Forums > Kitesurfing General

What happened to the C kite love?

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Created by bombjack > 9 months ago, 14 Jan 2019
bombjack
WA, 30 posts
14 Jan 2019 9:26PM
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Whats the reason for the general lack of interest in C kites in the last few years? Is it that the do-it-all open-C kites have gotten so good that they are good enough for the general rider? What characteristic of modern C kites has caused people to lose interest in them?

Will the release of the new Ozone Amp that promises to be a "User-friendly progressive C-kite" change this?

Lots of questions... I'm curious what the forum thinks. Some of you used to rave about C4, Vegas, Fuel etc but not any more, what happened?

kemp90
QLD, 1692 posts
15 Jan 2019 5:06AM
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Re-sale! No one wants to buy a secondhand c kite because they know it's been flogged.

Kites like the RPM still have to freestyle capabilities but won't blow your head off.

I still have fuels in the shed, and after riding a core impact last week, it brought back memory's of the airush razors and what a weapon they were.

But back to your question, really I think it comes down to resale for most .

cheers

Adam''KiteRepair
NSW, 104 posts
15 Jan 2019 8:58AM
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My gut tells me it's a combo or re sale and that a lot of riders are doing multiple disciplines these days. While a C kite is probably the most versatile kite out there, its not to your average person.

Fly on da wall
SA, 725 posts
15 Jan 2019 10:41AM
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Try 1.. That's my advice

But then again I might have to pay a lot more for my C kites if there is an explosion of people wanting to really fly high

THE PIN PULLER
WA, 465 posts
15 Jan 2019 5:21PM
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I LOVE MY VEGAS (North) 2017!

Try one 10m in 30 plus ??????

Chris_M
2128 posts
15 Jan 2019 6:29PM
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I like C kites, lucky my Nitro exploded mid kite loop back roll yesterday, now I get to buy a Krypto

Lambie
QLD, 738 posts
15 Jan 2019 8:38PM
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When I learnt to ride I had a Slingy Fuel 17m - I thought kitesurfing was just a low wind sport and Id stick to the windsurfing for the better days .
C kite ? wind range of a sparrows fart ? relaunch needed the 5th line but just dont let the kite roll or the 5th line will cut it into 2 neat 8.5 m asimetric kites LOL I never actually kitelooped the beast but apparently that where the fun started ?? Id never bother to ride true C kite again for the style of riding I like today (surf and foiling) - but glad I got to ride one :-)

Gateman
QLD, 409 posts
15 Jan 2019 9:22PM
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I'm sure the newer C kites have better wind range than the older ones. I had the 2003 Cabrinha CO2 in 9 & 12m and the 2004 Cabrinha Nitro in 14m. When I gave them away to a local kite repairer to use the valves, fabric etc and bought a new kite I had about the same wind range out of my 2010 Switchblade 10m that previously took a 3 kite quiver to cover.
Plus, relaunch on those old C kites was shocking, that has probably improved too.

AquaPlow
QLD, 1051 posts
15 Jan 2019 9:52PM
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Select to expand quote
kemp90 said..
Re-sale! No one wants to buy a secondhand c kite because they know it's been flogged.

Kites like the RPM still have to freestyle capabilities but won't blow your head off.

I still have fuels in the shed, and after riding a core impact last week, it brought back memory's of the airush razors and what a weapon they were.

But back to your question, really I think it comes down to resale for most .

cheers

Tick for Razors I can be working 12m Reo in light wind and my son gets more out of his 11m Razor both on surf boards.. about same weight too. All C kites like moving rarely park and ride.
He goes from strapless surf board to TT &boots on either 9 or 11m Razors.
Once u r dialled in they are very versatile and g8 fun even for my level of punting
cheers
AP

wishy
WA, 1501 posts
16 Jan 2019 11:40AM
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Depends where you ride,
At flatwater spots I see mainly C kites.

If you're not fully lit or on flatwater it takes a lot of concentration to extract glorious boost out of them (although it is possible). I think that's why the twintip surf riders are mainly on flatter kites optimised for "huck and chuck" and surfboard riders want something that drifts better and relaunches fast before it gets ripped in half by a wave (like neos and reos and stuff)

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
16 Jan 2019 5:46PM
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C kites for unhooked spider monkey mischief. Most don't and/or couldn't ride like that.

