From the kite forum

Hey guys ,

I have had quiet a few sessions on the epic screamer 10m and i am 70 kilos riding a brunotti pro x 128 * 39

Firstly,can i say well done to dimitri and co for prompt delivery and great service.

Now down to the kite ,out of the bag you can see it is top notch construction.

Rigging was easy with kook proof connectors.

Bar is the way i like it with depower above the bar and very easy to adjust size.I adjusted the front lines one knot t shorter which made it perfect for me

I have had the 10m out up to about 25 knots and oh my god the jumps and loops are amazing also great for board offs ,
I went in a local comp recently and took out the big air and hangtime prize.
Also worth noting the relaunch is very good in comparison to the thruster.
For me the bottom end is easily 3 knots better than the thruster so maybe 12 knots .

Anyway give it a go and have an EPIC session

good winds to all

From France

Hi everybody, Epic Kites are now available in France, where the first Screamer and Renegades are enjoying our cold and windy winter spots!
I had a true Epic session a few days ago, with the brand new Renegade 6 which is really more responsive than me in a 7°C water....

At first, for my 80kgs, I was well surprised to ride easy in only 20 knots, then the wind rose fast and It became really funny.
With this kite, you got a true predictible and totally controlable power.
The jumps are amazing and the hang time is really big.
If you liked hang-gliding, you r gonna enjoy the Renegade 6 kiteboarding as well!!
According to the fresh water I don't sent much unhooked moves but I sent a few basics and it was powerfull.

Moreover this kite get a really efficient relaunch, so I think it could be really interesting for schools and beginners as well.

Anyways, I think this is a kite you can have fun at anytime anywhere...
Look forward to try the other ones

....Sorry for my bad english, I let the pictures speak!

Finally a little blast of wind rolled back into Georgetown Saturday making for an Epic day of light wind kiting. With 6 inches of fresh pow on a 4 inch base and 4-14mph winds, I was finally able to get out and put in a good session on the 14m Epic Screamer and the new prototype board I am testing for Jelly Fish Boards.

The 14m Screamer was amazing to say the least. Super easy reverse launch worked better than I imagined in such light winds. The power and stability was definitely epic. I was able to ride up wind with no problem and was throwing down some of my best boosts of the year with little to no effort. The stability of the 14m Screamer while boosting was by far the best I have ever seen. With just a flick of the wrist away I went without ever having to worry about coming down hot. At first I was concerned that the chicken loop release would not work well in the cold and snow, but it proved to work excellent even when crammed full of snow and ice. Release was quick and reset was easy even while wearing gloves. When the winds dropped down to below 10mph everyone else got to sit and watch as the 14m Screamer was the only kite still able to fly, ride, and boost with no problem.

The Jelly Fish Board I am testing is their new 159 wide bamboo core with carbon fiber and Kevlar top sheet. The board is a reverse camber board making for a different feel than your standard board. In the deeper snow the board handled amazingly. When in some of the packed down areas it was a little harder to track straight. The reverse camber and bamboo core make for amazing pop. Carving sharp S turns is super easy and smooth due to the reverse camber. My only complaint so far with the board is that it isn't a good board for speed runs. Whenever it hits a bump it wants to go into the air instead of riding over the bump. The quality of the board seems to be exceptional so far. I will be getting out into some deeper powder in the next couple of days to see how it performs.

Overall it was an Epic day thanks to the amazing 14m Screamer and the 159 wide Jelly Fish board.

Testing your kites for our shop

Hello Dimitri,
We had some good wind and waves today, and got to ride the Epic kites.
The Screamer 14 had great low end and tons of pull. It turns extremely
fast for a 14 meter kite! It felt great immediately, once out on the
water and the hang time was in slow motion....great pop. The bar is
super nice as well. The Screamer 14 is an EPIC kite, to say the least.
We had several people ride it, and everyone had good things to say about
this kite. I rode it in 14 to 25 as it picked up so it has unreal range
to it.
We rode the Renegade 11 when it pick up and this is a really nice kite
as well.
We have more wind tomorrow....so more riding the EPIC kites.

Thanks

Rush
Emerarld Coast Kiteboarding

These kites are awesome!!!!!!

Hey Guys,

Just a quick email to say thanks for making these great kites ,ive had a lot
of sessions on the 10m and recently won the best hangtime in a local comp
and 3rd in the ultimate waterman.
see link
http://www.kiterepublic.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111:official-rundown-port-phillip-cup&catid=8:latest-news&Itemid=24

in strong winds that 10m is a jumping looping hangtime machine ,
I have had a few sessions on the 7m and it is the best 7m i have ever tried
,backroll kiteloops are insane!!!!and it is still very good for unhooked
stuff.
Thanks for the great kites,
cheers,

New dealers

Hi my name is STefano Aliatis, Im planning to Open a kiteboardibg and
surfing school in Guayas Ecuador I found a great spot for doing this
and Will be the first and only school around here. I know that your
brand is making a diference at the kitesurfing industry thats why i
want to know how and if is posible to be a distributor of your brand.
What aré the conditions to become one etc...
Thanks for your time
Regards

Stefano Aliatis
Guayas Ecuador

From Canada

Epic was kind enough to send me a couple Demo kites (10m Screamer LE and 7m Screamer) to test and determine if Epic was a proper fit to deal with Darkside.

