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Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:53 pm
by adrianoliguori
I currently ride a 12 m2 2010 Switchblade and 9 m2 2010 North Neo. Tried this carnival a 10,5 2013 Kahoona and my impressions are: low bar pressure and great low end. Dropped it twice (it stalls a lot in marginal winds) and couldn't relaunch it cause the wind dropped substantially...

But two important things: the QR needs a certain amount of force to "let go" and sometimes you wanna activated the quick release before you get a pull (like you dropped your kite on waves). The second thing is after you activated the QR, there is still a considerable pull on your leash...

I'm not saying it's a bad kite...I wouldn't just put on inexperienced hands...

BTW, I don't have anything to do with other kite brands... Just a regular kiter....

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 5:46 pm
by mz16
Sorry but I couldnt disagree with you more. I personally dont really like Kahoonas, I ride O.R. kites. However I have taught many many people with my kahoona V3, which i specifically bought for teaching the girlfriend (and succeeded!!!). She loves it, so do all the learners, the kite pulls hard and is super easy for them to control and relaunch. Theyve had not problems with QR, and love the simplicity. Best thing for beginners is that they dont have to worry about it, it just sits there while they are screwing around in the water, trying to figure out whats going on.


I like that the kite goes big in jumps and is super basic, but its not great for more advanced riders (too slow and boring). Sorry to disagree, but I cant think of a better option to learn on. Saying that having tried most brands out there.

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:11 am
by bnthere
kites are kites, and bars are bars. kites are not bars, bars are not kites.


i thought 2013 best bars were single front line leash systems. how is there still "considerable pull"?

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:18 am
by adrianoliguori
mz16 wrote:Sorry but I couldnt disagree with you more. I personally dont really like Kahoonas, I ride O.R. kites. However I have taught many many people with my kahoona V3, which i specifically bought for teaching the girlfriend (and succeeded!!!). She loves it, so do all the learners, the kite pulls hard and is super easy for them to control and relaunch. Theyve had not problems with QR, and love the simplicity. Best thing for beginners is that they dont have to worry about it, it just sits there while they are screwing around in the water, trying to figure out whats going on.


I like that the kite goes big in jumps and is super basic, but its not great for more advanced riders (too slow and boring). Sorry to disagree, but I cant think of a better option to learn on. Saying that having tried most brands out there.
Thank you for your input mz16! Maybe we're using in different conditions. I was teaching my girlfriend at a place with water a little below the chest height and with some current (river gorge). She dropped the kite, it was pulling her, she ejected successfully and was still being dragged because it tends to sit on the edge of the window (easily relaunchable!) but whenever you use the QR, you want all the power to go away! I understand on shallow water it'd be really easy to just stand up, stay there, do whatever you wanna do, and relaunch it...

Overall it's an awesome kite. It's very very well built... I was impressed with it's finishing. Easy to ride. Strong pull for its size. Low bar pressure. Nice colors. Pretty cool backpack. But still don't think it should be someone's first kite...

bnthere, didn't get what you mean... maybe you'd have to try this kite and see by yourself... I'm 66kg, riding a 10,5 m2 2013 Kahoona on 18 knots wind (average during this holiday...)

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:37 am
by adrianoliguori
Just found this: http://youtu.be/0PSz2I8drHY

Actually, I didn't know but I tried a 2012 Kahoona and bar... Not a 2013... The guy on the video says "it depowers ~ 80%..."

That's what I mean. These ~ 20% under experienced hands, it's nothing... But for whoever is learning, it might not be so good (depending on where you're riding, as I said earlier...).

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:06 am
by Dr Makani
I was riding Best for years and still have a 13 Waroo in my quiver - still kinda' my go-to-machine when I just need air and traction for new moves.

