Experiencing an Epiphany in Kiting

[OliverG]

e?piph?a?ny †† †P†††Pronunciation Key††(-pf-n)
Epiphany

1. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.

2. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: ìI experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myselfî (Frank Maier).
[hr]

I've been holding off on sharing my stoke for a little while just to be sure, to realize the subtle nuances and extent of my experience, but I'm pretty sure, for me anyway, and realize I'm only talking about myself here, that I've assembled my perfect quiver.

This last Saturday confirmed my stoke, although one key element was missing, which I'll get to. After spending my morning doing some errands and taking care of a little bit of business, the usual stuff really, I headed up to Sherman Island to kite with friends, have a good time and show my support for the Naish Demo that LMG had worked hard to schedule and re-schedule for some time.

The conditions were perfect, the tides were negligible and then perfect, and there were lots of familiar, friendly faces there - lots of guys and gals to kite with, all sharing a common interest.

I wanted to head out to Rio and do a two-stage session. The first was on the Windwing Outrage 12, which is to date, honestly the most powerful, biggest air and hangtime kite I've flown. The 10 is really the keystone in this line, but the 12 is quite a sick handful also. Ideally, I would have been on my trusty LMG stick, which is so complementary to this kite, but it was in for a minor repair, so I rode my new Underground FLX 132 Undergate Edition, which I had recently picked up and had been starting to get pretty stoked on, too. The UG FLX is a sick board. I rode the 2004 and wasn't overly impressed with it, but the 2005 was quite a bit different in my mind, so after a demo I bought it as I needed to have a two-board quiver really. With that said, know that I demoed the 2005 somewhat jaded, as the 2004 didn't really do it for me. The particular shape of LMG I have is awesome for sheer speed and upwind powers, but as with everything in kiting, by having serious advantages in one area, you often give a little up in others. In this case, the UG FLX delivers an all-around plush, mad-pop ride that doesn't sacrifice much, if anything in speed and upwindaility. The pop you can get from this board from the smallest chop is impressive.

Anyway, the first session was everything I wanted it to be - the Outrage delivered brute-force power with the kite flying way forward in the window delivering speed and upwind prowess, and when loaded and sent, major air and hangtime. These kites have been doing this for me for a while now, and it's a blast and I don't want to trade them for anything.

But, not long ago I had a chance to demo an RRD Type Wave. I was initially impressed by it's speed, but slightly put off by it's perceived lack of power and hangtime. I felt that meter per meter, my kites were much more powerful. I thought about it a bit realized how stupid that was because by design, it's not supposed to be! The Type Wave is a kite that has been designed specifically for wave riding. What requirements would a good wave kite have? It would be mid-aspect for smooth, stable flight, generate consitent power throughout and would turn on a dime and you'd be able to dump the power at will. Sounds awesome, but not just for waveriding, that sounds pretty good for freestlye too.

So I picked up a Type Wave 12 and 10. I used the 12 for my second session on Saturday, and that's where the epiphany occurred. In my first session, I got everything I wanted from that style of kite, but then in the second it was multiplied to the power of 2 - I got everything I could want from that style of kite! The Type Wave turns so fast and generates such even power, the confidence it inspires is pretty darn cool. In the ebb tide and steady wind, I threw probably 20 kiteloops and my mind wanted more, but my body needed a rest. Hearing the soft roar and flap of it speeding through the window is addicting. Waves, kiteloops and freestyle is what this kite is about. It's not the basis for a one or two kite quiver, and it won't give you monumental upwindability or hangtime. But keep in mind it's not meant to. What this kite does, it does very well, and as good or better than anything else out there. It can be scary-fast and not a beginner kite, but for the experienced kiter an awesome addition to one's quiver. It's opened my eyes and changed my level of kiting.

Just thought I'd share my stoke and impressions.

If anyone's interested in any more info, post your questions.

The RRD Type Waves and Underground FLX line of boards are available from Evan at www.live2kite.com

The Windwing Outrages are available and shipping upwind or downwind, depending on where you are from www.windexpress.com

[stoke consumer]

Right on brother!!!!!!!! 8)

My fave line "Hearing the soft roar and flap of it speeding through the window is addicting".......mmmmm, soft roar.....

Good waves + wind, Z.

[whitecap]

Since Z outkites me when he is having a bad day, he should not mind me sharing the fact that he was a bit surprised by the speed and power of my type wave 10 the first time he dropped it into the power launching at sherman...The nice part about the kite is that, after being rudely reacquainted with the beach, by pushing the bar away, the kite sat patiently on the bushes waiting for Z to get back on his feet to try again!

