Just wondering how the reintroduction of the clam cleat on the Access and the redesign of the Frenzy compare to 2010s.

?:smug:

Afraid the only 2011 Ozone gear I have had a changle to fondle has been the the 2011 Contact Control Bar.... ooooooh.... My precious.

This is the bar that is going out on all the 2011 Ozone Depower foils.

They are at the point where they are just tweaking things that most people wouldn't notice (barring extreme OCD ). But then you look at it, and go "Oooh that, makes sense.... I like it."

The central alloy hole on the bar has been widened and polished to almost lapidary standards.

I swear if I didn't know better, I would say they matte finished the clam cleat just to reduce glare.

I believe there is still an uber-Megatron Chicken Loop that can be purchased seperately. However on the standard 2011 bar, they increased the size of the chicken loop from last year... for less fumbling to re-hook as you are riding over gopher holes and small poodles.

The bar was bought to go on the Evo II 12M and the winds have been a bit too festive for that kite.

I believe Ozone shows up at KiteStorm but that's months off. Other than that, Ozone doesn't seem to have a lot NE love.

ATB,
Sam

The bar (just the bar, not the leader/clam cleat setup) on my 2010 Access XT is the new 2011 bar. In comparison to the 2010 bar on my 2010 Manta M3s, the wider center hole is definitely noticeable and makes sheeting in and out during an extreme turn much easier. Other than that, the Access XT is an excellent and user friendly kite.

Can't give any info on the 2011 Frenzy redesign, but as long as they didn't screw anything up going from the 2010 model, it should be one sweet kite. The Frenzy was probably my favorite 2010 Ozone kite (don't ask why I don't have any ) and I doubt they made it worse.

Ozone wasn't at Kitestorm the only two years that I've been (2009 and 2010). It would be nice to see them there this year.

I like the new blue and green colors they're using this year.

I also like that they've streamlined the bar across the 3 lines. Interesting that they brought the trimmer back on the Access this year. Wonder if the new bar will work on last years trimless Access. Not that I own one. The only feature that the new Access kites have that I'd really like on my 2009's is the better reride system that keeps the center line(s) from shooting up towards the kite. I can't justify the upgrade, although I'd really like to have a go on one of the new Frenzy's or Manta's this year.

I wonder why they have mesh covers over the Access and Frenzy but not the Manta.

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteNH Ozone wasn't at Kitestorm the only two years that I've been (2009 and 2010). It would be nice to see them there this year.

They should be at the Tug Hill snowkite event as they were in 2010.

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteNH I also like that they've streamlined the bar across the 3 lines. Interesting that they brought the trimmer back on the Access this year. Wonder if the new bar will work on last years trimless Access. Not that I own one.

There shouldn't be any difference in the Access XT itself between 2010 and 2011 models. Just the bar is different, so there shouldn't be any reason you can't use the new bar on the old kite.

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteNH I wonder why they have mesh covers over the Access and Frenzy but not the Manta.

They redesign each model every two years and the Manta is always based off of the Frenzy. So when they redesigned the Manta for 2010, it was based off of the 2009 Frenzy which had no mesh. When they redesign it for 2012, I sure it will get mesh, unless they decide that the mesh was a bad idea. The only complaints I know of concerning the mesh is it can make it more difficult to remove snow accumulation.

Patrick Nedele, Ozone Team Rider, as well as Zebulon Jacob, were at last years Tug Hill SnowKite Fest. They had the Pure,as well as others to demo. Hope they return this year.

wow, just saw some pics of the 2011 Frenzy at kitecrowd. Pretty cool that it has some closed cells.



I think it's a great change. I'm actually going to have to demo a Frenzy this year. Lookin good.

Didn't the Frenzy have some closed cells before?

Both the Flow and the Access have had a small percentage of closed cells in the past. Mostly it has been at the wing tips to reduced tip folding in lulls (cells 1 & 2 on the Access), but I was pretty sure that the cell where the accent swish crosses the LE is closed on the Flow (Cells 5 in addition to 1, 2).

Wow.... this is a tad geeky.

ATB,
Sam

The Frenzy and Manta both already had closed cells at the wingtips, but did not have any closed cells elsewhere. The additional closed cells in the 2011 Frenzy should aid the kite in maintaining shape during a lull.

It's nice to see the Ozone kites learning from each other

ATB,
Sam

Yeah, now if only they'd take the sand channel from the Flow and the Method and put it into the depower kites that could really benefit. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get sand out of a 12m Manta? Yes it has dirt outs, but you have to get the sand to them.

If you were able to fly the Manta/Frenzy with the dirt-outs open, would the sand flow through the kite to the openings? I have not tried with my access's, just wondering, thats how I got the sand out of my Beamer.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get sand out of a 12m Manta? Yes it has dirt outs, but you have to get the sand to them.

D@mn it, Jim (ooooohhh.... Star Trek moment).

You know they only want you to fly those kites on the snow.

It's kind of strange, I always associated Feature Skewing, (where a really nice feature didn't just propogate down the entire product line) mostly with cars and motorcycles. Apparently more prevalent, and not always tied to cost.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by bobalooie57 If you were able to fly the Manta/Frenzy with the dirt-outs open, would the sand flow through the kite to the openings? I have not tried with my access's, just wondering, thats how I got the sand out of my Beamer.

Probably not, as the air holes in the ribs are at least a foot up from the trailing edge. Additionally, it's hard to fly any Ozone kite with the dirt outs open. The one feature I'd love to see Ozone "borrow" from someone else is the little flap of cloth that you can use to keep the dirt out open.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 The one feature I'd love to see Ozone "borrow" from someone else is the little flap of cloth that you can use to keep the dirt out open.

Would be a nice production line feature, but strictly speaking, that would be a fairly easy home-brew mod.

Pretty sure even my cat's sewing skills would be up to the task. Given the predeliction for becoming distracted by bobbins that's actually saying a lot.

ATB,
sam

a little (if kind of disgusting) tip, grab up one of those small cardboard tubes likely found in the br waste-bin:Pand insert in the d.o., sealing around it with the velcro- voila- it stays open! Snow can be removed by a thorough melting/drying at home, but is a real pain to get out while you are riding out the blizzard! I know, we mostly ride those out in "The Ice Palace" eating cookies and drinkin' cocoa!

couldn't one just make a piece of ripstop and sew a velcro strip to it so that when you wanted the dirt-outs open you could just open up and stick the strip to the appropriate side of velcro...then the opening could open freely when the kite is filled.:dunno:

This thread also brings the question of if Ozone with all its amazing quality, and design; would ever try their hands at making a closed cell foil.. Could just imagine riding on water with a frenzy or manta closed cell :eureka: :wee:

Quote:

Originally posted by shaggs2riches couldn't one just make a piece of ripstop and sew a velcro strip to it so that when you wanted the dirt-outs open you could just open up and stick the strip to the appropriate side of velcro...then the opening could open freely when the kite is filled.:dunno:

Yes, but there's one important fact that you're forgetting... I'm lazy .

Quote:

Originally posted by shaggs2riches This thread also brings the question of if Ozone with all its amazing quality, and design; would ever try their hands at making a closed cell foil.. Could just imagine riding on water with a frenzy or manta closed cell :eureka: :wee:

The Neo was originally designed while the designer worked for Ozone. Ozone didn't want to manufacture it. When the guy went to work for HQ he took the design with him and we all know the rest. One of the big reasons that I don't think we'll ever see an Ozone closed cell is that they make a number of LEIs. They already have popular water kites, why would they spend the R&D to make something that their customers might not want? Not saying I wouldn't be interested, just looking at it from their end :dunno:.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 The Neo was originally designed while the designer worked for Ozone. Ozone didn't want to manufacture it. When the guy went to work for HQ he took the design with him and we all know the rest. One of the big reasons that I don't think we'll ever see an Ozone closed cell is that they make a number of LEIs. They already have popular water kites, why would they spend the R&D to make something that their customers might not want? Not saying I wouldn't be interested, just looking at it from their end :dunno:.

