Ozone Samurai

I got my Ozone Samurai 5m at the end of July, just prior to a trip to Aberdeen (when I was promised we would go to the beach!). I had previously owned a Flexifoil proteam 8 (see other review). I have previously flown a friends Ozone little devil and a flexifoil blade 4.9m so had got something to compare it with.

It comes in a very nice red rucksack, and includes lines, handles, kite-killers, strop and the essential sticker and key ring! Handles are nice with the neoprene extending over the flight lines. Overall construction looks really strong.

I had been advised by Jon at www.chillikites.co.uk to spend some time untwisting the lines before flying. I have to say this is essential, I set the kite up on a green near my house, attached the lines (very easy to do as they are all numbered) then spent 20 minutes untwisting them all. I then packed the kite back in the rucksack, nice velcro-loop for the bridle lines, and started to wind the lines on the handles, they just re-twisted. Spent a further 20 minutes untwisting them, and then thought I would have a go at para-packing the lines. This was fantastic, first time it came to flying I pegged out the handles, walked down wind the lines just unravelled with no twists or tangles, I have tried winding again with the same result as before, so recommend para-packing the lines.

First flight, beach in Aberdeen, wind blowing at least 20-25mph with very strong gusts and threatening rain. Head said leave kite in bag it’s too windy for first go, heart said new kite go for it! My wife later said I could of got pull from holding a plastic bag over my head! Un-packed kite (see above) small crowd forming to watch! Launched the kite with a bit of help, went straight up nice pull, thought this is the canines testicles! It turned nicely, very stable, started to do some bigger turns and scudding.

Next thing I new I was lying in the wet sand – having been hit by a big gust and not letting go of the kite, despite carefully applying the kite killers before launching! Apparently I got 5 feet or so of air before doing a rather dramatic face plant! Kite then got packed away as it had started to rain! Helpful comment from my brother-in-law "I wish I had got that on video!"

Second flight, beach at Criccieth, North Wales. Completely different, sun out and a very very gentle breeze (4-8mph approx) went to nothing later in the afternoon. (Kite killers stayed in bottom of bag, where they shall remain)

Launched kite easily on my own, went straight to the top of the window with some pull. Started to move it around out to the edge of the window, brake turn back across the wind and up – fantastic so stable, easy to control good pull despite not much wind. Easily turned in it’s own length with brakes, very little collapse of the tips, pretty quick to.

Overall, a fantastic kite, well made, stable in flight though very manoeuvrable with a fair bit of speed, and good pull I think with more wind I should be able to get some good lift (going by my experience in Aberdeen!). Should be good for a wide range of wind speeds. I can’t wait to get it out the bag when there is more wind, try more scudding and jumps, and hopefully try it with a board in the near future.

Author : markcrook