Rider: 74KG
Level: Expert
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Wake
Weather: 25 knots + 30 knot bullets
Size: 9M 4 line mode
Build Quality: 10 /10
Satisfaction: 10 /10
Disclosure: Team Rider
My Comments:
I am keeping this short because I have only ridden it once. I have been riding the VEGAS for the past few seasons so that is my full disclosure to you. Now I did not have to write this review but I felt it important to share.
I got to demo the 9M DICE at Cottesloe beach on Saturday thanks to Drew at WASURF. Waves where pumping over head coupled with 25 knots + wind. Not the friendliest conditions but perfect for pushing gear to its limit.
WAVE
Scooping into some well overhead chunks this kite just excelled with very precise control and superior power delivery. Once locked onto the wave I could just set the kite and shred it apart. It would just park and ride ridiculously well. There where some big bullets coming through which the kite handled well. Some of the other kites on the water where jelly fishing and getting pumped by the gusts but the D I C E just ate them up and the feedback was smoothed out.
I felt very comfortable on this kite immediately and considering the 'DICEY' conditions this is a huge plus. I had a huge smile on my face.
FREESTYLE
After an hour of pure joy shredding and chasing the swell, I tested the freestyle capabilities. Now I am used to the immediate on power of the Vegas so the technique for jumping was adjusted. Still I was able to boost huge and the kite delivers a very smooth boost and hang time was plentiful. This could possibly be one of the smoothest kites out there.
I will back this short review up with my experiences unhooking. I can not comment on that today but I have only heard good things on that front so far.
My advice is to demo this kite before you make you 13/14 purchase. If you want an al rounder with WAVE, FREESTYLE AND UNHOOKING ability the DICE might just suit you perfectly.
Contact WASURF to demo or your local North Dealer.
Sci
Hey Sci...
you are 74kg, so same as me....mate it was 25 to 30 plus on saturday...what were you riding (what board)
and did you ever feel you could have been on an 8m??
Roberto.... If my sources are correct your tipping the scales at 130kgs and 6ft farken 4.
You don't need to have a degree in biomechanics to realise that you may be able to fold over any grown man with ease. So my common sense would say that trying to take on the hulk may be detrimental to my ability to consume solid food.
Ha ha, man you crack me up. I have no idea who or what you are talking about but its bloody funny.
Select to expand quoteNoBS said..
Roberto.... If my sources are correct your tipping the scales at 130kgs and 6ft farken 4.
You don't need to have a degree in biomechanics to realise that you may be able to fold over any grown man with ease. So my common sense would say that trying to take on the hulk may be detrimental to my ability to consume solid food.
... hey,,, did you delete my previous post.... didn't think it was rude,,, did you think it was rude... hmmmm? Like I said, Nobs sounds like a Nobs and one of those internet tough guys who hides behind the keyboard, not really contributing to a normal converstation. Ya know, better to be thought of as a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.
Robbie 
ps yeah I'm bit of a fat f@#k, like my beer too much and I'm really a big teddy bear so don't worry, no folding over any grown men, just folding of my kite.
Anyhow Sci...
How'd ya go with the unhooking side of things...I found it stable as. Didn't produce as much slack as the new vegas but it's not meant to hey.
Is it useable for more advanced moves of which I cannot do?
Mate just sent me these...on the dice...http://www.kiteitright.com/kitesurfing-guides/kitesurfing-kite-reviews/north-dice-kite-surfing-kite.html
And
Haha nice one Eppo...
I grew up with Tom courts dad before moving to wa nearly 30 years ago. I finally gave into there nagging to give up polling 18 months ago and have loved kiting ever since.
Tom has been on Vegas for ever, so it shows what a push north is making with dice when wave ride and wake styler team riders both jump to promote this kite.
Looking forward to having a ride on your dice at horrocks !
Thanks for dobbing me in big fella!
Thought about feedback but far from an expert.
However ; 83 kg , soul wave , directional , how windy was it Robert? 17-25 ? Blah , blah. Oh, on a 5"8 wam.
Also Rode my 2013 12m evo which I love. It's quick and powered. Stays further back in the window but wants to be powered.
Spent about 20 minutes on the 11m Dice. Gusty at the end of the day so not a great session
First impression was that it looked ( in the air ) and acted almost like the 2013 12m Vegas I rode a couple of months ago. Not the edgy aggression but close.
On off power was there. Puetz noted that it might not have the full on power he likes which was correct. It's a totally different package to other north kites I have ridden.
Very light in the air compared to rebel and evo , very nimble and steer by wire feeling. Love that. People have mentioned drift. I get it now.
Rebel , turn at window then screams through the window in transition. On directional you tend be chasing the kite. Great power and boost.
Evo , turn near edge of the window then settles further back earlier but needs to be powered and moving . Doesn't really like being depowered but can drift a little . Pretty good power and boost.
Dice, transition by request , then the kite sits quietly if you want. Doesn't need to be powered. I guess that is the drifting ability. So for me ,that is what I want. Switch power on and off. When I turn I like that it waits for instructions and then delivers rather than driving the agenda.
