guys, but not really what I am looking for. I dont want to hear about what you ride or what is a good deal or about this kite or that kite.

I want to know what you think is important in a wave kite. Rowdy has identified "turning" as the most nb thing and I think he is right, but what else would you ask of your kite designer (if you had one). Obviously whatever is designed will come out in all the sizes from a 5 up. You would say to your friendly kite designer: "Listen dude, design me a kite that turns fast, that is one pump, that ...."

^^^^^ I agree with slave.^^^^^^^^
What's the good of a fast turning kite if it has no bottom end. I can be out on my 6m when your on your fast turning 11??? Small kites are great to travel with and can be set up quickly.
Nothing wrong with bridals or 5th lines; it's just a preference. You're cutting out 95% of kites on the market with point 6.
I suggest you add relaunch to the top of your list, or get ready to swim. I like a kite able to fly forward as well as drift backwards. Spare parts availability & warranty. Safety systems- self landing/launching should be in there as well. Good luck to all those

sounds like you're not asking, but TELLING, what is good in a wave kite ?
if you don't want to hear about what others are using to good effect in the sruf, WTF is the point of your post ?

Also, isn't one pump, like a 5th line, just something else to go wrong ?

By the way, what are you currently riding ?

... and a safety leash

TOO FUNNY! Get the man a gojo also and a whistle!

why is everyone obsessed with having a fast turning kite? if you want the kite to turn quicker then pull harder on the bar.
i think slower is good. its better to have a stable kite that sits in one spot so you can watch the wave. the last thing you need when waveriding is to have to worry about what a twitchy kite is doing

Something like this one?



The difference between park and ride and the other style which seems to slash and smash the lip ala Margs style, is turn speed and good power from a smaller sized kite (7 or 8M).

i know you were rowdy, but i don't think anyone else was

Hey Boot, Ek moenie verstaan nie??

Have you been smoking boom, maybe Durban Poison, what ever its turned your brain into pup!

Only joking about the pup but seriously I don't get your post, if these guys are recommending kites, they usually like the qualities in those kites???

Toetsiense (spelling)
Rich

Seems to me ole Lazzy fancies himself as a bit of a kite designer & is attempting a bit of market research.