BayAreaKiteboarding.com

In case any of you haven't seen this. I'm not sure if it's a biased review, but there's video to back it up. The graphs didn't come through, but it was basically insane storm conditions, up and down:


Below is link to a short clip of a RAP2 6.5 from today in 20-40+ mph winds at Oceano Ca. Here are two nearby ikitesurf graphs.





Not spectacular action but it's worth noting that given the wind range today the Rap 2 makes it look (and feel) like moderate wind.

47 seconds of video in Windows Media Video V9 format

720x480 resolution - 8.2MB http://www.freshgale.com/6.5Rap2.wmv

320x240 resolution - 2.9MB www.freshgale.com/6.5Rap2_lowres.wmv

Me (165lbs) and another local rider (205lbs) went out on this kite today and it had enough low end to keep both of us going in the lulls. Even at the peak gusts the bar pressure stayed nice and light. This kite is amazingly stable for such a small kite in heavy gusty condistions.

In retrospect I think I would have been fine on the 9m but with a storm from better to be safe.

I'm not ready to give up my "traditional" high aspect kites but the Rap2 was made for these kind of days.

Looks like the Rap handles waves pretty good, too.

Arrgh. I tried to make that post less confusing by putting the text from Kiteforum in Italics, but it didn't work.

Yeah, that was on the WW forum a couple of weeks ago.

dudes, the other day when ollie and i and dave were out in 3 to 45
avg 27 my rapture2 9m got me out and up wind, ollie said" i had a hard time saying upwind,(ollies throw n tricks all over the place) but the rapture2s are built for that stuff, thay can handle some nasty gusty stuff.and take you upwind
seems like you die off in the holes..and get ripped off your edge in the gust..

i got my 12m rapture2 to fly saterday, at alameda in below 10 mph now i didnt go out..... but.. i got it to fly!

dewey
thats why i told you too ask yourself some questions....like
were you gonna ride...?
how much wind you got.?
overpowerd or underpowered....?
the raps tend to lean towerds the overpower side .
money.?
time.?

Have you been able to jump your rap2's yet??

when i rode ollies 12m yes i got 3 hrs on it
it was better then the old raps
sunday not saterday, i just sent it a littlebit with big results...fat gust
so yes and no..
dewey if your in the mood,the raptues2 have alot of tweek potental.
thay come from the factory set up for med to high wind.
if your gonna play low to med wind you got to tweek um.

Spring in Alameda, and summer in Sherman. I think that I'll keep the 9 and 12 at their upper level. I have the 17m outrage for light days.

I think I made up my mind.

That's good. Means there'll be more Raps around to try out before buying.

Yes, we can't wait to ride your new gear!

DL