To add to that, the Ozone LEI kites are quite popular, and well liked by many. Would be almost silly to compete with your own market. Not to say that there wouldnt be an interest in such kites, but it would be a gamble... :dunno:

What I'd like to see even more then a closed cell from Ozone would be a good light wind depower foil. Currently if you want real low end from an Ozone (at least in a foil), you have to go for a big Yak GT. I know the Zephyr is designed to be a good low wind kite, but some of us just don't want to deal with LEI kites.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 What I'd like to see even more then a closed cell from Ozone would be a good light wind depower foil. Currently if you want real low end from an Ozone (at least in a foil), you have to go for a big Yak GT. I know the Zephyr is designed to be a good low wind kite, but some of us just don't want to deal with LEI kites.

The Zephyr is an amazing kite, but its designed for water at around 10 mph. Not really a low wind kite by any means for people used to buggying. Where a large yak can get you going in 5mph of wind, that Zephyr isn't going to work so well. Please bear in mind, I've never tried it, but I've seen big LEIs fall out of the sky in less than 10mph of wind. Who knows, it might work. It is a very light kite, for an LEI.

The other thing to bear in mind about the depower foils for light wind... even they have their limits. At some point, the weight of the kite will bring it down. My Speed3 starts to drop out of the sky at around 5-7mph. I would think that a big yak might actually stay up longer...

The real question is what kind of winds are you trying to fly in?

I think PL, FS, and HQ are cornering that very small closed cell market. I have to say I didn't like LEI in the beginning but after riding the Ozone Instincts for 3 years I wouldn't go back to foils exclusively. Cruising under Ragden's triple gold plated Speed sure but the last 2010 Frenzy I flew felt unforgiving. Trying to say their open cell and LEI customers are happy as is- what could they improve on to win over closed cell customers?

BTW- have I ever met you Maven?

Less a question of what I'm trying to fly in and more that if I'm going to pay that much money for a kite, I'd prefer that it have a larger wind range than the big fixed bridles do. My understanding is that the 17m Yak GT can be used effectively in as little as 2-3 mph, but $1400 is a lot of money for a kite only, fixed bridle. Much cheaper than a big Speed 3 Deluxe, but those have a much larger wind range.

And while I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Less a question of what I'm trying to fly in and more that if I'm going to pay that much money for a kite, I'd prefer that it have a larger wind range than the big fixed bridles do. My understanding is that the 17m Yak GT can be used effectively in as little as 2-3 mph, but $1400 is a lot of money for a kite only, fixed bridle.

Yeah, that is a problem with the bigger kites. Smaller wind range and much more expensive. The question is, would you be willing to spend twice that for a kite that is useable from 7 - 20 mph in a buggy?

Quote:

Originally posted by ragden Quote: Originally posted by Maven454 Less a question of what I'm trying to fly in and more that if I'm going to pay that much money for a kite, I'd prefer that it have a larger wind range than the big fixed bridles do. My understanding is that the 17m Yak GT can be used effectively in as little as 2-3 mph, but $1400 is a lot of money for a kite only, fixed bridle. Yeah, that is a problem with the bigger kites. Smaller wind range and much more expensive. The question is, would you be willing to spend twice that for a kite that is useable from 7 - 20 mph in a buggy?

Probably not, see comment about dreaming and ponies.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Probably not, see comment about dreaming and ponies.

touche...

I propose we all pitch in for a pony for Maven.... and I know just the one.



ATB,
Sam

That can't possibly be good for the horse.

Actually the "And while I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony" line is a quote from a comic strip. If anyone can tell me what strip and which character (first and last name) said it, I'll mail them an Ozone key ring.