Bob

[Bush lover]

Bob - don't mind at all, I appreicate your kind compliment....

My mind was blown at how fast the kite dove into the power zone.....I was used to my Boxer kite and applied the same bar pressure.....I was very glad that you were on the beach and able to 'coach' me on "just sheet the bar out dude".....I pulled it together and proceeded to have a very fun session.

It's a truly unique kite.....I wish that $ were not an object - a quiver of these kites would be sitting in the back of my truck.

Good winds, Z.

[whitecap]

I am eagerly waiting for the type 7...Chris, Kafka and others have shown the huge boost the ZH delivers....Ollie said it all about the wave....but Tyberski likes the 7...combo of both worlds...Hope to have sum soon...

bob

[OliverG]

Bob - don't mind at all, I appreicate your kind compliment....
Good winds, Z.

Bush lover, huh?
Yes, I suppose we all are....

\:D/

[Guest]

Ollie
good review.

Do you have any affiliation with RRD, UG, live2kite, or getting any free stuff or kickback from either??

I know you demo/rep WW. Any deals or advertising $ from above too.
Not accusing you of anything at all, just curious.

[OliverG]

Ollie
good review.

Do you have any affiliation with RRD, UG, live2kite, or getting any free stuff or kickback from either??

I know you demo/rep WW. Any deals or advertising $ from above too.
Not accusing you of anything at all, just curious.

Guest,
Thanks for the kudos on the review.

Demo's with Windwing seem to be winding down for the season with the buzz about new gear coming up. Seems a lot of people are holding off based on news about so many new products. Part of my quiver has been based on Windwing kites that they've offered me a modest discount on, based on my interest in their products. Additional kites that have been available for demo belong to them. But no freebies or kickbacks from WW.

No affiliation with RRD or UG. In the recent past I chose to demo the Type Waves and recognizing the need for an additional board, the Underground FLX, both of which were made available by Evan at Live2Kite. He was kind enough to offer me only a modest discount as a courtesy, but I can afford to pay for the gear I want, especially if I chose to put in another hour or two a day at work instead of skipping out to go kiting all the time.

I try to be as honest as I can be in my reviews and impressions based on my experience. I've been pushing the edge and stepping up my kiting and can say that my gear is still a step ahead of me; the Outrages, Type Waves and the FLX can take everything I throw at them. I'm still learning to exploit all that they have to offer.

But how cool is that knowing that the gear is ready willing and able and the rest is up to you?

These tools have raised my skills and enjoyment tremendously and what I give back to the community is truly selfless. In the history of this site, we've had two banner ads that actually paid a small amount of money, and they weren't even from kite companies or kite shops. It's an open book and I just thought I'd share that. Any modest discounts I may receive are insignificant and if I thought a product was inferior, I wouldn't hold back in saying so.

Glad you enjoyed the review and thanks for asking, yours is a valid question,
Ollie

[OliverG]

As an addendum to this post, today brought a great Ocean Beach session. Luckily this afternoon I had the time to head out to OB with LMG and do some kiting. It had been over a week since my last session, so it was very much appreciated that I was able to do some kiting today.

On my last dozen sessions or so I had flown the WW Outrage 12 and 14, with the 12 being my favorite just because it's smaller, and after a whole season am still totally stoked on those kites - they're sick brute-force beasts as I mentioned before. Mine are not for sale.

Today was the perfect opportunity to take a Type Wave 10 out for a maiden voyage and it was lot of fun in the big surf today at OB. I've had a lot of fun on the TW 12 before, but this is TW 12 squared. Instant depower, hyper-fast turning and the ability to throw 20+ foot powered kite loops in the surf, getting horizontal and having the kite come around so fast to fly back above you again and come down with a butter landing was a hell of a lot of fun.

Sorry for the rant, I'm just still stoked from the long-overdue session! Was nice to see an awesome sunset with an almost full moon coming up from behind and some familiar faces out there too - Darren, C.B., Gomes, etc...

[whitecap]

killer post...you made my evening. My wife had guests in from high school. I had my car packed, but never found the opening to get out the door. I hate to live vicariously, but it is better than nothing....

I have had a great summer on the type wave 10...my wife and I figtht over it.. That said, I am almost ready to sell it for the type 7 9m.....but they won't let me. I am glad you guys got the goods, and I am sad I missed it!!!

bob