Gopro Video - Best Kahoona 9.5m First Flight 082009

Launching and landing is best done assisted. Its the fastest, easiest way to do both. But it can be done solo. Not overly difficult to solo land and launch. Just takes some practice to get it done right.

Safety is the same as anything else, I would imagine. I've flown fixed-bridle, foil depowers and LEI kites. When you pop the safety on an LEI it will do different things depending on how the safety is setup. The C-kite I am borrowing folls over on its back and lays there waiting. The bow kite turns lays leading edge down an faces into the wind for you and generally just sits there waiting for you to do something.

Fast turning is something you get used to. The kites respond pretty quickly, and once you get used to that, it isnt a big deal. It also helps to keep your hands near the center of the bar. Not something I am good at, but I'm getting there. The kite will only loop if you yank one side, same thing happens when you yank one handle on a fixed-bridle kite.

I am sure someone else with more experience can explain it better.. Just my thoughts.

Nice Vid!... I personally find that its easier to self land an inflatable than a flysurfer. You just have to know how to do it and commit. I dont get how you can "accidentally" loop a kite, I fly a 7m inflato when the winds get strong and have never had that happen. It turns super fast but not enough to loop accidentally. And if it does go into a loop you can just let go of the bar and it will kill most of the power. If your only kite is a Silver Arrow then I guess anything will feel like a bumblebee

that was only my first day out on the Kahoona so my experience is pretty limited with the kite.

so far I can say bar pressure is progressive. it fells light and muddy when depowered and moderate and more c-kitesk when you pull in on the bar. I like having a little bit of bar pressure so I can keep track of the kite by feel and focus my eyes on where I'm landing.

kite was faster then I was expecting but somehow still easy to manage. I used to have a 10m Eclipse thruster which I didn't like because it was too fast and twitchy. that was a kite I would accidentally loop or tomahawk on a regular basis.

the kahoona is fast when you want it to be but when you leave the water it seems quick but easy to manage. really a pretty nice experience.

I have also flown the 7m waroo and didn't like the super light bar pressure and blinding speed. I felt too much like I had to baby sit the kite constantly

so far my favorite things about the kahoona are.

1. ease of relaunch - it just sits at the edge of the window with barley any pull waiting for you to pull one line before she goes up.
2. downwind riding ability - this kite can totally slack line and it wont invert it will just flow back into the window until you retension the lines. ( I did this in the video)
3. simple line plan
4. huge depower range
5. surprisingly good float for an SLE kite
6. simple assisted launch/land
7. can do a secured chickenloop side window self launch land on a beach with zero space available downwind. heck you don' even need a beach to do it. just set the kite on the water.

Don't get me wrong I still have my speed 2 12m as my light wind kite. I think flysurfer owns everything on the water when it comes to under 20mph winds but I'm really liking the Kahoona for the stronger gustier winds.

I plan on going out again tonight and I'm planning on trying some unhooked riding now that I am starting to get familiar with the kite. will post an update when I get back

Very nice video, nwsurf! I'll have to re-think my initial opinion about helmet-cam footage being boring!
Great soundtrack too!
I'll be taking my first kiteboard lesson tomorrow, and your footage has really gotten me stoked for it!

*** Not that I expect to be able to get up and do anything like you were doing! I just hope to be able to get up on the water and ride for a few seconds before the day is thru ***

Quote:

Originally posted by sp4cem0nkey Very nice video, nwsurf! I'll have to re-think my initial opinion about helmet-cam footage being boring! Great soundtrack too! I'll be taking my first kiteboard lesson tomorrow, and your footage has really gotten me stoked for it! *** Not that I expect to be able to get up and do anything like you were doing! I just hope to be able to get up on the water and ride for a few seconds before the day is thru ***

That's great! I'm always happy to share the stoke, that's half the fun of doing the helmet cam!

good luck on your lesson! may the winds be with you



btw I got out again today and I have an update on the Kahoona 9.5m

winds were considerably lighter today. I talked with my friend Jim who was out on a 12m 09 Naish Torch (C Kite) and it seems we were both experiencing a similar level of power. I was on a bigger board so my guess is he probably had a little more low end then me but both him and me were surprised that I was able to ride a 9.5m today.

I also tried doing some unhooked riding. landed my first unhooked railey's :D

The Kahoona seems to be very easy to do unhooked riding and wakestyle load and pop tricks. I don't have much to compare it to since I am just now starting unhooked stuff but all I can say is it is surprisingly easy on the Kahoona :wee: