Hello Dimitri,
Just got back from SA, tried your kite the weekend. It is truly unbelievable !!
I rigged it on Lake Houston. Wind range between 6.5 to 12 miles, the powering and de-powering toggles works beautifully and put not strain on your hands while adjusting this in the ride.
I have a few cuts trying to adjust the 14m Cabrina, so well done !
I will try the board this weekend, well done for designing something so great !!
Regards
Derek
Friday, June 3, 2011
Jason from the Bahamas
Dimitri,
Hope all is well. I have never contacted a sports equipment manufacturer before with regards to their product line. I was introduced to Epic by a friend of mine in The Bahamas.
Most of the guys are all converts and are sailing Epic down here now. I wanted to let you know that your kites are amazing. My buddy had purchased the Infinity and I had a chance to try it and was truly amazed that I was sailing in 10 knots! I was sailing upwind on an Ocean Rodeo 165 and was fully planing. BTW, I weigh 210 lbs!!
I just bought one and it is due to arrive here next week, can't wait.
Thanks for expanding our sailing days and giving us something to do during the light wind days of summer.
Lastly, you are an inspiration to watch on the kites. You make the young guys look like little boys...
Keep up the good work!
Jason
Hope all is well. I have never contacted a sports equipment manufacturer before with regards to their product line. I was introduced to Epic by a friend of mine in The Bahamas.
Most of the guys are all converts and are sailing Epic down here now. I wanted to let you know that your kites are amazing. My buddy had purchased the Infinity and I had a chance to try it and was truly amazed that I was sailing in 10 knots! I was sailing upwind on an Ocean Rodeo 165 and was fully planing. BTW, I weigh 210 lbs!!
I just bought one and it is due to arrive here next week, can't wait.
Thanks for expanding our sailing days and giving us something to do during the light wind days of summer.
Lastly, you are an inspiration to watch on the kites. You make the young guys look like little boys...
Keep up the good work!
Jason
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tom loves his Infinity
Hello Dimitri, first of all I wanted to say that I got a chance to ride the Infinity last week and that I loved it. There were few riders out there, winds just sub 10mph, and at 200 lbs I had a great time on my skimboard. It was Scott Coster's kite, we spent a week riding together. I'm now seriously considering buying one -- and first of all, I wanted to ask you about bars. I usually fly LF Envy's, a 9 and a 12, and have a 45cm and a 54cm bar. How would the 54cm bar work with the Infinity? Lines are 23m, but I'm considering getting 3-5m extensions for the lighter winds. I can fly the 12 in about 11-12mph winds, but sometimes that's just not enough -- and since I have to travel for kiting, every day counts :) Any info would be much appreciated, thank you,
tom.
tom.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Good afternoon Dimitri
Good afternoon Dimitri,
I wanted to drop you a quick note and say thanks for making such awesome products! I am sure you connect with a ton of people, I bought a 2010 bar system from you a few months ago, and have have been ripping around on my 10LTD ever since. What an awesome kite! This was my first season snowkiting and love it! I come from a ski racing background, and I think you can bump the ratings on this kite in the snow! Starting my first season in the water, and this is still by far my favorite kite!
I have been looking for a low wind kite for a while now and am bouncing around between the 14 screamer and the infinity, possibly the renegade LTD when you release it.
Your website is very informative and your 'how to' videos are great. I haven't seen another Epic up in my neck of the woods yet, but I am happy to share my LTD with anyone who isn't a beginner and wants a turn. Markchatwin on the forums was asking about questions about it after his ride on mine a couple weeks ago. He was very impressed! My only experience with your products has been awesome, and I can't wait get more of them!
I just wanted to pass on my appreciation.
Cheers!
I wanted to drop you a quick note and say thanks for making such awesome products! I am sure you connect with a ton of people, I bought a 2010 bar system from you a few months ago, and have have been ripping around on my 10LTD ever since. What an awesome kite! This was my first season snowkiting and love it! I come from a ski racing background, and I think you can bump the ratings on this kite in the snow! Starting my first season in the water, and this is still by far my favorite kite!
I have been looking for a low wind kite for a while now and am bouncing around between the 14 screamer and the infinity, possibly the renegade LTD when you release it.
Your website is very informative and your 'how to' videos are great. I haven't seen another Epic up in my neck of the woods yet, but I am happy to share my LTD with anyone who isn't a beginner and wants a turn. Markchatwin on the forums was asking about questions about it after his ride on mine a couple weeks ago. He was very impressed! My only experience with your products has been awesome, and I can't wait get more of them!
