blasting
Photo © Mikee

Frenzy FYX green
Photo © Mikee

09 Control System - clean and easy
Photo © Mikee

Appo
Photo © Mikee

Frenzy FYX red
Photo © Mikee

FYX boosting
Photo © Mikee

Manta II 09 green
Photo © Mikee

riding
Photo © Mikee

Hi everyone,

some very exciting news, we just got back from 5 days playing with the new range of depower foils from Ozone and although we always get excited when new kites get released, this year is very very different.

We headed for our secret stomping ground in England and set about inspecting the kites, the first thing that is quite apparent about the Frenzy FYX is how high aspect it is, this kite looks more like the Manta than a Frenzy and this would show in the next few days of testing!

1st out of the bag on the beach was the 9mtr Frenzy FYX,  running out the lines and taking our 1st look at the new bar and control system its easy to see why Ozone have taken a patent out on it. So simple but ingenious, from simple things like bar end elastics that retract into the bar ends, to the all new safety release, it not only works but works amazingingly well, when the “Top Hat” is released it no longer shoots all the way towards the kite, but stop within reach just beyond the landing strap making it so easy to relock and reload. We were a little concerned that this may not be enough to kill the power in the kite, but it does, instantly killing the power and letting the canopy drop to the ground upon release.

OK the important part, how does the kite perform?

In the light winds we 1st played with the 9mtr, team member mikee was out on his 10mtr Manta II, the low end grunt of the FYX was quite apparent and easily had the upper hand. The speed of this kite is fricking crazy, this ain’t no refined and updated Frenzy, it’s been bloody reinvented!!

I left Frenzy’s 2 seasons ago when I discovered Manta’s and found them more suited for the freestyle, freeriding I do, but how things can change in 2 seasons. This thing is loop crazy, jumping my buggy high into the air found I was redirecting as normal and before I knew it, it was looping bringing me down with ease, float and speed, you can really tell that Robbie has been working damn hard on the FYX for the last season. In all honesty I was gutted that the “Vision” never appeared from the Ozone camp as I was seeking a foil that would have not only the speed needed but the stability also required for turbulent winds,  but after flying this latest generation of Frenzy’s I now understand why Ozone dropped the Vision and designer as it had too many problems to overcome and Robbie’s time was best spent in developing the new Frenzy than trying to cure his understudy’s problems, there’s only so much time that can be wasted, after all time is money, a 2 years is a lot of time and money! Its great to see Robbie is back at full speed on his designs again creating his masterpieces for us to enjoy.

The canopy, tips and ride of this kite is rock solid, no tip tucks, even in lighter winds when the cell pressure wasn’t 100% it remained solid, The frenzy was always the standard setter in depower foils and the bar has just been raised beyond competitors reaches, its going to take a long time for anything to come remotely close!! Sizes tested were the 7, 9 and 11m and all were equally as fast and far out performed anything Robbie has given us in the past.

We also had chance to test ride the new improved Manta II, and this was also a bonus, I remember back to an earlier time when Robbie and Chasta had been developing the kite that they had reached a happy medium in the bridle settings offering, at the time, the best of stability against the speed of the kite, well it’s clear to see that the standard has also been raised here. It appears, and I may be wrong, that they are hoping that as much as the standard of kites has been raised so has the flying ability of the riders using the kite. Its so so much faster than last seasons and I would say that the 12mtr we had to play with is just as fast if not faster than my current 10mtr. The stability and flying characteristics of the kite has not been compromised in any way or form, it’s still the kite I’ve loved from the 1st time I flew one but the pop and float has been increased so if your thinking nothings been changed because the name hasn’t, well your very much mistaken.

All kites including the Access feature the new control system and funk new colour schemes, and we are loving the new militant olive scheme, The biggest problem with the new range, and its a major issue, is which one to go for, Frenzy or Manta?? The only thing to do is get ready for their release then book a test fly from your local Ozone dealer and see what suits your flying style and demands.

One things for sure, you’ll be beaming with joy and laughter at the performance Robbie has layed before us, Now I need my quiver and I need it fast there’s much fun to be had.

Appo

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