Ozone Fury

I bought this kite a couple of months ago after walking into the local kite shop wanting new lines for my battered Rhombus Thunderbird. I was gently guided toward the idea of 4 line flying, mainly owing to potential for lone flying and reverse launching.

One brief try on the beach and I was hooked, scudding across the sand, feeling power I'd never felt before with my other kite. Closer inspection showed the Fury to be especially well made, even to my inexperienced eye, the lines were high quality and thoughtfully colour coded to differentiate between the leader and brake lines and the right and left sides. Apparently the handles are amongst the best available, having no previous handles to compare them with I couldn't say, however they are extremely comfortable but quite difficult to push forward to activate the brake kines in stronger winds. (Although I may have been flying in winds somewhat in excess of the recommended maximum).

Following a few weeks practicing I've found out how to do brake turns; place the kite at the edge of the wind window; always use kite killers and never try and launch the kite in 63Km/hr wind. In high winds this kite has a phenomonel pull, despite it's small size, I find it difficult to imagine flying a kite with an area in double figures.

I've recently began landboarding and the Fury is quite adequate for my present needs, although a kite capable of handling lower winds will doubtless be necessary as the seasons progress. During a session with very poor wind a few days ago - gusts varying from 0 to around 5mph, the kite struggled badly, luffing at the edge of the window and falling from the sky frequently, I shortened the leader lines as far as possible, slackening the brake lines and it became a different kite, with a bit of working it flew consistently and even managed a bit of pull in the power zone. Must remeber to reverse things when the winds pick up.

The kite does not seem to have much in the way of lift, although this may be more due to my lack of experience rather than any shortcoming on the kite's part.

This has been quite a difficult review to write, having no other comparable experience, as far as I am concerned this kite has been a steep learning curve with more than the occasional heart-quickening moment, not least the early experience of being dragged helplessly toward the sea with the brake lines rendered inoperative by an uncontrollably spinning kite. (My own fault for launching the kite with a tangled bridle). Big thanks to the kite surfer who rescued the sodden sheet of nylon from the briny.

I realise there are cheaper beginners kites on the market but I certainly wasn't robbed buying the Fury and would wholeheartedly recommend it to other tyro kiters. Just check the wind speed before you unpack, it's had me scudding while at the zenith, dipping into the power zone resulted in a head first drag across the sand until the kite killers kicked in.

If you want a 'beginners'kite which won't be relegated to the strong wind days only pile or the something for the kids to mess about bag, buy the Fury it won't disappoint.

By : terra