What kite would you choose?
 

Let me start, first, by saying that I ride a quiver of '06 kites. (9) and (16) waroos as well as an (11) sonic. These are my first set of kites and have served me well thus far. Being my first kites, they've taken some abuse. I'd like to buy a new quiver once I graduate (december :D ) but, with all the recent introductions of new kites I'm honestly not sure what to get. Obviously, I will demo before I buy but would like to hear what some of the local riders think. I know we can all get some great unbiased reviews from this forum and I've seen quite a few kite brands lurking these waters lately. I've been reading a little bit on kiteforum but we all know how that place is when discussing manufacturers. If you guys were going to buy a new quiver, what kite(s) would you choose? Any year...2007...2008...

I think a lot of the 08 kites are very good. Many of them are very well priced, and imo, there is no need to buy the expensive brands when they aren't that much (if any) better. Just more expensive.
We have Steve who has the freak dogs, Bayflite has Ocean Rodeo, Toby with Eclipse and a couple other brands (like Best and Royal) that have good prices for good kites too. I noticed WSW carries Ozone now. The Instinct and Instinct Sport have insane wind range and are good kites.
The 11m kite is like having a 13m and 9m Waroo all in one. It's a hard sell though, due to the bar and line setup looking all weird.

I would try to demo first if possible. It will probably just come down to preference in what you like.
We haven't had much wind lately, so demos have been sparse.
I am really happy with the new Waroos and got a 9m.
Besides that, my 15m Hyper is currently being fixed by Keith at Advanced Sails. I am going to try to make that kite last one more season.

Well, I was in the same situation... my 06 waroos have been good to me BUT they are slow, fluttery, and prone to invert if pushed past the limit. However, they jump well, behave well (ie: don't hindenburg) and are predictable.

I was going to ditch my waroos and move to Era's or the OR Rise, but then I tried the 08 waroo. It's totally NOT the same kite. It's more of a hybrid, doesn't flutter at all, turns ultra fast (or slow depending on how you set the rear bridle) and it jumps to the moon. I rode it once and bought a 9m 08 waroo (even after I swore no more waroos). It also has a different bridle configuration with two pulleys on each bridle and none on the back lines, and the bridles are completely different (more lines, attached in different places). Battens are reduced to one at the trailing edge. It will also complete a kite loop without stalling at 9:00 or 3:00. I talked to Daryl at extreme when I ordered my kite and he's been riding the 9m from 17 and up (and nothing else)... so it's almost a one kite quiver (but not quite).

So before you buy anything, ride a bunch of kites. So far I've liked the Ocean Rodeo Rise, the Royal Era (in size 14+), and the 08 waroo. I've heard the SS rev and the new Eclipse thruster is pretty good also. All of these kites are a huge improvement over the 06 waroo. Also, if Scott bought a waroo you know it's good... he's ridden just about everything (having worked at extreme kites) and was never a big fan of Best kites. So the kite won him over this time. :) He describes it as a hypertype without the over flying tendancy.

Also, if you get a waroo and don't like it you can return it for a refund within 30 days no questions asked... so you can't really lose.

BTW I'm not brand loyal... I was ready to ditch the waroo until I tried the new one.

Bayflite sells Best kites at good prices, send him a PM if u r interested. Extreme kites is also a good choice, they have a ton of them and you will get them next day no matter what.

Good advice guys. I've demo'd the Rise (liked it), REV, and switch3 (although i was too overpowered to really get a feel for it). I'll buy any brand of kite, as long as it performs great and has a good price point. Sounds like it's the '08 waroo that has won ya'll over so far....or at least the 9m anyways.

all kites rock.
the thing i'd be willing to pay good money for is clean wind for several days in a row.
best has the 30 day guarantee(even if your dog eats it).
ocean rodeo has a lifetime warranty for repairs.
slingys and cabbys are too expensive and way too many models.
billy always has plenty of flexifoils to demo.
sean...congrats on gettin through college without a trust fund.
it says alot about you.
major props bro.
l8

Thanks bro, I appreciate that. Sometimes I wish I had a trust fund. My bank account would look much better! lol :p

Ditto, all kites rock and we just need some good wind!!! I always have Thrusters up for demo as Scott and Tom previously stated. Just ask and you can take them out for as long as you like. :)

Thanks Toby, I may have to give you a shout in the near future.

