Core XR4 10 metre review
Rider: 85kg, Good booster/surf, Beginner at unhooked/tricky-flickys
Style: Big airs & Board offs, Loops, Launching off big waves in 30 knots and yelling.
Weather: 20-28 knots (First Sunday of Oct end of a storm in Perth)
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: My views will be biased by my current kites (7m fuel (2012), 9m fuel (2014), 11m ozone edge (2013?)
I spoke to the guys at AKS about testing an ideal replacement for my Ozone Edge 11m. My criteria were as follows;
-Something to boost higher than everyone else in 15-25knots
-Must have some decent power & upwind as I like to ride a Wakestyle board in the surf.
Build quality:
These new kites feel strong and look like they will last. The valve is awesome, a 10m pumps up maybe 4 times as fast as the old ozone edge 11m - apparently North have these new type of valves too?
The (front lines only) bridle has the slidey rings rather than pulleys.
It has all the usual scuff pads, and the dacron/ripstop feels like the good quality stuff
Jumps:
The XR4 is easy to jump big. I only let go 2 really big ones (8 metres+ 
) but I feel like you could ride it for a week and easily keep up with a big air enthusiast riding an Ozone Edge. You can send it from reasonably low in the window, and the flawless edging on takeoff is not as critical due to it providing more C kite style "whip" (I would put it's rip-off-the-waterness ahead of the North Rebel, and maybe 15% less than the fuel (remembering that the XR4 will generate a heap more lift and hang, we are just talking about the "Rip")
Landings are easy, and the redirect is a bit more lively than the edge, allowing you to send it hard at the very last minute for buttery soft landings from high altitude. Bar pressure is fairly light in my opinion, but not annoying. The kite has a lot of nice depower-ability and would be suitable for beginners too.
Loops:
As expected, loops were far more enjoyable than on my edge which tends to do huge slow arcs and get stuck.
The Loops are easily makeable, and I certainly enjoyed the sheet in to untwist the (centre) lines trick on the core bar.
The new north one is meant to unspin too, but I don't really understand how it works because the north one has only one string?
Drift:
The surf was fairly decent for Leighton on Sunday, the wind was not very cross-shore so I was generally pushed in the same direction as the wind. It is definitely a step up from other kites I've used. I haven't tried a true surf kite yet to compare though - would like to try the ozone reo.
Twist to release;
This is the one thing I wasn't used to was this twist to release. It works fine, and you're probably less likely to pull it accidentally but you would need to train yourself to be ready to use it. My understanding is the cores would work on any 4 line bar so you don't have to use their bar if this scares you anyway.
Unhook;
Didn't try, but looking at the shape I doubt it would be much good.
Relaunch;
10/10 very easy, probably best I've seen.
Overall;
Pound for pound, this will outboost the Ozone Edge, I guarantee it.
There you go, I said it.
Once I buy one, I will challenge Eppo or someone to a boost off. Just need a few more pennies.
Cheers,
Nice review wishy and timely as I've been considering trying the XR again. Used to have a quiver, I think the first version might have been the second, with a GTS chucked in there somewhere... can't quite remember.
I found they felt a little sloppy (relative of course) at the bar and didn't behave themselves enough when it really counted. The wing wasn't stable enough near its top end.
But 3 or 4 versions later with a two year product cycle, much shorter bridles and canopy refinement I was considering giving it a crack again
You ride a wakeboard you say. Is that with bindings? So I take it you didn't try and board offs at high altitude then? I suppose that's kicker for me and why I left the edges and use Rebels. Sure they are a little ... 'predictable' but when really nuked they are so dependable to the point I can do a board off and still trust it.
Just a thought... improbable possible if you like. How about we see if action sports can lend us the 10m XR4 and the 2017 10m rebel (if they have one) and even a couple of woos and let's see who can get higher.
We will need minimum 25, 25-30 knots and some swell with flat lead ups to the ramps.
Keen? Be fun.
If not, we gotta meet sometime and have a cracking boost session.
