So here we go, after riding for about a month on 14m SwitchBlade 14m (2010) i grab a 16m X-Bow.
And after a few rides i can point those main difference between SB and XBOW.
1)14m SB is slower (in turns) than 16 XBOW.
My xbow turns almost as rapid & fast as my 10m BanditSix! (Sick!)
(NOTE: The XBOW have a "lines" settings which alow you to make is "less steering\more depower mode". I didnt test it yet. )
Well, i find that "fast steering thing not a bad one, but not a good one. Its just there.
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2)Water re-lauch. WHHAAA! That point was my main surprise. In a short term: i never saw a kite which re-launch so freaking fast. This is a pure magic.
Common situation: Kite fall on the water directly on "12 oclock". You just pull one line and in a matter of 2 seconds kite is already in the edge of the wind window. And the next second its up in the air. This is crazy.
I crash badly few times, but i re-launch was such a piece of cake. I was relaunching my kite with one hand whle was looking for a board. Thats a good thing.
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3) But here comes the bad news. I guess its some kind of pay-back because of the SHAPE of the kite which allow it to turn fast & relaunch easily..... hang time.
f***.
On SwitchBlade: You ride, you enge on the water, u send the kite in the up-air, you pull the bar and you r flying. Then you land - and you emmidiately feel the "power" on lines.. and so you basically continue to ride in on of the direction. Good.
On a X-Bow: U ride. U edge. U send the kite to the air. U fly. U land...
and on the next second the kite falls on water right in front of you.
The only question here: Will the kite fall in a "good" position, or will it twist the lines arount other lines or even around the kite.
Basically what happen: When you pull the bar & jump, for some seconds you "loosen" all 4 lines because you fly "under" the kite.
So, as soon as all 4 lines "dont feel your weight" pull them - on that same moment kite immediately start to fall down on the water. There is no way to stop this unless a wind will occasionaly blow directly on the falling kite (happened with me once.
So, my point:
On a SwitchBlade i only have that "falling kite" problem once or twice during 15+ sessions.
On a X-Bow i have that issue almost on 2\5 of the jumps.
And im not sure if there is some ways to play about that issue.
Change the lines settings? I dont think something will change.
Change the jump technic? Well..... im not sure about that as well.
So far my resume: XBOW have its "cool" features. But so far, i dont get how to use it for AirStyle because of that "no-hang-time" issue. Okay, will test it more - and let u guys know.