Dathe true on the technique thing. The rebel in the waves never gelled with me. Some guys rave about them I didn't get it. Stalls on the turn then picks up way to much speed and apparent wind. It also doesn't drift that well and it shouldn't it's a high aspect kite and li some speed in the wing
Thanks Eppo, I'm sure it's 90% my in-experience but it does seem to want to blast across the down wind zone, or if I just board turn and leave it I get slack lines. But plenty of people ride them well down wind waves so I'm sure it is technique too. Plenty of sheeting out and gentle kite movements maybe. But I think I want to try a neo, Kim makes it look so good. But then again he would probably be as good with a rebel too.
Hmmm...
I have just had the privilege of using the 2014 Rally in Mauritius for 10 days in awesome conditions, all I can say at the moment is this kite is very very good when you get to try this kite you will see why, there has been changes to the bar that in my opinion make this one of the best bars on the market and why below the bar depower can be so great stay tuned...
Lucky boy! Tell more, what is the bar pressure like, I found the 2013s a bit heavy but otherwise really awesome kites.
Whoa, 2014 Rally! Now please tell us about the bar pressure thing, as I too felt the '13 had a bit too much.
Other news on it too, please.
Thanks!
Dathe true on the technique thing. The rebel in the waves never gelled with me. Some guys rave about them I didn't get it. Stalls on the turn then picks up way to much speed and apparent wind. It also doesn't drift that well and it shouldn't it's a high aspect kite and li some speed in the wing
Thanks Eppo, I'm sure it's 90% my in-experience but it does seem to want to blast across the down wind zone, or if I just board turn and leave it I get slack lines. But plenty of people ride them well down wind waves so I'm sure it is technique too. Plenty of sheeting out and gentle kite movements maybe. But I think I want to try a neo, Kim makes it look so good. But then again he would probably be as good with a rebel too.
Hmmm...
Yeh Kim used rebels before the neo I think. If I was seriously into wave riding on a SB neo would be right up there to try.
I have just had the privilege of using the 2014 Rally in Mauritius for 10 days in awesome conditions, all I can say at the moment is this kite is very very good when you get to try this kite you will see why, there has been changes to the bar that in my opinion make this one of the best bars on the market and why below the bar depower can be so great stay tuned...
Lucky boy! Tell more, what is the bar pressure like, I found the 2013s a bit heavy but otherwise really awesome kites.
Hi Cutch
Yes bar pressure is definitely down it seems SS have really found the middle ground between the 2012 and 2013 rally's -they still have the grunt of the 2013 but lighter on the bar and a little bit quicker, No doubt photos will leak soon, very cool graphics - quite a different kite overall
what's with the red thumbs Grinch's - oh thats right I spent 10 days in Mauritius riding perfect waves and you didn't - I'm sorry
what's with the red thumbs Grinch's - oh thats right I spent 10 days in Mauritius riding perfect waves and you didn't - I'm sorry
That will do it everytime Carl. Did you manage to score any demos to bring home and let people play with??
Also consider the Best Cabo or TS v2. I've recently swapped over to TS's and they have a great unhooked down the line feel. Had a recent session in 18-21Knots on a 9m and had plenty of power. Depends what waves you ride, Metro Mush or Gero gargantuan fire bowls P.S didn't see any Reo's, Rally's, Drifters, RPM's or Neo's taking on a fearsome Point Moore last weekend
I was out there that day on a 7m rebel and going ok, weighing 81 bottles-of-red. Though I wasnt in the volcanic zone like you were. Well I was in the foothills, you were right inside the crater!
In fact there was nobody else but you out there austin! Whats a TS by the way, is that a brand?
Its a best kite dave. Visit the other main man up there, if he's still around. Been using them for A while now.
what's with the red thumbs Grinch's - oh thats right I spent 10 days in Mauritius riding perfect waves and you didn't - I'm sorry
That will do it everytime Carl. Did you manage to score any demos to bring home and let people play with??
