Ozone Razor 4.5M & 6.8M

Due to a shortage of available Little Devils in the UK and a burning desire to own more kites I convinced myself that buying a couple of full blown race kites was an entirely sensible thing to do and so duly spent money on a 4.5m and 6.8m Ozone Razor.

Initial Impressions
The kites are long and thin (High Aspect Ratio) and look gorgeous (coming in a choice of either red or yellow). Coming in a very utilitarian bag (which in my view enhances the "I know what I am talking about" factor) they also come with no lines.

Unpacking
Dead simple and hooking up the lines did not present too much of a problem. The velcro harness holder (center top of the leading edge) should be made standard on all kites. This seems to prevent almost any tangling on unpacking and also make packing away a cinch.
 

Flying

Month 1 - 6.8m
Kite goes up fine, and keeps going up and up and over my head and collapses and ties itself into a knot and collapses. Not very cool. Try again and start flying immediately and this at least keeps the thing airborn. Lots and lots of power and the most incredible torque. Getting into the buggy is difficult as cannot master the flying and walking backwards and getting into a buggy thing at all. Ground launch while in buggy. Acceleration is fast and smooth - can see what all the racing stuff is all about. Get to turn and cannot keep pressure on. Kite deflates ties itself in a knot and 10 mins lost untangling. Hmm. This continues. Kite also appears to be about as gust resistant as Jonny Fartpants.

Month 2 - 6.8
Can go very fast in a straight line and provided I am reaching - anthing else is a humiliating disaster. Spend more time watching kite collapse than Flying. Write advert for e-bay as confidence is shot to pieces. Will go to Middle Wallop and then sell the bastard.

Month 3 - Middle Wallop
Wind conditions mean that the only way I am going to buggy is if I use the 6.8m - prepare myself for all round laughter. The distances and being able to plan for turns more helps. However, enlightenment is at hand, someone streaks past me in very flash looking buggy flying same kite. Watch avidly, he's doing something that I am not that much is clear. Sit in buggy and watch for 20 mins as he zips round the field. Finally twig, he's doing something with the brakes. I have been flying the thing on the power lines only using the brakes to turn and depower. This guy has his handles horizontal and is flying on top and bottom lines the whole time. Try this out and go so fast to the bottom of the field that have to crash kite to avoid the wind sock....hmm! Kite back up and suddenly the whole thing clicks. The story is the same although not so marked on the 4.5.

In summary
The Razors are not kites for the faint hearted - I have struggled to learn how to fly these properly and was on the verge of giving up. However, when they go they really go and are the quickest thing I have ever seen. The 6.8 delivers massive torque and the 4.5 can out accelerate anything I have come across. The great thing is that they keep getting better as I finally begin to master them. Other people frequently ask for a go and experience the same problems so I don't hink that it is just me.

By : William James