Initially, on arrival, I was impressed with the fit and finish of these kites. There has been a lot of attention to detail in build quality, especially since it's such a new company. Nice oversized bag, lots of reinforcements, fairly simple brindle etc. The one suggestion I would make on initial inspection would be to adopt a pump valve similar to the Cabrinha collar; the valves work great, there are no issues with it, but I may be spoiled (I'm hooked - one, one way valve, screw in collar to attach to pump etc). Over all, very impressed.

Flying the 10m L.E. (on snow) in 10-15 kts I was very impressed. The kite has power. Lots of steady predictable power. It flies and turns fast. Flies like an 8, pulls like a 12 is a pretty common descriptor, and is entirely accurate. The kite jumps great, and is easy to feel it's movements through the window, despite not having a lot of bar pressure. I didn't get a chance to ride it unhooked, so I can't speak to its behaviour in that configuration. I didn't engage the QR either.

Unfortunately, the winds have been light to give the 7m Screamer a fair test. Having had it out for a minute, I can say it has the same bomber construction. It's a fast, punchy kite that flies well even in lighter winds.

Both kites launch and reverse launch well, and sit nicely at the edge of the window when depowered. They seem very well behaved, but also have no shortage of power and speed.

A couple things I would change include, keep in mind, they are minor but here they are:
-Previously mentioned inflation valves,
-The tubing from the Leading Edge bladder to the struts seems to be narrow and pinch off from time to time, stopping airflow in or out of the strut bladder.
-On a couple occasions, the swing away donkey dick removes itself from the harness hook, the webbing attaching it to the CL should be a. tighter or b. provide more friction.

These are nit-picky issues, I'm sure could be resolved after a couple uses and just require getting used to the kite. Overall, I am very impressed by the work done putting these kites out.

The only other thing worth mentioning is the service Epic has. Both Terrie and Dimitri seem to be stand up guys, and put a lot of value into customer satisfaction. Emails answered within a couple hours, or at least a day. Lots of information, support and a strong desire to allow the product to sell itself. Their dedication is bar none and puts your mind at ease when wondering if the manufacturer will stand behind their product.

Due to the excellent quality and service I have seen from Epic thus far, I have decided to become a dealer for Epic Kites. I am confident that Dimitri and everyone at Epic will continue to drive forward providing top-tier products and customer service.

Mike
Darkside Kites
www.darksidekites.ca
Cabrinha | Epic | NPX | Ronix

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2360987&sid=52082d9b2cc8fd0e92dde3ed351670c9&p=635820#p635820

More from Australia

Here is a link to a review of the 10m Ltd edition Screamer from a Australian Rider.

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topi ... C_ID=60910

or this is a copy of the review

Rider: 76Kg
Level: intermediate
Style: Freeriding
Weather: 18-23 knots
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: No attachment to brand or shop.

My Comments:

I had the chance to demo the Epic Screamer 10 Limited Edition today in 18 – 23Kts. Epic have produced a range of Screamers in 7M, 9M, 12M and 14M. In addition they have produced a Limited Edition which comes in 10M only. Epic claim that the Limited Edition 10 has the wind range of a comparable 11.5M kite.

Out of the bag you can see that this is a kite designed by Dimitri Maramenides and Momi as the attention to detail is exquisite. The reinforced stitching on strut attachments and the LE combined with profiled scuff guards on the LE give you confidence that this kite will be able to take the punishment and will see you through a good few seasons.

As Dimitri and Momi designed the Eclipse Thruster, comparisons between the two are inevitable. My personal opinion is that the Screamer (standard) and the Screamer Limited Edition 10 represent the next stage in the evolution of the Thruster design. So all Thruster riders take note, both of the Screamer editions are going to be of great interest to you.

The bar itself is pretty no nonsense. Epic have designed a bar that can be adjusted to suit all sizes of Screamers which is a bit of a bonus as once you have one bar you only have to spend money on different sizes of kites. The Chicken Loop is quite a small affair which may be more awkward to hook in and out of than other models. The Donkey is set to the side of the loop and, unlike the Thruster, it manages to stay attached to the loop during wipeouts and does not leave you unwittingly unhooked.

The quick release is a very simple plastic Push Forwards device that is a major improvement on the Thrusters, is it or isn’t it going to release device. The Leash attachment point runs through the centre of the quick release and cleverly allows the kite to remain flying (with very little power) after an unhooked wipeout. I did not have time to work out how the kite would depower and drop to the water when the QR is activated but did not do this when you unhooked and let the bar go but it’s a clever detail all the same.

The trim strap is pretty much the same affair as the Thruster with black power on and red power off straps. I did notice that the bar had a very long throw and I did find myself leaning forward over the bar to reach the straps. I would note this as my only real criticism of the package as people with shorter reach are going to struggle to trim the kite whilst riding. On further inspection I noticed that there are a number of knots above the straps where you can adjust the length of the throw to suit however this would also require shortening of the steering lines. I am just not sure that every rider is confident to do this.

There is a stopper ball which allows riders to set the throw and trim the kite to take most of the bar pressure. I never use these devices as I have come to grief with them before so I will leave it for others to comment.

