This is what Brian has to say about it after trying it extensively at Wadell:
The Surf Bamboo 6'2 differs from the rest of the pack with a significantly more pronounced double concave well through the majority of the bottom. This makes a big difference in rough conditions that are common to... surf riding. This board works exceptionally well in larger surf where it will easily draw out long smooth carving turns with minimal input and feels really stable. It also tends to release off the top with very well in all size surf. And of course, like the rest of the bamboo lineup, the durability is fantastic.
This is great news and an awesome addition to the F-One freestyle team. More good news to follow... Here is the full press release in a pdf format.
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F-One in America and Cosmic Kites are thrilled to announce that Alex Soto will join their team. Alex has on multiple occasions proved himself worthy of battling the best of the best freestyle kiteboarders in international contests. Unfortunately, lack of resources has prevented Alex from attending the full tour and having a fair shot at the world champion title. Alex is currently the resident professional rider and instructor at the Cosmic Kite Lounge at Extreme Hotel on Kite Beach in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. Together, Cosmic Kites and F-One will provide the structure, gear and funding required for Alex to take full advantage of growing up in a world class kiteboarding spot so he has the opportunity to take his place amongst the very best freestyle riders in the world.
At 22 years old Alex is a dedicated competitor with years of kiteboarding experience and a mind set on becoming a true professional athlete. While on the water Alex is a fierce and focused rider, off the water he is humble and a respected mentor for the local kids. F-One and Cosmic share these values and together we look forward to supporting Alex in his pursuits as a professional athlete and as a person. We are excited to see Alex succeed on the international contest scene alongside the F-One International team, with the likes of Mitu Monteiro (Wave), Alex Caizergues (Speed), Bjorn Kaupang (Snowkite) as well as Danny Alvarez, Randy Hereman, Eli Zarka, Vincent Tiger, Charlotte Consorti, Pauline Boussard, etc.
Alex’s gear choices include the new 2010 F-One Bandit III Delta kite and the 2010 Trax and Acid twin-tips because he feels they are perfectly suited to his riding style. Alex is currently training hard for the upcoming 2010 season. Please enjoy the photos below taken by Hege Holt of Dreambuz at the world renowned flat water spot La Boca, just east of Cabarete.
Its a pirate’s kite right out from the bag with cool graphics. The other day a friend of mine told me that the kite graphic was erasing, i laugh for a while then i explained to him that the graphic has the effect. As for the single inflation system quite simple and convenient distributing the air evenly throughout the kite and absorbing crash impact at the same time. As for the physical aspect of the bar very fine tribal design with steel finish, coated chicken loop line makes the difference with smooth sliding of the bar with the yet simple but efficient loop for unhooked tricks. As for performance wise it took me quite a bit to get used to the faster kiteloops pivoting right in the spot, with a bit of bar pressure that i like for the feeling of the kite while in the air. As for turning very C shape feel but with a tweak of faster movement, this kite has some pop to it throwing yourself and releasing like a C shape on the critical spot of the handlepass. One thing i noticed about this kite is that it should be ridden at a 45% angle on light wind for it to perform in its top shape. As for the best part that this kite has is some good gliding and boosting action WOW!!! To me the most glide i have ever gotten out of a kite was with the Bandit 3 could be very addicting. Thank you F-One for hooking me up with some of the best gear around and how the guys at F-One say JUST TRY IT !!!
I had a chance to ride a 10 m for 2 days in Islamorada.
And here is my feedback:
Out of the bag the kite looks great, high quality work on the product and cooI graphics.
I didn't play with any settings on the bar. Just inflate (one pump works great), connect the bar and go out and play. The wind was between 15 to 22 and it seams that it was a really the sweet spot for this size.
If you think that the Dos was a fast kite, this will really blow your mind. I think a huge factor is the fact that the bar pressure is a lot less than the 09 version. I am not a good freestyler so I cannot say too much about the properties of the kite for this aspect, but I can tell you that this kite can jump.
If you send it really hard it will rip you out of the water and will take you to the stratosphere. And ...it will give you enough time while you are up there to look at the landscape. Due the light bar pressure you have to be very careful not to over send the kite
Looping it is awesome. While the Dos was turning more around the tips and the horizontal pull was brutal, The Tres loops much much smoother and with a more constant loop, more like a ckite.
Relaunching the kite - same technique as on any delta kite.