Hey Toby,

I would like to demo a 08 Thruster. Any chance to fly one soon?

I am calling Dimitri now to see if I can get a demo day set up. More to come shortly...

EDIT: I just spoke to Chris Cousins at Eclipse. He is going to try and get a demo day set up, has a whole bunch of kites coming in and will either be sending someone down for a Florida tour in the near future or will send me some demo kites for a few days. I'll keep you guys updated as to when and where!!!

Demo Kites
 

Since we're pimpin'...I will have the 2008 Freak Dogs at East Beach early Saturday and Sunday morning if anyone wants to try them. They are available for loan during the week with advance notice.
Here's an email I got from the designer Eric Hertsens, when I asked a few simple questiuons about the kite:
{{{Well, since I work with 3 very busy schools and see what happens in 4 others + all the tourist that come kite in Cabarete. We really had the opportunity to learn what NOT to do.
We use 1 st quality fabrics, you can buy these fabrics in different grades of quality and price, they all look the same to the eye, so the consumer does not know. Some companies do take advantage of this.
I do not use marketing gimmicks, like the horrendous one pump system, seen to many tourist wreck their vacation with these.
Then there is the design, I cut my patterns and lay the paneling so that the fabric warp line is oriented in line with the prevailing stresses, now this is a huge CAD job and takes 3 times the proto types and time to get it right. Most other brands just click one time in Surfplan software and have their kite, hence the all have a similar layout, panels oriented front to back whit some design cut that runs trough it. I also use a wide trailing edge Dacron strip on the Trailing edge to help keep the kite one piece after a serious crash.
Our kites will stretch in to shape, they need to be “burned in” for a while, brand new they might have a wrinkle or two but after 30 hr on the water they are completely stretched in to shape.
I am a very busy man, I do all this work myself design, CAD, manufacturing, testing, photo, video, graphics, web, accounting, orders etc and on top I write all my software myself…. It’s me with my Dominican kids and the software that runs the business. Lets put it this way, we are passionately immersed in Kiteboarding and “everything” it entails.
I have to get back to work… working on speeding the ripper so my kids can do double kite loops and on a new board for Ariel so he can spend les time staying up wind in the competition area and do more tricks 

C-ya}}}
.................................................. .....................................

My opinion of the kites:
The 15 has enough low end and turning speed to stay upwind in almost nothing with the right technique.(Lite wind challenge any1?) I will also mention that these kites are well built, with (more than most) dacron and kevlar. It is an ULTRA FLAT bow design, and LE is supported nose to tips with its bridle system. Rear line "loop" w/pulley steers the kite smoothly and quickly from 2 points on the wingtip. Swivel (above CL) for untwisting lines on the fly, and plenty of knots on the leaders for untangling or tuning right at the bar. Front line safety and QR CL, larger oh shit handles, etc..
NO INVERSION/EZ RELAUNCH
Customer service DIRECTLY from the DESIGNER??? PRICELESS
Price point??????(dirt cheap)!!!!!!
COLLEGE CLUBS (and sean) call for special pricing.
MADE and tested in the DR, not China.
Steve (813)389-3683
http://freakdogkites.com/

Imagine that......Yeah I def. saw a bunch of those EH kites while I was out there. Those dominicans rip!

Nemi HP's
 

I sailed all Bularoo's last season and they were great...One pump and leading protection...never ripped one or blew out any bladders..worked great....
This year I upgrade to all Best Nemis Hp....they are great kites..relaunching is very easy...none of my other Best relaunch this easy and they have great up wind advantage..the leading edge is so small with the Cuban Fiber that it goes futher up into the window and just flys there...non of my other kites have done this..so it will take you up wind with a noticble difference...But like Scott said earlier..I think nowdays all the 08 kites are pretty good some just are a little better than others..riders preference...ride them and decide...thought I would put in a couple words on the nemisis HP.. It is a great kite I have and rode all sizes....14, 12, 9, 7, good colors and fast turning because it takes less to fly it thru the wind...