Ozone Enduro V1 12m 2016
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
The Enduro V1 is a new model from Ozone for 2016, replacing the Catalyst of previous years, which has now gone back to its roots as a beginner/intermediate kite. As such, the designers have had free reign on this years kite to make it into the insanely versatile kite it is. Featuring 3-struts and an Open C design, it also has quite sharp tips making for increased power through the turn. A pulley-less bridle connects the lines to the kite, with minimal fuss and resistance.
Three very simple changes can be done to the bridle to alter the kite between freestyle, wave and freeride settings.
Sizes: 4,6,7,8,9,10,12,14 meters
The Bar
The Contact Bar has stayed the same for 2016, which is certainly no bad thing. Featuring the excellent push away ‘Megatron’ chicken loop, and an incredibly comfy ergonomic grip, it looks the bees knees. All Ozone kites are four lines, and all can be used on the same bar making things that little bit cheaper if you were to get a few different style kites from the brand.
The safety system on the Contact Bar is of the highest quality. A light push of the release and the bar shoots up one of the front lines to the stopper ball situated on said line.
Any twists in your lines are very easy to untangle with the well positioned ‘Spinning Handle’, and relaunch is a breeze with small stopper balls situated on each leader line showing exactly where to hold the line to get the kite to flip over. The throw of the Contact bar is of ideal length. It allows kites to depower sufficiently, but you will never be in the situation where you lose touch with the bar, something crucial for smaller riders.
For depowering the kite, the cleat system works perfectly. Incredibly smooth and no need to be in the gym every day to use it.
In The Air
Ozone are renowned for the incredibly smooth way in which all their kite behaves, and the Enduro simply builds on this. Solid but light bar pressure is apparent in all settings, with the most being found on the ‘freestyle’ setting. The kite ships on the middle ‘freeride setting’ but is incredibly easy to change and enables you to tune the kite not only to your personal preference but for whichever activity you are doing on that day.
Sticking to the ‘as it comes’ settings we had some brilliant sessions. The power delivery is constant throughout the window, and exceedingly smooth. No jerky surges to pull you overboard, just calm and content. The Enduro flies forward in the window well, powering you upwind. Even in light winds, the kite will fly quickly to generate the apparent wind needed to keep you cruising. It’s not so much a park and ride kite though, you do need to ‘fly’ the Enduro to get the best out of it.
Relaunch is excellent, in powered conditions it barely needs any input, whereas those tricky lighter winds do need a bit of the old back line pulling. Though marketed as an intermediate/advanced kite, enthusiastic beginners would be able to jump on this kite and reap the benefits in no time. However, it is in the hands of a seasoned kiter where this kite truly comes alive.
Boosting is super fun with great lift and float. You do need to fly it well and get your timing dialled, and when you do you know about it!
Looping the Enduro is just sensational. Aside from its brilliant stability the entire way round, it doesn't feel too intense which just leads you to try bigger and bigger loops! Now this feeling does not mean they are not big, far from it! In fact, I threw the biggest loops I had ever done without even realising; the kite is intuitive and confidence-inspiring!
The freestyle setting produces some great unhooked ability. Not the same slack as the C4, but fantastic for your first few passes and it inspires you to go for those new tricks with power and style. It’s worth moving the settings to your desired activity and the wave setting with the shortest bridle its great fun. Not as pivotal as the Reo, but some excellent turns, slashes and down the line cruising can be easily had. The instant depower of the Enduro makes wave riding accessible and straightforward.
For
The build quality, flying performance, relaunch and everything in between are second to none. Not for true beginners, the more advanced performance is very welcome.
Against
Nothing really to mention here, Ozone have done themselves proud with this one
Overall
The Enduro V1 is something special. It does an awful lot, and it does it all exceedingly well. The same day can have you land your newest unhooked moves, carve your biggest wave and fling into your greatest loops. Most pleasant is simply how smooth the kite is, in everything you do the kite is impeccably behaved, smooth, stable and insanely good fun.
Videos
This review was in Issue 58 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit OzoneRelated
By Robin and Sukie
With years of kite sport experience combined, you can be sure you’ll be receiving the highest quality of knowledge on the best equipment the industry has to offer.