I just wanted to pass on my appreciation.
Cheers!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Alban Infinity
hi i hope you are fine.
The infinity is magic, 8/11 knts with my 132/40 cm , incredible.
Nobody can believe it , because the guy with is flysurfer speed II 15 m² can't ride.....
hihi...
Do you have an Droid board 135/41
i can may today with paypal. (usd)
Alban PERCHAIS
"Crazy-kite Shop"
The infinity is magic, 8/11 knts with my 132/40 cm , incredible.
Nobody can believe it , because the guy with is flysurfer speed II 15 m² can't ride.....
hihi...
Do you have an Droid board 135/41
i can may today with paypal. (usd)
Alban PERCHAIS
"Crazy-kite Shop"
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Joined: 24 May 2010 22:27
Posts: 5
Just wanted to leave a few comments on the Pismo expo.
First off, I commend Epic for their dominating presence at the Expo, and really making the effort to get people on their kites to demo them. Dimitri continues to have genuine stoke for the sport that's infectious and if he's not the hardest working guy in the kiteboarding industry...then I don't know who is.
Secondly, I wish I could be giving a review of at least a few different Epic kites that I tried, but I can only do a few, for two reasons: (1) virutally all their demo kites were off the beach once the wind picked up (due to many people being eager to try them), and (2) I was having so much fun on the Epic kite I was riding that I just didn't want to come in and try other kites! Look at the stoke on my face on the picture below!
The picture below is with my own 2010 14m Screamer, which I started off with on Sunday when the wind first picked up. I forgot my Epic bar at home, thus I'm using someone else's bar. I love everything about the kite when I want to ride a twin tip and the wind is above 14mph or so. There's not enough low end for me in lighter winds with a TT (I'm 180lbs) - I do have a tendency to ride a bit overpowered, which I like (probably for the leg workout and big boosts)- so take that for what it's worth. However, the Screamer is one of the fastest turning 14m kites I've flown, it's boosting ability and hangtime is just plain awesome, and the bar pressure is light. Relaunching is decent but obviously not as easy as delta shaped kites. I used to fly the Eclipse Thruster, and then moved to Epic when that company went south. I let a buddy of mine who also flew thrusters try the Screamer, and he bought one the next day. Things I don't like: I'm not a huge fan of the bar setup. The swivel is to tight to unspin the lines and the donkey dick is a bit too soft (easy to unexpectedly get unhooked). The donkey dick was improved with the 2011 bar though, and rumor has it that Epic will be coming out with a whole new bar setup later this year. I eventually flew a 2011 14m F-one Bandit and found that it had much greater bar pressure, was much slower turning, had lofty hangtime, but was just too slow for me. For the most part it had the same pull, but it just felt like it had to be muscled more. I would not buy this kite for myself.
I also demoed the 2011 10m limited Screamer when the wind had picked up more. This kite is by far my favorite when the wind is right. In fact, I flew it twice during the expo. Once on Friday, when the wind was ~25, and I was feeling quite powered up (but not unbareable) and then again on Sunday when the wind was ~15-18 or so. Rode the same twin tip both times (136 X 41). The range of the kite seems quite large. It's speed, power, hang, range, directness, and of course its' boosting ability, I think is unparalleled! The kite really felt like an extension of my body and very easy to handle. In my view, I don't think it can get much better. That being said, I don't think the kite is for everyone. It has a lot of power, and it might scare you !
As for other people's impressions, I can say that several people that I spoke to LOVED the Renegade. These were folks who ride directionals and love the waves. In fact, a friend of mine who has been kiting for 8yrs, who had just spent a lot of money on Cabrinha kites, was bummed, as he thought the Renegades were much much better. Another friend of mine who only rides directionals with his F-one bandit thought the Screamer was okay, but not exactly the style of kite that he's into. Others who are into more freestyle and jumping thought the Screamer was phenomenal.
Lastly, I've commented on here previously about Epic customer service. It has been fantastic when things have come up & I've needed to contact Dimitri. I don't know how that guy sleeps!
This was taken from this post:
http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2366315&p=696414#p696414
Posts: 5
Just wanted to leave a few comments on the Pismo expo.
First off, I commend Epic for their dominating presence at the Expo, and really making the effort to get people on their kites to demo them. Dimitri continues to have genuine stoke for the sport that's infectious and if he's not the hardest working guy in the kiteboarding industry...then I don't know who is.
