7mrebel

The 7m 2007 North Rebel is the new Hibrid Flat Kite from North. I got to test the 7m in some serious wind 25 - 30 knots thanks to the lend from the Doc.

For those who know flat kites and bow kites there is a massive thumbs up immediately, all the things that you wanted a bow to do, this kite does it.

Having been a Bow advocate for some time now finally we have the ultimate new Hybrid style in the Rebel.

Most bow riders agree that the early transition to a Bow from a C can take a few rides. The style is very different and the kites have an unusual feel until you have ridden them a few times, then you 'get it' and you're smokin. The Rebel however does not have this transition, it is simply so good to ride, and we have had dedicated C riders go out for 3 runs and be sold on the Rebel.

So what is the story with this kite and why is it so nice to ride. Firstly the bridle system is gone and replaced with a 5th line set up with supports the leading edge flat shape. This means more canopy exposed to the wind as the kite is flatter and allows for massive depower as the 5th rotates over the pivot point on the main line attachments of the wing tip. I was sold by the 5th line as a safety and self landing system which for those who have used them will know it rocks.

The kite in the air sits with the bar in or out and does not threaten to move, it stays steady in the neutral zone. The immediate feel on putting the kite into power is the quick turning and light bar pressure allowing a cruising position of the arms, no heavy pulling in of the bar for power. The bar pressure does have some pressure return which is perfectly balanced as you need some feel in the bar.

As soon as I was lit the comfort of this kite was obvious, and the confidence to handle more wind. I am 68 kg and ride small kites, however this kite makes that irrelevant as it has massive top end. (This is also evident as I used my mates 12 on the same day in 25 - 30 knots and I could hold it easy, a testiment to the extreme top end of the North Rebel).

Jump and hang time is awesome, with the combination of a fast turning kite and the ability to depower, maintain your edge and then pull the power in on the bar means huge air.

Tricks and moves are ofcourse easy and with the depower those who want un hooked can simply do so. There is also no issue with the kite falling out of the sky on spinning the bar and letting go of it. The kite also has a stopper which will hold the bar in place when spinning it after tricks. However the stopper can be pushed up when needed on more pressure from the bar.

The lines are a new stiffer tangle free, the safety release improved and the bar comfortable in the hand.

Quite simply this kite is so nice that I rand Onboard and got one held for me whilst still in my wet suit.

After now having flown the 7m Rebel more there are a few pointers to getting this kite to fly sweet as. First thing is simple, the larger sizes can hold so much wind that you really don't need to be using this kite until the real top end winds, as you will be using your 12m Rebel most of the time. Use the 7 when it truely is 26 knots and above, the Rebel 12m will hold 26 - 27 knots easily anyway.

The next thing is to add a little pigtail extetion to the 5th line to extend it about 30mm or shorten the wing tip main lines (not steering lines) by about the same with an extra knot. Check with your dealer about this and only after you have felt the kite needs a little more stability. Some of the Rebel 7m seem to need this little bit of tuning to give them the awsome stability that the Rebel has.
For complete tuning tips see this link (Rebel Tuning Tips)
WARNING: things change - these tips are for experienced kiters who should know how to check their gear before launch. Kiters with any doubt and beginners must get lessons if they are not sure about tuning their kite.

Also you will likely need to short the steering lines on the knots near the bar if the lines feel slack. This seems necessary on most 7m Rebels and not on the others.
Star Date 2010: as technology progresses and experience is gained it is alway interesting to see just how things improve. The issues that were had with the 2007 were stability in very gusty wind, and the kite although able to hold down massive wind was very likely to fall out of the sky in the hands of an inexperienced kiter, or even a more experienced one that had not flown this kite before, the 2009_2010 models are recommended as being extremely stable. Which is a testiment to North's Research and Development

Dazza.