After selling my 2008 Waroos, I finally upgraded to a couple of 2009 Waroos - 9 and 13 meter. I flew the 13 for the first time in gusty west winds at Vilano, and was very impressed first with the turning ability and then the wind range. The wind was 15-25 knots, and I never felt underpowered or overpowered, just sheet in and out as required, and the power is there when you need it. The first jump I tried I accidentally oversent the kite back too far, because I was not used to how fast the kite turned. That is a good sign for a 13 meter!
Now I have had several good downwinders and inlet sessions on the 13, and I am starting to feel pretty dialed in on that size. So Friday I could not wait any longer, and had to get a 9 meter to go with the 13. This is going to be my 2 kite quiver for this season. Last year I had a 15 meter, but I think the 13 has almost as much wind range, and turns much faster than the 13. If I was going to get a light wind kite it would be the 17 or 20 meter Waroo, but I really do not enjoy kiteboarding on the water that much in winds below 14 knots, especially with the downwind current we get in the waves here. So if it is lighter winds I will probably opt for the landboard or find something else to excite me.
Now Thursday afternoon I watched as Jonathan pulled HUGE 30 foot F-16s over and over and over again at Matanzas in 20-25 knots of wind on the new 9 meter Waroo. Mind you Jonathan has never really liked the Waroo before this year, and has been a die hard C shape rider due to his extreme wake style of riding. Friday afternoon and evening was more of the same, with 20-25 knot NE winds and perfect outgoing tide at Matanzas. I was SO stoked to try out the new kite. First tack out I dove the kite and went shooting out of the gates like a drag race, accidentally diving the kite right towards the water and scaring the shit out of Rob Moffit, who was coming towards me a little downwind. Yes, it turns fast, even on the 45 cm bar. After a few runs on the twin tip, it was time to hit the waves. I grabbed the Resin8 surfboard and headed outside for some overhead nuggets.
The waves were peeling from the middle of the inlet towards the south side, and I snagged a set wave right off the bat. I got a few turns in and then must have caught an edge or something, but next thing I new I was getting rag dolled and the kite was in the water. I thought I could get it back up in the air before a wave hit, but the downwind current was pushing me towards the kite, and before I had a chance to relaunch an overhead wave steamrolled the kite into a ball. Luckily the kite was outside of me, so I did not have to release to avoid having the kite ripped in half. The kite popped out the back, reinflated into it's normal shape leading edge up, I pulled on the center lines, and up it came to neutral. I body dragged back to my board, and a minute later was cruising back to the bridge for the escalator back upwind. Whew!!!
I guess I was warmed up by that point because then I had a succession of waves from the middle of the inlet to the south side, getting 5-8 turns on each wave. The wind was a little onshore, so that even if I went all the way to the parking lot on the south side, I could just tack back to the bridge and catch the current back upwind. For wave riding I like a kite that is very responsive and holds it power through the turns. The '09 Waroo does that and more.
The wind continued to increase, so in between waves I tried a couple of jumps in the flat water inside the inlet. The lift is better than last year's kite, and significantly more float as well. The faster turning speed took a little getting used to, but after a few jumps I didn't have to think about it anymore. And the kites look UNREAL in the air. Thanks to Best for continuing to push the limits of kite design, and coming up with another INSANE kite for 2009. Let us hope the wind continues through May!