Secondly, I wish I could be giving a review of at least a few different Epic kites that I tried, but I can only do a few, for two reasons: (1) virutally all their demo kites were off the beach once the wind picked up (due to many people being eager to try them), and (2) I was having so much fun on the Epic kite I was riding that I just didn't want to come in and try other kites! Look at the stoke on my face on the picture below!
The picture below is with my own 2010 14m Screamer, which I started off with on Sunday when the wind first picked up. I forgot my Epic bar at home, thus I'm using someone else's bar. I love everything about the kite when I want to ride a twin tip and the wind is above 14mph or so. There's not enough low end for me in lighter winds with a TT (I'm 180lbs) - I do have a tendency to ride a bit overpowered, which I like (probably for the leg workout and big boosts)- so take that for what it's worth. However, the Screamer is one of the fastest turning 14m kites I've flown, it's boosting ability and hangtime is just plain awesome, and the bar pressure is light. Relaunching is decent but obviously not as easy as delta shaped kites. I used to fly the Eclipse Thruster, and then moved to Epic when that company went south. I let a buddy of mine who also flew thrusters try the Screamer, and he bought one the next day. Things I don't like: I'm not a huge fan of the bar setup. The swivel is to tight to unspin the lines and the donkey dick is a bit too soft (easy to unexpectedly get unhooked). The donkey dick was improved with the 2011 bar though, and rumor has it that Epic will be coming out with a whole new bar setup later this year. I eventually flew a 2011 14m F-one Bandit and found that it had much greater bar pressure, was much slower turning, had lofty hangtime, but was just too slow for me. For the most part it had the same pull, but it just felt like it had to be muscled more. I would not buy this kite for myself.
I also demoed the 2011 10m limited Screamer when the wind had picked up more. This kite is by far my favorite when the wind is right. In fact, I flew it twice during the expo. Once on Friday, when the wind was ~25, and I was feeling quite powered up (but not unbareable) and then again on Sunday when the wind was ~15-18 or so. Rode the same twin tip both times (136 X 41). The range of the kite seems quite large. It's speed, power, hang, range, directness, and of course its' boosting ability, I think is unparalleled! The kite really felt like an extension of my body and very easy to handle. In my view, I don't think it can get much better. That being said, I don't think the kite is for everyone. It has a lot of power, and it might scare you !
As for other people's impressions, I can say that several people that I spoke to LOVED the Renegade. These were folks who ride directionals and love the waves. In fact, a friend of mine who has been kiting for 8yrs, who had just spent a lot of money on Cabrinha kites, was bummed, as he thought the Renegades were much much better. Another friend of mine who only rides directionals with his F-one bandit thought the Screamer was okay, but not exactly the style of kite that he's into. Others who are into more freestyle and jumping thought the Screamer was phenomenal.
Lastly, I've commented on here previously about Epic customer service. It has been fantastic when things have come up & I've needed to contact Dimitri. I don't know how that guy sleeps!
This was taken from this post:
http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2366315&p=696414#p696414
I just spent the last month living with the Infinity in mostly summer like light winds- say 6 to 15kts.
Here are my observations, noting first I am 180lbs and use a Mako King board when its light and in waves. I also own '11 Renegades 6, 9, 11 and '10 14 Screamer. If the R11m had a bigger orifice on it I'd probably do something unnatural to it- I love that kite so much it hurts. Its perfect.
First off this kite is bigger than I thought. Looks around 14m in size- I forget what the actual measurement is tho. That said its light and very well built.
Cutting to the chase, it does go in in very light winds- guys with their little anemometers show as little as 9 kts (actually 10mph which is 8-9) and I am staying upwind without sining the kite. In 9-11kts I am able to jump the kite at will. In 12+ I am putting on depower. In 14/15kts it feels too powerful to the point where I wanted to get off it- which is fine because the 11m will go for me in 13kts.
Others who have tried it say pretty much the same incl one 210 pounder who could not stay up wind on his 14m but stepped on the Inf (and Mako) and was going upwind, riding toeside, kite parked etc, in about 10-11kts I'd say. He's getting both apparently. The Mako + Infinity are great together but points out how important the kite/board combo to be. IMHO the Inf needs a bigger stable platform to operate from. I'll try with smaller boards but in +8 knots its hard to plane out when you are plowing water. By comparison the S14m for me, will only really stay up wind in 11kts but its been a while and I need to do a head to head. I'm guessing the S14 is a better 11-18 kt kite and the Inf a better 8-15kt choice (especially in waves- see below).