Other kites have differentiated Over the Years for the other specific styles we do.

stamp
QLD, 2758 posts
17 Jan 2019 12:35PM
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i prefer C kites for waveriding. they pivot on the wingtip which generates and holds far more power through a turn than a bow/SLE/toenail kite. so when you do need to rely on the kite to change direction, set up a turn or get out of the **** there's a heap of grunt available. SLE's kind of pivot close to the centre axis and are more gutless through the turns.

i reckon c kites also drift unhooked just as well as SLE's, and relaunch is all down to practice & technique.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
17 Jan 2019 4:42PM
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Nah

KarolinaKite
NSW, 22 posts
23 Jan 2019 6:57AM
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Freestyle progression only on ta C-Kite. I use FUELs, and as a rider it's a really hard situation because the brands don't want to promote C-kites, so we end up using beginners kites for the photos...
If you want to learn landing blind, do handle passes and air swaps you definitely want a C Kite.
If you only want to boost, cruise and do simple hooked in tricks, you can get any kite... There are kites that boost better than the other, so you will have to choose the one that is most suitable for you.

Cheers

K

KarolinaKite
NSW, 22 posts
23 Jan 2019 6:57AM
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Freestyle progression only on ta C-Kite.
If you want to learn landing blind, do handle passes and air swaps you definately want a C Kite.
If you only want to boost, cruise and do simple hooked in tricks, you can get any kite... There are kites that boost better than the other, so you will have to choose the one that is most suitable for you.

Cheers

K

bombjack
WA, 30 posts
23 Jan 2019 8:09PM
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Last night I was out on the river and as the low came in it got even more gusty than usual. I started on my 9m Enduro on the freestyle setting but I find these kites are not that great at absorbing gusts, they really give you an uncomfortable yank when a gust hits. I switched to an older model 9m Vegas and didn't even have to adjust the trim, it has a much better ability to absorb gusts (almost like it's on an elastic). Is this a C kite attribute or specific to the older Vegas? This makes a big difference to my enjoyment of a session when there isn't a stable sea breeze.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
23 Jan 2019 9:11PM
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Any Vegas not just the old ones.

5 lines, with the fifth loaded. No bridals. And relatively high Y.

Rebels the same. Nothing absorbs gusts like that kite... period.

AlbanWave
27 posts
24 Jan 2019 12:35AM
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F-One started to do C-kite with the WTF model last year ... after a decade of Bandit. A bit weird to start in 2018. Not really following the global trend that give up a bit on C-kite.
Used to ride Torch, then Vegas for years, and I tried the WTF ... was pretty good for me.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
24 Jan 2019 8:14AM
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Yeh I've heard the WTf is a decent C kite to from an exceptional rider who rides Vegas kites. He was impressed with it.

Fly on da wall
SA, 725 posts
24 Jan 2019 8:00PM
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Select to expand quote
KarolinaKite said..
Freestyle progression only on ta C-Kite.
If you want to learn landing blind, do handle passes and air swaps you definately want a C Kite.
If you only want to boost, cruise and do simple hooked in tricks, you can get any kite... There are kites that boost better than the other, so you will have to choose the one that is most suitable for you.

Cheers

K



Great response and also it's great to have such an honest opinion from someone who I'd have to admit it I admire.
Now back to ripping it up please!

And can you get Fred Hope to post some tips and advice please....
Ha

masskite
4 posts
31 Jan 2019 4:20AM
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So one would one be better off with a c kite when starting to unhook versus an open c kite? I understand pros can do a lot of things on any kite, but what would be best path for the weekend warrior looking to progress into freestyle?

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
31 Jan 2019 6:20AM
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I'm sure Better equiped people will answer but ... I spent a couple of hours knee deep in water at the pond with Sam Light the other week (he was running a 10 day clinic) and he was pointing out some of the young riders in the clinic were struggling to land even a basic S bend to blind with a surface pass using hybrid C kites like say a dice. He said they are just too fast. Of course they won't ever deliver as much slack anyway but the main reason (he was pointing this out in real time as riders crashed) a pure C kite will sit there better and not love too much.


