Here are my first impressions upon setup:
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* The leading edge is small, and the struts are tiny
* 5 struts, no battens
* No splitstrut, presumably for reduced weight
* The inflate valve has a little plastic 'keeper' that holds the stopper very securely in place after inflating
* The bar has been updated from last year
* The lines are thicker - 1000 lbs?
* Backpack - style bag
And after the first session:
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* Very quick and nimble, but not squirrely
* Decent bar pressure - good feedback but is easy to drive
* Relaunch was very easy - no bridle lines getting caught on edges, etc.
* Depower was great - letting go of the bar made the kite sit down in a very well behaved manner.
As I mentioned, it was pretty light (thanks for the ride back, Stroh!), but the kite seemed so fast I could generate a suprising amount of power. After this session, I took out my 20.5 machine and, while I had a little more power, I still was struggling to stay upwind. The wind had died off a bit more.
There is a 9 and an 11 out there for demoing - Just contact myself, Tighe, Chris, Denis, or Peter at Midwest Mountaineering to set up a time.
Here are some quick pictures:
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