Windwing Rage II and Outrage Impressions

[dewey]

I'll second that Ollie. Flew the Outrage 12 yesterday. I think the safe worked alright, but that kite likes power. I had to bitch slap it a couple of times to tame it in the gust. Okay maybe I got bitch slapped, but that kite likes to be powered up. I still can't get the feel down to jump her. Maybe because I've been ridding gusty storm winds when I'm used to ridding smooth delta winds.

[OliverG]

I'll second that Ollie. Flew the Outrage 12 yesterday. I think the safe worked alright, but that kite likes power. I had to bitch slap it a couple of times to tame it in the gust. Okay maybe I got bitch slapped, but that kite likes to be powered up. I still can't get the feel down to jump her. Maybe because I've been ridding gusty storm winds when I'm used to ridding smooth delta winds.

I was going to say, who slapped who? O:) The Outrage demands respect and conscious handling while the Rage II's are more forgiving. See, a Cappucino is good most anytime, is sophisticated, mellow and groovy, but an Espresso is strong and raw and you wouldn't have it any old time. I know, a weird metaphor, but it works in this case, I think.

[guest]

Ollie,
I just trashed my Airrush Lift 12 at Sherman. I was thinking about getting a Rage II 14m before; now I'm wondering if it could cover both slots, what with increased depowering ability and all. It seems to have a relatively high low range... My next smallest kite is a Fuel 10. Any thoughts? I mainly kite at Sherman.

Thanks,

Paul

[OliverG]

Ollie,
I just trashed my Airrush Lift 12 at Sherman. I was thinking about getting a Rage II 14m before; now I'm wondering if it could cover both slots, what with increased depowering ability and all. It seems to have a relatively high low range... My next smallest kite is a Fuel 10. Any thoughts? I mainly kite at Sherman.

Thanks,

Paul

Paul,

With any kite, it's nice to have all bases covered with consecutive sizes (8, 10, 12, 14, etc) but not always an option. Yours is a good question. You were considering a Rage II 14 before and already owned a 12 and a 10, but trashed the 12 and want to know if you need a 12 at all. Given that you mainly kite at Sherman, I'd assume that you're used to riding fairly powered up. I would say yes as I would think you'd have no problem riding the 14 up to the point that you needed the 10 Fuel. The Rage II has more range and depower than the Outrage, so you'll be able to ride it pretty lit and the nice thing is that on lighter days, you'll be up and cruising whereas you'd be sitting on the beach with a 12.

Let me know how it goes,
Ollie

[Guest]

What about the Rapture? Is this a new version of the Rage?

[OliverG]

What about the Rapture? Is this a new version of the Rage?

Rapture is a new kite altogether. This is the Rapture. We don't have any here yet, but hope to soon.

[guest]

Ollie,
Thanks for the feedback and help. That is exactly what I was wondering. Lucky for me it looks like today's going to be a 10 day at Sherman...

Paul

[Zulukite]

Hi Ollie

I live in South Africa and also bought Windwings in December: Rage 8&12 ans Outrage 14. Generally I share your opinions, here's my views:

Outrage 14: Physical kite, pulls hard. I like to use this kite on flatwater, I have it rigged up with the jumpstart system which makes relaunch very easy. Kite is very stable in the air and flies well. If it has a weakness it's a lack of "nimbleness" that makes it feel kind of heavy handling, but that is also just a high aspect thing. I originally thought kite loops would be a problem, but they're actually pretty easy in light wind, the kite just does a kind of tight stalled turn high up without delivering much power. It will be a different story in strong wind for sure!! It's very stable and actually very easy to fly as well.

Rage 12: Probably my favourite. I originally rigged the rage's with jumpstart and then later took it off and converted them to straight hard line. For some reason the jumpstart seemed to dull the feedback to the bar when jumping which made it hard to feel where the kite was when jumping. Relaunch is really easy because they're such fat rigid kites, so for me it's not really an issue. Kite is nice and smooth in the window, not extremely fast like some of the modern kites, but definitely nimble enough. Has a very nice habit of squirting to the front of the window when you get hit by an uber gust. My wife, who's learning, loves this kite because it's so easy to dump power on, it also doesn't stall easily which is good for beginners who tend to oversheet. Good kite for waves.

Rage 8: Super fast like a bumblebee on Redbull. For me (87kg) good for 30 knots plus, low end not bad either, around 20 knots. Very fast and quite a handfull as a result of this, but good fun. Makes nice Horror-zontal meg G kite loops.

Kite construction is top notch, however I don't like the bags much. I don't like bags with Zippers, I'd rather have the simple North style Condom bag where you slide the skinny end of the kite in first.

Anyway, that's my 2C

[Guest]

like a bumblebee on Redbull.

Is this common in south africa? :)

[dewey]

No the rapture is it's own kite. With the safe system, turning radius, and relaunch it should a pretty cool kite. I don't think that it's a beginners kite though.