Ozone C4 2014
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
The C4 is the freestyle orientated kite from Ozone; it’s a 4-line, 5-strut machine with a very, very short bridle system. The C4 has been around for a few years now and there are plenty of riders who love it the world over. It’s a modern C kite that Ozone have worked hard on to ensure it offers up-to-date handling characteristics.
The Variable Bridle Geometry settings allow you to tune the kite between a hardcore freestyle setting and a more forgiving freeride option. The finish on Ozone kites always impresses us and the C4 is no different, there is plenty of attention to detail and we loved the fast inflation system too.
New for this year the C4 has had the planform and arc tweaked to make it a little easier to fly when over-powered and the profile has been tuned to increase stability during manoeuvres. The kite is available in the following sizes: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14m.
The Bar
The kite utilises a special C4 Control System set-up, the main differences between this and the standard control system is a shorter depower throw on the bar and a huge chicken loop to make hooking in and out easy. There is an above-the-bar trim system with a clam cleat design. A single front line flag-out for safety can be rigged as a suicide system too on the chicken loop. Large floats adorn the rear lines and the chicken loop itself is very easy to release and very simple to put back together.
In the Air
The C4 feels very responsive in the sky, Ozone really have their flying characteristics dialled in this year and the kite is easy to fly. It’s got a fast progressive turn, which makes kite loops exciting. However, if you really want to spin the kite on its axis you can, just engage the bar a little more and the loops become much tamer.
The bar pressure is a little more on the positive side, so you have good feedback as to where the kite is at all times and we really enjoyed the control that you have at your fingertips. The kite has a great top end range, but it lacks a little at the low-end and definitely comes alive when it is powered up.
Unhooking on the C4 is really easy and the kite generates plenty of pop and release allowing you to pass the bar with ease. Relaunch is OK, yet like all C shaped kites you need to work at it to get it off the water. It’s like going back in time to the days before SLE kites all over again. Relaunch is easier when the wind is pumping, but in light winds you need to swim towards the kite and get it to roll over rather than just pull on a rear line.
Upwind is fantastic when powered up and jumping hooked in is great fun too, there is explosive lift and not much drift downwind. The kite is going to suit the progressive freestylers and wake orientated kiters much more than the cruisers and freeriders.
For
The C4 has fantastic flying characteristics, especially when powered up. It is well behaved and easy to unhook and perform tricks with.
Against
Like all C kites relaunch involves some rider input, we love the chicken loop and trim system, but feel the bar ends and floats could do with an update. Like all C kites, don’t get sucked in by the hype, this is for freestylers looking for the ultimate in performance. If you only freeride the Catalyst is a far easier and more rewarding kite for intermediates.
Overall
A fantastic C kite, great for aggressive riding and unhooked freestyle, the excellent handling and fast flying characteristics make it a solid choice.
Videos
This review was in Issue 45 of IKSURFMAG.
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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!