So to the business end, the kite itself. As stated, construction of this kite is of the same high quality as the Thruster. There are a number of trim points on the bridal and on the steering line attachment points which allow for faster or slower turning. As with my Thruster I just set the kite to fast and get on with it, however as I mention later this kite is very fast and hugely powerful for a 10M so the slow settings may get a workout in heavier conditions.

There is a pretty standard One Pump system which is neat and clipped back to the strut and LE. The Valve attachment points have received some attention to stop the valve splitting which was an issue with the Thruster and Nano. It seems a pretty standard set up and only time will tell if this feature can stand up to the abuse it will, no doubt, get. I am still to be convinced that One Pump systems are a benefit to the rider. Obviously this is the way the industry has gone but I am not sure that saving ten minutes pumping up is worth all the grief when these systems go wrong.

The Screamer Limited Edition 10 comes in black only so no room for argument there, the graphics are pretty basic but clean and to the point. The kite looks like a ninja in the air when compared to the bling machines on offer by other brands so it’s all good.

So the Screamer Limited Edition 10 may be a shrinking violet in the looks department but boy where performance is concerned she has got the goods! I had the kite out for three hours in 18 – 23Kts and during my session other riders were switching from 12 / 13M kites down to 9 / 8M. For my weight on a 131 x 39 board I would say the comfortable wind range would be between 17 and 25Kts, with 25 being on the edge of overpowered. This may seem unrealistic for a 10M however Epic have put a lot of work into the Aspect of this kite and it shows in its comparable wind range with a 12M. Epic claim that the kite can be ridden in 15Kts and, whilst I agree, I would say that I would reach for a 12M over the Screamer 10 in anything around 15Kts, for that little more power. However if you are an experienced rider looking for a one kite solution then I would say this kite is worth a demo.

Where this kite really excels is the speed of turning. Just imagine the power of a 12m combined with the speed of a 9M and you get the picture. The kite turns with the type of input you would usually reserve for your 9M and I was caught out a number of times while down looping the kite. It only took a couple of turns to get this dialed in and from that point forward I was sold. I am not into kite loops but from the speed of this kite I can tell that it is going to be a real performer in this area.

Now the Thruster was known for big hang time but the Screamer is just absurd. This kite literally rips you off the water and into orbit with HUGE floaty results. This kite was obviously made for Dimitri’s style of riding and it really shows. I simply could not get enough of boosting with this kite. You can seriously over pilot this kite as it is just SO fast but once you have it dialed in it’s a real pleasure to fly.

I found the kite to be very stable in the air, initially I had a problem with back stalling but an adjustment to the lines solved this issue. Unhooked the kite behaved very well once trimmed correctly, there was less of a tendency to pull like a truck than I first expected and I am sure that unhooked and wave riders are going to love this kites stability and speed of turning.

So to sum it up I was very impressed with the Epic Screamer Limited Edition 10. If fast and powerful kites are your poison and you love going huge then you need to demo this kite. All Thruster riders are on notice, you are just going to love this kite as it feels like a more refined and turbo charged old friend.

Thanks to Tony at Ral for the demo. Sorry mate but I appear to have lost your number so cant hand this baby back for a while!

Cheers

Thanks P-air

Thanks for linking my post above Dimitri. Yeah, these kites are sick and performance oriented. But one thing that struck me about the Renegade in particular was how that kite begs to launch itself. Self launching has never really been a issue to me as I've been kiting for some time and have mastered various methods of doing so, but I can't remember the last kite that was so damn effortless. I barely moved it and in popped up on it's side, followed that up with what was hardly a tug and just like that, it was up in the air. Not that this is the most important quality in a kite to me (heck, it better perform on the water or who needs a good launching kite that sucks in all other aspects), but it's a nice-to-have feature

La Ventana

Well! After a day of travel the Epic crew has arrived! Dinner gear stowed, weather is looking great! Palaps! what a great place!

Demos all around!!

La Ventana Here we come!!

The Epic crew is on the way!!!

Hello guys,
Just found this from another FORUM and wanted to share this with you so you can have a better understanding which kite fits you the best. Hope this helps.

http://direwolff.wordpress.com/2010/01/ ... ging-ways/

"Posted by p-air on January 18, 2010"
Just a heads up that after nearly a year hiatus from blogging here, seeing all of the new cool kites that are being released into this 2010 season, and the fact that the San Francisco Bay Area has been getting some crazy winds of late, this has all conspired to get me back into blogging about our local kite scene. Already since December, there have been several north wind days at Crissy Field and we’re currently experiencing some storm conditions that are bringing in south winds to the coast. Half Moon Bay brought some joy to kiters both yesterday and today, while Ocean Beach got a bunch of us out there today.

As well, I just changed my quiver from Eclipse to Dimitri Maramenides’ new kite line, Epic Kites. While he may not describe them in this way, the Epic Screamer is the next gen of what was the Eclipse Thruster, while the Epic Renegade is the next gen of what was the Eclipse Kima. Having ridden the Eclipse kites last season, what I have experienced so far has been quite an improvement to an already good design. He has also come out with a special treat in a kite called the Epic Screamer Limited Edition which only comes in a 10m version, but is more powered than the equivalent sized Screamer. As for the bar, don’t get me started, simply said, it ROCKS in its simplicity and smart design. My quiver this season are 6m & 9m Renegades and the 10m SCREAMER LTD which I Managed to get a 30 minute session on the a north wind day at Crissy las weekend and can just say that it’s a power machine with great grunt on the low-end and feels like it’s begging for me to let it send me into the air. Sort of like a Ferrari begging for you to take it into the 125+mph zone, if you know what I mean. Unfortunately, I was riding my strapless surfboard so I couldn’t let’er go, but I could feel what that puppy wanted to do. Can’t wait to get it out with my twin tip to see what kind of air time it’s going to provide.