Didn't test the boasting ability but would seem obvious that it is different to say a rebel. It's a different design.
Can't compare to other brands but am going to talk about the elephant in the room after riding the zephyr a lot. ( which is a brilliant kite ) .
It was great to get back on a north bar.
Comment has been made about keeping it simple etc but I don't agree. Its not complicated. It's adjustability in throw does make it much more comfortable and user friendly and that is all there is to it having got back to it.
Added to that , it would be great to have the stopper ball in many situations.
A good example for thought is the big fella is 6'4 and his missus is 5" 2-4? They ride the same kites. There no way his missus is going to find it as easy to cope with the reach required . Perhaps it more noticeable in our skinny air.
Back to the dice. In summary. For my style this is what I want in this wind range. A light fast turning kite which does not load up if you don't want it to. Very stable and predictable. Well made also.
Select to expand quoteDave Whettingsteel said..
Haha nice one Eppo...
I grew up with Tom courts dad before moving to wa nearly 30 years ago. I finally gave into there nagging to give up polling 18 months ago and have loved kiting ever since.
Tom has been on Vegas for ever, so it shows what a push north is making with dice when wave ride and wake styler team riders both jump to promote this kite.
Looking forward to having a ride on your dice at horrocks !
Yep caravan park booked man, can't wait to get up there. Kite, Barby and a few beers maybe? Ha ha inviting myself, what a jerk...lol
Ps I come with a wife and kids to...lol!!!
Select to expand quoteeddiemorgs said..
Thanks for dobbing me in big fella!
Thought about feedback but far from an expert.
However ; 83 kg , soul wave , directional , how windy was it Robert? 17-25 ? Blah , blah. Oh, on a 5"8 wam.
Also Rode my 2013 12m evo which I love. It's quick and powered. Stays further back in the window but wants to be powered.
Spent about 20 minutes on the 11m Dice. Gusty at the end of the day so not a great session
First impression was that it looked ( in the air ) and acted almost like the 2013 12m Vegas I rode a couple of months ago. Not the edgy aggression but close.
On off power was there. Puetz noted that it might not have the full on power he likes which was correct. It's a totally different package to other north kites I have ridden.
Very light in the air compared to rebel and evo , very nimble and steer by wire feeling. Love that. People have mentioned drift. I get it now.
Rebel , turn at window then screams through the window in transition. On directional you tend be chasing the kite. Great power and boost.
Evo , turn near edge of the window then settles further back earlier but needs to be powered and moving . Doesn't really like being depowered but can drift a little . Pretty good power and boost.
Dice, transition by request , then the kite sits quietly if you want. Doesn't need to be powered. I guess that is the drifting ability. So for me ,that is what I want. Switch power on and off. When I turn I like that it waits for instructions and then delivers rather than driving the agenda.
Didn't test the boasting ability but would seem obvious that it is different to say a rebel. It's a different design.
Can't compare to other brands but am going to talk about the elephant in the room after riding the zephyr a lot. ( which is a brilliant kite ) .
It was great to get back on a north bar.
Comment has been made about keeping it simple etc but I don't agree. Its not complicated. It's adjustability in throw does make it much more comfortable and user friendly and that is all there is to it having got back to it.
Added to that , it would be great to have the stopper ball in many situations.
A good example for thought is the big fella is 6'4 and his missus is 5" 2-4? They ride the same kites. There no way his missus is going to find it as easy to cope with the reach required . Perhaps it more noticeable in our skinny air.
Back to the dice. In summary. For my style this is what I want. A light fast turning kite which does not load up if you don't want it to. Very stable and predictable. Well made also.
Really good insights Eddie.
Ps shhh it boosts really well....
Pss...just to add to some thoughts I have had since my rides on this kite (and this has been brought forward by the long convos I have with my mate who I bounce ideas off all the time), one thing that explains some of eddies observations...
The depower throw and associated angle of attack. From fully powered in to say just over half way, the angle attack is really gradual giving exact feedback and linear power but the last quarter, the angle of attack changes severely. You can really see this. I spent at least 20 minutes just watching this in action (and hitting the water a few time..oh well).
What this gives is the ability to really follow and fly into different sections of a wave, but then quickly kill the power and ride just with your board, but then as you pull in, you can again get the kite to respond quickly and fly and follow again....gives you a bit of both.
But more importantly in the range that you normally fly the gradual angle of attack really allows you to develop apparent wind and provides linear smooth power without any stupid jerky on/off power delivery you get on some wings. It allows you to really use your weight and edging with slight changes of the depower. So they have done someone with the wings profile, bridalling/pulleys to allow this, I'm no aeronautical engineer but it works.
This may go some way to explain eddies experience as I had the same and wanted to find out why!!! Hence my weird 20 minutes. Hey Eddie another thing you could try is climbing up the front lines after you have raced at the kite....and watch it drift back....because if it doesn't you will be in the drink...and that doesn't happen...lol
Psss time to get tony on the kite lol!!!
