Surface2Air Sports have been out on the water testing more 2008 kitesurf kites
F-One Bandit 11m
At a Glance
The F-One Bandit is like no other kite F-One have made before, it is yet another new concept for the 2008 season which aims to deliver better performance and safety features. There is a lot going on with the Fone Bandit, billed as a Delta shape and not a Bow or SLE it still retains a fairly curved arc as opposed to the flatter shape of the Naish Helix. F-One spent an extensive amount of time working on the new shape and found the Delta plan form gave the best stability when the kite was fully depowered. It also means more of the canopy is in use as the wingtips are smaller so you can get more power from a smaller kite. By putting the front line connections further up the leading edge you also bring the tipping point closer to the front of the canopy, which will eliminate inversion and turbulent air when depowered. The Fone Bandit utilises a new bridle called the EVO, which has to be the simplest we have seen yet. Just two simple V bridles connect the kite to the front lines. A pulley at the bottom of the V allows movement and improved depower. A really clever feature is the safety system; a small 15 foot line runs through the bar and connects to the front line, which is single most of the way up until it splits to join the bridle. When the safety on chicken loop is activated this pulls both the front lines and totally depowers the kite till it lands on its back on the water. You can then easily pull on a rear line to get the kite to relaunch as you would with a bow style kite.
The Bar
In the past I have to admit I haven’t been a massive fan of F-one bars, I have always felt they have a bit too much going on and lines and bits everywhere. This year though they have really stepped up their game simplicity is the word here, with the mini safety system and simple decent sized chicken loop there isn’t too much going on when you are riding. There is a clam cleat-depower system that works well and the usual back line trimming options seen on previous F-One kite bars. In the hands the bar feels very comfortable and easy on the hands.
In the Air
This kite definitely looks different once in the sky, the Fone Delta shape is quite noticeable, even more so if you are standing on the beach looking at it! It also feels very powerful, the 11m was pulling us about with ease while others were on 14 and 16m kites. But perhaps the best thing is the very short throw on the bar that switches the power on and off. It really is just a short movement and the kite is depowered. So while the 11m has plenty of guts you can easily trim the depower strap to handle even the harshest of conditions. This new shape really does give the Fone Bandit phenomenal range. The other characteristic you will notice is just how easy the kite is to fly and how predictable is. We test new kites all the time and some take a little while to get used to, the Bandit however just feels right in your hands straight away. Getting some serious air is easy and the kite delivers a lot of float in the jumps. It also rides really well unhooked, a testimony to this is that the entire F-One team will be using this kite at their freestyle competitions from now on! What F-One have done is create a kite that really is good in a lot of different scenarios. If you want to cruise and get big air its great, if you want to unhook and ride freestyle its fantastic too. It also turns really fast and is very responsive which should make it a great kite for the waves. Sadly we were in the Med when we tested it so there wasn’t much rough stuff to play with! Bar pressure is good the bar gives the rider enough feedback to know where the kite is at all times without being so heavy it gets tiring on the arms. The relaunch is really great too and with the kite being so easy to fly it wouldn’t be a bad choice for someone who has had a few lessons and is looking to take the sport up seriously.
Surface2Air Sports say:
For
Easy to fly, perfect for freeride, freestyle and waves. Good jumping and fun kite loops. Will suit confident beginners right through to expert riders.
Against
The EVO bridle whilst simple is long; you’ll need to pack it away with a bit of care to ensure it hasn’t knotted itself in time for your next session!
Overall
A great kite with so many applications; it will be sure to put a smile on your face whatever you decide to use it for!
For Product info on the new 2008 F-One Bandit Kite
Surface2Air Sports Team