north_rebel

Note: this information is for experienced kiters only, for lessons see lessons page

The North Rebel is a new style hybrid flat kite. without question it redefines the inflatable kite for kitesurfing. Not rushing into the flat kite market North held back and designed the Vegus which was an exceptional C kite.

Then after extreme R&D we finally see the revelation in kiting, the North Rebel.

No bridle, no pulleys, total depower, back up 5th line safety, light bar pressure, fast truning, smooth and easy to fly. No hype this kite delivers.

The Doc flew the 12 in lighter winds 14 - 15 knots, northerly on Sat the 2nd Sept. Initially reports are outstanding, light bar pressure, total depower, ease of flying. The most impressive thing so far is the very light feel in the lightest of wind.

As the wind dropped after an all too short session Kyle flew it on the beach in 6-8 knots. the kite sits up in the lightest wind, where you are waiting for it to drop out of the sky. in the lulls of the light wind on the day it still stayed up in the air. The turing speed seems really quick, it pivots on its tip.

Next day we got some nice wind at Snapper and Aldinga beach. It did range from 12 - 15 and up to 15 - 20 so as usual it is hard to really report too much on exact low range etc.

The Doc was rippin on his new kite at snapper and we could see immediately it took his kiting to another level. The upwind ability of the kite was obvious as well as its ability to stay in the neutral zone in varied wind conditions. As the tide dropped we had to move to Aldinga beach. Again the performance was evident with the Doc's new moves and top end speed. (The Doc and Kyle are heavier balls of muscle in rider weight)

Kyle was up next thanks to the kite loan, Thanks Doc, (we are still waiting on our Rebels) and he had a great session on it when the wind picked up to 15 - 20. Kyle was lit and pulling of moves instantly. He had to be called in. Kyle also rode it in the lighter winds and it was powered well.

Time for me to have a go (Thanks Doc) immediately you can feel the light bar pressure and the smooth action of the bar, super power for a 12m kite in the 13 knots I was riding in, and I was heading up wind, at peak it would have been 14 and really streaching it may have been 15 knots on the gusts. This kind of wind had heaps of power in the kite for me (rider 68kg).

Bar pressure is light but has a little feedback which is perfect, the kite turns fast and you can feel that one handed moves where you need to steer would be easy. The kite has good aparent wind speed as you go faster and faster on it.

Depower is total, but it will not threaten to fall out of the sky, it just sits there depowered waiting for the next comand.

Now it was Gusta's turn, Gusta is quite reserved about the flat kite theory and after 3 runs he was sold. Smooth feel, depower, 2 kite quiver was the call from Gusta.

Construction looks great.

The next session tested was a 25 - 28 knot day and it was time to reveal the 7m Rebel. The Doctor tested it out and was stoked, the kite delivered heaps of bottom end in the lulls and of course held the 30 knot gusts with ease. I got to test it for a good while and was instantly impressed. The kite turns fast has light bar pressure with some springy feedback allowing for a comfortable positioning of your arm in the power.
The most impressive thing was the amount of power this kite could hold down and it still was asking for more. As a rider of small kites I really noticed the confidence the depower gave me whilst maintaining the ability to pull in for some huge powered airs.

Any wind you can not hold with this kite you simply should not be kiting in.

Air time was long lasting hang time, you can pull hard on the bar just before landing for a soft touch down.

The 7m Rebel is the best kite that I have ever ridden, period, I instantly rang Onboard and said, have you got a 7m? yes Daz easy, put my name on it!

The next incredible learning lesson for the day was Kyle on the 12m Rebel. The kite held the 25 - 30 knot wind without effort, it stayed steady in the air and so I had to try it. As a 68 Kg rider on an flx underground 128 x 38 I was holding down 27 knots on the 12m Rebel without effort, as the boys see me on small kites they could not believe it.

This kite is an aerodynamic wonder.

The new lines and the safety are superb. The micro-hook has a rotating hook to get it out the way when you don't want it. 5th line safety through the bar it such a total step forward for safety, good work North, this is such a fantastic kite.

UPDATED REPORT:

After having the Rebel for some time and getting some really good rides under the belt I am more and more stoked about this kite. As someone who traditionally rode smaller kites and having ridden other flat kites the stability and top end of this kite is stagering. The last sessions we have had the 12m Rebels in shows that you can cruise in higher winds with more kite and the kite stays steady in the air like a wing.
It makes gusty wind smooth and when you want to use that extra power just pull the bar and up you go. I have been doing the biggest jumps by far and landing them smooth with this kite. Tricks and wave ridding all suit this kite.

You can ride this kite from dawn to dusk in totally different winds and water conditions as they change or as you change locations in the water.
If you want an awsome perfoming kite that will take your kiting to another level, look no futher, just get a 12m rebel and you are going to be laughing yourself silly.

Check the 7m page for more hints and tips

More tips on setting up:

On setting up the 12m you need to check the lines are all even on the bar, place them on a nail and power up (let the strap out) and pull the bar into the micro hook at this point the lines should be all even.
Then on launching make sure your launcher is ready to land the kite quickly again, as the kite is up check the slackness of the steering lines, if they are slack land the kite and more the leader line connection one spot closer to the bar, then launch again and repeat if necessary.
We have found that having them on the knots closest to the bar is best for the 12m. However this may vary from kite to kite.

The new lines:
The new style of lines are more rigid and plastic than the old spectra. This reduces tangles and makes for easier untangling. I have noticed the following: when performing rotational moves the lines twist as they do with all kites, initially these new lines seem to keep a 'memory' of the twists and when you lay the lines out for the next ride they will be twisted up.
Make sure that you unturn the lines and untwist the 5th bridle set up properly before each session so that the lines are free of turns and you start fresh.
After a while this memory fades and is not such a problem. Just keep an eye on them.

Checking your safety
The 5th line is your lifeline. you need to make sure that it is working well and is maintained, regularly check it out.
On launching make sure that it does not hook around anything like your harness or the miccro hook, if it does and you have to release the safety you may get snagged.
If you rotate in one direction the risk is that you will overtwist the 5th and it may catch on safety release. you will see this as the red line (5th) will be wrapped around the main line (white) and when to the point of multiple twists it is time to untwist by performing the move in the other direction. If you cannot do this come in and untwist the lines by putting the kite down.

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