2008 Kites
EH Eze 9m
| THE HYPE: The goal when designing the Eze was to come up with a simple, user-friendly kite for the masses – a set of kites with a range and comfort zone that would keep 90% of kiteboarders happy. From the courageous starter, the advanced rider through to the kite club owner or instructor, the Eze kite needed to be a powerful, bulletproof kite that would excel in the 8 - 28 knot wind range. The depower can handle 10 – 12 knot gusts with ease and you probably only need two sizes to cover that 8 - 28 knot wind range. For example, a 70kg rider would be fine with a 13 metre for 8 - 15 knots, and a nine metre for 13 – 28 knots. At the same time a 100kg rider would have a good time on a 13 metre from 14 knots, or a 50kg rider would be fine on a seven metre in the same 14 knots. Just expect solid performance that will last and last. TEST TEAM NOTES: NEAL: I’m disappointed there is no one-pump on this as the rest of the kite is finished well and looks good. Construction is OK and it looks great in the air, although very high-aspect. First thing you notice when flying it is that there's almost zero back line pressure, so it pulls and pulls, but not in a nasty way – just powered up on the bridle. It's a very refined power, not really grunty like the old high-aspect kites. Flies very much on the front lines and there's not as much depower as on some kites. Loads of depower on the strap though – so I'd say it's active depower rather than passive. Just set it up to be comfortable for you. WILL: Looks really different in the sky, because it's so narrow – not really when you're flying it, but when you look at other people flying it. The release pin on the chicken-loop is a bit plasticky but flying the kite is lovely though. Really makes me want to do freestyle, and the only time I tried handlepasses today was on this. I down looped and kite looped it really comfortably. I like the light C kite feel and the power delivery is very good when unhooked. NEAL: It turns really nicely with minimum bar pressure. Not enough feedback through the hands for me when hooked-in, but the real surprise is how good this kite is unhooked. You expect it to kill you unhooked because it's so high-aspect, but actually the handling just gets better. There's a little bit more pressure through the bar, but the handling is still very good. Nice pop too hooked-in and unhooked, but when you do pop unhooked there's a lot of grunt and it just keeps on pulling. I am really surprised because I thought it was just going to be an upwind charger hooked-in, but it turned into a really smooth unhooked kite, too. WILL: Goes upwind well, good relaunch, low bar pressure and comfortable riding for the intermediate, but unhooked is when the real fun comes on. NEAL: It is very comfortable and if you're after a fast, controllable kite to really progress your riding on, this is a leading contender. SUMMARY: The EH is a no-nonsense easy-to-use four line flat kite with more freestyle application than most in its shape category. It is only let down by the refined finishing touches of the top notch. A good kite if you're not looking for complete depower and plan on progressing with your unhooked riding. SIZES: 7, 9, 11 and 13m www.cabareteairforce.com |
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