Ozone Frenzy 04 7.3M

If you heve a decent sized flying area with nice clean wind you should have at least one Frenzy in your quiver.

The rapid development of the depowerable foil is all to easy to understand with one of these, a couple of sessions into ownership you WILL wonder how much those fixed bridle kites are worth secondhand.

So, I walked into Airbossworld and mumbled something about a Frenzy, handed over the cash and next day collected a ready set up and prepared Frenzy, Damn was I excited.... Straight off to the field for a quick fly.

Gary came with me to ensure I didn't maim myself and that all was peachy with the kite.

Setting it out for launch is laughably easy dumpsack, walkback unwinding the lines (this is an important bit, take notes!) hook the ORANGE line over your stake NOT the safety leash! and set the deower strap to maximum power. Unpack the kite, allowing it to sit up in the wind and do a quick check on the pulley system and amazing multicoloured bridles then walk back and hook in.

When it's launch time simply take the depower strap and set it to maximum depower, the kite will start to lift with all the pull of a 0.7 Buster!

As it reaches the zenith it will have inflated and it's time to give it a bit more power!!

YUM! Jumping time!

This kite is shared between my son and me, he gets much more use than I do, he can fly it sub 10mph upto 20mph as the wind rises so does the hieght of his jumps and the float time... he does start to have problems staying down on the ground 16+mph and much over 20mph he just bounces about!

With the bar out and the kite set on maximum depower it MAY be possible to fly in upto30mph plus... I however get decidedly nervous at 25mph plus so it comes down and smaller kites go up.

So, what is it good for?

Recreational is fun, jumps are but a dip of the wing away. Longer dips down the edge equal higher air when it goes back up. Great!

Buggying, on lighter wind days the 7.3 is very good in a buggy, the shorter bar means thighs are NOT constantl jabbed as with the 9.5 or 12.

The kite is nicely controlable and will "park and ride" all day. The depower can be used to heat things up or cool them down. WARNING please remember it will hoik you out if you don't treat it with respect! (this is quite nice for getting out of a low buggy though)

Landboarding, Home territory for the Frenzy this! AWESOME silky smooth power available as required, jumps are yours for the taking and soft landings when you come down (please note.. My son does the jumping and relays the results to me, I am a big scaredy cat!)

Snowkiting, yup, if you like getting cold this is for you. I don't so can't comment really.

Watery stuff? Hmm, can't quite face the thought of dunking an open foil, can be done though I have seen it!!

All this is fine, but what about landing? Some large kites just don't want to come down!

The Frenzy is lovely to land, Either take it to the edge of the window and let it slip to earth or grab the Orange line and pull it waaaay down past your bum. This may seem impossible at first due to the power in the kite, leave the kite at the zenith and pull hard, when you can pull no more wait..... when the tension drops (about half a second but can seem ages if the kite is well powered up) pull it all the way back. the kite will then fall down and sit on the floor.

That is pretty much a quick rundown of its capabilities BUT it tells you nothing of the kites quality!

It is a superb package. The technical rucksack is wonderful! I have started hanging all of my stuff from it for the trudge to the flying field, loads of straps and hooks for everything. it can even hold 2 well packed frenzies!

The kite itself is very well constructed and copes with bad landings well. all the seams have held up well and the kite still feels crispy and good after many flights and a couple of wet packdowns (always dried at first chance though!)

The bar is comfy, well padded and is fitted with many safety devices. The first time you need them you WILL be glad they are there. If it's red then pulling it will operate some kind of safety device. The 03 Frenzy suffers here, the primary safety is out of eyeline so when you are being dragged down a beach it ISN'T visible. The 04 has it's primary safety just under the depower strap right where you can see it and reach it from any position.

You pull that and all the power goes as the main lines are disconnected, need more? Pull the chiken loop safety and let go, the kite flops about like a wet rag! Need more?!? like the kite is stuck on a speeding car or still dragging you towards that cliff, deploy the wrist leash safety cutting all ties with the kite.

BIG up to Ozone for this, top idea which means I am happy for my son to use the kite happy he is going to be safe if he gets into a panic.

Surely with all this superduperness about the kite there must be SOME faults?

Well, yes, there are a few.

The whole depower thing takes a while to "click" along with not having the precise control of a pair of handles. The rucksack though GREAT does take an awful lot of room up and perhaps most damingly it has broken the side plate on both of its depower pulleys! This is despite great care being taken of them and sand removal after each beach visit!

TOP kite for lighter to middle sized kiters, flexible easy power and easy launch and land.

NOT a first kite but great to progress to.

By : Adam