The QR
Actually I always liked their simple design for de-power. It was just a strap far up the centerlines and out of the way, but close enough when you needed it - brilliant and simple.
The QR on the other hand needs a little TLC every now and then. It's just a plastic core in a plastic shell and tends to stick. Dirt and sand between core and shell are increasing friction and obviously get the QR 'sticky'. So, every time before rigging my kite I made it to the waterline, dipped my bar into the water, released the QR and cleaned it. Actually a habit we all should have checking our QRs on a regular base.

the kite
Best kites don't have a high de-power. Even under full de-power I still can feel about 20% - 30% of their throttle. That's what causes this kite to stall in light wind when you fly it too close to the edge. Another mistake of many owners is wrong trim of the back lines. Yes, it looks funky flying this kite with saggy back lines. But if you rig them too tight, your kite will stall and you'll have a hard time to relaunch. Best kites (12+) are like elephants: They roll slow, they turn slow, but boy, when this kite comes alive! They pull like trucks.

So, you need to take your time to dial in the critter. Your bar should be on idle in the middle while the kite is stable in 12 - your back lines will bulge, don't worry, that's how's meant to be

I love this kite - it's simple and powerful. Once you get all dialed in, got your stopper ball set - it's like kiting under cruise control on the fast lane!

peace

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 2:51 am
by robertovillate
mz16 wrote:Sorry but I couldnt disagree with you more. I personally dont really like Kahoonas, I ride O.R. kites. However I have taught many many people with my kahoona V3, which i specifically bought for teaching the girlfriend (and succeeded!!!). She loves it, so do all the learners, the kite pulls hard and is super easy for them to control and relaunch. Theyve had not problems with QR, and love the simplicity. Best thing for beginners is that they dont have to worry about it, it just sits there while they are screwing around in the water, trying to figure out whats going on.


I like that the kite goes big in jumps and is super basic, but its not great for more advanced riders (too slow and boring). Sorry to disagree, but I cant think of a better option to learn on. Saying that having tried most brands out there.
agree with mz16 on this one

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:35 am
by mz16
I guess the QR could use work. But to me, and i know the safety freaks will go nuts, this is not the most important aspect of a kite. Its very important to practice it and know how it works, but these systems fail all the time and its important to know what alternatives you have if they dont work (totally disconnect from the kite)

For beginners, I have found the most important thing is stability and simplicity. For that, the kite is perfect. Relaunches, tough built, pulls hard, doesnt jolt all over the place. And when they plant it over their head it NEVER overflies, (i have it tuned correctly) which is HUGE for beginners. Its crazy how many modern kites will overfly, and beginners (despite my most desperate efforts) always chill with the kite at 12 oclock when they need a break or when they need to think.

That being said, yeah the QR is a little funky on the bar, but if the conditions are optimal, (and they better be if someone is learning) then you dont end up yanking it that much...

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:56 am
by Anabatic_co_nz
We all know the rule never teach your girlfriend!
If you can't teach her how to use a Kahoona and it's safety options correctly, one of the nicest kites available, then she is going to miss out on skills required for all kites.
Sounds like you need to get your girlfriend professional lessons.

If there is no load on the Kahoona QR then you just un hook the chicken loop.
Pretty bloody obvious stuff.
It does not pack itself up either ;)

If the leash is still attached then that depends on how the student has been advised to attach it.
The situations and rigging setup taught need to cover several options. And be applicable to most all brands.

Your specific location and requirements are quite unique and such a post headline "Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners" is way off the mark.
I'm guessing you gave the girlfriend a big fright and you tried to save face by blaming the gear.
:nono:
Treat her to some professional lessons and she will be happy again & you will be the man.

Re: Best Kahoona - don't recommend for beginners

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 12:24 pm
by Westozzy
I have taught a number of crew on a kahoona V2, just perfect. Relaunches so easy, steady eddy power and will just sit there. Another is a wainmen. The quick release does have a bit of pull on this but nothing to worry about?

Wow if the QR is so dangerous might be time to throw the newbies on my edges... :D :D