Review Ozone Frenzy 2011

Kite

4 line foil kite designed for snowkiting.

Designer Goals

The Ozone Frenzy and the Ozone Manta are the best know performance kites for snowkiters. Ozone is originally a paragliding brands and therefor they have alot of experience in building twin-skins, or foil kites. This shows in particular in the clip below where Ozone designer Rob Whitthall tells about the changes made in the 2011 Frenzy comapred to the previous model.
We all know that there are significant differences between foils and tube-kites. The reasons that foils are often preferred for snowkiting are:
+ No need to pump (the valves can freeze in cold conditions, making the material rigid)
+ Foils are generally quite stable
+ Easy relaunch
+ Super hangtime (gliding phase)
+ Gradual lift

Tubes kites generally stand out compared to foild in the way they respond. The following points are where tubes perform less than tube kites:
- Foils have larger turning circles
- Less quick reaction speed
- Gradual lift

If you are planning on going into the backcountry make sure to take along a foil, the foils are less prone to failure (no tubes that can go bust) and they are safer and easier to land and launch.

For more information check out the following clips

Kitetest Ozone Frenzy 11M

Who is the kite for?

The Ozone Frenzy is a land kite for snowkiters or mountain boarders.
The size of the kite we tested is slightly larger than the size we usually test on Kitefinder.com, but the 11M we tested is the most common size for mountainboarding.

The manufacturer of the Frenzy, Ozone, has its roots in paragliding. Twinskins or foil kites are their specialty.  A few of the advantages of a foil for snowkiting in the mountains are:

• No tubes that need to be inflated, so no chance of frozen valves.
• Foils are stable
• Easy relaunchability
• Super hangtime (glide phase)
• Easier landing of the kite (necessary for backcountry riding).

There are, however, a few disadvantages compared to tube kites. These are:

• Larger turning circle
• Slower reaction to steering commands
• Less stable frame
• More gradual lift
• Different handling than tube kites.

Before you go riding in the snow we would advise you to try a foil kite first! It takes a bit getting used to, but you will soon see the advantages of these kites. When going backcountry the foils are less fulnerable (more reliability) because they do not have tubes and valves that can fail. Furthermore, the foils are safer to launch and land on steep slopes.

Images of the Frenzy

In the mountains

The characteristics we use to define kites are for a large part relevant for tube kites. However, many of the characteristics are also valid for Foil kites.  Even though you will not run into any waves in the mountains, the characteristics we defined as important for wave riding can also be relevant for using a foil on land.

The first thing that we noticed when we launched the Frenzy is how much this foil kite feels like a tube kite.  Foil kites often require a different steering technique than a tube kite, but a kitesurfer used to tube kites will feel comfortable with the Frenzy straight away.  Pull the bar towards you and you get power, push the bar away and you dump power.  This is what kitesurfers are used and this is what they get with the Frenzy.

Another strong point of the Frenzy is the turning circle. Short turns around the tips, and even if you pull the steering lines more than required the profile will not collaps. This with continuous power in loops makes the Frenzy a kite very suitable to go uphill.

The Frenzy has a good low-end, this is due to the pull on the edge of the wind window.  The depower available allows you to ride the 11M Frenzy in 20+ knot wind conditions without losing control.  And with enough forward speed you can glide downhill with as little as 6Kts wind.  Kite control remains during the glide phase, and some added steering can give you some great double lift.  Because the lift is quite gradual you never get the feeling that you are losing control.

A lot of praise for the Frenzy, but we also have a point where we believe the Frenzy can be improved.  More stability at the edge of the wind window would be very nice.  The great depower of the Frenzy results in this instability. In gusts you have a chance that the Frenzy (as many other foils) collapses. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep up your speed or to keep the kite moving when you are standing still. If the kite does collapse and open again in the power zone the depower allows you to compensate the force by depowering the kite.

Conclusion

Ozone made a foil that reacts fast to steering commands, has small turning circle and a lot of depower.  The power buildup is gradual; this prevents the rider from being surprised by sudden gusts while riding in the mountains.  Even if the Frenzy collapses, the large depower and the gradual buildup of power ensure that you remain in control if the kite suddenly re-opens mid-air. The Ozone Frenzy is a new step forward for Foil kites.
Ozone has accomplished to create a foil kite that shows many of the advantages of a tube kite.