My kite after 80 sessions

by **gtc** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:13 pm

Hi all,

After one year riding Switch kites I want to show you the aspect of my most used kite. I currently own two Combats, 9 and 7m. The pictures below are from my most used kite, the 7m. After buying the 9m I purchased the 7m last October.
I rode with the 7m 80% of the times, from light wind days to very stormy sessions. This size is magic for me, I can ride from 16 constant knots with a surfboard till more than 40 with a tt.
After 70/80 sessions on it I'm quite satisfied with the durability of the kite. It doesn't show major wear on the canopy. Unlike other kites I owned before, the trailing edge is still in very good condition.
The only two issues are the pinholes near valves and the wear in the pocket of the battens.

The bar is in perfect condition after about +100 sessions. I used it with the 9m too and doesen't look very used. The grip didn't peel off and lines are still in good condition. Never had to use the QR but last day I relased at home and worked well. I changed the depower line once and need to change the safety line, which snapped recently.

by **BamBam** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:16 pm

The kite does look in awesome condition, a couple of questions though: Did you have the inserts for the batten pockets? Did you ride in water, snow or both?

by **gtc** » Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:40 pm

I received the inserts from the HK warehouse but I lost them before installing on the batten pockets

. I only ride in water and most of times I self launch/land.

by **wapinou** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:12 am

i hope mine will be like that in 100 rides!!!!
good post , SWITCH +1

by **hendrix24** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 8:05 am

Wow looks awesome!

by **queneseb** » Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:05 pm

Ah ah nice, it's look like my test

!

Your controller seem to have less than 80 session, maybe you do not ride so hardcore like me lol (Joke)
We don't see the global aspect of the kite? where do you leave? what are the conditon of test (riding style, wind range, weather, etc...) ? Do you crash it?

by **gtc** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 5:58 pm

I live in Cádiz (100km N from Tarifa) so I get all types of wind and conditions. Since last couple of months I'm more into strapless surfing, we dont get big waves but I enjoy riding with a surfboard rather than a tt in medium winds. When the wind picks up I take my tt out and do some airs, kiteloops... I don't use to crash it a lot, normally once or twice per session or less.
I find this size to be way more fun than the Combat 9... in fact I'm selling it to buy an Element 9 wich I supose it will be faster and more fun to fly than the Combat 9, specially in surf riding.
BTW I weight 69 kg. I can start riding from 16 kt with a surfboard (working it) till more than 40 with a tt. The sweet range with a surfboard is from 18 to 25kt. With a tt 22 to 30

by **gtc** » Sat Jul 21, 2012 6:38 pm

queneseb wrote:Your controller seem to have less than 80 session, maybe you do not ride so hardcore like me lol (Joke)

I ALWAYS wash the bar with fresh water after every session, the kite every 2 months

by **mattyeux** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:22 pm

I use this:
http://vimeo.com/51923732

After 8 months and many session (no idea about number but I ride 1 time par week, minimum)

And battens don't use canopy with this piece of plastic.