2007 North Rebel 12m Review

[bobbyboom]

Funny you should ask about toeside backrolls. Damn, I could never pull those on my Vegas and now I'm pulling them almost every time! I think it's mostly trial and error, but the kite HOLDS me up super well. Sheet in and lift!

I demo'd the Rebel when I was in Costa Rica and I can honestly say the range overall was noticably different, the hang time on the jumps is so much more. However, the wind really needs to be there for this effect to take place. If the wind is mellow the jumps will feel as normal, but when I'm ultra powered I feel the hang time is crazy BIG.

I was riding the 06 Vegas before and LOVE those kites, too. I wanted two kites that had a lot of range. The 14m Rebel is fast and turns like a 12m. Yuri tried it out today and thought he was riding a 10m when he was on my 14m! That was cool to hear.

If you're on the beach and see me (white/blue Rebel) and would like to demo it let me know as I'm all about it. The low end on the kite is silly good. I was cutting upwind today at Alameda with no problem while others were diving their kites like mad to stay up. My kite was parked. Then, the wind kicked in BIG TIME and I simply depowered a bit and was solid. Tons of range.

Oh, I did have a kite that I did not like once. It was the 06 Cabrinha Switchblade 12m. It was my first kite and I just didn't have a good time with it. The Veags spolied me and I'm happy to say that the Rebel is an amazing kite as well.

-Bobby

[Fassn8]

Michael,

1) what was the kite(s) you used before you bought 2007 Rebel 12m?

I own a 12m 2006 Cabrinha switchblade (pulley bar).

2) if you bought the kite without demoing it, what made you buy that particular brand? 3) if you demoed it, what impressed you the most that you decided to buy it?

I demoed it first, but the simple truth is that I wanted to try something different. I've been very happy with my Cabrinha but figured I try a 5 line kite to see how it was. I also considered the Rhino but after talking to the good folks at Kite Wind Surf who told me the Rebel was an "easier" kite to jump I had to try it. Also, I like the fact that with the North kites I can have one bar for all sizes.

What sealed the deal:
1) My first jump.
2) Build quality.
3) Depower.
4) Upwind performance.


Bulldog,

Also, is there anything you did in your first session on your new kite that you couldn't do your last session on your old one?

There are plenty of things people were doing last year on their 06 Vegas' that I still can't do, so I figure I'm not done growing into those kites yet. Does the Rebel make kiteloops easier? How about toeside frontrolls?

With the Rebel I feel like I have more time to think while I'm in the air. I know that sounds crazy, but because the kite turns so much faster than I'm used to, I'm able to put it where I want while I'm in the middle of my jump. Simply put, I just feel like I have more control of my jumps.

In my last session (when I was over powered) there wasn't really anything that "I couldn't do" because of the kite. The limitations were primarily due to my own ability. I jumped a few times and absolutely launched! I'm still getting the timing down so it was a bit scary to be so high in the air with it gusting over 30mph.

I think the Rebel is a kite I will definitely grow into.

I'm not doing kiteloops yet so can't respond here. I'll let you know soon ;-)

I

-Jason

[Bulldog]

[quote="zgur"]Bulldog/mike_s: the rebel enables u to jibe w/out getting yanked off the board. Try it. It will be on the coast for the next few days.


Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[Fassn8]

Follow up to my review after having a lot more time on the kite:

I'm down grading the "Build Quality" to a 4 due to the cam battens. While I feel that the rest of the kite has a very high build quality, if you crash it hard on the leading edge, you'll likely snap a few battens. North says you can still fly the kite with broken battens, but when they break in the middle or near the end they can rip through the kite material. I've replaced 9 so far!!!

I don't crash my kite that often, but if I'm trying to learn new tricks it's kind of inevitable.

Still VERY impressed with the 12m Rebel overall. Very easy kite to fly, and great on jumps. Just think there is some room for improvement on those plastic battens.

[wjb]

I am in love with my 06 Vegas kites but I am considering swapping the 9 and 12 meter kites for Rebels and keeping the 16 Vegas when things get really light. What is the bottom end of the Rebel in these two sizes compared to the 06 Vegas. I am a 210 pounder here that could use some extra omph at times without going up a kite size.

[Fassn8]

I don't think the Rebel has a particularly good low-end. Especially compared to the Rhino. Great upper-end however.

I'm 170 with all my gear and have ridden my 12m in 14mph with a 134x43 board.

Can't compare it to the '06 Vegas. Zeev probably can...

[zgur]

WBJ - the big difference from the 2006 Vegas and the 2007 Rebel is how to generate power on the low end. The other big differences are speed through the window, with rebel being faster, and the spike in power when flown agressively.

The Vegas 2006: creates power while parked, meaning, you don't have to fly the kite too much to create low end power. Hence the love affair for many kiters.......it's also the reason that it's so good for wake style unhooked riding, and why it creates pretty sweet power when looped....(when I go on the 2006 12m from flying the 9m rebel, I get spanked for the first 30 minutes ;-)

The Rebel 2007: has awesome low end, but to get max power when the wind is light, you need to fly the kite very agressively up/down, with no interruption. When the kite moves, it creates great power, and once you have board speed and apparent wind, you can park it to your hearts content.

The other major difference from Rebel/Vegas 06 is the spike in power generated when flown very agressive: the rebel delivers power more smoothly and evenly, where as the vegas has a higher spike, if you know what I mean. This is why the rebel is so sweeet in the waves.....and why the vegas is so rewarding to the pilot who knows wha they are doing.

The low end of the Rebel rocks: I ride 9 when guys 20-40lbs less then me are on the same size kite. I'm 220#.

FYI, the 2007 Vegas 14m has the same bottom end as the 2006 16m Vegas: Speaking from having flown both kites. Turns much faster and feels much more nimble.....

Get some, Z.

[wjb]

Zgur, Thanks for the info, Wade

[zgur]

BTW - I have a 14/12m Vegas 2007 kites which can be demoed any time you see me......all you gotta do is ask me, and let me know what you think.

I'll be @ SI this weekend.

Good winds, Z.

[Fassn8]

Zeev, what say you about those pesky battens breaking?