BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Anybody who would like to tackle this one. If this has already been discussed give me some key words so I can find and read. I just moved from S.F. to New Orleans and they have a huge lake right down the street and I'm ready to purchase. Any word on the street?

WAROO!!!! Just try the others, then try the Waroo.

Be sure to check construction techniques when you do.
Twisted struts and canopies sewn into the twist... for example...

Gabe do you work for waroo?

Cabrinha xbow-overall excellent, no one pump, high bar pressure can be fixed.

Naish Shockwave-most stable of them all, very high bar pressure, one pump. Grunty low end.

Slingshot Turbo diesel-one pump! built very well, relatively stable, nice bar pressure, good low end and top end, not a beginner bow as far as bows go. You need to keep an eye on this kite.

Waroo-never flown it but I hear it has better top end than bottom, same as the sonic.

Hope that helps.

Personally I think for a beginner to intermediate, the xbow is best. If you are a more competant pilot, go slinghot.

Yuri

WOP wrote:Gabe do you work for waroo?

I work for Best. Waroo is our flat/bow/sle/bridled or whatever you want to call it kite. To me, it's just a great kite with extended depower. It feels about the same as my fast turning C kites.

Please do check the construction...you'll discover that the Waroo is built as bomber if not more than any of the other kites out there. I've flown quite a few of the other bow kites as I was recently the Editor of Kiteboarding Mag and had a lot of gear to try out. One thing I felt from many other bow kites was an inherent lack of stability....felt like they wanted to fly to the edge of the window and fall out of the sky. That's why I stand by "try the rest, then try the Best".

You sound like a real salesman! It's always hard to tell the truth when a rep. is boasting their own goods. But I have heard alot of great things about it. Of course my source on the waroo comes from someone who doesnt sell best kites, so who to believe? Of course I would love to try one but that hasnt been a possibility yet here at Alameda. So far the slinghots is my overall favorite, but I havent flown any that dont use pulleys like the waroo,nova and sonic. Damn that one pump is nice though.

Id have to agree with Yuri's assessments on the Bows... except to add the Switchblade, which I think is probably the most stable and has much lighter bar pressure. I have heard good things about the waroo, alot of it hype, but the concern I have heard multiple times is its construction... I should get to ride one later this week and I'll have a more complete view. I have tried the Shockwave 16, Switchblade 9 , Crossbow 9,12,16 (modded and un-modded), LF Assault 12, and extensively the Turbo Diesel 8,10,12 and 14. My favorite of all time is the 10m STD... but I will agree with yuri that it takes slightly more skill to fly.... but man does it turn quick and has great low-end...

To be upfront, I do work at Kitewindsurf (www.kitewindsurf) as an instructor and we currently sell North, Cabrinha, and Slingshot.

Also, technically, I don't think the Waroo is a bow... It is a SLE along with the Shockwave and Assault....

I can vouch for the switchblade as a true darling. The kite flies well with no bad behaviours of any sort as far as I could tell. Too many pulleys though and the bar is little complicated. Bars are something to look at with bows. I am thinking the best combo may be a kite and bar from different manufacturers, but a beginner should stick with the same brand for both.