Pssss its got bucket loads of power in the right conditions....with a very good low end. Try looping it next time...yeeha
... watching Eddie from some distance away I noticed the Dice was noticeably quicker across the sky after a transision compared to the Evo and yet it didn't rip him off the board or rather he become un-balanced while transisioning. Eddie likes to get the kite low and slam into a hard carve, swing the kite on its ear and let it rip across the sky and the Dice would cross the wind window very quickly, and to my eyes, quicker than the Evo. With this sort of speed, the likes of the Rebel would rip him off the board and yet the Dice didn't. To me it showed the kite doesn't have the power spike like the Rebel so evidence it won't rip you off a wave.
Anyway, hope I get a turn on it today grab a ride and see for myself.
cheers,
Robbie
p.s. ... hey Eppo, FYI and forgive my nerdiness here, when writing the ps thing, each subsequent one should be another p or pps or ppps ect ie post script, post post script.
Yeh sounds like I'm having a longer and longer piss....lol!!
and yes as explained above it produces a real linear power increase and good forward turning.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Hey Sci...
you are 74kg, so same as me....mate it was 25 to 30 plus on saturday...what were you riding (what board)
and did you ever feel you could have been on an 8m??
I tried the DICE in boots, straps and strapless surfboard.
Great Jumping
Nice Unhooked
Superior drift for waves
Decent amount of depower
4 line ease and quick relaunch
Lots of options to trim the kite, increase power and turning speed.
I am putting my order in
Done
picked up a 6 and 10 dice today to go with my8.Also got 8/10/12/14/rebel tried the 8 rebel out in really gusty 15-30. What can i say .Rebel is rebel.
New bar feels great in the hand and is slightly thicker near the depower lines. Feels more positive plus its moulded in one piece so no problems with the grip if u keep hiting it with ure board james storm
Select to expand quotepgc said..
picked up a 6 and 10 dice today to go with my8.Also got 8/10/12/14/rebel tried the 8 rebel out in really gusty 15-30. What can i say .Rebel is rebel.
New bar feels great in the hand and is slightly thicker near the depower lines. Feels more positive plus its moulded in one piece so no problems with the grip if u keep hiting it with ure board james storm
hey pgc
im gonna go with the dice, u said u got a 10m and ur in vic? how much do u weigh?
im 78kg usually ride down gnotuck got an 11m octane, would u go the 11m dice or 12m dice? i want it for my summer seabreeze days
i was thinking going the 12m cos i can just depower yeah? not often is it ever over 25knots so i would think a 12 would be fine?
what do u think?
Select to expand quotepgc said..
picked up a 6 and 10 dice today to go with my8.Also got 8/10/12/14/rebel tried the 8 rebel out in really gusty 15-30. What can i say .Rebel is rebel.
New bar feels great in the hand and is slightly thicker near the depower lines. Feels more positive plus its moulded in one piece so no problems with the grip if u keep hiting it with ure board james storm
Christ pgc, do sell crack cocaine on the side or something??? Farq it man, why not get a set of Neos, fuses and evos while you are it!!
nah eppo i am only just 14. i am sponsored by north/smook/axis/kahuna street sups and fanatic. So i get to ride all the sweet stuff.Dad sells my old gear to get me the new stuff.Lucky boy eh!!!!!!!! see you at kite stock, james
Select to expand quotepgc said..
nah eppo i am only just 14. i am sponsored by north/smook/axis/kahuna street sups and fanatic. So i get to ride all the sweet stuff.Dad sells my old gear to get me the new stuff.Lucky boy eh!!!!!!!! see you at kite stock, james
Hi pgc does your father needs another son ? some much older ,not sponsored but north as well and good cooking italian style!!!!!!!!!!!
ciao
I know this may sound petty (because it is) but am I the only one who is irked by it being called Dice and not Die?
FYI, I like North as a brand. I own two Rebels and one "Vegases".
Stoked i had a chance to ride the 8m Dice last week... Again, they have made another great kite!
From a girls point of view; these kites (including the Neo, and all other North kites) are super light on the bar but you also know where it is all the time. they are easy to change the front lines as the adjuster strap is adjustable to suit our short arms, not to mention the safety is also great as it releases without any effort at all.
Back to the Dice... Although I haven't ridden it in the waves yet, this kite is awesome at going up wind, boosts plenty high enough for me and is grunty for an 8 without being overpowering (like last years Rebel).
I think this is the only kite i will need for Summer with a surf board & Twin tip.
Ok. I am from the land of skinny wind.
Can anyone comment on the 13 ?
Does it have similar characteristics to the smaller versions ?
hey all
been lucky enough to had the Dice & Rebel 9 m for a while now and had a few great wave sessions on both. wasnt allowed to postr anything till launch but both amazing kites.
have done a brief comparisom on my blog www.leepasty.co.uk/blog
also check out this quick vid on the Rebel and Dice last sat using GoPro 3 and chest mount
Hi mate, coming back to the uk next year, just wondering average winds in Cornwall? Where else in the uk is good for kite surfing? Great video thanks mate.
Hi mate, coming back to the uk next year, just wondering average winds in Cornwall? Where else in the uk is good for kite surfing? Great video thanks mate.
Has anyone ridden the park an the dice and could comment on the difference? They sound remarkably similar
