Vegas 09 (Round 2)

[GORILLA]

Just to tease you.....



Doing a little review as I speak - well i say little ...

[morleyman200]

when will it be done?

[GORILLA]

Lol - Good things come to those who wait....

[morleyman200]

fancing me have it and ill wirte a review

[GORILLA]

Right then chaps after the success of the 08 veges with most shops selling out and even north running out- the 09 is about to be released and after the majority of us reading the 09 Pdf file of the 09 vegas with Ken Winner saying that the profile has changed ‘[FONT='Arial','sans-serif']The main change in overall geometry is toward a more swept-back look– slightly more in the direction of a Rebel’ – [/font]

This got many of us worried and a few people tried stocking up on the 08 vegas if they could get they hands on one.

I decided to take the risk and order the 09 Vegas even thou I did love my 08 vegases.

And I have now received my 10m vegas – One of the first people to get one (Lucky Boy) yesterday 05/September, [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']curtest of the shop I ride for (Don’t think I am allowed to say as it could be regarded as pimping by the Moderators)[/font]
–I’ve have already had two sessions on it in the most horrible conditions of the UK but I had to fly it.

So Please Note I am a store rider but will be as truthful and honest as I can.

So my views-

The bag is fairly similar to last years apart from the colour being white (see picture below).
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And now has a strap that goes from each of the shoulder straps across the chest, so the kite does blow about if the struts are kept inflated. Also the extension pocket that you pull out if you decide to keep your struts inflated is now half mesh instead of previous years only having mesh at the top of the pocket, which will allow the kite to breath more if put away wet.

When I first unravelled the kite one of the attachment points on the kite had a card on it informing you that a quality check list has been on the kite and has been signed for this making sure that the kite has been pumped, no twists are in the bladders, length of noseline ect
See Picture Below
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Firstly I pumped up the struts and there is a big improvement on the quality on how the struts are attached to the leading edge and is reinforced past the inflation point and reinforced around the strut. The kite is also reinforced along the base of the kite with the thicker material that has been used around the tips of the kites in previous years.
So my judgement the quality on the kite has improved a lot to last years kites- which were also noted by the stores who managed to get the demo one.
One thing I did notice is this year’s has a Y fifth line attachment to the leading edge compared to last Years only having a single line attachment. Don’t know if this makes a massive difference I’m not a kite designer but I though I would note this.
See Picture below
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So now the leading edge is pumped up it did look alot smaller to the 08 as my friend was flying the 08 and when put next to each other in the sky, the 09 vegas looked like it had been put on steroids over the year and put on some bulk.
I decided to fly it on the setting that it came out the bag which is the freeride setting with maximum depower as the conditions was not good and its always good to see what the kite fly’s like out the bag.

So flying the kite, it did look a lot smaller with the aspect ratio on the 09 being 5.3 and the 08 being 5.4 and the projected area of the 09 being 5.4m2 and the 08 being 5.6m2. And in the air it did look abit rebel shaped looking at it straight on in the air perhaps this is because of the Aspect ratio being smaller than the 08.

I asked someone to launch me and I got a bit of interest from a few people on the beach asking what was it. One person thought it was an Evo so that shows how much the shape has changed. Bare in mind I have it on the freeride setting.

Flying the kite it did feel like it was a rebel with the way it moved through the air but I’d admit it was a worry at first. But it did seem to be more powerful through the air and was more constant so I was pleased, it did seem a little bit faster through the air as well and jumping was an ease.
The depower was very respectable when you let the bar out it didn’t flutter or stumble just sit there where you have it parked.

I was pleased with the kite and was getting tired so decided to go back and see what other settings are available especially this freestyle setting. After a few changes to the pig tails I wanted to see what changes it would make to the kite. Once launched and just parked to the side of the window the kite seemed to have completely changed shape with the kite looking more like the 08, it looked like the kite had completely changed its aspect ratio to being a lot higher. I didn’t go back out as I had had enough by then but did mess about on the beach with it with the new settings, and when I would unhook even in the gusty conditions it would just sit there at the side of the window so I was really looking forward to trying this in some decent conditions.
But in the new settings its whole shape changed which filled me up with more confidence.

The follow day (6th/September) went to the local beach conditions again not good with rain coming down hard wasn’t the best day to test the kite again, but I had to get out. So from yesterday I kept the freestyle settings on even thou it looked like I would be overpowered and was looking very dim. I went out and the kite would just sit into position didn’t manage to unhook as I was overpowered but was a joy to fly in this setting, wasn’t out for long sorry to say as the weather was dismal but I had to put it to the test. When I depowered the kite, it seemed to open up more similar to the setting to factory setting but this was when the bar was right out – but the session has filled me up with confidence and I am very tempted to buy a 7m now.

