This kite is a great kite for BEGINNERS. If you are an advanced rider I do not recommend this kite to you. This kite would be a great for all kiteboarding schools because of it's safety and depower. If you are looking for performance this kite will hold you back for sure.

This is a review from one of our clients who gave permission to post it here:
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I always wondered what a divorce feels like…I was in love with my HP’s. I would think of them when I was at work and couldn’t wait to pump them up at the beach. And on Feb 8 2009 I happened to meet the Kahoona and everything changed.

Kite Model: 2009 Kahoona
Kite size: 11.5 M
Bar: 2009 50cm RedLine Bar
Riding conditions: Shallow almost flat water. Sandy Hook, NJ with very low tide. Wind was N at about 18MPH with lulls at low teens and the gusts at the upper 20’s.
Rider Weight: 255 pounds of pure kiteboarder
Board: 150x45 RRD BS3

Kite Package:
The kite bag is nice. I really like the color. It looks a bit more compact then the oversized HP bags. The kite itself was just gorgeous. I was on the white kite and there were nice silver markings on the struts. It was really nice. The bar was a modified 2009 bar. All the magic was in the changes to the center lines, the red-line, and the new depower/power starts. (Discussed below).

Build Quality and finish:
The build quality looked good as is the standard for all the new kites coming out by BEST. There is no center strut so there are additional patches on the canopy to prevent any damage that could be done by the inflate/deflate valves on the LE against a flapping canopy as the kite sits on the beach (There is no flapping in the air). The inflate valve on the LE had a stopper ball. The valves on the struts had membranes (LOVE THE MEMBRANES). The kite is decorated very nicely. The struts had subtle designs on them. The central logo was in a big circle and it looks cool as the kite would turn it gave it that pivoting look.

Handling:
Setup was as usual. I found it odd that the kite did not have a leash for the pump. I Just hooked into the bridle so not a big deal. The second you launch the kite you realize it is a very different beast. The kite has great bar pressure. It is more than the HP but it is not so much to give you tennis elbow. You really feel where the kite is at all times. The kite turns very well. It is tight turning and very responsive. The relaunch is very quick and easy. The kite literally just pivots and pops off the water. It is very stable in the air as well. On a few occasions I over shot the kite when jumping and crashed. I would look up and see it just sailing back into the wind window with the lines fully slack. And then POP, back to normal and waiting at the edge of the window. With slack lines it also turned very well as I went downwind too much on transitions.

Key Product features:
The bridle is very interesting. The front bridle is very minimal and I don’t think it can wrap around the kite or its tips. The front bridal has one pulley and one ring on each side. The real bridle is literally a 6 inch line with two knots. The new bar setup is very nice. The new depower/power straps are easily within reach and very easy to get to. They are also attached to the center line and to each other so they cannot dangle around and get twisted. The straps were easy to get to and easy to pull. The release was the standard “big black” with the release ring attached to the red-line. The red-line did not get in the way at all and very well integrated. The swivel worked well. There were two nice patches on the canopy where the inflate and deflate nozzles may press against the canopy when sitting on the beach. The build quality looked very good as well.

Performance:
The Kahoona definitely has a lot of grunt. The kite does not scream upwind like the HP, but does a damn good job. Once I got it dialed in after a few tacks I was cutting upwind pretty well. The kite has grunt, and if you give it a few strokes you gain quite some speed and it keeps it going but it does not ask to be worked all the time like the HP’s. It is more of a park and ride like the Waroo’s. The depower was great. Considering the wind I was in and the gusts, it just swallowed them up. Jumping was a very strange experience. I am still learning jumping. With the HP’s I find that I was going maybe 7 feet or so and with the Kahoona maybe 5-6 feet. (verified by beach goers). The 2008 HP just rips you off the water, takes you up and then takes you down. With the Kahoona, you are launched up but with a lot less of that violent fling. And then when you get there, it just holds you there, you get that floaty feeling. And then it lets you back down. The turning was spot on. Even with slack lines when I went too far downwind on toeside transitions it would turn well. The canopy did not flutter at all.

Suitability:
This kite fits what I do very well. Currently I ride flat water 75% of the time and just do jumps for now. The other 25% I am in waves. I want to take it in the direction of big air jumps rather than handle pass kind of things. I really feel this would work for that as you get that float at the apex of jumps. I didn’t get to try it in the waves but I think it would be a killer. It flies well with slack lines so you don’t need to worry about riding the wave, it is quick to respond and powerful, so it can get you on and off the wave on command. The grunt and stability combined with the amazing depower and relaunch would also make it suitable for beginners. Not to mention the price point.

