In Focus: Ozone 2016 Product Overview
Features / Thu 17th Sep, 2015 @ 12:00 am
Ozone have two new releases at the moment, the much anticipated Chrono V2 and the very popular wave kite the Reo V3. Over the last few years Ozone have grown to become one of the major players in the industry, helped along the way by a racing pedigree that started with the Edge and then developed into the Chrono and at the end of last year the R1 foil kite. It would be hard to deny the fact that Ozone have really pushed the foil kite amongst the race scene with the first readily available kite capable of winning races the Chrono.
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The Chrono is much more than a race kite though; it’s power and precision work just as well on a twin tip as they do on a race or foil board. The sport is changing as far as light winds go and we predict in a few years the large inflatable kites over 12m will have been usurped by foils. They offer so much more power, hang time and still plenty of boost, where you might struggle on a 14m inflatable you’ll find yourself stacked on a 12m foil, it’s a no brainer really, especially if you want to freeride and boost big airs!
The Chrono V2 more user friendly for 2016!
The Chrono V2 is an important update to the Ozone stable then and one you are sure to see on plenty of beaches for 2016. We were lucky enough to fly the kite in Barcelona for a very quick session on a foil board, it’s super stable with fantastic depower, we were flying a 9m while others were on smaller inflatable kites. It’s this range, which is likely to appeal to the masses, and as the wind increases so does the fun factor with the ability to boost bigger jumps while still remaining in control.
This kite works brilliantly with twin tips, it’s a freeride weapon!
For 2016 the kite is available in 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 18m sizes, the kite has been made more user friendly and less race orientated, Ozone have the R1 for the race course now so the Chrono sits firmly in the freeride bracket. That being said of course it can still hold it’s own on the course, essentially the kite has more versatility over last year. The kite is more stable, easier to inflate to make launching simpler and has thicker Dyneema bridles to avoid tangles on the beach. The kite can be used on the water, or on the land, it is really up to you, the larger sizes are geared towards more power, while the smaller sizes are boosting and hang time machines…
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The Reo, first launched in 2012 becomes the Reo V3 for 2016, this hugely popular kite has been designed from the ground up to be used in the waves. Although there are no changes in terms of the design for the 2016 version there are new colour ways and the new bar dubbed the Contact Water Control System, which we will get to in a minute! If you have never ridden a Reo, you really need to try one, beautifully crafted using the Teijin TechnoForce D2 canopy material; the kite has been designed to be light, but also very strong. There are no extra patches or unnecessary parts; this makes for a sublime flying experience.
2016 Ozone Reo V3
With plenty of depower and lots of drifting ability built into it’s DNA the Reo v3 should be one to consider if you prefer to kite in the waves. The simple 3 strut design flies upwind and isn’t too bad at boosting either, it works both hooked in and un hooked, so whatever your style the Reo V3 has you covered! A simple 4-line pulley less bridle controls the kite with direct connections for the rear lines and a real focus on handling and response. The Reo V3 is available in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12m sizes.
2016 Ozone Reo, no major design changes for 2016…
The Contact Water Control System features new soft EVA bar ends with line retainers that are hidden when not in use. The integrated floats really add to the polished feel of the set up. It’s simple without any clutter and everything has a purpose, the relaunch balls offer a great bit of input when it comes to relaunching your kite and the depower line system is neat and tidy too, utilising a magnetic tidy to keep excess rope from flying about! The Megatron chicken loop system has been on a bar for a few years now and works well, you can set it up for 100% depower when you let go of the bar, or there is a suicide option too for riders who want to ride unhooked. Available in 4 sizes for 2016, 38, 45, 50 and 55cm.
The new integrated floats with hidden elastic line retainers.
A clever magnetic system is used to keep the depower line from flapping…
The complete bar set up for 2016…
For more information on any of the Ozone products for 2016 head to your local dealer or check out their website: http://www.ozonekites.com
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
