Soo, got myself a 14LW notus mid October. Have had two sessions on it, so will post what I think.
Weight: 90 - 95kg depending on menu that day
Time riding: 2 years (first one was very sort due to injury)
Style: Jumps and stuff, lately focusing only on strapless surf
Kite's I have/had: Cab Convert 2008, F1 Dos 2009, Rebel 2010, Blade 2008, Notus 10m, Notus 14m
Disclosure: I host http://www.ralkiteboarding.com/ website, I buy only kites from there as every time I fck up I got sorted out without BS, and mate I do stuff up regulary. Tony is happy to send his stuff to me to demo.
I will not comment on build, as everyone raves how strong kite has been built, not sure how to judge build quality.
I like notus style bag where zipper is on front of the bag. Out of bag comes green/white kite (damn I wanted red to match 10m notus). There is no one pump to save weight, I do like not having one pump as there is less things to go wrong.
Pumping up struts is easy, do not need to muck around as stoper ball closes valves nicely. Now to leading edge ..... that's a piece of work to pump up ... well at least I was warm.
Use same bar as for my 10m notus, grab a my 6'4" directional and off I went. Wind about 13 - 15 knts, I was nice and powered, loved not to S kite to keep going. Then I had to try my TT, no probs nice big lofty jumps, think at around 16knts was blasting around like rocket.
Wind started to drop to 12knts, my 6'4" surf board was not as fun, but since it has big rocker I did not expect miracles.
Got my hands on Nobile Flying carpet board, managed to blast upwind and jump........ Nobile skim board, now with that one you have range and fun in these low winds.
I used lightest bar setting, one next up just is not usable, well not for me. Kite still was faster and lighter on bar then Cab Convert 12m 2008, that's all I need.
While I was riding around on skim board in about 12knts, I am master of getting my kites fall. 14m Notus is very balanced kite, it did not turn around or get tangled, was slowly falling of sky and gave me time to get wind in it and continue riding.
ERA relaunch works as treat, gets kite up from water very quick.
Now deflate ..... deflating struts is slow, very slow, rolling up after long session takes time too .
My mate after fkn up his 11m octane, been using 14LW for his unhooked freestyle. He is 80kg and at 17knts is overpowered. I asked him - did you use depower? - No, I did not have time for that ))).
So to me for those days 12 - 15knts to practice my strapless surf and take out skim board, this kite does a job.
Did I mentioned price????? It's cheap !!!!! I'd love to use only rebels, but to have 4 kite rebel quiver it would cost me bit too much.
I will not place any marks, as getting kite for one takes more than just one parameter. My mark for Zeeko is "Confidence". I was out with my 10m in 31knts, gusting to 36, same dna is in 14LW.
Will post more once get that beast into waves.
