Yeah !!!! I just became a Senior Member ....Whoa!!!

I gotta agree with a lot of your points B. Leighty.
I never read magazines in terms of getting any value out of the reviews either.

I also agree, different areas have different needs from a kite quiver.
Do we EVER get solid 20 in St. Pete for 3 hours straight? NOT!
Also, we get a lot of days in the 13 to 17 knot range, while also getting some really strong NWs commonly going past 30, so we can't really just buy a 12 and say "done". We also have a lot of flat water specialists here, so some aspects of kiting don't apply to some.

I have to disagree with "a kite is a kite is a kite" though. Every kite has different attributes. I am not convinced one kite is better, but they are definitely different.
Especially the larger, light wind kites that we ride a lot.
The variability in performance of the larger kites blows my mind. That's where I personally noticed a lot of improvement with some of last year's kites.

Because we do live somewhere where so many of our days hover around 15, I am hopeful that the light wind kites will keep getting better. If they just stay where they are at I will be happy. :D
Please, don't let them go backwards to 2003. :(

My Current quiver is my 06 12M waroo and a 07 7M roo. I love my roos and would have probabley added a 15M this year. I want to ride more powered up this year, but I was really disappointed how slow the 16M roo is, the 15m is a bit better but not quite there. I'm impressed by the range and power Scott gets from his 15M hyper and since they are next to impossible to find, I'm going to give the new 14M Royal a shot. I hope it will have the magic I'm hoping for. I can't wait to be ripping it at DP at the SW and screaming I'm freaking LITTTTTTT!

Bob

I'm at the mouth of the Cape Fear river, doing a delivery on a 46' Post sport fish. winds are dead ass calm. I'm glad I didn't drag my gear through the airport again.

my 2007 16m torch 3 is on its way :)

12+16 waroos...and a custom board (or 10).

2006 9 & 16 Waroos/ 2006 11m GK Sonic

I am with Scott! Going to ride my 15 meter Hyper Type until that things blows up! Looking at the Ion2 12.5 and Royal 12 also to replace my Ozone 13 one of these days. The Ozone kite is awesome too, but looking to stick with 4 line kites. Have a 9 Atom which I have flown like 3 times and is perfect shape! Love that kite but need a good 25 knots to fly it! LOL

Oh yeah Scott, I was riding my 15 HT a month ago up here in PC. Went for a jump and my bridle snapped mid jump! Thought of you when I got back to the beach in one piece! Kite was fine, just snapped briddle! Replace it and back in business already! :) It's all ready for my Trip to Hawaii next week! WOO HOOO!!!!!!!

12 and 16 Waroos for me
 

And a 2'x4' custom Sasquatch skimboard or my 18" x 52" plywood plank. Sometimes I bring out my 21.5 Cabrinha Blacktip to remind me how good the waroos are. That monster is so slooowwww, I have to turn the bar and then 5 seconds later it responds. But for a steady 9-10 knots, it is great for cruising.

im still gonna be on my 12m ion and hopfuly i can find a nice 07 waroo 7m for those nukin days lol

What do ya guys think about the helix...or the f-one bandit...or the takoon furia....these 08 kites seem pretty cool...I was thinkin about the t8 but now im not so sure...to many damn kites and not enough wind!!!