So basically I’m one happy customer despite everyone being worried about the comments made in the Pdf. I still think there are still settings to be discovered on the kite – I just need more sessions on it.

Anything else I will try and answer- Very Happy – Well done North and to those people who said why didn’t they just keep it the same but make it better quality- why change it – I’d suggest ride the 09 before making any judgement.

Cheers to the store for getting me one!

DSCF3816.JPG Drying in the Bath.....Good job the gf is away.

Can get more pictures for you all.

[GORILLA]

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More photos - sorry not in the air - No wind today ....

[KiteItRight]

Nice Reveiw Si

glad you like it

[KiteItRight]

its a fat mofo isnt it!

[GORILLA]

its a fat mofo isnt it!

Looking at the third photo it does look a fat mofo - well a toned machine... like its owner...

[paulie_amoose]

Looking at the third photo it does look a fat mofo - well a toned machine... like its owner...

Quick question for you Mr Bufftastic...

Is it as good or better than the 08?

[danmon81]

ooooooooooooooo....good question.....(waits in anticipation)

[GORILLA]

Looking at the third photo it does look a fat mofo - well a toned machine... like its owner...

Quick question for you Mr Bufftastic...

Is it as good or better than the 08?

Erm in what sense ? The flying chararistics? The quality ? The graphics?

[paulie_amoose]

Quick question for you Mr Bufftastic...

Is it as good or better than the 08?

Erm in what sense ? The flying chararistics? The quality ? The graphics?

I'm only interested in the graphics, do they do it in pink..!

Gald they have beefed up the build!

Flying chararistics really...?

[GORILLA]

Yes they do it in Pink - but i couldn't get my mitts on one ! Very dissapointed might have to wait till they are released and order a 7M HA HA

You Really Want to Know ???

Well when i first got it out the bag and started flying in on the factor settings - i was a bit worried with the 08 being such a great kite but the conditions weren;t the best.... but i soon got use to it .... but when i landed it and changed the settings to the freestyle setting - i was 100% convinced i made the right decision - it just seemed to sit there even in the gusty conditions wasn;t a wipit like the 08 - and i can imagine in some decent conditions it will be awesome- and i am convinced by the new design.

[morleyman200]

great review, anyone know of the prices for a 12 and 8? with 1 bar?

[GORILLA]

£1757. Thats a 9m not a 8m

[Enders13]

Nice honest opinion G.

When peeps ask me about the 08 I smile and tell them it's my favourite kite, ever!

So the changes in 09 have me worried no end. We have a 7 and 10 on order, which I hope will be in soon seems as you have yours then they are starting to deliver orders.

So I wait with bated breath, normally we would sell off our previous years demo kit but we've hung onto the 08's until we're sure 09 will deliver!!

[paulie_amoose]

When peeps ask me about the 08 I smile and tell them it's my favourite kite, ever!

Funny that.... I tell peeps the same thing...

[Mr X]

Are you upgrading as well Paul?

[GORILLA]

One thing Mike when you get them and you pump it up you will straight away you might dismis it by the shape, and also what it looks like in the air - have a fly for sure - but land it and put it on the freestyle setting ... you will notice a difference straight away.

[paulie_amoose]

Are you upgrading as well Paul?

Very unlikely David. I have 3 08's that are in great condition, do absolutely everything I want and make me smile everytime I use them.

Might try and grab a demo of an 09 becuase I am interested to find out what they could possibly do to make them better.

[Spyke]

Might try and grab a demo of an 09 becuase I am interested to find out what they could possibly do to make them better.

Yeye we'll have to try and grab one from somewhere and give it a blast one day

[Mr X]

Are you upgrading as well Paul?

Very unlikely David. I have 3 08's that are in great condition, do absolutely everything I want and make me smile everytime I use them.

Might try and grab a demo of an 09 becuase I am interested to find out what they could possibly do to make them better.

You'll be interested to hear that I have changed my 9 & 12 to a 7, 10 & 12.
How have you found the 7?

[paulie_amoose]

I havent had a chance to fly it yet! Been very busy with work and my kitesurf sessions have been limited! Everytime I go out it's 12 or 10m weather.

I did get out the other day in 22kts and thought I'll grab the 7m and have a go but then as I came in the wind dropped!

I'm off all next week so fingers crossed for some proper wind and I'll actually get to try it!!

[paulie_amoose]

Yeye we'll have to try and grab one from somewhere and give it a blast one day

Edge have got erm on demo, might pop there if your around G...?

How's the snakeskin shorts by the way?