Will have demos very soon but they have to be in Tahiti in 4 weeks for more testing
They will soon after be doing the rounds
Its a best kite dave. Visit the other main man up there, if he's still around. Been using them for A while now.
yep its a best kite, the Cabo is the dedicated Best Surf kite and the TS more of an all-rounder, its a great wave kite too but more suited to a variety of wind/wave directions. Puppet put up post a few pages back hit the nail on the head, two distinctive wave kite groups, but how often do you get cross off, perfect park and ride?
have been riding rrd religions for the last year.ticks all the boxes in the surf.had a rebel.great kite.but five lines in the surf doesnt work.ive had the religion roll on itself in wipeouts,no problems she rolls over and up she goes.to many great things about the religion to write about .my advise is demo one and see what you think.
I have been riding the Best lineup all over Australia for the past 8 months from WA's Margaret River, SA, Bells, Phillip Island, and just about every main break on the East Coast starting from Vic. I have had the Cabo, TS and Kahoona in every condition around OZ and this is my personal opinion on just the surf side of these kites. I only ride strapless on my surfboard and sometimes finless on a skim in anything from small mush to overhead. A skim rides a lot faster on the wave so drift is important to me.
The best kite thats allow you to actually surf the wave and use its power is the Cabo. It provides the most drift and you can easily avoid being pulled off of the wave. It unhooks well and it rides great in crap-perfect conditions. It is not just a perfect condition kite like most people state, it easily outperforms the others in perfect conditions. The kite isn't as fast as the TS but allows you to loop down the line without generating more power than you want. It is a 3 strut design which makes the kite lighter. When you are riding a wave at a certain speed going towards the kite it reduces the amount of wind the kite is getting. Heavier kites you need to loop them to keep them from falling but the Cabo stays up and doesn't need much attention. Anyone coming from a surfing background will prefer this kite. It is dedicated for waves.
If you ride strapped and pull yourself around in the surf you might like the TS the most as it's a very quick kite. The drift is the least of the 3 but still excels in the surf compared to most other kites. It unhooks well and turns quick while you are riding towards it. It also generates the most power while looping. If you ride a twin tip in the surf this kite is your best bet. It is the fastest kite out of the three and also allows you to ride other styles. If you like riding freestyle, unhooking, jumping and riding surf then this is the best kite to do them all. If I only had one quiver it would be the TS as I like riding all styles and it down extremely well at all of them.
The Kahoona is a 4 strut design which has a lot of drift and insane wind range. If you ride in light/marginal or gusty winds this is the kite to ride. It was Best's surf kite before they designed one specifically for waves. It turns the slowest out of the three and doesn't need to much attention while riding. The loops have more power than the Cabo but not the TS. It is also a good freestyle and race kite. I prefer this kite when the wind is all over the place.
My preference for just the surf aspect of the these kites are
1. Cabo
2. Kahoona
3. TS
www.daveserrano.us
Serrano,
What other dedicated wave kites have you tried? Are you saying that the Cabo is the best wave kite out of the Best lineup? Or the best kite out of what other manufacturers have to offer?
Also, it might help to include a little disclaimer saying who you are sponsored by.
I'm just explaining the Best lineup. I can't give feedback on any other brands as I have only tried a few others lately and the conditions weren't good enough to give reviews. If you would like a demo and are close by I can let you have a go, I'm in North Queensland away from the surf but will be heading south in a month or so.
Sorry for not clarifying that I ride with Best.
www.daveserrano.us
Bws must be pretty damn good?
I had a bandit 5, s
And don't concur with the above. But to him he may be right but to me he is wrong, hence demo, just opinions here.
Much depends on where you surf.
The type of wind and the type of waves.
It makes a big difference if you only have waves when there is a lot of wind (30 knots or more - like North Sea) or if you have ocean waves with hardly wind.
North Sea: the waves are very close to each other so you need a fast turning kite which goes upwind well for the strong currents.
Oceans: any wave kite will do as long it drifts well.
