The all new GTS is available for demo.  Stock coming soon!

Core GTS

Well it had to happen, the faithful ofld GT has been finally superceded by the impressive GTS.  Core wisely only release one kite per season and have two models which allows them to run a 2 year duty cycle for each model.  This is great because they have time to iron out any niggly bugs or issues.  Every model is tested to death before release which puts them in a class of their own in this regard without the pressure to produce several models each year like most other manufacturers.

The GTS is a worthy replacement to the GT.  It looks amazing with simple graphics and a bit less yellow and dacron in the canopy than the GT.  It is physically lighter, and has the same bridle setup as the XR with ultimate tuneability.

The bar pressure is light and the kite is responsive and quick when setup on light settings and wave steering.  Three settings on bar pressure and also three settings on steering responsiveness.

On initial tests (Brief and in poor conditions), The kite displayed amazing stability, and that same power as the GT but in a much more refined and smoother power delivery.  Depower feels similar and power similar to the GT.  The GTS is a more refined kite which lends itself to much more of a cross over of different riding styles with it's versatility of settings.

The new bag is one of the best in the industry, well made, spacious and simple.  The bar is the same ESP bar as delivered with GT and XR making it very useable with other models so you can mix and match models without Bar outlay. 

I love it!  Another outstanding Core Kite! Ask us for a demo ride.

Core GT

Core Combat GT

The power of the Core GT is amazing and is one of the most powerful kites I have personally flown.  In general we suggest a kite size smaller than what you have been used to, to account for the additional power of these kites.  The power is what I refer to as static power ie, you pull in on the bar and the power is right there, no need to fly the kite faster to achieve the dynamic power offered in some other kites.  To work out if this is for you, give is a call as different kites will suit different styles of riding.  Usually beginners will love the ability to just "pull on power" when needed and expert riders will appreciate the ability to crank power by simply pulling in when needed too but can still also "work the kite" for more apparent power easily if needed.

The Stability of the GT is excellent and provides a stable power source which allows you to "feel" where the kite is and will stay in that position until you decide to move it.  This is a great feature for beginners as it allows you to concentrate on other things whilst having the peace of mind knowing the kite will do what you want and not something unexpected.  You can also desensitize the steering by changing the bridle attach points and also using the inner bar leader line attach points.

The turning ability of the Core GT is fast but can be slowed by changing the bar pressure settings on the kite and also width of the bar (both take seconds).  With weight required to turn the kite it only turns when you want it to and if needed it will turn VERY quickly to execute tight powered turns which equates to lots of fun for the advanced riders.  Plenty of power in the turns and fantastic for looping and surf riding.  Not as hard core s a true "C" kite, but pulls more than most hybrid/SLE's in loops making it great fun. 

The build quality of the kite is excellent.  Robust construction with plenty of bomb proof Dacron for balance and durability make the kite a little heavier than some, but there is no doubting the strength of the kite and the one pump inflation system is simple and effective.  The unique colouring of the kite makes it stand out at the beach and is easy to spot in a crowd.  Hard to beat red/yellow/white/black in any case.

The bar system is quite unique in that the kite utilizes a "mini 5th Line" safety system.  This means the bar starts off with three lines and converts to four but has a safety system that acts the same as a 5th line without the added lines.  A spinning chicken loop and variable length option on the bar makes it the bar to suit all sizes and is great for safety.  The bar also has a "mini loop" for hooking in to full power and taking both hands from the bar as in old school freestyle moves.

The kite can be purchased seperate to the bar so if you buy two kites you only need to buy one bar saving $500 per additional kite.  The bar is also interchangeable with the new Core Riot XR so if you wish to add an XR to your quiver, no probs, another $500 saved!

Recommendation Level of Experience:  Good for beginner thru to advanced

Recommended Conditions/Styles:   Good for freestyle, freedride and surf.

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Core 2009/10 GT - Rider Review

Personally I've had the most fun on this kite this last year. The kite may not have the polish of the North gear, nor the light weight of the Airush stuff, but this is a kite worth a ride and stacks up against most others in terms of value for money and raw performance.  If the GT were a car, it would be a '68 Shelby Mustang or a Dodge Viper.  It has so much raw performance and requires a bit of muscle to throw it around but it rewards in a hell of a fun ride! 

Boosting is crazy and easy, just send it and hang on to your lunch, it's a fast ride up, a nice hangtime and then gentle drop so long as you get the timing right.  One of my favourite things is carving with as much speed and power as possible and the GT just downturns so fast and redirects in the opposite direction so quickly that the power needs to be eased midway through the turn but then at the end of the turn it's just pull in on the bar and accellerate again.  I love that!

Looping the kite is excellent, not as hard core as some freestyle kites, but enough to scare you in a good breeze and is definately wilder than the SLE brigade.

I and most of my customers who own one will tell you that it is a kite that grows on you rapidly the more you fly it.  If you really want to boost, try riding one in the upper end of their phenomenal wind range and sending it hard .

I love it!

