A new kite to hit the shores of Utah Lake

[DeanDavis]

Last night was a lot lighter than I thought it would be but we still got out. I started on my 20 m kite and my normal 150 cm board but after about a half hour the winds dropped another notch and I had to come in and get my big 180 cm board. Then the winds kept dropping until finally I was at the bottom of my wind range (winds right around 10 mph). For those of you who have been down at SSB on the lightest wind days you will know that when the winds get that light there is no room for the little guys, it is big (real big) boys only. I can ride that big kite big board combination. Ryan can ride his 25 m. A few others have the gear but often they pass (to socialize on the beach) because they don’t like the very big kites or because they don’t like riding with so low power (Apri). My philosophy has always been a light wind day at the beach riding is still a little bit of paradise so the comment “I don’t like riding big kites" (Jake) has always been a bit of a mystery to me.

Well no more excuses! (Jake) Last night a new kite rolled into town and it impressed the socks off of me. While I was bottom end of my wind range on my 20 m (which is a Rhino II and which many still consider the gold standard for low wind riding) and my big board; a 16 m was out doing just as well. It was Jon’s new Rhino 06. Jon rode it for the first bit then he passed it to Kenny. Both Jon and Kenny looked as powered up as me. They were on big boards but so was it. Kenny finally relinquished the kite so I came in and grabbed it. At that point I bet the winds were just under 10 mph so couldn’t really get going but from what I saw that 16 m kite flies close to my 20 m Rhino for power (I consider 10 mph the bottom for my Rhino as well) BUT IT’S A 16 M KITE, and looks and feels like one! That’s a huge difference in size. From what I saw, it is “THE SSB kite”. It can ride the lightest of winds and I bet it would be killer in our more typical thermal winds between 12 mph and 15 mph. And I bet you could take it all the way up to 18 mph where at that point I want to hop on the 12 m. So no more excuses.

So Jon I want one. What’s the damage with bar and lines?