Best Kiteboarding Bularoo V2 9m 2010
Reviews / Kites
55,300
At a Glance
The Bularoo is back, but there is a twist with this kite. For years the Waroo has been the stable diet of most Best riders. Offering excellent all round performance and great value. This year though the Waroo has changed, it utilises a Delta wing tip shape and whilst it is still an all round freeride kite Best felt there would be too many riders sad to see the old Waroo go. Good news then is the Bularoo V2 is the next version of the Waroo in it’s popular SLE guise. Think of it as a 2010 Waroo and the Waroo as a totally new kite. Confused? We were a little! Out of the bag though the Bularoo V2 instantly feels familiar. The curved wide arc, the thin struts and leading edge and the simple bridle all point to the Waroo of 09. Improvements include the EZ Pump as standard and a few tweaks here and there to enhance the performance over last years kite. The build quality is excellent with plenty of reinforcement along the leading edge for self landing and launching. There is also a load flex seam to ensure the kite will survive the harshest of wipeouts.
The Bar
Best have finished their new kite bar that can work across the whole kite range. The new bar comes as standard on 20m lines which works perfectly on the 9m, however on the larger kites Best are producing an upgrade extension line set if the rider wishes to use longer lines. The bar still features a double pull down depower strap for adjusting kite trim on the go, and the chicken loop line is made up of two centre lines with a slide down stopper to adjust and set bar travel on the fly. Best have scrapped the line swivel on top of the depower strap and stuck a swivel within their all-new chicken loop. The new loop has a locking pin situated on top to lock the loop out straight from easy entry and exit when riding unhooked. Quick release is very sensitive and can release with ease under any amount of pressure. The leash system works on a false fifth line that travels through the middle of the chicken loop and up on to the two front lines. For complete safety and depower the new bar still has reride on both outside lines with grab handles.
In the Air
If the Bularoo V2 looked familiar out of the bag, it will certainly feel familiar in the hands! The Waroo had a healthy following because it did everything so well, waves, hangtime, freestyle and just out and out blasting were never a problem. You’ll be pleased to hear the same can be said of the Bularoo V2. No matter what you throw at it the kite comes back eager for more. Sending the kite up through the power zone produces a serious amount of lift and hangtime. Unhook and the kite is well behaved and stable allowing you to pop and perform your tricks without worrying what the kite is going to do. Upwind the kite attacks the front of the window, helped by the small frame profile. The bar pressure feels about right, not overly heavy and not too light, giving the rider plenty of feedback as you ride and manoeuvre the kite around the window. In terms of who the Bularoo V2 is for it is certainly a jack of all trades. Wave heads might prefer the Kahoona but everyone else will get plenty out of the Bularoo V2. Easy and simple to fly it will entice beginners to progress faster and ensure expert riders never get bored at the same time. Kite loops are still impressive affairs and the kite doesn’t suddenly accelerate or pull the rider, it delivers a solid pull from start to finish.
For
If you liked the all round ability of the Waroo then you’ll love the Bularoo V2
Against
Not much really, the kite is well made, flies exceptionally well no matter what the conditions are and is sure to put a smile on your face.
Overall
Another cracking incarnation of the Waroo, if you really don’t want to wander down the Delta route and you love Best kites then this could well be the kite you have been looking for.
This review was in Issue 21 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Best KiteboardingRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