RENEGADE
Today, managed to ride one of those weird south wind sessions at Ocean Beach. It was a hard core ride due to the rain, slightly gusty winds and some mid-sized swell, but from a direction that we don’t get very often there. Definitely fun while it lasted, which again was only about 30 minutes for me before the winds just shut off like a light switch. For this session, I took out my virgin Renegade 9m and was not disappointed. Fast turning, exceedingly responsive, and with plenty of power at every stroke. Any time the wind dropped off a tad, all it took was a down stroke to get some good power back into the kite to avoid any slowing in the waves. Wish I could have been out longer to get a better feel for the kite’s range but I now have tasted blood and am looking forward to my next session on this kite. It’s definitely the wave kite to beat this season. I’m expecting some solid competition in this segment from the RRD Religion which was just announced as their wave kite and has a nice, though different shape. Will give that kite a fair review as well, as soon as I get to try it.
Looks like kitesurfing season is going to be a blast with this early start in January, things are only looking up from here. This rain is also bringing lots of snow to the Lake Tahoe resorts, so I may slip out for some snowboarding, and who knows maybe take the kites along to put them through their paces on snow.

From the Kite Forum

Rider: komaExperience: Intermediate/AdvancedWeight: 78kg dryStyle: Freestyle, a bit of wake, and a bit of free ride etcBoard: '09 Nobile NHP 666 134x42Conditions: 18-22kn gusting to ~25, low tide and a bit choppy/sloppyAffiliations: None at presentOther: Thanks to Tony @ RalInnovations for the demo of both of these kites.
Epic SCREAMER 10m Limited Edition 2010
The Epic Screamer Limited Edition is a kite that i'd heard a fair bit about and had been told that it's one of the most powerful kites around for it's size. In short, it is. If you want to stop reading and go buy one now, please do... however there's a lot more to this kite than the raw power.
The KiteThe limited edition only comes in one size and one colour; 10 square metres of black. It's got some nice little details and graphics done in white which really make it a simple and subtle kite. Nothing flashy or over the top, very nicely done. All of the Epic kites are one pump with a nicely detailed inflation system with the hoses and hose clips all neatly held in place curving smoothly from the leading edge to each individual strut. I didn't set the kite up (thanks Tony @ RalInn!) so i can't say how easy or quick the inflation was, but it looks like a pretty standard setup.The kite has a very small bridle which is attached on each side of the kite in four places. The left and right bridles are completely separate and do not meet at the top of the kite. There is one pulley on the lowest V at each side of the kite. The detailing on the pulley was a minor concern as if the line is pulled to one side it can load up the pulley unevenly. I would hope in future revisions that the attachment line will be at 90 degree's to avoid this issues altogether.The rest of the kite appears to be of pretty 'standard' appearance with only the slight kinks in the leading edge towards the tips being notable features. Hidden in black, this kite really is a bit of a 'sleeper'.
Bar & LinesBar & lines are a nice design with a few positives and negatives. The good points are that there's a rotatable 'head' to the chicken loop assembly allowing you to untwist your lines very easily. Whilst on the water i untwisted them a couple of times with no issues. The integrated donkey dick seems to stay out of the way unless you want it engaged which was nice; well sized and stiff enough to stay in place without being difficult to engage/disengage. The depower setup is both nice and simple with it's pull to depower (labelled nicely!) and pull to power, however on a couple of occasions with large amounts of depower pulled in i had the problem of the depower toggle wrapping around steering lines. It wasn't in any way dangerous, just annoying that i'd have to untangle it. My most significant problem with the bar and lines setup is that the head of the chicken loop assembly doesn't have any sort of 'key' to hold it in position with the bar when unhooking. Other manufacturers have been doing this for a while now so i felt it was a step backwards. It may be because of the swivelling head to allow for untangling lines, but surely some small detailing would have allowed for both of these features.
Flying and on the waterAs soon as it was in the air you could tell that the Screamer Ltd meant business. It was a bit of a gusty day so the minimal depower and gust absorption may have been more apparent than had i been flying it in perfect conditions, but this is real world kiting. In the 18-22 knots i would have been flying my '09 Naish Torch 12 with a little bit of depower pulled; on the Screamer 10 Ltd i had alot of depower pulled and it was still pulling like a truck with cooked brakes on a steep slope headed towards a ravine... ok more dramatic description than i was intending, but it's powerful, very powerful. It's at this point that i actually forgot what size kite i was flying and just put it through it's paces... or tried to. It turns like a 9m and has the power of a 12, maybe even a 13.Diving the kite to get out of the water you notice that you get ripped out a little faster than usual, and if your a little too aggressive with getting going or downloop it through the window, it's akin to a roadrunner moment where you get whiplashed out with significant force.Boosting was a bit of a challenge for me as i found it difficult to hold down the power that it would generate from a quick flick back across the top of the wind window. Eventually i managed to get a few solid jumps in and was greeted with a nice floaty ride back down. It takes a while to get the timing right, but if/when you do your rewarded for your efforts.Thanks to the phenomenal turning speed, kiteloops (in 'normal' wind ranges) would be quite rewarding on the Screamer Ltd. It keeps a decent amount of power in the turns as it arcs around with a turning style which is very similar to many of the high-depower C-kites these days. As you come out of a turn or a kiteloop and straighten the bar up the Screamer Ltd accelerates and really pulls as it shoots across or back up through the wind window.Unhooking with a bit of depower pulled in... ok ALL the depower pulled in was still quite a fast and powerful experience. The kite (in this wind) had insane amounts of power and pop and was quite unforgiving. I have a tendency to occasionally pull on my back hand whilst pulling unhooked tricks and the Screamer Ltd took this as an invitation to dart straight up to 12 and then float me towards the beach at an alarming speed.
Safety & RelaunchThe safety is handled by way of a mini fifth line which you clip onto the small ring inside the chicken loop. When activated it pulled both front lines in about 3-4 feet which is enough to have the kite sail gently down to the water with almost no pull. Relaunch from this position is very easy; just pull the mini-fifth in enough to reach the bar, grab the chicken loop and hook back in. By the time i'd done that the kite was already sitting at the edge of the window waiting to be steered back up into the sky.On the other occasion i had to relaunch from directly downwind of me, it was as quick and simple as pulling in ~1 foot of steering line and the kite rolled over onto a wingtip ready for relaunch. Very quick and easy.I'd really love to have another crack at the Screamer Ltd 10m as i think it would be even more fun in a few knots less. I think my wind range for this kite would be ~17-20kn as it's sweet spot, which for a 10m is practically bonkers. I'm used to relying on 12m kites for that range.If your considering buying an Epic Screamer Ltd 10m then i'd definitely recommend trying it before you do as it's a very specialised kite for a very specific riding style.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epic RENEGADE 9m 2010After coming in with the Screamer Ltd 10m i had to ask Tony if he had anything smaller.'Oh, i've got the 9m Renegade but that's just their surf kite.' Well i'll still give it a try, and i'm very glad i did!This kite is quite simply sensational. It's like a comfy pair of shoes that Epic have strapped rockets to and then lit the fuse.
The KiteThe renegade has the majority of the same detailing as the Screamer Ltd and the regular Screamer, so i won't cover that again. The colour range is wider than just the black/white of the Screamer Ltd, and the one i took for a spin was white and bright green. Again simple graphics adorn the main sail.I think where i underestimated this kite the most is that whenever i see a kite with three struts i assume it's going to be just like an Ozone Light. Nothing wrong with an Ozone Light, but having owned one they're just a bit... boring. Thats where the rockets strapped to your old favourite shoes bit comes in.It turns like a 9m, because it is a 9m. It has the power of a ~9m, but it is a 9m. It's just honest about what it is and it's heritage, but that's where it all changes. The depower range on the Renegade is greater than the Screamer Ltd that i found a bit limited especially in the gusty conditions i tried it in. It's also more stable, and more pleasant to fly. It doesn't jump around, it doesn't feel unstable, it's solid and reliable.
Bar & LinesI used the same bar and lines as with the Screamer Ltd 10m, so refer to the Screamer Ltd review above.
Flying and on the waterSmooth, friendly, controllable, great unhooked pop, adequete depower - all the things that make a great freestyle kite. I can see why a few people are saying this is much more than just a wave kite because my time with it as a freestyle/wake kite certainly proved it to me.Boosting was much easier on this kite as i wasn't overpowered as i was on the Screamer Ltd 10m, so almost instantly i had the timing right and was getting some nice smooth floaty jumps. Redirecting for landing was very compliant and the timing for a smooth landing was incredibly flexible. As long as you brought it back over some time on your way down you were almost guaranteed a gentle reintroduction to the water.Unhooking is where this kite really shines! With a bit of speed the Renegade generates some sensational pop, more than enough to throw you to some decent heights... enough so that i managed to break the strap on my board (grumble grumble). Hooking back in is also no problem as the Renegade seems to give you a second worth of slack lines as it floats back readying itself to resume normal flight.Bar pressure is light/medium and feedback is medium, less than the Screamer Ltd but still ample enough that i rarely had to look at the kite.
Safety & RelaunchThe safety system is the same as the Screamer Ltd as i used the same bar and lines. The relaunch was also mostly the same as the Screamer Ltd but slightly quicker if that's possible! Where i mentioned before that the Screamer Ltd would move a little to one side of the window and wait to be relaunched, the Renegade did much the same but even quicker. It was just a matter of regaining composure and grabbing the bar and steering the kite back up off the water.
Taken from this web page:http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2360987&sid=555fbda5ac7132691680d0c1580d38e8&p=634432#p634432

From the Midwest

t's taken me a while to post a review of any of the new epic kites because i like to multiple sessions on them before posting. so far, i've had sessions on the 10m, 12m and 14m Screamer. 9m Renegade.

I can't yet really review the 14m since both sessions were very short due to very little wind.

it's snow season here, and we have some fantastic conditions right now. to be honest, some aspects of kite performance (both good and bad) are easier to distinguish in the winter due to the speeds we get and apparent winds we generate.