CORE ESP BAR

The ESP Bar has a multitude of great features and above all else is simple and Effective.  

Spinning Chickenloop - No leash tangles. back roll 'til your hearts content.

Safety release - Simple to load and easy to operate with either hand

Changeable bar line width - Faster or slower  turning

Simple and effective depower strap above the bar.

100% depower when safety released - easy self land and super safe

Core ESP Bar

CORE RIOT XR

Core Riot XR

The improvements come from improved aerodynamic profile and stability.  Core decided to stay with a centre strut after testing many prototypes and finding the centre strut "just works better".  

The power of the kite is a little less than the Core GT by a few knots which brings it in line with most other brands kites in terms of low wind power.  The upper end or strong wind power is truly impressive being far higher than most other kites I have ridden.  Not just being able to "hold it down" in strong wind, but you can truly throw it around and still have fun with it in strong, really powered conditions.  Fantastic!

Relaunch is super easy with the swept back trailing edge similar to the Delta shape.  Just turn the bar and the kite relaunches easily and quickly, no hassle.  Can't beat Delta style relaunch!

Light wind performance has been taxed a little compared to the GT but has been repaid in the upper end wind range and the quality of all Core kites goes without saying.  The finest quality materials are used in the canopy and heavy duty lines (360kg breaking strain) make sure you get the best value for money.  The Riot XR uses the same bar as the GT so interchange between models is possible so you don't need a bar for every kite.  This translates directly into a cost saving of $500 per kite!

This truly is a kite for everyone.

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Core 2010 Riot XR - Rider Review

Finally got some decent wind for a review.  Conditions were SSW 20-25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots.  Choppy water.  Good fun!

To start off with, the bag is same as GT's, just a different colour (Black/white instead of Black/yellow)  The bag is ample but not mind blowing, but then again, it's just a bag right, you don't take it out on the town clubbing?.  The new bar has some tiny mods but pretty much the same.  Chicken finger is longer, safety leash attach ring is new.  Thats it for the bag and bar/lines.  No need to alter simple, effective and  quality.

There are a few refinements on the XR which aren't on the GT.  The one pump system is 90 degrees from the struts and leading edge which keeps the transfer tubes tucked away in the corners out of the way (totally unobtrusive) and are a more solid looking piece.  There is two little velcro's on the trailing edge end of the centre strut for keeping the bridles from hanging down.  This is genius and I can't believe no one else has done this, so simple, so cool!  Bridles are a bit longer. (perhaps reason for velcros?). 

The build quality is excellent, just like the GT, bomb proof!  Solid construction, a very tough kite and beautifully stitched and assembled.  The main difference to the GT is, apart from the slightly higher aspect canopy, the tuning knots and adjustments.  There are three points on the leading edge which adjust bar pressure and take seconds to change, and three on the wing tips which change steering responsiveness.  You can mix and match any setting and the kite flies beautifully although different determined by your choice of settings.  The beauty of it is in the ease of mods select the desired bar pressure and select the steering responsiveness.  I tried 5 different combinations of settings and it changes the kite from more freestyle to more wav/freeride.  Plug and play and anyone could change their kite settings and notice the changes without making the kite unstable or hard to fly.  I like lightest bar pressure and fastest turning so I set it up for me

As soon as you throw the kite up, it feels similar to the GT, but with less bar pressure and more responsive steering.  The turning speed feels same as the GT, maybe a tiny bit slower but only just noticeable if at all.  So for me, this was an instant hit, a fast kite with lighter bar and more response.  Tick!

When riding, the kite is stable and easy but feels like it needs just a little more bar throw to reach full depower when compared to the GT (Keep in mind today was VERY gusty so may be nothing).  There seemed to be a little less bottom end, maybe by a few knots against the 10.5 GT but there was a very noticeable top end improvement.  At around 2pm, a huge squall came through and I jumped back on the XR in winds of 30 knots and I dialed in about 3 inches of trim and was absolutely comfortable and didn't feel overpowered in the slightest.  I would have been panicking amid teabagging on the 10.5 GT.  I reckon it would be no problem to fly the 10m XR comfortably in 30-35 knots and yet it only seemed to give away a little in bottom end.  Pretty impressive!

Boosting was as easy as the GT but less aggressive on takeoff.  I got some very high jumps on a 10m which rarely happens, now I can't wait to ride the smaller ones in real wind!  The jumps have smooth glide, great hangtime and are pretty easy to land.  I really liked the ride and thought it was a great kite, the more you ride it, the more differences you notice to the GT.  It is VERY similar, but more refined so you don't need to be as strong to throw it around.  I'd recommend this kite to anyone looking for a fun responsive enjoyable kite, it just is more polished.  GT is still the agro kite for guys wanting grunt and aggressive power and turning.  The XR coud be a nice ride for the ladies as well as the gents.  Excellent, well worth the wait, and for the price, good stuff!

The GT still has it's place as the mad mans kite, but the XR will certainly be more widely received as a great all rounder.  Maybe a surf test required now.  Hmmmmm ....   24/09/09