Got myself an Ion 2 8.5m to replace an 11m Strike 2 with 5th line.
Set it up in 12mph and got it flying in no time even without instructions that I only found later in one of the impressive bag?s many pouches. Never flown anything other than a C-kite before so didn?t know what to expect, but within minutes I was flying it like it was my 4m Flexi Blade ? loved it.
Tried out the 5 line freestyle set up (again without instructions as all the lines are labeled/coordinated) and it really does only take minutes. Gave it more low end grunt and was even quicker/more agile than in 4 line freeride setup.
Then took it out last week in a SSW at Alnmouth (when the stats read 25mph gusting to 40mph and they weren?t wrong!) to try solo launches and landings in high winds ? just stuck to the beach mind (for now). Wasn?t the best conditions for learning to launch a hybrid, but got it airborne then powered it up a bit to accommodate the 15mph wind range. Handled all the gusts by extending the edge of the wind window and never once threatened to stall in the lulls. Pulled the safety to land and it sat there on its tip ready to re-launch or land.
Flew it this afternoon at Belhaven Bay (just north of Dunbar and what a sweet spot ? massive, almost straight, bay with easy access over the footbridge from the south, Belhaven end) in 20-25mph northeasterly. Had to have been my best session since starting in this game and all down to the kite even in tricky straight on-shore wind and lots of messy waves (before the tide went out). Bar pressure was light, even one handed when riding toe-side with the bar fully powered up, it turned unbelievably quick and the de-power was instant 90% as advertised. Once I was motoring in the flat water parallel with the waves I was doing end to end runs (getting on for 2km) such was the effective wind speed.
Sorry I ain?t got the experience to give a more technical review, but this kite blows away the 11m Strike 2 and, even though I know no different, it?s gotta be well up there with the best hybrids judging by the reviews I?ve read (e.g. The latest issue of http://www.iksurfmag.com) and it?s definitely the toughest/best built I?ve seen on the beach..
Got the kite ready to fly from Action-pact.co.uk for the bargain (compared to list) price ?746 with 5th line kit thrown in once their 10% discount is applied. It?s not one of the cheapest hybrids out there, but you can see where the extra cash has been spent in the quality of materials and finish. Only had to wait 10 days, then next day delivery ? definitely recommend them.

Nice one Giles, that sounds like an awesome machine! The difference between old kites and new bows is worlds apart eh?

Printing half my presentation now and it feels so good to get the drawings off my computer and on to real life paper!

Hi Giles

You missed the most important part out of your review? what colour is it?

b e n

lazydog wrote:Hi Giles

You missed the most important part out of your review? what colour is it?

b e n

went for 'petrol': grey, blue and green so it's a bit of a stealth kite - just the way I like it.

was down at Cresswell yesterday morning (N 25-30mph) in the waves and the lagoon as the tide came in - great spot.

see you out there,

g i l e s

mcmacart wrote:went for 'petrol': grey, blue and green so it's a bit of a stealth kite - just the way I like it.

Cool!

Wait till you see the colour of my new kite!

b e n