1) 12m Screamer: love this kite.

rode this kite hard yesterday on the snow and this was my second really good session on the 12m. it was by far the best day on snow this year and even last year and that is a testament to how comfortable i feel with this kite. i broke my femur 2 years ago snowkiting, so jumping big tends to stress me out. not yesterday. felt right at home on this 12m. it turns fast, but i knew where it was in the sky at all times. very stable for a higher performance kite. the 12m handles the gusts with ease.

i didn't hold back at all with this kite. edge super hard and build up as much speed as I could, huck the bitch and enjoy the boosting. great hang time and loft. quite impressed with the jumping performance.

i also like to land by downlooping and on a few occasions, the kite would stall (pilot error?).

This is typical though of a higher aspect kite and similar to riding waves and riding towards the kite fast...it can stall out. It's as much pilot error or attention. foils would be even worse for aggressively riding towards the kite downwind and can cause collapses. This is one area were a kite like the Renegade is better where it sits deeper in the wind window.

the winds picked up even stronger close to the end of my session and it was like being on a 15 foot pogo stick. quite fun. felt like a jumping bean.

in the lighter winds, the kite turns over really easy for relaunch. i'd expect similar things on the water for relaunch. huge benefit.

2) 10m Screamer: another great kite.

Not much more to add here except that as a 10m that puppy is also quite comfortable to ride and for a guy my size, if it's blowing 10m, it's strong winds. i'm right around 205 depending on how many taco bells i've had during the week. lol.

other guys have been on the 10m also and really like the kite.

if the landings are soft, i'll have no problem riding fast and hucking big with this 10m. last year, my kite of choice in stronger winds was the 11m and 9m nano due to being easier to predict for me jumping. this year, the 10m screamer will probably fill that void.

3) 9m Renegade. Fun kite and very predictable.

I've only had one good session, but can tell it's a very easy to fly kite and is stable in gusty winds. I really need more time though in better snow before saying much more. I know what to expect and guess it will deliver, but will hold off on any firm opinions.

4) Areas for improvements:
most of these are very minor btw.

1) bigger pump
2) the little nipple that goes into the inflate valve is short. if the velcro is done correctly, this is OK, but a bigger nipple (haha) would help especially in the winter.
3) just a tad longer pump leash line. it's hard to get the ball into it from others pumps i'm using.
4) at the elbow on the LE of the Screamers where it bends, it might help to put a bump pad here. I'm not sure if this is a wear point, but it could be.
5) just got the bars, so will wait to review. seems like an OK bar. nothing special, nothing bad.

all in all, i'd give 2 thumbs up so far with the kites especially delivering kites on time in such a short time frame. well done.

bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

Epic NW Team rider Matt Thames in La Ventana

Save some wind Matt!!

From the Kite Forum Ral Inn

our group of demo Epics has been doing some rounds in Sydney since Christmas and while the 10m LE has got the same sort of reports as what is being said here, The 9m renegade has really impressed those who used it.

they are in transit down to us in Victoria so until they arrive we will just put up with our cloudless skies and mid 30C to low 40C days. and think of UK and Europe(and smile)

The Epics have just turned up and I have done the classic new toy unpack and check over.

Congrats Dimitri, you have obviously put a lot of thought into all the little details that make a kite fly good from day one to some seasons into the future.

would love to be off to the beach now, but we have our first days of the new bushfire warning system being used. with 3 new higher risk categories added above what used to be the worst. The worst now being Catastrophic . This means holiday campers etc. are being evacuated back home and every possible resource is primed for a worst case scenario.

we are looking at Catastrophic today and tomorrow. so maybe I could be a little jealous of toyletbowl's snow.

From Australia

Tony is right, the Epic kites have been in Sydney and loved by all who have had a go.

Those that have not had the chance to ride the kites, have commented on the flight characteristics and how great the kites look in the air.

The 9m Renegade received a great review from some riders who rode it and commented on how stable and quick turning it was , perfect for wave riding.

The 10 Ltd screamer was the highest jumping kite on the beach "a comment by a few observers". So far I have ridden the 9m Renegade, the 10m Ltd Screamer and the 12 Screamer. For my weight and size and riding abilities, my favourite kite is the 10m Ltd Ed screamer. This is a close call between the 10 Ltd Ed Screamer and the 9 Renegade though. I chose the Screamer as the jumps were insane. A fellow kitesurfer on the beach commented that my jumps were between 10-15metres high.

Both the Renegade and screamers were used in 18-20kts.

Here are some land based photos of the kites in Australia to drool over....

From France

A few pictures of the 10 Ltd, flying under the snow...
Not really artistic but it was hard to keep the eyes open to shot some pictures!
In 30 knots (+/- 5kts), really the max wind range for myself I think.. The kite stay smooth, really controlable and safe, the most important thing...
It would has been more funny in Screamer 7 I think!
Hope the weather is better for you all,

Ride hard and Happy New Year from France!!

Nico

From the Kite Forum

Hello guys,
Just wanted to let you know that I had a quick blast on the 6m Renegade today. Wind was bad up and down ranging from 15kn with gusts up to 22-23 kn and sometimes down to 10-12kn but the 6m had plenty of grunt. Very smooth with perfect amount of barpressure and feedback. I was flying it with 16m lines on a 127-37.5 twintip. I set it up, launched it and never looked at it again until I landed it after the session. Very user friendly and felt like home from the moment I launched it.

