Big air kites blank test

[Havre]

Someone worse than me at kiting would not notice if they were riding an Orbit or a Switchblade. And if they did they wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell why one would be better than the other.

And one of the reasons I didn’t get an Orbit myself (I was close - was going to get the 2021 in SA, but then Covid again) - was I’m not that good of a rider - even if I’m probably exactly average joe or slightly better when I’m at a spot.

Most people I see and talk to just want to jump old school - Edge or XR (if they are now the two most “beginner friendly” for jumpers). I would love to see more choice among those kind of kites. Especially if the Rebel is moving away. Actually the Rebel might be a case study. All very anecdotal and subjective, but some years ago the Rebel was considered to be “the” performance kite. On here and out on the water. Don’t think it has that reputation any longer. I have never ridden an Orbit but my guess is that us actual average joes would jump higher and more consistent with a Rebel (of course the Rebel was never included in that test - so we can’t known what they would have said).

[nothing2seehere]

What would you expect from a beginner kite to make it a beginner kite ?

1. Relaunch
2. Stability - e.g. won't fall out of the sky
3. Easy to fly - e.g. responsive
4. Forgiving - e.g. less power in turns for when they loop it (also see #2)
5. Good depower & windrange

Pretty much what everyone wants from any kite.

Isn't it pretty much a wave kite ?

I think this is why the Neo became the kite of choice for many kite schools (2014 model on). I'd also add easy to ride upwind - which isn't standard on all wave kites but which was pretty good on the Neo.

[knotwindy]

What would you expect from a beginner kite to make it a beginner kite ?

1. Relaunch
2. Stability - e.g. won't fall out of the sky
3. Easy to fly - e.g. responsive
4. Forgiving - e.g. less power in turns for when they loop it (also see #2)
5. Good depower & windrange

Pretty much what everyone wants from any kite.

Isn't it pretty much a wave kite ?

Except maybe a little less reactive, beginners make a lot more bar movement mistakes you don’t want instantly transferred to the kite?

[LePhasme]

Yes but then a slow kite would only be useful for a short time when you are really beginner, which would pretty much restrict it to kite schools

[knotwindy]

Yes but then a slow kite would only be useful for a short time when you are really beginner, which would pretty much restrict it to kite schools

Yes but not slow, just slower than a wave kite.

[Toby]

Yes but then a slow kite would only be useful for a short time when you are really beginner, which would pretty much restrict it to kite schools

no, not only.

[Robsw6]

Edges are great big air kites, but the Orbit is just easier to land smoothly & more consistently - so I agree with the conclusion of the blank test - which I thought was very good (aside from the framing issues/chest obsession with Marc Jacobs?!)

The other aspect that no-one seems to have mentioned, is that using a slightly smaller size of Orbit (i.e. going less lit), I thought it was more than OK with a wave board in sideshore conditions, with the advantage that it handles very gusty conditions really well, so much so that, unless you are regularly getting great waves, there is little point in having wave kites

[Blackened]

1. Relaunch
2. Stability - e.g. won't fall out of the sky
3. Easy to fly - e.g. responsive
4. Forgiving - e.g. less power in turns for when they loop it (also see #2)
5. Good depower & windrange

Pretty much what everyone wants from any kite.

Isn't it pretty much a wave kite ?

I think this is why the Neo became the kite of choice for many kite schools (2014 model on). I'd also add easy to ride upwind - which isn't standard on all wave kites but which was pretty good on the Neo.

Forgot easy upwind. Good call. Wave kites are normally great school kites. They tend to be a little more solidly built to get tossed in the waves.

I'd go with a do-everything just because they're typically easier/better to boost as a first kite.

[Blackened]

Someone worse than me at kiting would not notice if they were riding an Orbit or a Switchblade. And if they did they wouldn’t necessarily be able to tell why one would be better than the other.

And one of the reasons I didn’t get an Orbit myself (I was close - was going to get the 2021 in SA, but then Covid again) - was I’m not that good of a rider - even if I’m probably exactly average joe or slightly better when I’m at a spot.

Most people I see and talk to just want to jump old school - Edge or XR (if they are now the two most “beginner friendly” for jumpers). I would love to see more choice among those kind of kites. Especially if the Rebel is moving away. Actually the Rebel might be a case study. All very anecdotal and subjective, but some years ago the Rebel was considered to be “the” performance kite. On here and out on the water. Don’t think it has that reputation any longer. I have never ridden an Orbit but my guess is that us actual average joes would jump higher and more consistent with a Rebel (of course the Rebel was never included in that test - so we can’t known what they would have said).

You'd definitely know an Orbit vs a SB in the first 10s. SB had med-heavy bar pressure, at least back prior to 2020. You'd also notice the Orbit falling out of the sky every time you crashed and not understand why .

I think it really depends on what kite people have to what they do as an average Joe these days. Here, almost everyone with an Orbit is learning to loop. Unless they're already great kiters, anyone on an Edge isn't. There are a couple duotone riders. Those on the Evo: learning to loop. Those on a Rebel: boosting (though there's a 53yr old trying to learn on 2021s)

Agreed.

[Havre]

I have no view as to which kite is the best. For highly skilled riders not named Toby it seems clear that the Orbit is brilliant. Based on my experience the no. of riders that skilled is a very small % of the total no. of kites though.