First good kite vid I have seen - the end of a 11.5 kahoona

[Matt V]

One of our local kiters from here in Omaha was stuck working up in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This vid is of him kiting alone on Belle Fourche reservoir. Wish I would have been "stuck" up there too. Saturday was not ridable where I was at but Sunday saw redemption at our favorite lake in Nebraska. Never got smaller than my 13.5m. He was on his 11.5m - for the last time. The end of this vid is amazing. All kites should go out like this. I would make my wedding tuxedo out of this old kite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Un-fRAZ ... e=youtu.be

He gave that kite to me to repair one tear in the canopy last month. I found 3 and they were not from impacts. They were from stress as the canopy was at the end of it's life. I told him I would tape it but not sew the tape since I was worried about putting more holes in the fabric for a tear to start from. I cannot believe that this kite flew till the end, and then let him land it.

This is the best kite video I have ever seen.

[JRN]

Thanks, Matt! Sad, to see a Kahoona go down. I've got that same kite, and love it. It is touted as a beginner kite, but boosts like nobody's business. I never thought of Western S.D. as a kite spot, but this proves me wrong. Have to pack the the gear for the next trip.

[Matt V]

I wish I could make it out to Belle Fourche some time. I have never been there, but it looks awesome and this guy has really given it a great report. Sand beaches, no trees, lots of treeless islands/points to make flat water. The winds look amazing too, at least for the last few weeks that I have been watching it. It looks like you do not even have to wait for the fall drawdown to make a place to land your kite.

[borntofli]

One less best on the water has to be a good thing..........

[Matt V]

I cannot say one bad thing about the kite itself with regards to the Kahoona series. Super solid build with great flight characteristics that make it possible to fly in some really iffy winds here inland. Of the similar kites like the Rally and Evo, I am most impressed with the Kahoona. Other guys riding RPM's, Switch Blades, and Rebels seem like they are held back from being as far up wind as the Kanoona carries me on days that it is not even steady enough to jump. I heard that Best had some issues back in '07 or'09 with LE bladdeer blowouts on their other models, but I can attest that I have tomahawked these kites like no other with not even a single stretched stitch. That said, because of issues with their chicken loop from 2010-present, everyone here is ditching Best for other brands. Best's prices are also not as attractive as they used to be.

This guy in the vid is going over to Wainman. I am going to be the "crash test dummy" for HQ's new inflatable kite called the "Ignition". Hopefully, the "Ignitions" come out before we get to much into September when the winds really start cranking. HQ's hype is that it is a do all kite but I am really skeptical. I like riding my directional's and the Kahoona fits them well, so the Ignition has big shoes to fill. My main requirement for them is that they must handle junk winds at least as well as the Kahoona's.

I will post on my success or failure with the new HQ's.