fuel question

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

with the new fuel design, does the same windrange rule apply?
i.e. C - 2m = Bow? (fixed)

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I was waiting for this opportunity to arrive to spout off about C kites vs. SLEs ... after all isn't it that time of year again for this subject too? Very Happy

Seriously though, been trying the 2009 Fuel and here's what its like compared to a Rev or a RPM.

The Fuel has the same high end but less low end.

The Rev can relaunch in very light wind, the Fuel needs some more wind but relaunches like a Rev when its windy.

The Fuel is way nicer unhooked: You can unhook when its very windy and it doesn't pull as hard on your arms. You can also load up more without killing the kite, it continues to pull hard the whole trick and if you pull hard on your front hand in the air you get a lot of extra yank.

The Rev turns faster and loops way easier.

The Fuel depowers mostly by edging, the Rev depowers mostly through sheeting.

They boost about the same but the Rev will hang longer.

I'd much rather have a Rev in waves.

The RPM comes in the middle on almost all of these fronts. Most noticable is the low end on the RPM is very close to the Rev do to its high area of effective lift area. The RPM relaunches almost as easy as a Rev, but it doesn't recover from the CSS deployment as easy.

I am somewhat at the luxury of picking a second 9m for my quiver because Nicole and I are sharing everything, so I think I am going to get a C kite. Its nice to have something at both ends of the spectrum. Kind of like having a surfboard and a twintip.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

A couple more points:

- Going back to the C kite I was able to pull off some tricks cleaner than I have in the past. There's just something about that truck like pull that makes wakestyle easier.

- Resale on C kites is shit, and they are really hard to find in the shops. There just isn't much of a market for them (at least in the NW.) I do see a resurgence of them coming at some point though. Kind of like how we shunned big directionals for so long and now everyone wants a surfboard.

Oh yeah and this doesn't break my kite vs. kite rules because its all the same brand. Very Happy

MIXWELL · Thu May 21, 09 2:02 pm

I went back to the fuel this year, sort of funny too because the Fuel was the first kite that I learned how to kite on
Very Happy

Phil is correct in all his comments Wink

Can't wait to start driving that MACK Truck again!

Bret pm me know if you would like to fly my beautiful 7m Fuel Exclamation

or ill catch you on dabeech
Cool

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Just an SOG who wants to ride SLE's, but I wonder about TinyE's math. If C = SLE - 2M then an 11 REV would be equal to a 9 meter fuel.
How about C = SLE + 2M?

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

For me SLE + & - 2m works out pretty well:

eg. 9 SLE =7/9/11 C

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1872 Posts XTreme Poster

Now that I reread your question I see that my answer is worthless, 'cause I have not had a go on the new Fuel--sorry.

Eric

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2627 Posts The 503 METAL

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Definitely more yank off the water, but the SLEs can hang longer for the same size because the have more effective area.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Holy , Don't hold back blowhard , tell us what you really think
I started on foils and I think they suck in their own way too ! Laughing

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

the only thing i'd like to add to the above comments is that i think the 09 Fuels have waaayy more low end than previous Fuels. I have been on my 09 5m Fuel at RR this year, when other people were on 9m SLE kites. Another comparison: my 09 9m Fuel pulls just as hard as my 06 and 07 11m's, IMO. In 2006/2007/2008 I rode the 11m 90% of the time and now i am always on my 09 9m,7m.

The 09 Fuel is also higher aspect, which means it likes to fly to the edge of the window. the Rev likes to sit deeper in the window, this is better for waves in side onshore wind, IMO, because you have to continually fly the Fuel to keep it moving towards the shore, whereas with the Rev it just sits alittle deeper and will move onshore with the wind a little easier. you can of course just loop the shit out of the Fuel but if you're overpowered and strappless, fucckk, you're gonna get yanked off your board or go for a ride. The Rev is the way to go if you were only going to ride waves, IMO.

also a higher aspect kite in my opinion jumps higher. Phil can, of course, jump a SLE higher than humanly possibly, so he can probably jump the rev just as high as the fuel, i however, cannot. The Fuel jumps wayyy higher for me, and just way more expolsive pop than the Rev. I think jumping via sending the kite, while unhooked, is way easier and you get more lift from the Fuel than Rev.

I think the Fuel unhooks the best, but the new Rev unhooks almost equally as well. The trick is to pull in the depower strap just a little bit depending on conditions before unhooking the Rev so that you have the power you want, and it will help prevent it from backstalling. Altho, i've not had a 2009 Rev backstall on me yet.

Sometimes, in light wind, deep water, when your Fuel is down, be prepared to swin, if it is really light. You can almost always just put your board on your feet and use that to cause resistance and relaunch the kite. But, sometimes, just remember when going out in marginal winds, if you crash it, w/ no 5th line you may have to swim to relaunch it.

The 09 Fuel is definately the best kite ever made, IMO. Very Happy

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

yep there is always those who have up 9 meters when were flying 5 meters at our launch ..

its all good until they invert thier kite and loop it landing hot and hard....

sometimes its a lack of sense and gear.... at least they are always on bows that have 200 percent depower. Wink

I saw some artistry on the rpm the other day when it was blowing 40. ouch..hmmmm 5 are a very useful kite

Magic of course the 09 are the best kites ever the 2010 ones will make that thing obsolete though and by 2011 that 09 will be dangerous as hell. Twisted Evil

anyone know where theres any wind today Laughing

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward