Kitech FRS

[TomW]

Today I did back to back test of FRS 9m and my 2+ year old, and 250 hours used ozone hyperlink v1 ul 9m on same bar with 20m lines.
I'm 76kg on gong m pro. Wearing 6mm wetsuit and gear probably 80kg.
Wind was solid 6-8 ms with some short holes to 4-5ms.
I was out over an hour on the FRS.
FRS is a great kite. No question about it.
Compared to my ozone:
Slightly faster turning initiation. Faster down loops.
A bit less low end I think, but hard to tell. Kite has less projected area I think, looks that way from the bar.
Same drift, stability, inflation at launch.
Holds air better. My ozone laying on beach deflates in 5 min. FRS still more than 50% inflated.( FRS I tested has 10 hours on it).
The guy who owns the FRS used my kite and had same conclusions. He felt my ozone was less stable on tips, but admitted its probably his unfamiliarity.

If you are looking to transition over to foil kite for freeride HF, this is an economical alternative, really I think you'll be happy. You can get a quiver 6-9-12 UL for 50% of cost of Ozone.

I've been overwhelmingly happy with my ozone hyperlink HLs., best kites I've ever owned for whatever I was doing with those other lei kites on TT, Surfboards and HF. The 9m has been used 85%of my sessions and flys like new without any adjustments. But the cloth is getting worn, and it's now at middle age. So looking at replacing it, was thinking about the FRS.
Considering how much I use this size, I'll probably get a HL v2 9m to replace it, really want that little bit of extra low end.
But if I was getting a whole quiver, the FRS would be hard to resist.

Edit: checked the published data:
PA of frs is 7,12 and ozone 6,98...
2 more cells on ozone. Otherwise identical.
Really wonder now about that low end, could be wrong about that.

[Regis-de-giens]

Thank you fir the good revuew . I also find that FRS is a very good and fun kite , but not very powerful for its size (less than Pansh a15 and far less than Conceptair Pulsion, I never tried a Hyperlink).
One reason among others could be a low camber in the kite design. This also would be coherent with the high end of the FRS which is very excellent and beyond other kites.

[tomtom]

Thanks, I just want to add. Saying FRS is economical alternative is quite understatement. FRS is IMO better kite than HL.

[Regis-de-giens]

... and with an excellent no-delay-responsive loop even slack lines ( like I never saw on any other foil kite except maybe CA Wave but not tested in big sizes)

[kitexpert]

One reason among others could be a low camber in the kite design. This also would be coherent with the high end of the FRS which is very excellent and beyond other kites.

Yes that is most probable cause, but many other parameters affect too. Like profile thickness and kite build in AoA.

[TomW]

Thanks, I just want to add. Saying FRS is economical alternative is quite understatement. FRS is IMO better kite than HL.

I didn't mean that in any negative way. It's a good choice, and economical.
Plus, I didn't think I have enough time on it or used other sizes to allow to make the judgement that its better.

What sizes do you have ?

[tomtom]

just 9. And i was mostly kidding. Anyway i found 9m much faster /turning/ than 9m HL. HL V2 is actualy quite close but still FRS is faster.

[Foil]

just 9. And i was mostly kidding. Anyway i found 9m much faster /turning/ than 9m HL. HL V2 is actualy quite close but still FRS is faster.

hi Tom
as you know we met a few months ago at flag, back in the good old days.

I did like the look of your frs kite, but what I never found out is does the kite boost well?
I think you don't use straps (well I don't recall seeing you use straps anyways) but you may still know I am thinking.

I am in the market for another 9mtr foil and the frs is just so much cheaper than my chrono, maybe get 2 frs kites for the same price as one chrono? maybe a 9mtr and a 7mtr? but boosting is a big thing for me, and maybe the ultralights better for hanging up there in the marginal airs.
any thoughts?

[TomW]

just 9. And i was mostly kidding. Anyway i found 9m much faster /turning/ than 9m HL. HL V2 is actualy quite close but still FRS is faster.

FRS is definitely faster turning, I had to be careful doing heel to toe side tacks. My timing was way off it turned so much faster. It felt mostly like the initiation was way faster and it could turn on it's own axis easier, losing power in turn, so had to be more careful to let it arc through the turn to keep power in kite during gybe.

[Regis-de-giens]

I am in the market for another 9mtr foil and the frs is just so much cheaper than my chrono, maybe get 2 frs kites for the same price as one chrono? maybe a 9mtr and a 7mtr? but boosting is a big thing for me, and maybe the ultralights better for hanging up there in the marginal airs.
any thoughts?

If you have a chance to try one Pulsion in 9 m it should also fit your need and bring you a bit change vs FRS but in the same type and with (others and different) advantages :
- more power for boost and better low end
- same agility; just responding a bit later
- (even) more stable for wave riding

but :
- more fragile
- higher end is not so comfortable as FRS