The Foil Kites are here to stay - Chrono 2 by Ozone
Shocking the world with the ultra-high-aspect race kite, the Chrono early last year, Ozone kiteboarding just followed it up with the Chrono 2, a kite more akin to a paraglider than anything else. The Chrono 2 isn't just for racing though, as evidenced in their new promo clip released this week featuring the Chrono 2 in smaller sizes, freeriding in Spain. Billed as their all round foil kite, the Chrono sits alongside the race orientated R1 from Ozone, with a slightly lower aspect ratio to make it easier to fly.
Hydrofoils are everywhere, they're being shipped in from overseas, ordered through niche manufactures and more commonly, being made in sheds all over Australia; and 90% of them are not for racing! Freeride foils are the 'new thing' in the sport, offering an interesting and extremely challenging new skill for experienced kiteboarders to learn, at a critical time in the sports life cycle. The 15 year mark see's many sports undergo huge changes, when the guys who are getting bored with the sport invent new ways to entertain themselves. The new Chrono, and the hydrofoil that warranted it's invention, are just such things.
With high aspect ratios come many flying traits, the most exciting for us kiteboarders is the ability to go fast, in light wind, with huge boosting potential. Just look at these things, they're like paragliders! Gliders fly for hours on end from coastal bluffs around the world, thanks to their high aspect ratios and efficient ram-air design characteristics. Those same features are found on the Ozone Chrono 2! Just check out this thread in the kiteboarding forums to see all the talk about how high these new foils are boosting...
If that doesn't convince you, check out the kiteloops, floaty boosts and silent hydrofoil passes in the new promo clip for the Ozone Chrono 2...
Rye, VIC
