Epic Renegade 4g 9m review
Rider: 78kg, advanced
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Freestyle
Weather: 18-25 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Just another hoon at the beach who pays Full retail.
I did a demo on the 4g 9m Renegade last week, that Nigel from EastCoastKitesurfing was kind enough to organise for me.
The Bag: Big enough to carry & strap all your gear to if need be - good to note also that after you've rolled your kite up, you just fold it in half once and it fits nicely in the bag, should save a bit of wear & tear in the long run rather than being forced in & scrunched up..
The Bar: I used the old bar - have pictured the new one below that has a new Chicken Loop and an extra 15cm throw on it, which effectively increases your top end windrange.. to change from 55-45cm, just undo the Larks head on the outside (in picture) and put it on the inside
The Build: Its solid built with the scuff padding in all the right places, the 3 struts are very skinny but work a treat.
The Graphics: Very eye catching designs and colour schemes - one of the best looking kites on the market style wise.
Kite Option settings: Freeride & wave The conditions were 18-25 kots, waves one side, glass flat the other - the kite was set to 'freeride'. From launch on the beach you definately notice how stable the kite is and from a stand still just pull the bar in & up you go. The kite definitely has power on tap. The delivery is deceivingly smooth as power can be incrimental from fingertip pressure, allowing a little in aerial transitions or a lot aggressive fishpole style. The bar pressure is about medium and you always know where it is and also enough to pull yourself round out of a trick if required. Unhooking you'll need a little trim as usual for an allrounder. The steering is very smooth in characteristic (but not as in slow) with very balanced power all the way through, making high speed downloop carving turns at lot fun on the face or flatwater. If you want it to pivot turn - it'll do so without any sideways slide that sometimes washes out redirection in kites sometimes. When trimmed a little from max power, its cruises down the line nicely without losing any bar input - the wave setting it would have been more fun again... unfortunately the winter wind disappears as fast as it arrives and didnt get the chance.
Jumping ability - well heres a surprise where the game changes dramatically to say the least ! Go fast and slash that edge hard, redirecting and it will jump very high (remember it could lift me off the beach from just pulling the bar in) and its one of the easiest well behaved looping kites I've tried yet- keeping even powered and giving you that confidence to throw one anywhere, instead of the 'oh fark its stalled' just before the beating ! The float is average though will put you down soft enough if send it over the window with good timing.
Relaunch - before you can 'pronounce it' its waiting for you, great when those sets are thundering towards you :) You wouldnt believe how hard I tried to get it to Err crash at the back of the window (sorry ) I wish I had one while I was learning
Overall - a great allrounder for beginner to advanced if you just want to have fun without technical riding...
Rider: 78kg, advanced
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Freestyle
Weather: 18-25 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Just another hoon at the beach who pays Full retail.
I did a demo on the 4g 9m Renegade last week, that Nigel from EastCoastKitesurfing was kind enough to organise for me.
The Bag: Big enough to carry & strap all your gear to if need be - good to note also that after you've rolled your kite up, you just fold it in half once and it fits nicely in the bag, should save a bit of wear & tear in the long run rather than being forced in & scrunched up..
The Bar: I used the old bar - have pictured the new one below that has a new Chicken Loop and an extra 15cm throw on it, which effectively increases your top end windrange.. to change from 55-45cm, just undo the Larks head on the outside (in picture) and put it on the inside
The Build: Its solid built with the scuff padding in all the right places, the 3 struts are very skinny but work a treat.
The Graphics: Very eye catching designs and colour schemes - one of the best looking kites on the market style wise.
Kite Option settings: Freeride & wave The conditions were 18-25 kots, waves one side, glass flat the other - the kite was set to 'freeride'. From launch on the beach you definately notice how stable the kite is and from a stand still just pull the bar in & up you go. The kite definitely has power on tap. The delivery is deceivingly smooth as power can be incrimental from fingertip pressure, allowing a little in aerial transitions or a lot aggressive fishpole style. The bar pressure is about medium and you always know where it is and also enough to pull yourself round out of a trick if required. Unhooking you'll need a little trim as usual for an allrounder. The steering is very smooth in characteristic (but not as in slow) with very balanced power all the way through, making high speed downloop carving turns at lot fun on the face or flatwater. If you want it to pivot turn - it'll do so without any sideways slide that sometimes washes out redirection in kites sometimes. When trimmed a little from max power, its cruises down the line nicely without losing any bar input - the wave setting it would have been more fun again... unfortunately the winter wind disappears as fast as it arrives and didnt get the chance.
Jumping ability - well heres a surprise where the game changes dramatically to say the least ! Go fast and slash that edge hard, redirecting and it will jump very high (remember it could lift me off the beach from just pulling the bar in) and its one of the easiest well behaved looping kites I've tried yet- keeping even powered and giving you that confidence to throw one anywhere, instead of the 'oh fark its stalled' just before the beating ! The float is average though will put you down soft enough if send it over the window with good timing.
Relaunch - before you can 'pronounce it' its waiting for you, great when those sets are thundering towards you :) You wouldnt believe how hard I tried to get it to Err crash at the back of the window (sorry ) I wish I had one while I was learning
Overall - a great allrounder for beginner to advanced if you just want to have fun without technical riding...
