BayAreaKiteboarding.com

So it's hard to kite at Waddell and not notice that almost everyone there flies a certain brand of kite, :!:

I don't think I've ever seen anyone on this forum talk about them. Yesterday at Waddell after I came in I was watching people with Answer 12Ms zipping their kites around like they were 7s while riding the waves. I know my Vegas isn't a wave kite, and that the Rebel is going to be a better bet in the waves. But I also would like to try out some Cautions and I have never seen anyone demo them at Sherman.

Used Answers are going for 400-500 on Ikite right now, and used Rebels are, well, there are none. I need a 7M kite and I may want a different 12 for the waves. I'm not going to buy a new kite, so no point in trying to convince me to. If it's really true that the new Rebels are going to cause everyone to sell their "old" ones, then, great, but otherwise I'm going to be considering other brands and was just wondering if anyone had an opinion.

Ask adamrod. I believe he had a Caution Answer.

Paul check your p.m.

The Santa Cruz community may always be too busy kiting to ever get on the forums and spread the word about Caution kites or answer any questions, but like anyone else, they are always welcome to do so! The Answers look like solid kites and fast turning too.

I sent you a PM too...the new 07s are supposed to be pretty sweet.

Paul - why do you think the Vegas is "not a wave kite"? I think it's awesome in the waves, and have used both the 2006 and 2007 in the waves with much joy.

The 2006, the vintage of the 12 which you ride, can be sped up significantly with the 2007 bar. You will be amazed at how much faster through the windown the 2006 will move with the longer bar. What I'm saying is that the tool you have is awesome for the job.....

In general, what you want in the waves is a steady kite, which flies predictably through the window, with enough speed, and does not generate too much power when swept through the window. The vegas meets all that criteria, and then some.

Having said all that, Caution kites are awesome!

Get some, Z.

Z:
I know I'm getting slower in my old age, but I don't understand how a change in bar causes a kite to fly faster thru or across the window? Turning, Yes.
steve

And here I thought I was quoting you on the "V. 12 not a wave kite", Z. I love my 9 Vegas in the waves, but the 12 just seemed too slow across the window when turning on the lip. Maybe I just need to spend more time with it or try downlooping it, which speeds it up alot, but I'm still scared to do that in front of a wave very close to shore.

Steve - the longer bar enables the kite to turn faster, and that speed translated to flying faster through the window....I don't know the physics behind it, but it definately does, as I've tested the 06v w/the new bar.....the difference was quite noticable...and fun. I don't fly the 2006 kite w/out the new bar.....it just feels slow in comparison (which is funny, because last year, the 12 was my everyday kite....now it's the 9m Rebel).....

Paul - practice, practice, practice.....flying the kite and doing it well in waves, as you now know, takes refining of those skills.....you have to do all your kite flying, typically, before you think you need to: You want the kite to be where you will be, and the wave as well......which takes practice, and learning how fast the waves travel....12m is now considered the "big" kite for most wave riders on modern surf boards......I've only flown the 12 2 times this year on the coast......9m has become my everyday kite. You want the kite to be pretty vertical, waiting for your input as you smack the lip......

Also, with larger surf boards, the kite size is not as critical in maintaining/generating speed on the wave/up the wave face. The board/wave combo is much more critical.

I've got an old fuel and a 12 ft bar I can sell you that makes the kite turn really fast.