Improvements:
I would add a pump leash between the inflate and deflate valves on the LE. I would change the length of the leaders of the bridle in order to make the red-line bar lines of equal length and that would allow the use of the red line bar on all your kites. This seems a bit more elegant than having a pigtail kit to standardize the red line bar. Maybe add one size bigger, a 15.5 since I am a big guy.

Conclusion: It is a great kite that seems more intuitive to me than the HP or the Waroo. It is a great addition into the Delta market. Needless to say I am selling my HP’s. Any takers?

The 2009 Best Kahoona kite can be summed up in one word, stable. After testing, we found its this kite suiting for beginners, wave-riders, and wake style riders. One of the Best Kahoona’s strongest characteristics is its ability stay in the sky. Beginners will spend less time dealing with re-launching, and more time learning valuable riding skills. Upon crashing in the water, it consistently re-takes flight with ease. The Best Kahoona has been developed with bombproof construction, capable of withstanding harsh crashes. A combination of durable construction and its natural ability to re-launch makes it the great choice for any beginner.
Advanced riders will benefit from its stability in the sky as well. Whether your charging down the line, or hucking technical wake style maneuvers, the Best Kahoona is steadfast. Constant bar pressure and smooth turning (not pivoting), makes this SLE the premier kite for advanced riders looking to progress their riding in the waves or on the flat water. Upon review, the 2009 Best Kahoona proved to be well-constructed kite for distinct kiting disciplines, not just a mediocre all around kite.

2009 Best Kahoona Kite Review
The new Kahoona, from BEST Kiteboarding, is going to be the weapon of choice for any rider looking to improve their skills, progress quickly, have a ton of fun! All with one kite!!!

From a beginner getting your first rides on the water or a wave assassin, the Kahoona is the kite for you! The reason why? The Kahoona is the most versatile kite BEST has ever made, and thus, one of the most dynamic kites ever produced! Whether you’re looking for a kite that is a boosting machine, and wave riding monster or great for everyday wakestyle tricks… the Kahoona has got it all! This is the kite that has got everything you need and everyone talking.


Performance
The Kahoona has solid pull and is one of the most stable kites REAL has ever tested! This allows the kite to sit perfectly in the window while you’re riding down the line smacking the lip of every wave in sight. The stability is also what will lend the kite to perform as a great beginner kite… always where you left it, parking itself in the sky. This stability translates all the way down to the bar where you have a great feel of where the kite is at in the window. Watch your friend land that new trick, or keep on the lookout for the next set of waves… there’s no need to look at the kite because you can feel where it’s at!


New Redline Bar
One of the BEST features of the 2009 Kahoona isn’t on the kite, but on the bar. One 50cm bar is all you need for the four sizes of the Kahoona (Mini, Medium, Big and Mega). The new “Red-line Bar” has the best safety feature that every rider is looking for… 100% depower on command. Not only does the Red-line Bar give you 100% depower that’s easily accessible below the bar, but also allows the kite to be easily relaunched within seconds of activating the safety. This means for launching, landing and riding, you can always have your leash attached to the same safety below the bar! Whether you’re attempting you’re first unhooked backroll, working on landing a new trick to blind or having a slider session, the kite has 100% depower if you drop the bar (making those crashes a lot less painful!).

The perfect amount of bar pressure, coupled with the kites great stability, allows the kite to perform great for unhooked tricks and throwing down wakestyle moves. The kite gives great POP thanks to the streamlined profile and quad-strut design. Without the added drag of a center strut the kite can jump to the edge of the window as soon as you load and POP. This gives your ralieys more amplitude, makes initiating a backroll easier and gives the rider confidence to throw that next trick with style!


Relaunch
The relaunch on the Kahoona was one of the best kites REAL has ever tested and will prove to be a favorite of our coaches and students for 2009. Due to the swept leading edge and compact bridle, the Kahoona will not stay leading edge down in the water, the kite always wants to roll-over and relaunch… auto-relaunch! Our Team found this to be an exceptional characteristic when taking the kite on a few ocean down-winders.

“The pull and the feel of the kite is great for unhooked wave riding, but the thing that impressed me most is how fast I could get the kite up off the water! Any time I choose to smack the lip, instead of save the kite, I could relaunch the kite within seconds of it hitting the water… exactly what you need to save your session before the next set rolls in! This meant I was able to get more waves and charge harder because I had full confidence in that kite!” -Ryan Evans, REAL Coach and BEST Team rider


BEST Kahoona Wrap Up
The perfect kite for anyone looking to do it all! Beginner through advanced riders will love this kite. With the best safety system on the market, amazing stability and insane relaunch, this kite will be a favorite among all riders! Look out Waroo… the Kahoona’s in town!

REAL has the full selection of the 2009 BEST Kahoona kites in stock and available for immediate shipment to anywhere in the world. Call us toll free at 866-REAL-KITE or International at 252-987-6000.