After receiving the new Advance Kaiman4 10mts I tested the kite and made this Review.
Hope that helps to get to know better this kite:
Review Advance Kaiman4 10mts
The Advance Alligatoridae family evolved...
For 2011 the brand brings a proposal of kite like the kaiman3 but optimized ... seems like a sweet ... but refined!
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The reference of Advance in Kaiman4 10mts is keeping the kite profile as an instinctive use, high range of power, immediate response to command and easy ride.
To improve the Kaiman3 was no easy task and increase performance without losing the qualities always requires hard work. The option was to be made a small difference in the design of the trailing edge pronouncing the Delta shape, quite enhanced in conjunction with the results of changes in the attachment points of the bridles. The result arrived at a more energetic kite, more powerful, more direct when in power and a slightly faster to cross the window, without losing stability, upwind and ease of use.
For those who know kaiman3 and are going to fly the kaiman4 will have immediate feeling of continuity imposed by the manufacturer ... the kite kept his profile, and only when we begin to demand hard, will note differences. When we “work” hard the kite and demand it to rotate on the bottom, it responds faster and with more power on its way up. This is clearly the most significant difference in kaiman4. The kite has more power when going up and it gives a fastest spin on its self (pivot) when in power, which allows anyone who has more experience, to be able to ride with less wind than the K3. This feature is also explicit in the jump, the K4 has more lift ... more "bumper" feeling, more acceleration on the lift. In high winds (> 25knots) the K4 10mts seemed a little more challenging, not because it has less depower but because it is more energetic, requiring more skill in the command of the bar.
The Re-launch was already a strong point of these kites and now it is even easier ... the kite is out of the water faster and requires less technical skill to do it.
The performance in the Strapless discipline or on-shore surfing was improved... the kite turns better without power and rises more quickly with no need to worry so much to keep the bar away when coming down on a Wave.
The Loop became more fast, this is more evident on waveriding in lightwind conditions… in this field I noticed the performance increased, the downloop already reminded me the 8.5 and the work of the kite in a more traccioned surf was a little more faster and easier. If we go by pure surfing, without the power of the kite on the harness, still feels even more different because the kite turns faster without tension on the rear lines.
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In the Bar, the evolution is minimal ... and if my Review to 2010 bar was not very favorable, to this bar I didn’t see major developments and solutions. It has now a double depower cable that comes with stopper (3cm) to take more cm of the original course. The strap remains somehow soft, sometimes sliding, losing the memory of adjustment. In the 5th line, which only makes safety without structural functions, is now associated with the chicken-loop in a piece that gives the possibility to drop in pressure. In use, the bar pressure is the same ... but it felt a lightly lighter when the kite is in power without ever lose the position of the kite. We hope this bar evolves soon...
In the small differences, I noticed the substitution of pulleys by anti-friction ceramic rings, more functional but let's see if not more friccional to the bridle. Deflate valve is still small and did not help to easily deflate sizes above 10mts. The inflation is done by a no-return valve... much easier to inflate the smaller sizes.
In the cutting of the pieces, we have different panels in the canopy, the “K” symbol is no longer painted, it is now a tissue on the canopy with a notable backlight. In my point of view, the new color scheme is stronger, modern and it will remain with an “update“ look till the end of the season.
The Carry bag has changed a lot, there was concern with the needs of kitesurfer but the dimensions have been reduced ... can please some and displease others who like to carry everything “generously”.
Resuming, the K4 10mts has improved performance and approved as being a quality kite, good performance, ease of use, safety and superb skill of multiuse kite. Fully serves the needs for the common rider starting and the most experienced in the evolution Freeride / Waverider / big-air / maneuvers and up-wind. Still requires a lot of work from the manufacturer on the bar that didn’t became less functional but can be greatly improved and updated. It has on its forthcoming a all season time to give evidences and if it is like its predecessor's the commercial success is guaranteed. Finally, one positive point for a new dedicated section to Kaiman4 on the importer and manufacturer sites.
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This Review was made based exclusively on my experience with kaiman, I have 100kg and used directional board (strapped and strapless) over six sessions. I had the opportunity to test it with light winds (10knots), strong (up to 30knots), and strong gusty (10-25knots dense), small sea and easy, and even with strong sea on difficult conditions. It was a total of about 20 hours of testing.
Guincho, 26 OUT 2010
Diogo Paes