Review Page
2010 North Rebel 14m
I was asked to write a few lines about my new kite.
Mmmm why I thought I'm just your 4 years of not really impressing anyone average 88kg kitesurfer...
Maybe that's the point..... Ok I'll have a go........ My new 14m Rebel:
[Warning I'm rubbish at written English deep breaths due to lack of ...,,,,, etc may be required]
A new kite makes me nervous from the, will it behave, or will lt try and hurt me, point of view.
My first impression after an over enthusiastic power stroke type take off into hyperdrive was, errr.... blimey this things got some grunt, now I'm slightly more scared... However there was no need to be. At first it gave me the impression it was going to be a thug but after 4 sessions I think it seems to have a nice balance between the too soft too much depower, fall out of the sky extreme bow kiteyness, and the slightly physco character of some C kites that will 'ave you' one day.
The big news for me is it seems to turn much faster than it ought for a 14m. relaunches very easily [see told you I was average, if I was good I wouldn't have dropped it....Doh!].
I've used it with my lovely, lovely smooth riding, knee preserving, Nobile T5, [41cm] in over 20knots and bigger than I'd have liked waves. I still felt comfortable & like I knew what I was doing at least 70% of the time. Magic!!
I've also used it with my shiney new Nobile NHP XTR [140x46]. Ok I know, 'all the gear no idea' but wait, it's good, really good, I'm tall & quite heavy but I'm up and running in hardly any wind. If I can get out enough I might even get good at this.
The bottom line this kit has made my kitesurfing addiction even deeper & I haven't tried the 10m Rebel yet... can't wait.
Mike Smith may be well known to kitesurfers who come from a windsurfing background,a very succesful sailmaker and sail designer.I value his opinion, so I asked Mike to write a few lines about his new kit,so there you have it.