Pull one of the back lines and wait for the kite to migrate towards one side. If you keep pulling, the kite will relaunch from the water. In lite wind conditions it helps if you swim towards the kite while you pull the back line. The wingtip will catch air faster and the kite will go up.
Overall I love the tres. Much smoother, faster and user friendly kite.
Puerto Rico Heineken Kitebaording Challenge is ON! March 18/21
Heineken international Regatta , Kiteboarding Challenge , March 19-22, 2010
Organized by KITEBOARDING PR , the kiteboarding challenge events will consist of 3 disciplines, freestyle, big air and course racing.
The freestyle will be a single elimination with 7 minute heats of 4-5 riders, the big air will be divided in two groups with 15 minute heats and the course racing will take place on the same course as the Hobie Cats and small sailboats with its own start and finish line in front of the new Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club. The event will be run under the IKA judging guidelines and rules by the PRKA (Puerto Rico Kiteboarding Association) in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Sailing Federation .
There will be concerts and parties every night at the Yacht Club and the best in accommodations provided by Club Cala.
There will be prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in freestyle and course racing and a 1st place for the big air, also a big raffle with a free kite courtesy of KITEBOARDING PR, who is the main event organizer and Kiteboard Shop in Puerto Rico.
I tried this technique out - launching off the boat - it was great!
This was shot at Anegada, a small island 14 miles from Tortola BVI. It's a great place to kite. Just around the corner from the pictures, where I was headed, there was northeast swell and waves to be had.
Let's Kite!
Ryan
More about launching from a boat from Vali DC Kites:
- The trick is to connect the lines before you actually are on the boat. You should also inflate the struts before.
- Wrap your lines till you get to the kite.
- Fold the kite (roll)towards the middle.
- Put the wrapped lines on the top.
- Tight the harness over the lines and bar so the bar won't slide and get messed up while you are sailing.
- Once you get to the launching place: Inflate the kite, the rider jumps on the water, unrolls the line and then you can follow the sequence on the pics.
F-One REVOLT 3 is the 3rd Edition of the F-One kite for beginners and intermediate riders, with a focus on depower capability, stability and relaunch. The Revolt is also the kite all F-One schools have been using with tremendous success in 2009. This 3rd edition will be a mix between the 2009 Revolt and the 2010 Bandit, with a better range and stability in all wind conditions. Design is of course based on a Delta C-Shape. No one pump system on the Revolt 3. Wide availability will be early in March. Pricing to come soon, no pricing jump expected, or very little.
Improvements:
- Profile more rounded
- Bridles 3 points
- Same front line than the B3, shorter bridle
- More depower
- Optimized low/high end
- Profile more rigid that improves stability in all wind conditions
New bag: including a net, a pump holder, shoulder straps and magnetic opening
Kiteboarding PR, Puerto Rico’s new F-One dealer is ready for the 2010 season, with a brand new shop in San Juan, a new website, offering the latest F-One gear, lessons (IKO and PASA certified), rentals, repairs, tours, etc. The school is based at ocean park beach in San Juan. Known as G-String Beach or Kite Beach (the safest, widest, cleanest wind on the metro area) and only a 10 minute ride from the San Juan international Airport (SJU). The shop is located at Puntas Las Marias in front of The Room surf shop and next to Beach Cats. For more information, please visit www.kiteboardingpr.com or call 787-727-0883.
Local PR ripper Frederick (Freddy) Zamora and Kiteboarding PR team rider gets sponsored by F-One for the 2010 season. The versatile rider is hooked with the new 2010 F-One Bandit 3 kites and Acid Board. His physical training is provided by www.fitness4surfers.com. Freddy is well recognized throughout the whole island as one of the best freestylers and an accomplished wave rider. Freddy is training hard and can’t wait to show his skills during national and international contests. You can watch Freddy on his website at www.freddykitepr.com
The Heineken International Regatta is hosting the Kiteboarding Puerto Rico Nationals in Freestyle and Kite Course Racing on the exclusive new yacht club at Palmas Del Mar, from March 20-22 of 2010, for more information, please call 787-374-5329 or email info@kiteboardingpr.com.
Raphael Salles is the man behind F-One kiteboarding
Back in 2007, they launched a kite called the Bandit,a a revolutionary new Delta shaped design. last year with the Bandit Dos, they had one of the most successful years ever and with more people copying the Delta shape we thought we ought to catch up with the man that started it all!