Honestly I believe ocean surfing is less demanding than North Sea surfing.
Bws must be pretty damn good?
Try a bandit 5 or 6. Kicks ass over the ozones lot more fun as they are good and very refined at all disciplines but also killer surf kites.
As another guy said they jump and hang much better but have equal power, sped and drift as any of them.
Best all round kite I've flown over last last 7 years.
Are you in footstraps? Surfboard only, in waves or do you tend to do big jumps more?
Bandit is a nice kite that packs a real punch. But I have to say it doesn't really drift that well. I only got off the b6 Sunday. Fly and follow it is great, but true drift is not apparent compared to all the dedicated wave kites I have tried. REO, Religion, BWS, Cabo, etc.
You can't have it all there is always a comprimise. It works in the waves yes for sure, but to say it drifts ....that is stretching its capabilities. But it might suffice for most. Just the bar that lets it down.
Bandit is a nice kite that packs a real punch. But I have to say it doesn't really drift that well. I only got off the b6 Sunday. Fly and follow it is great, but true drift is not apparent compared to all the dedicated wave kites I have tried. REO, Religion, BWS, Cabo, etc.
You can't have it all there is always a comprimise. It works in the waves yes for sure, but to say it drifts ....that is stretching its capabilities. But it might suffice for most. Just the bar that lets it down.
Eppo I have not tried the North Dise in good down the line waves But what do you think Between Reo 2013 and Dise re Drift ,ect I am hoping that the new Reo will be as good if not better re power for medium jumping , power riding etc
Yeh we are scratching our heads on that one hey. In the end probably the REO I'd say. But for our use in our conditions, its harder to tell than you would think considering the dice jumps really well. If I was gonna stay on the surface (and I hardly see the point myself) then yeh I'd still maybe be looking for a REO or the new BWS on a SB but again i could be wrong hey. Lets see what further dice reviews say I think and remember the new REO is still to come!!
Yeh we are scratching our heads on that one hey. In the end probably the REO I'd say. But for our use in our conditions, its harder to tell than you would think considering the dice jumps really well. If I was gonna stay on the surface (and I hardly see the point myself) then yeh I'd still maybe be looking for a REO or the new BWS on a SB but again i could be wrong hey. Lets see what further dice reviews say I think and remember the new REO is still to come!!
Yeh i love the reo for the waves but it would be nice to have some attributes of the Dise Due to 70% of my kiting is in ordinary conditions.So i like to jump and back would loops to keep me sane But they are hitting the new Reo will have more grunt Here,s hoping Cheers
Yeh we are scratching our heads on that one hey. In the end probably the REO I'd say. But for our use in our conditions, its harder to tell than you would think considering the dice jumps really well. If I was gonna stay on the surface (and I hardly see the point myself) then yeh I'd still maybe be looking for a REO or the new BWS on a SB but again i could be wrong hey. Lets see what further dice reviews say I think and remember the new REO is still to come!!
Yeh i love the reo for the waves but it would be nice to have some attributes of the Dise Due to 70% of my kiting is in ordinary conditions.So i like to jump and back would loops to keep me sane But they are hitting the new Reo will have more grunt Here,s hoping Cheers
have you tried the catalyst vend? That is essentially a reo with more boost and grunt. sounds like what you need.
Agreed with plummett. Maybe some larger cats to allow you to do the other stuff in good winds, then a smaller REO for big swell and big winds or mix and match. Cat in the ozone range looks more your thing. Grunt as you called it on the new reos will not necessarily give you jumping ability etc.
Ozone I think will make the REO and even better surf kite, they don't need it to jump etc, they have a cat for that. But you can still jump the reos just not that float. But rob is an amazing designer so you never know
the reo is designed to ride waves with a surfboard, any jumping ability will diminish this and compromise it's surfability.
I hope they don't do this or it will just become another freeride kite
Its a load of bollocks that you carnt jump on the reo, set your lines and its got a fair bit of punch, ive had powerpole high jumps on the reos,