In his opinion (and he's worth listening to) just bite the bullet and get a full blown C kite if unhooking is your main focus.

masskite
4 posts
31 Jan 2019 10:45PM
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Thanks Eppo and Karolina. I will try one, probably a vegas, before swapping my quiver.

sir ROWDY
WA, 5353 posts
9 Feb 2019 12:25PM
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Select to expand quote
bombjack said..
Whats the reason for the general lack of interest in C kites in the last few years? Is it that the do-it-all open-C kites have gotten so good that they are good enough for the general rider? What characteristic of modern C kites has caused people to lose interest in them?

Will the release of the new Ozone Amp that promises to be a "User-friendly progressive C-kite" change this?

Lots of questions... I'm curious what the forum thinks. Some of you used to rave about C4, Vegas, Fuel etc but not any more, what happened?


I'll tell you the real reasons.

1. Because brands are mostly putting no time and effort into R&D and marketing for them. Majority of C-kites on the market are 10 year old designs. Also brands try to make C-kites that jump and Loop big in combination with a kite that is also good for unhooking... unfortunately these two things are basically opposites. It's like making a race kite that's good for wave-riding.

2. The other reason is that the majority of people who sell kites don't ride C-kites, they perpetuate the myth that "c-kites are dangerous and hard to ride", thus it's an uphill battle to convince people they will actually progress their riding if they get one.

The truth of it is, C-kites aren't dangerous. Old kites were dangerous and it just so happens that the only kites that are old are also C-kites... thus you get this mixed info.

If you really believe C-kites "are dangerous", "have no depower" etc. you're full of it. Go try an AMP and tell me that's the case.
Once brands start updating their designs people will start progressing again and these types of kites will get more popular. I've seen so many people trying to ride SLE kites and getting no-where, the sad thing is they don't even understand how big a difference a C-Kite (with 5th line) would make.

e0422713
WA, 975 posts
9 Feb 2019 1:38PM
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TOP FIVE C kites are.....

bramber
VIC, 134 posts
9 Feb 2019 9:23PM
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The 2012 Ozone C4 (prior to its radical design change in 2013) is a total ripper. I still fly them and love them.

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
9 Feb 2019 7:35PM
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The ozone Amp has caused a massive paradigm shift in my own understanding and appreciation of C kites. What an Incredibly stable and versatile wing yet slacks like a sumo wrestlers G string.

This 11 yr old rode it for half an Hour the day before and then was doing this the next day in the nationals on a 9m in 18- 20 knots(he weighs 35kg) ... what's your excuse ?





He's been doing bloody board offs now down our local and loopin the damn thing.

Bloody prick

burnsy11
WA, 122 posts
9 Feb 2019 7:50PM
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That's bloody awesome Eppo ! Future champion right there !!

sir ROWDY
WA, 5353 posts
9 Feb 2019 9:11PM
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Select to expand quote
eppo said..
The ozone Amp has caused a massive paradigm shift in my own understanding and appreciation of C kites. What an Incredibly stable and versatile wing yet slacks like a sumo wrestlers G string.

This 11 yr old rode it for half an Hour the day before and then was doing this the next day in the nationals on a 9m in 18- 20 knots(he weighs 35kg) ... what's your excuse ?





He's been doing bloody board offs now down our local and loopin the damn thing.

Bloody prick


I was stoked to see it! Really does show you how much the right equipment can help.

Chris_M
2128 posts
10 Feb 2019 5:21AM
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Thats really cool Eppo.

Not many get to start with such a good understanding of the technical stuff, and a dad who's keen to get them out there!

eppo
WA, 9372 posts
10 Feb 2019 6:07AM
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I'm not sure I'm helping too much with the technical stuff... lol!!! My twinkle toe board offs don't help much.
Tapping into better riders than me for that.


And this very proud dad didn't mean to hijack the thread... if you are looking for a C kite that will help you progress fast and is easy to use at the same time (and really versatile) I'd be looking at the Amp.



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"What happened to the C kite love?" started by bombjack