Hi Peeps,
It's been quite a while since I've put fingers to keyboard for a review, a longer time since I connected myself to an inflatable kite and even longer since I rode a twin tip. I've been foiling, winging and kite-foil racing for the last almost seven years and that was preceded by a few years of just not kiting due to boredom and a bit of burnout. This is after all, my 26th season of kiting and I turn 57 too shortly .
I decided to get back to grass roots this year and return to twin tipping and reconnect with our kite community as well as foiling, downwinding and a bunch of other water sports.
I've ridden a few different kites this year trying to find what I wanted to ride, there is a lot of hype around kite types and styles and tech, so I took my time, tried a few and tried to determine what was of interest to me. I have always loved big air and speed and ride with a certain flair or style I guess. I also didn't want a quiver of kites, I wanted to keep it simple as I also have access to all of our demo gear if I want something different for a change. I am 100kg in a wetty and harness.
I eventually settled on the Duotone Rebel SLS (Concept Blue) to be precise, you know the all white 5 strut kite (No dyes so good for the environment) shows my virtue signalling 
Why the Rebel? I have many kites that would fit the (Big Air) bill within our stable. I like the SLS, it represents to me absolute value for performance delivered. The frame of the Rebel was always solid and SLS only improves on that. The canopy tension is tight and stiff making the kite very efficient. I love the clean look of the CB, the kite stands out in a crowd.
I also spent a bit of time trying to find the right board to attach a WOO, so it had to be a stand out board. Again, tried many but settled on the Carved Imperator 139. It just felt like home and fitted my needs of smooth, fast and comfortable.
I Chose the Rebel over other big air kites that were similar and against other "trendy" new age kites due to it's jump ability, responsiveness, upwind ability and float. I don't do flat water or ideal conditions so I needed a kite with boost potential, hangtime and not necessarily fast looping (My knees are too precious to me for double kite loops and the likes.
The WOO has allowed me to start to analyse my jumps and see more of what is going on. I can easily jump to 10 metres and have posted a 12.7m recently. This sounds lame until you look at the water I am jumping in. Pinnaroo, Mullaloo, Sorrento and Marmion. All these beaches have haphazard, and chaotic chop making perfect pop and release almost impossible. My usual jump speed at lift-off is ~45km/hr which makes it hard to get an edge as the kite swings upwards to jump. There is literally no load, in the "load n pop". I still manage 12m and 5-6 second jumps.
If the wind picks up, it isn't a problem, the 10m Rebel SLS holds its form so well allowing just bigger jumps, even at 30 knots! The responsiveness has been increased by changing the rear line settings, but honestly, I think the original factory setting is better. The kite has feel in the bar but isn't heavy and is still super responsive as I tend to only input desired turns, the lighter setting allows for kite drift from added response.
I only loop on landing and allow the kite to drop me gently without overflying. Looping in water this choppy leads to exploded knees of which I can ill afford. As a big air rider, the amount of ground I travel downwind on a run out with two or three big floaty jumps can be considerable, so upwind ability was an absolute prerequisite and in this field, the Rebel SLS stands unopposed. Honestly, I'm usually shocked at how easily I can get back upwind with minimal effort. The board has a rocker flattening handle to flatten the rocker for improved upwind, but there is really never a time when I've needed to use it.
For me the Rebel SLS is still one of the very best big air, power kites, with the biggest wind range, most lift and easiest to use. Say hello if you see a lightning white, 10m Rebel on the northern beaches. Join in on the Northern beaches Woo challenge and I'll see if I can beat your best score, or try to beat mine. There may be a prize in it at the end of the season. 
DM 
