Which kite eats up gust?

[lisaped]

SS Rally is da.kite

[SBBeachbum]

Generally try freeride kite that flies far upwind in the wind window. The best kites ever made with this gust eating quality were five line Ozones. Try one if you still find a guy on it who knew how to maintain the line length on them. The fronts used to stretched on them so they became dead after first season with no maintenance. They don't make them with five lines anymore so it is not the same. Four line bridles are on and off and don't have the same smooth power delivery.

Agree. The original 2006 Instinct was outstanding in destroying gusts, crappy bar/safety and dismal relaunch aside.

[Gebi]

Slingshot Rally- 8 meter- Nice job TL. completely sick kite at eating gusts. 15 to 40 knots here in Luderitz Namibia- second lagoon where I have been riding and coaching speed kiter Rob Douglas. Check out some speed on the www.nassp.net blog.

[TomW]

This is a good question, but perhaps the general design breed of a kite is less important than the detailed execution of that breed. ( there is more differences between individual dogs than breeds of dogs).

Another question is " what is gusty"- I´m not a meteorologist- but seems to me that wind is gusty, changing directions, and turbulent at various altitudes ( 0-30 meters up). It changes speed, directions, and is swirling around. All of this is what we get up here on gnarly days.

My feeling is that a kite that has a shape that is more "C" and and supported by wind forces and bridles on LE, and larger LE diameter, is more stable than a kite supported by bridles only.

After 10 years of hit and miss on kite purchases i tend to lean towards bridle supported LE with a basic shape more C shaped and not too thin LE. These tend to jellyfish less.

That said i have a 2009 Best HP 10 with thinnest LE of any kite that is a great kite- and works well in moderate gusty conditions, but not in variable speed- direction- turbulent conditions.

Problem is that kite R&D is not done in 25-35 knots of wind in scandinavia, But so-called gusty conditions of tropic-temparate regions. They need to have these extreme test centers like the car manufactures have to test cars in extreme winter conditions.

Like: http://www.arjeplogtestcenter.com/

[Ozone Kites AUS]

The best gust absorbing kite that I've flown for a few years is the 2011 Ozone Catalyst, and yes I sell them.
Its a 3 strut SLE design, this years kite is fast, pivotal turning, no tip fluttering in turns, very easy relaunch and self launch and landing, jumps high, hang time not quite as good as other 2011 kites I've tried, but as a fun all rounder its awesome and will be my kite of choice this season.

[p__han1]

I'm in favor of a higher aspect kite. I find that they have a lot better top end and when a gust hits you get a really smooth acceleration rather than a violent jerk possibly off your edge. Mine jump really high too which is nice! (also in 30-35 knots you're going to jump really high anyways!)