Kiting gear advice - which should I get??

[flashpipe]

Alright, I've got a Best Waroo 9m and 15m and a 45 cm bar. Last season I was riding a homemade ply board which was WAY too heavy, so a few months ago I got a great deal on a LF board.

Now, I'm looking to get a 12m to round out my quiver. At first, I was looking for another Waroo with a 55 cm bar (to use on the 15 as well). But I've found 2 other kites at a great deal, which are the same price, including bar & lines and I'm not sure which to get, so I thought I'd throw it out for some feedback.

They're both in decent shape for used gear.

One is an '07 Cabrinha Crossbow II, 12m

and the other is an '07 LF Assault 12m

Any suggestions/beta out there?? Or, do you think I should hold out for a Waroo with the right bar??

Thanks!!

[rider1200]

Hey Brian! Glad you finally found a board, that should make a big difference. I don't know much about Liquid Force except, that they make decent wakeboards, but I wanted Cabrinha's Crossbow II for a long time. I would have bought one if it weren't for Dave gaving me a good deal on my 1st Waroo. Most of the guys around here were flying waroos and I couldn't beat the price so I haven't looked back. But the lessons I took all used Cabrinha kites and claimed they were the most expensive kite but the safest...so they'll probably have 'better' emergency release systems than their competitors. Also from what I understand every Cabrinha comes with its own set of bar & lines...no switching...I'm guessing they're tailored the size kite but thats just a guess.

I don't think you'll be dissappointed in the Crossbow but I don't think the bar & lines will work on your 15m waroo. I also didn't think you could/should use the 45cm on the 15m waroo, maybe someone can clear that up for me?

BTW I have an 08 15m waroo and an 06 12m waroo...I used the 12 when I was body dragging & learning how to fly but I've never actually ridden with it, I always use my 15. I don't get out very often and don't think I've ever been in winds over 20mph but I probably got out about 10 times last summer, all with the 15. I guess my point is I would put a lot of emphasis on getting that 15 ready (rather than relying on the new 12).

I don't claim to really know anything, so hopefully someone will have better info for you.

[flashpipe]

Brent,

Thanks for the reply! I was psyched to find the board. I've been stalking eBay and the ikitesurf classifieds for the last 9 months or so and finally found it.

I just got some pics of the Assault (and the guy dropped the price $50). That's the same kite my friend Bob flies and he loves it. Once I get the pics of the Crossbow I'll make my decision.

I've used the 45cm bar on the 15 before and it worked fine. Not sure how wise that was. It took more input to get the responsiveness that I got when I had a 55 cm bar. I had been using the 55 with a 9m Yarga I had which actually worked great, but I sold the bar and kite to Bob last year figuring I could get a 55 cm bar easily enough, but I've been looking for a good deal on one since. Still am and I've got a few that I'm watching.

I only got out about 5 times last summer, but things were crazy busy between work and the kids. Should be easier this summer because we've got a friends 14 year old daughter coming to stay with us because she wants to get nanny experience! Free child care!!

I took the 15m out twice (10-15 winds) and spent lots of time fighting with my board/barge and doing lots of faceplanting and the other times were with the 9 in 20+ winds. Had to do more flying, but started staying up on the board for brief periods. Would LOVE to be able to schedule a long weekend at Cape Cod or Hatteras this season, but we'll see.

Didn't get out at all this winter for snowkiting. Managed to do some snowboarding, but didn't break out the kites. My wife has almost convinced herself she wants to give kitesurfing a try which would certainly get me out more.

Thanks for the Cabr. info! I know I've seen a few out there so was hoping to get some feedback on them. From what I've read, they sound pretty top of the line.

Hope to see you on the water this year!

[rider1200]

I have a 3m Best trainer if you want to borrow it! I broke a line in 40 mph winds with snowskis and I've been looking for new loops for the end ever since (line broke right near the bar). You can tie a knot as long as you stay in 15mph or less winds, perfect for wife to fool around with. My numbers still 733-2440, give me a call if you want it.

[flashpipe]

Brent,

That would be sweet! I'm a parachute rigger and do lots of line replacements, so I could probably splice that broken line together for you!

I'll give you a call sometime today.

Thanks!

Brian

[David]

Just throwing in my $.o2 here but I really think as a beginning kiter you should stick with the same kind of kites across the board be it cabrinha, best, LF, whatever, they all fly differently and more importantly they all have different safety systems. What you need when you are learning is consistency in power delivery and kite response that is predictable; if you are constantly changing kites you don't know how they are going to react all the time in different conditions making learning difficult. I have ridden best kites for years and they work well, they are simple, safe, and cheap. Last year I rode Best, Naish, Eclipse, GK, LF, slingshot, and cabrinha kites, they all have a very different feel to the way they fly, every single one. IMO Cabrinhas are way overdone with the safety sh!t. I was in Hatteras last year and one of the people I was riding with ejected from her "intelligent depower system" and it failed in a big way, she needed help and ended up punching out completely, that is not good. Most other kites have OS (oh Sh!t) handle on each side of the bar, very simple. Last year at Seneca I broke a front line doing a kiteloop and my kite went into a death spiral; guess what, I pulled the OS handle and it worked, just like it will every time because it is simple and effective. Another advantage of having the same brand of kite is that all the stuff works together. I have 7, 9, 11, 13 waroos. I have 2 bars 45/55cm, all set up the same and all interchangeable. Cabrinha is not interchangeable with anything else, slingshot and liquid force will work together, and naish and best will work together with some modification. You should not be using a 45cm bar on anything bigger than a 12 EVER! It does not have the length to control the kite when it is in the depower position without sheeting in or having to rig it to stay powered all the time, don't do it. Same with the 55cm bar on a small kite, don't do it. Follow the rules and you won't get hurt, break them and you will, simple as that. Most kites now are of similar quality construction, no doubt cabrinha is the bomb but I am never going to pay $1600 for a kite which is why I ride BEST, I can have a full quiver for that price. Speaking of quivers that is another reason to stick with the same type of kite, you can balance your quiver. A 12m waroo is not the same as a 12m cabrinha, slingshot, or LF kite. So just because you have a 9, 12, 15m does not mean your quiver is balanced. An 8m thruster is about the same as an 11 waroo is the same as a 10m cabrinha, is the same as a 9m Naish; my 15 trix has way more low end than a 15 waroo or the 17 contra I had. Going after a kite just because it is cheap does not always make it a deal so be careful...

[flashpipe]

David,

Thanks for the advice. You made some good points there and I think you're right. I think I'll pass on both of these kites for now and start keeping my eyes open for a nice used 12m Waroo with a 55cm bar. That way I can round out my quiver, have all the pieces I need, be safe and be ready when the wind comes!

Thanks!