Talked to someone today (Paul Fox?) who told me the Spark is heavy. Haven't seen it myself so I can't confirm.

bummer :(

Today was definitely epic. Solid 20 plus for 3 hours.
Donna and myself had a great time, at a spot all our own.
Felt like the good old days.

Today was the 2nd time I've ridden my 2008 waroo. The first time was in 25-30 knots. Today was like 15-18.

I wouldn't normally choose a 9m 08 waroo for 15 knots but I had too because a bird broke the bridle on my 12m waroo.

I was riding a 129x40 and I weigh 196lbs.

The new waroo is more sensitive to back stalling if you try to flare it for more grunt (more so than the 06 waroo) so you have to trim it just right. But once it's set you don't have to mess with it.

For a frame of reference I used to wait until 28knots to get on my 9m C kite.

Diving the kite hard today would yank me 2 feet out of the water (in 15-18 knots!) ... but unhooking was still easy and unhooked kiteloops were seriously a lot of fun.

Probably one of the best kites I've ever ridden (and I am expecting similar from other brands btw... this is my only 2008 kite). 3 years ago I would have thought it was impossible.

In 3 more years we may all be riding small kites all the time!

Yes, the Spark is a bit on the heavy side because of it's construction. It's a Carafino board with laminates on the top and bottom. Still rides really nice and for the price you can't beat it.
Just my .02 cents ;)

I'm a gonna pimp my new custom made kite surfboard!

Oh yeah , it costs a little more than alot of those factory made boards but I really don't mind spending extra money on this one:

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...hpacific_S.jpg

Because it is such a great board! Slashes waves like no other board I've ever ridden, goes upwind like mad, goes downwind effortlessly and accelerates down the line instantly or slows for setting up on a wave at will. You can either gybe it or go toeside, I personally gybe it. The quad fin setup is definitely very slashy but holds its drive extremely well at the same time.
It is a 5 ' 9 " long by 18" wide and 2.125" thick
Can you believe it is hand-custom shaped specifically for my size weight and conditions I ride? unreal.
I think this is the future of all kitboarding, these boards are trully superior and improve your boardriding hugely.

(disclosure: I do not work for this shop nor do I get any rider discounts. I pay full pop. I am just pimping for the pure joy I get out of riding this board)

http://www.northpacificsurfboards.com
http://www.northpacificsurfboards.com/surfb_kite.shtml

Hell that picture doesn't do it any justice. I looked at that board in person and it's a work of art... it looks like a beautiful custom 6ft short board but tiny, and the paint job us much nicer than that photo (naked white with a nice airbrush rail fade).

Perfect outline and rocker, that board HAS to be awesome. It was far to beautiful for me to consider asking to ride it.

That says a lot from someone who never had an interest in directionals.

here is a non biased review :)
(i cant believe im actually contributing to this thread, but those who know me know im not biased to any brand, i ride what i like and what i can afford)

08 flexi (134x40) vs nobile555 (135x40)
both boards truely rock !!!!!

i rode them back to back in solid 16-18 on a 15m 08 roo...

the 555 is smoother in the chop, felt more like last years flexi,
they both got up and planed about the same but the flexi felt like it locked its edge a little better and pointed up wind a little bit more, this is due to the flex character of the boards differing a little... the 55 has flex throughout most of the board, this allows it to take the chop a little better, the flexi is stiffer in the moddle 80% but has more flex in the tips, this helps it to lock its edge better and give it a touch more pop......

basically both board rock, it just depends on what you are looking for... i would say the flexi takes a bit more skill to ride, it took me a while for getting the feel of the stiffer edge, but once you do you can feel the difference when you load it and release.....


also i rode the 11m Rev, back to back with the 08 waroo and nemi hp...
nice kite seems like a cross between the 08 and 06 waroo, very fast, nice power...
if the price was the same for the rev and waroo, it would be a tough choice....


peace

(keep the love guys)

all kiterz rock.
xcept ricky day
peace

Please people, lets try to keep the threads ON topic

Lets keep it about kiting and having fun.

Thanks Raul. :)