I love the turning speed of the new R11m and the Inf doesn't match it but its pretty good for a kite this size- and better than the S14 from memory. Note it seems to pivot better when the bar is not fully sheeted in. Bar pressure btw is just right- not too light/not too heavy.
Jumping. At first I had trouble. The Mako with its concave has to be jumped off the rail, but for me, the faster I went the poorer I jumped (huh?) but when I slowed board speed down it jumps incredibly well in about 11kts .
I had a chance to try it a couple of times in light conditions with small (2') waves. This kite actually made those conds fun (if not epic). I used to hate the S14m when the wind was lite and there was swell (bigger than 2' even ). Now I can't wait for real swell, when before it was too light to go out, the Inf will be a gas, making it not only doable but epic (big swell + light winds = less chop) . I'll still hope for 13kts+ to be on the 11m, but I won't sweat it if it doesn't happen. With a surfboard the possibilities are tremendous.
SUMMARY
If you live in hi winds- gawd bless you. Or if you are a lightweight or cherry-picker who will only out if its 15+ kts, this kite may not be for you. But if you like to kite- a lot- and it spends too much time in the 8-12kt range, you should try this kite. It should mean more time on the water (during the summer in Nassau that could be 15-30 more days easy) and not just mowing the lawn either. There may very well be better kites in this category out there, but I haven't tried them. I do know this one works- and well.
At the outset I said I was dubious about sub-10kt claims but I stand convinced. As always, YMMV.
Here are my observations, noting first I am 180lbs and use a Mako King board when its light and in waves. I also own '11 Renegades 6, 9, 11 and '10 14 Screamer. If the R11m had a bigger orifice on it I'd probably do something unnatural to it- I love that kite so much it hurts. Its perfect.
First off this kite is bigger than I thought. Looks around 14m in size- I forget what the actual measurement is tho. That said its light and very well built.
Cutting to the chase, it does go in in very light winds- guys with their little anemometers show as little as 9 kts (actually 10mph which is 8-9) and I am staying upwind without sining the kite. In 9-11kts I am able to jump the kite at will. In 12+ I am putting on depower. In 14/15kts it feels too powerful to the point where I wanted to get off it- which is fine because the 11m will go for me in 13kts.
Others who have tried it say pretty much the same incl one 210 pounder who could not stay up wind on his 14m but stepped on the Inf (and Mako) and was going upwind, riding toeside, kite parked etc, in about 10-11kts I'd say. He's getting both apparently. The Mako + Infinity are great together but points out how important the kite/board combo to be. IMHO the Inf needs a bigger stable platform to operate from. I'll try with smaller boards but in +8 knots its hard to plane out when you are plowing water. By comparison the S14m for me, will only really stay up wind in 11kts but its been a while and I need to do a head to head. I'm guessing the S14 is a better 11-18 kt kite and the Inf a better 8-15kt choice (especially in waves- see below).
I love the turning speed of the new R11m and the Inf doesn't match it but its pretty good for a kite this size- and better than the S14 from memory. Note it seems to pivot better when the bar is not fully sheeted in. Bar pressure btw is just right- not too light/not too heavy.
Jumping. At first I had trouble. The Mako with its concave has to be jumped off the rail, but for me, the faster I went the poorer I jumped (huh?) but when I slowed board speed down it jumps incredibly well in about 11kts .
I had a chance to try it a couple of times in light conditions with small (2') waves. This kite actually made those conds fun (if not epic). I used to hate the S14m when the wind was lite and there was swell (bigger than 2' even ). Now I can't wait for real swell, when before it was too light to go out, the Inf will be a gas, making it not only doable but epic (big swell + light winds = less chop) . I'll still hope for 13kts+ to be on the 11m, but I won't sweat it if it doesn't happen. With a surfboard the possibilities are tremendous.
SUMMARY
If you live in hi winds- gawd bless you. Or if you are a lightweight or cherry-picker who will only out if its 15+ kts, this kite may not be for you. But if you like to kite- a lot- and it spends too much time in the 8-12kt range, you should try this kite. It should mean more time on the water (during the summer in Nassau that could be 15-30 more days easy) and not just mowing the lawn either. There may very well be better kites in this category out there, but I haven't tried them. I do know this one works- and well.
At the outset I said I was dubious about sub-10kt claims but I stand convinced. As always, YMMV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)