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Free flight of GIN YOZ II Saturday 20th May. Got out in between the showers to fly the YOZ which my son took delivery of this week. The first thing I noticed was that the backpack is on of the best designs I've seen. Its really nice, I like the long thin pocket for the lines. The kite came inside its own stuff bag on which there is a panel signed by the people involved in the manufacture and quality checking of the Kite. This is something I associate with the better quality kites. The canopy is made of lightweight nylon and the bridles have less attachment points than a Bullet. We ordered the blue & white option. Laying it out I noticed that the overall shape is not like any other kite that I have seen. The v-shaped air intake vents also caught my eye. This is an interesting looking kite. The kite comes with a good quality set of lines [proper sewn-in loops at the end.] I have to say that my only issue with this kite so far is the handles which are the same size as the ones I got with my 1.5m LD stunt. Aluminium with neoprene hand grips. I may be too used to the flexifoil handles but I dont think there is enough handle length to apply the brakes. This minor niggle is totally forgotten as soon as the kite is launched. We didn't mess about with tuning the brakes we just set up as it came out of the bag. Pulling on the lines the canopy sits up on the ground and shoots straight up to the zenith. [ There wasn;t much wind so we launched down wind ] The unique shape of the kite becomes apparant and the color scheme looks good. I was aware that the canopy was quite rigid and didnt act as two sections like the Bullet can do sometimes. The benefit of this rigidity is that the kite is very very smooth to fly, and turns superbly. The kite delivers power all over the flying window and you get a bit of lift as well. You can place the canopy anywhere you like with precision. I easily held the kite in a hover at the side of the window while my son took some photos. The v-shaped air vents make the kite sound like a miniature jet aircraft. At the risk of repeating myself this kite is really smooth to fly- I was hooked as soon as it took off. I would rate this kite for a beginner / intermediate flyer. It is quite responsive and my son who is not a regular flyer managed to get to grips with the kite within 30 minutes. Very well designed and made, great backpack, the handles are adequate but not ideal. Excellent to fly. I hope it doesn't rain tonight so I can have another blast. By : tszy

You can find some pcis of me and my nephew with the kite on http://h3in.vliegert.nl (but i am a belgain so do not stare at the .nl please) I've flown 2-liners for almost 5 or 6 years. I've dreamed for 3 years of a powerkite. I've dreamed that i could buy a flexifoil blade. When i finally was able to by my dream i've bought a Gin Yoz II 4.8 with the nice backpack, libre handles, 4X25mtr C-lines, Flexifoil Kite killers. The reasons why i didn't buy a blade are: still the cost is 100€ extra(paid 490 for the entire pack and a blade 4.9 with handles and no lines is already 560€).You can't use it in a buggy due to the huge amount of lift.I didn't like the colors of the 4.9 blade III Goal : mountainboarding but that is something i don't have yet. Buggying maybe also later Packaging I think it is the nicest (kite)backpack.I didn't have any backpack except the one that i use for school that is big enough to put a kite in.The kite is seperately in a blue bag. You cant get a piece of kite stuck in the zippers.There came no manual with the kite, you can download one on the site of gin. The kite color : My kite is stylish grey with a red and white stripe. building quality : The bridal lines are reinforced where they come together. The kite has a velcro strap at the side to get sand insects and other rubbish out. It has to thingies(do not know how you call those) to keep the bridals stuck to the kite when folded. The kite feels very smooth. First flight I went back to the store and someone of the store had finetuned the main/brake lines for me. The wind was i think about 3 bft. When i launched it for the first time i felt like a jet fighter pilot that took of from a ship(i weight 60 KG). I was catapulted in front. I was immediately addicted to the power. Kept the kite high and flew it to the left then to the right. Sliding across the hard sand on the beach. I still turned only on the main lines. Didn't use the brakes. The guy of the shop explained the to options to land: With the brakes or at the side of the wind window. I tried the braking method. The kite came down gently but i didn't keep pulling the lines. The kite went open and whooosh back to the top of the window. The second time i feld a jetfighter pilot. After 15 minutes my hands and arms were so painfull that i decided to take a break. A bit later launched it again flew a bit enjoyed the power. I flew again 10 minutes and the pain was back. I was breathing very fast and sweaty. I've had trouble holding the spoon of my ice cream. Then no more kiting for a week. After that back to the beach. Rain rain and guess what. Yep your right more rain. When it finally stopped the wind was blowing 2 bft. Took the kite out the bag and begun to fly. Light wind but still Loved the power. Flew the kite lower. It didn't collapse or fall out of the sky. 4 Day later back to the beach. Nice weather Good wind. I thoughd i don't just want to slide on the beach, i want to jump. The first jumps (running technique) were far but not so high. Still flying untill i barely could hold on to my handles. Back to the shop for a harness. In the evening when all the people that like a sunn tan were gone flying with a harness. It was very relaxing the kite still controllable. Now the past friday in de panne. It was blowing 24 knots with gust to 30 knots. The yoz was at the top of the window one gust and i flew 2 meters trough the air. Who says that the yoz has no lift. It has lift. The day after the wind was less: lucky me. Now i jumped when i wanted to jump and not when the wind wanted me to jump. I just had to stear it to the right and upward to the left and up i went. 1m50 with my legs up.(nephew said that) and 4-5 meter far. I didn't leave the kite at the top whin i jumped but i steared back down a bit. I've learned to float more and jumping is nice with a yoz. Light wind condition In light wind i can easely make it do loops. So it is pretty manouvrable. Ive head yesterday an accident gusty wind from land. Almost no wind stearing to the left. Not hanging against the kite and then came the huge gust. I was pulled over fell on my hip and dragged a bit over the ground. The yoz is stable but i'd prefer still no gusty wind. Conclusion Not the fastest kiteNot the kite with a gigantic amount of liftNot a blade But it is manouvrable, stable, good looking, pulling and lifting(in hard wind).

Hmm, swapped for a base unit. Anticipated arrival and excitement at receiving it. At last a large kite to play with. Unfurled quality is paramount. Lines are very nice and colour coded. Can't adjust the length though, without a fight. Didn't get where I am today without adjusting the lines. The material is great. Strong, re-inforced and mean looking. Cut away vents (the trademark 'V'!) Still, the cost was great (i.e. free). Retail wise though, how does this compare with the flexi-pups, little evils, I mean devils and other violently named kite. As someone on the flexifoil forums says, Blade, Bullet, Devil, viper, buster, how long before the flexifoil Maniac, rampant and slaughter?? But I digest. Went down to Baiter in Poole to fly it with a mate from the most excellent baiterpowerkites club. It flew. In 3 mph winds. when some other kites were grounded this was stable, powerful and looked different form the norm. Not sleek like my buster or meaningful like a bullet but kind of zen and graceful, at one with the air. I like to be special with my kites and like to look special sliding around with it. Scudding was easy (just fly it!), enough life to jump with confidence, the buggy loved it and after 30 minutes we was, like. knacked matey peeps. So, to recap: Didn't luff once Flew in a low wind Has great pull Looks the biz Can be used for boarding, recreational and buggying. This may not a total race kite but if you're just getting into kiting and want a largish kite that won't cripple you (literally), you can't go far wrong. The rucksack is great too, with more pockets than a snooker table and some excellent features. At the standard retail price is very good value for money. Just one gripe. As others have mentioned the handles are far too short. Racial size difference perhaps?? So, for the perfect day and to sum it up in one word, without beating about the bush and making excuses or, indeed, hedging your cliches you just need bigger handles, change of underwear and pimms acock. So smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast! Second thoughts, make that lunch, no tea. By : Pete Nicodemus