Construction is amazing and the graphics are very cool. I liked some details like the tidy onepump system, short bridal, protection pads on the LE and the reinforcments allround. The kite looks and feels nuclear bomb proof.

I liked it very much for such a short session. Only thing that needed was to put the front lines on the second knot to make them a little shorter.
For wave riders and allround kiteboarders its a dream kite

Was taken from this forum.
http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2360987&p=634095&e=634095

kite testing - WOO HOOO

Hey guys.
I've got a busy day ahead but I just wanted to drop you both a quick note
to talk about first impressions. I posted a
review on a local site (www.thechickenloop.com) will it was late and I'll
give it further thought before I post on
kiteforum and others.

I tested the 10 Limited and 9 Renegade (thanks Terrie). The 10 has balls
and I can see why this will be a favorite with
racers. On the snow I got moving pretty fast, so I was always speed
checking. The snow had hard ice under it, so I
wasn't willing to test my body that hard if I messed up. I didn't boost the
kite for that reason as well. Gimmie a
couple sessions and I'll get more comfortable on it and push things. Easy
to set up, easy to launch (the LTD is as
easy to self launch as the Nano was). I was flying this depowered as the
wind was pretty light (8 or 9 knots). But it
picked up quickly to 12 knots or so and I felt pretty juiced for the snow.
Someone made a comment about having to
walk downwind... .I can confirm this. This baby drives upwind hard. I had
to loop the kite once or twice to get back
to the set-up area. Very nice kite, very impressive. Oh... stability
wise... I was able to fly the kite and get in my
ratchet bindings with realative ease. If you've never done this... it's
REALLY hard with a twitchy kite. The LTD
handled it pretty easily.

It got windy, so I put up the Renegade. Hands down this will be my favorite
kite this year. Way too easy relaunch,
unbelievable stability, smooth power delivery, forgiving kite, nice load
and pop moves, excellent wind range. Both
kites made me feel safe, but the LTD was more responsive in the gusts,
where the Renedage ate them up at the bar
and didn't want to pull me off edge.

THings that could be improved> Just a thought. Small pump isn't too bad,
but it's harder on the back. The leash
came unhooked from the safety line.. not sure what I did, but I looked down
and it was off. The leash QR is a really
tight fit. So very little to comment on.

Nice gear and I look forward to the next session. With some powder I'll be
able to drive the LTD a little harder. For
the packed stuff, the 9 meter was the ticket.
Also, the Renegade will be the ultimate
teaching tool.

take care
brian

More from our NW Team rider in La Ventana Matt!

I really like the 14m so far. Does'nt feel that big, and the turning speed is right there with the 10m. I was riding in around 10knts (at 185lbs.) and was able to cruise upwind fine, Nice floaty jumps and felt pretty stable during unhooked tricks. I did not put it down so i have no idea how the kite relaunches. But i've dumped the 10m quite a bit and its easy to relaunch. And the small briddle system is the Bomb...no stupid snags around the wingtip.

Can't think of anything i would want to be better in a big kite.

(consequently i've been using an 08' Eclipse bar which snapped on me yesterday during a loop....guess Eclipse and Epic products are not compatable)

Kite Forum review

Got to try out the Epic Screamer 14m in about 12mph wind. The kite had nice consistent and predictable power. After just a few tacks I had a real good feel of the kite, like I had been riding it for months. I am about 190 pounds and to my surprise had no trouble staying up wind. On my old 14 in that wind condition I normally would have to do "the walk of shame" after a few tacks. Had to work the kite a bit but noticed that it tended to stay toward the edge of the window, that really helped keep the upwind line. After an hour of riding the wind picked up to about 15mph at that time was able to easily park the kite and enjoy the ride. Got to boost a few jumps and was pleased with the height and hang time. The kite did not rip me off of the water even when sent hard and fast, yet provided a nice smooth controlled upward pull that provided a nice in control feel, great for making grabs with confidence. As far as kite loops the kite was fast with light bar pressure I was able to get some nice rolls in. The first couple thrown the kite stayed really high (being use to my old kite I was pulling a bit hard) after an adjustment in execution backing off a bid on my pull the kite dropped down in the zone and pulled like a horse. Kite drove hard and fast back to the top of the window with plenty of time to spot my landing. In short, I have tried many kites through the years and am really excited about these Screamers and think they stack up to anything out on the market today.Want a DEMO in the Myrtle Beach area look me up.www.vpkiteboarding.com www.epickites.com

"TESTIMONIAL OF THE RENEGADE 11 by a newbie.. My first kite. Ive tried 4 other kites. Remeber I am real newbie. This is one crazy powerful kite. Gets me going fast realy fast. I love it. Ohh and its by far the mopst beutful looking kite to. White red and some black. Thanks dimitri for sending me a red instead of the green. The red is far nicer!"

From the Kite Forum

Hey.

Thx for the swift answer on kiteforum.com

We got some good winter conditiones at the moment.
So if you guys want to have a independent test og your kites at some extreme conditiones,
some of my buddies and I are more than happy to be your guina pigs..

Its a litle bit hotter at the moment only 0F* or -17C* and about 25 knots..
But i Iam guessing it gonna be colder when the wind turn east again.

