Rider: Nico Ostermann – Location Wadell in Califonia
I tried the TRUST 9m at Wadell in a light wind day. Earlier that day I was riding the B6 11m.
The first thing I noticed is that the bag is much better than last year Volt’s. There is a full zipper all around the bag making it very easy to get the kite back in after a session. The other thing that stood out for me compared to last year is the bar. It’s the closest thing to a Bandit 6 bar, like 95% close. It’s built around the all new Monolith all aluminum bar, super light and clean, it has the same depower system with clam cleat, a swivel, etc… The 5% missing is that the bar ends are basic plastic end as opposed to molded end. Not a big deal. The graphics are pretty cool too. 4 colors available: green – blue – white/blue and white/red. I had the green 9m to show off.
In past years, riders, especially small and inexperienced, were having difficulties reaching out the straps to power/depower the kite. No more! the clam cleat and clean depower system provides the easiest way to do just that. And with the addition of the swivel, your front lines stay clean at all time.
The kite itself is a light 3 strut design, with more Delta C than its big brother the Bandit. It guarantees great stability, fantastic range and the easiest relaunch possible. Kite built is F-One usual, with many reinforcements along the seams and connection with the leading edge, force frame construction between the struts makes it a very compact and solid kite.
In the air, the kite feels very compact and super stable. It was a light day, averaging maybe 18-20 mph wind, but I was able to gain speed quickly on the 9m, the low end felt great. You don’t need to check on the kite, it won’t do things you don’t want. Turning speed is not as fast as on the Bandit, you need to pull harder on the bar to initiate the turn, but the turn itself is pretty fast actually, with the kite coming out of the turn in a natural position to not lose speed. Bar pressure is higher than the Bandit, that’s pretty obvious after a couple minutes using it. I didn’t have a chance to try out the relaunch, will do that on the next session. Now I want to try out the 13m in light wind condition. If the 9m is any indication, it shoul dhave a great low end and extra hangtime… stay tuned.
More on the TRUST here: http://trust.f-onekites.com/en/
