2015 Rebel 18 Airstyle Review

[Toby]

I think a heavy riders needs to fly it with a 5th when you put load on it.

I saw lighter riders riding it with 4 though.

[Zkatez]

Today I tried the Rebel 18 with 32 lines.

Soft setting on kite, outside bar connection.

The kite felt really good, not too heavy on the bar and still turning nicely.

The wind was light, maybe 12 knots. I stayed easily upwind, could do jumps like Front 360 Boardoff, KickFlip and Boardpass. 93 kg and 128x38 board.

This could be really interesting now...having two bars, one kite and one board and maybe a range from 12-30 knots

Hoping for more wind the next days!

Toby, can you really do a boardpass with 12 knots? I need at least 18. How do you do that without kiteloop? Real quicky i quess.

[Westozzy]

For light weights like me 72 kg 15m would be the size. I still have to use 07-08 Edges as a reference because nothing else comes to mind. Those kites looked like inflatable Flysurfer Speeds, high aspect slow turning with insane hang time but they only made 13m max at that time. Powerful kites like Dyno is not for me especially in those sizes maybe 14m Rebel and get used to the faster turning. I like the idea of a fifth line going out on something big in too much wind for both for stability and safety.

Hey man good to see you here you always have some interesting ideas 'left of the normal' that I like.

No mate you couldn't me more incorrect for airstyle. I thought the same, so I bought both a 16 and an 18m 2011 dyno. The 16m now sits in my shed or I lend it to my 90kg mate, and I'm riding the 18m when he and my brother (83kg) are on the 16..

I'm 73kg, sometimes wet!!

18 depowers better for some bloody reason than the 16. Each session I'm landing everything I try..infact I'm getting so bloody confused now that half way through some 720 board off, flick whatever I forget what I actually intended to do and sometimes I go cock up becuase if it...must be funny to watch. I look forward to the day I don't think and just do whatever comes...lol.

I'm sorry to be firm on the incorrect, but you are I'm afraid. But hey you only know this until you actually get on these kites and fly them. Oh and a small board too.

[Westozzy]

I think a heavy riders needs to fly it with a 5th when you put load on it.

I saw lighter riders riding it with 4 though.

Yeh I've ridden the these kites on 4 line since day dot (sometime s on a fifth as it has a microloop ...still getting my head around these). I'm light, not a problem...but big guys..it's not loaded but it does tension up under load..although you have to careful you give it enough leeway...as I know of a heavy guy who kept ripping the nose of the kite (where the fifth) joins. They aren't loaded but they do get loaded for a bit if you know what I mean. Do t load them too much though!!

[marlboroughman]

My board is 127x37 so I think I am OK there smaller would have to be a board for kids. The 18m Rebel is a big investment so I would have to try it before I dump pile of cash on it for sure. Will be in Hatteras in few weeks so maybe they let me try it. By the way I don't have the ego to do or own what other people are doing, owning. I rather stay on the safe side especially knowing restrictions and dangers at my kite spots. I always use smaller equipment than everybody else and it suits me. I don't have to do the number of revolutions Toby is doing. I would be perfectly fine doing half.

[Westozzy]

Exactly that's why I like your input, you do what you think is right! If everyone followed suite we'd all be mowing the lawn pretending we are surfing behind a kite or in boots pretending we are behind a boat or at a cable park...(although the guys that do do this (boat, cable) and kite to improve their skills in this area I consider the real Mcoy...not the multitude in boots going up and back and pretending to be cool and with it!!

Anyhow I digress. Agree I'd be happy doing half of what Toby does

[marlboroughman]

I like to see you Toby using glasses. Consider a FCS hat too. Much better and better looking than DaKine but not as popular even though it is half the price. For anyone having a hard time finding it try direct from FCS. The UV is talking its tall on us in the long term.
http://www.surffcs.com/shop/surf-in-wat ... wet-bucket

[Westozzy]

Yeh I know I should use glasses, but I hate the damn salt on them, can't see a thing after a while.

[marlboroughman]

I had an eye operation for pterygium (surfer'seye) already I don't want another one. Glasses are a must especially down south. Hat helps too for both the eyes and the skin. You can't cheat UV in the long term.

[Toby]

Yes, I am VERY quick with the pass, like a handle pass

I think I remember when once my 5th line broke...the kite didn't fly at all.

I use glasses since a long time now!
First, to protect my eyes, they are too important not to!
Plus, it keeps the annoying spray of my eyes.
Normally I have to clean then once in water wirh my lycra and then I am fine for a 2-3 hrs session.
And think safety....a friend of mine once got a line into her face...maybe her glasses saved her eye, she only had a small cut on her lower forehead...