I dont agree with you regarding the foils.. Its pain in the ass if get some bridels tangle.
And most foils are slow , unstable and crap in gusty conditiones..

So most of the kiters in this area use Lei or bow kites.

So if you want to test your kites in gusty cold conditiones around Bodø, and in some extreme
cold conditones in the mountains between Norway and Sweden.
All of these are north of the artic circle.
Anyway we are not pros , just a group of guys that likes big airs and hangtime.
Anyway , if you would like some more info about us , the spots or any other questions
just email me.
Have a windy dag.
tinge
aka

Trond inge Svendgård.

Dimitri,
Good day to you. This is Brad from the Ikarus demos at Isla Blanca Mexico. I took the 10 LTD out for the night ride and then took a screamer out briefly the next day. We chatted briefly during the demos about purchasing a kite since I will be in Austin, TX within the next few weeks. I didn't want to wait too long because I was very impressed with the kites and would like to get one. Please let me know who to contact in the states about the purchase of one.
best regards
Brad

From the Kite Forum

Demo Day today in Isla Blanca (Mexico).EPIC JUST ARRIVED IN MEXICO.I flyed 3 kites today :Renegade 11m and 9mScreamer Ltd 10m.The wind was North 12 to 15knts, flat water.I was impresed by the Ltd 10m in 12/14knts. Very good power, soft bar pression, very stable, quick turn, VERY GOOD hanh time, and more..... Even if this kite is more for advanced riders, it stay simple to use.The Renegade 11m is slower and more stable. Perfect for play without any trouble. To be honest, not my style.But the Renegade 9m is WOUAHHHHHH with 15knts. Stable, Easy, good power, no pression on the bar or just enough, turn fast. I ve to try it on waves.About the construction ; everything is here, one pump, reinforcements where it need, large bag to put 2 kites, pockets. The bar is clean ; no extras that you don t need, soft, lines with extensions. Clean..I like and ll try them again tomorow to choose witch one I ll take.You can try them on the next days. Ask Mickey, Cel.984 134 26 73, pdckiteboarding@gmail.com

More feedback from the Kite Forum

have ridden the Screamer 10 LTD for a few sessions now. I also have the 14, but haven't had a chance, or needed to use it, yet. 175lbs = 80kgs, kite boarding 9yrs,144x43 Custom w/ bindings. Enjoy wake style so kite is on the slowest turning setting w/ a chopped a down 38cm = 15 inch barI usually ride my kites for 1 or 2 yrs. depending on the wear and tear and then sell them used. The Screamer's construction and materials are top notch. I see no problem getting years of kiting w/ this guy and it still looking new in a few years. The front mini bridle is perfect. I was a C kite guy until 07 and made the change to bridled kites. The worst part about the bridles were the kites flipping inside out and getting all messed up with the bridles. But on the Screamer the front bridle it's too small for the kite to flip inside out and getting all tangled up. It is big enough though to depower the kite after missing a handle pass or something. The kite feels like a C during handle passes since the bar pressures slacks off right after popping, but it has a lot better wind range since it does have a bridle opening the shape up.The kite jams up wind. The last two years I've been riding Nano's since they were labeled as having a stable pull for wake style. The upwind performance wasn't as good, though. And it always annoyed me to see my tack angle 10 degrees less than some of my friends. This year I decided to go back to a higher aspect kite to crank upwind, ride faster, and have less pressure on the bar during passes. I couldn't be happier with my choice. Kite boarding just got fun again this year.It turns fast. I've ridden a 38cm bar on 12, 9, 6's the past years. I like smaller bars to keep the kite from moving fast during unhooked tricks. The 38 was great with the 10 on the slowest turning setting, but it was still faster turning than I usually ride. I could probably chop my bar down to 13 inches. This of course is for a slower moving kite, so those of you that want to boost more would probably prefer a 40cm bar. Most of my riding is park and ride, but I did send the kite a few times just to see how high it would jump. This kite loves to jump with just the flick of the wrist. The new Epic bar will be perfect, once I get it, since I'll be able to change the bar size by 10 cm for whatever kite I'm going to be riding. This will be perfect for my 14,10,7 combo this year. The other day I was on my 10 Screamer, my friend on his 10 Torch, and another friend on his 13 RPM. We're all similar weight, skill and board size. It was blowing 13 gusting to 18ish. I was trying to decide between the 10 and 14 when I pulled up to the beach, but went w/ the 10 since my friend was making his 10 work. I also wanted to compare the riding of my 10 with someone else. Right away the 13 struggled to stay up wind if he threw any tricks. It reminded me of my days on the 12 Nano - it pulls you nice and steady, but it doesn't want to cruise w/ speed nor at the edge of the window, so it's harder to work up wind. My friend on the Torch was staying in place throwing a trick on one of two tacks. I was able to throw a trick on both tacks in and out and still head upwind. The Screamer probably does have the power of an 11.5 like Dimitri said, since I was able to throw in an extra trick compared to my friend, and still head up wind better. On another day we were both completely lit on our 10's, but I wasn't anymore lit than he was. The range of the Screamer 10 is probably the best of any kite I've ever had. If I could only get 1 kite for the yr. this would be it.Hope I didn't geek out too much. Just trying to pass on the stoke