Ozone Reo 9m 2016
Reviews / Kites
31,617
At A Glance
Ozone, having originally come from paragliding, are now a huge brand in the kitesurfing world. Their background means that they make high-quality kites, and the Reo V3 is just that. Now in its third-year there's no doubt that the Reo is, as Ozone states, ‘an iconic surf kite’. This lightweight three-strut design kite makes everything about wave riding feel natural and easy.
For 2016 Ozone has added an eye-catching new design, it’s not always about looks, but you can’t help but be drawn in by the Reo V3’s fresh new colour scheme, it’s guaranteed to stand out on any kite beach. They’ve also redesigned the bar adding their new Contact Water Control System, a great touch on this new bar is the extra soft bar-ends to protect your beloved surfboard.
They have not changed the actual design of the kite from last year, but having ridden it extensively, why fix something that isn’t broken? As is always the case with Ozone, it’s easy to see that this kite is built to last. Ozone’s kites are manufactured in their own factory, and they pride themselves on using the highest quality materials.
The Reo V3 is constructed with quality proven Teijin D2 canopy material and Teijin Dacron providing a crisper feel and a stronger kite. What’s notable about this kite is the lack of rubber bumpers and reinforcements often seen on other kites, it’s clear that the Reo is designed tough enough to eliminate the need for unnecessary cosmetic items that only add weight and drag which, Ozone say ‘reduces performance’.
The Bar
The 2016 Ozone bar is incredibly user-friendly just like the previous models. It does all the jobs you would expect without adding clutter to the look & feel of the setup. The Contact Water Control System from Ozone is a 4-line affair with a push-away quick release. The quick release is really easy to use, even if you are being dragged underwater you can’t miss it!
A great feature that isn’t the case with all brands is how easy it is to reconnect, even if it’s covered in sand. The ‘Megatron’ can be set up in a standard safety mode, or a suicide mode. There is an above-the-bar trim system which uses a cleat and also a magnet to keep the trim line neat and tidy. The finishing touch is a front line flag out system so you can completely release the power in the kite if needs be, something that shouldn’t be overlooked.
In The Air
We mostly rode this kite in cross-onshore conditions meaning that we had to be able to loop the kite confidently and drift down the line if needed without worrying about the kite dropping out of the sky. Fortunately, the Reo matched our expectations and was a real pleasure to fly. It’s predictable and fast turning, an easy handling nature and smooth power delivery meant that we were always where we wanted to be on the wave.
Where we felt the kite really performed, though, was when it came to drifting, the lightweight nature of the kite, along with the low aspect ratio sees it hang in the air effortlessly. You can be confident that if the lines go slack while you are sending buckets of spray off the lip, you’ll look up and find it in the air, every time.
If you’re looking for a kite mainly for wave riding but still want to get the twin tip out for a blast now and then, this is definitely for you. The Reo has great freeride potential and medium to high boost which isn’t bad for this type of kite. It’s also worth noting that with the huge amount of de-power available at the bar, you’ll be able to do massive strapless airs without getting pulled off your board!
For
The eye-catching colour scheme, predictable fast turning, smooth power delivery and incredible drift capability make this kite stand out. The fact that it is also good for freeriding and makes strapless airs easy seals the deal for us.
Against
It is difficult to find anything of note here.
Overall
This reactive kite won’t let you down when charging waves. A leader in its field with insane drift and a well thought out durable design. Ozone definitely know what they’re doing, and they have done it right with the Reo V3!
Videos
This review was in Issue 55 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit OzoneRelated
By Jack Galloway
Jack is a fanatically keen kiter from the South West of England, he loves riding just about anything with a kite from foil boards to surfboards and everything in between. He's competed in the Red Bull Ragnarok snowkite race on numerous occasions as well as some world class kite racing events. He's our Web Editor for the magazine, as well as one of our testers where his vast knowledge of the sport and different kites and boards comes in handy!
