Ozone Zephyr V8 Ultra-X 17m Lightwind Kitesurf Kite

Ozone Zephyr V8 Ultra-X Kitesurfing Kite is the latest evolution of the Zephyr which has always been a firm favourite of ATBShop and our team as always travelling a couple of hours to kitesurf we need and insurance policy in the van!  The Ozone Zephyr delivers this and more as some of the most fun sessions we remember were under Zephyrs.  The size of the kite is sometimes worrying for some customers but once you have flown one then it all makes sense.  The Zephyr can't help but put a smile on your face and turns that marginal kiting day into a fun day on the water.  The Zephyr is very manageable even for relative beginners who have not been long out of lessons as it is still relatively steady through the sky and pulls like a train so is always there to catch you when popping over a wave or the rotation that just went a bit wrong.  

So what is new with the Zephyr V8 and what is this Ultra-X?

Well this is pretty much the first time the Zephyr has had a compete redesign with new continuous curve leading edge and Ultra-X lightweight materials making the kite 17% lighter than before. So basically it still rides like a Zephyr should but smoother, more responsive and even bigger wind range than ever before. If you have an older Zephyr that is getting tired then there has never been a better time to upgrade it!

The Zephyr is the lightwind kite that all other manufacturers compare to as it was the first lightwind specific LEI.  The bigger Ozone Edges have an advantage on pure racing performance but nothing beats the fun playful and forgiving handing of the Ozone Zephyr that has built it's reputation over the past years.

This makes it smoother in the power and more engaging in the kiteloops. Yes the zephyr is a 17m that does loop! It really does fly like some other brands 12-13m kites but with the grunt for lightwinds. The new Ultra-X Materials along with super lightweight bladders also keep the overall weight down so it stays in the sky super easy. If you haven't flown a zephyr then you need to try and to get one as it's just required in the kite quiver as far as we are concerned.  We have tested and flown many light wind kites and the Zephyr is the one all are compared to. It is the most fun light wind inflatable kitesurfing kite  we have ridden.  Check out the video below for the turning speed and what is possible on a Zephyr to make an awesome day!

We have long been a favourite of the Zephyr and the new V8 dropped in store we just had to try it. So we packed the van with the V7 and the V8 assuming we would get some use. We were pleasantly surprised to see a improvement on the water with a kite we were always happy with! We have been waiting for a refresh on the Zephyr for a few years. It has always been the shops favorite big LEI for intermediate riders against the competition and it has seen so good big improvements in previous versions. The kite has taken some design modifications with change to planform and profile. The kite flys faster through the window, but also turns faster and feels lighter than the previous model for such a big kite it is still very agile. Relaunch is still a doddle, even when the wind is light you can still easily pull the Zephyr off the water. The Zephyr is great fun for any ability of rider, despite its size it can be a gentle cruiser or a freestyle machine. In around 15 knots the Zephyr is boosting well, blasting upwind and great for learning new tricks. Just like the older models the kite gets going in lightwinds, but doesn't top out in a hurry. At 12 stone I can comfortably hold the Zephyr in around 20mph whilst heavier riders could almost jump straight from the 17m Zephyr onto a much smaller kite in their quiver. We have been using a favourite demo quiver of 17m Zephyr, 12m Enduro and 9m Enduro to cover a huge windrange.

Ultra-X Materials:

To squeeze extra performance from a kite in aerodynamically demanding light wind conditions, we didn’t just tweak an already evolved, smooth handling design. We first stripped things back to refine the entire airframe. The Zephyr V8 Ultra-X now features more shaping detail that contributes to the cleaner overall sail profile.

The introduction of ‘Ultra-X’ lightweight materials has seen this powerful 17m kite experience a 17% weight reduction, which is crucial to its undoubtedly more sporty handling.

The V8 now delivers more forward drive and faster response in even lighter winds, while also offering more top end range comfort too, making it a seriously useful addition to your quiver.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Anyone who wants to get out on the water more!

The combined advantages of being both lighter in weight and having a cleaner, more taut canopy across its entire profile delivers a sportier and more dynamic handling feel. The V8 flying characteristics are significantly improved throughout.

CONTINUOUS CURVE IN THE LEADING EDGE WITH TRANSVERSAL SHAPING

The aerodynamic shaping upgrades in the Zephyr V8 Ultra-X have already proven to be performance enhancing design features in other kites in the Ozone range.

As featured on the Enduro V4 and Alpha V2, our Continuous Curve Leading Edge construction ensures that, instead of trying to make a curve by joining straight segments with angled joints, each segment of the Zephyr V8 Ultra-X’s leading edge is now curved to form a perfectly smooth arc from tip-to-tip.

Working in harmony with the Continuous Curve Leading Edge, Transversal shaping has also been added and is a fundamental part of the elevated performance found in the Enduro V4, Alpha V2, Reo V7 and Edge V12 kites.

These latest design features reduce parasitic drag and create a cleaner surface at the most important area of the airfoil, guaranteeing less turbulent airflow across the canopy, improving the lift to drag ratio and overall performance.

RIP IN THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Whether you want to pull into glassy waves in super marginal conditions, enjoy impressive boost with extended, floaty hangtime to help learn new tricks, or simply enjoy the thrill of blasting across any open waters, the Zephyr V8 Ultra-X kicks to the curb any remaining heritage of large, light wind kites feeling overly grunty and heavy.

Delivering the on-demand power of a 17m kite with the responsive handling of a 13m, you’ll be impressed by how little physical force is needed to steer the kite through turns whether you’re flying the V8 at either its impressive bottom or top end range.

 The Ultra-X material placements are once again a fundamental reason why the V8 now feels so alive, even at the extreme edges of the wind window where many of this kite’s competitors will start to stall.

The Zephyr V8 Ultra-X drives forward all the time and has less tendency to backstall in really light winds. Rather than relying on pure, brutal grunt, you can use the increased speed and response of the kite to create power at its low end.

Once you’re up and planing on your board, the V8 will keep accelerating forward with less lateral pull, allowing you to hold on far more comfortably if the wind picks up, without disturbing your enjoyment of the session.

ULTRA-X MATERIALS

In collaboration with colleagues in the dedicated prototyping department of Ozone’s own factory, our design team embarked on an intense material development and testing programme spanning more than three years.

The use of light weight performance materials has helped deliver improved drift, faster reactiveness / turning speed and more drive through the window. Despite being around 17% lighter than the V7, all materials used in the Zephyr V8 Ultra-X are proven to deliver integral strength, too. Please note that these Ultra-X materials are structurally very strong, but less abrasion resistant, so we advise beginners who will have a tendency to be rougher with their kite to consider instead our large Catalyst models for learning the sport in light winds.

LIGHTER WEIGHT PERFORMANCE DACRON

The newly integrated 125g performance dacron material on the leading edge and struts is not only 20% lighter, but is also more rigid, guaranteeing a longer lasting shape and a tighter canopy. The careful implementation helped our design team deliver the more responsive handling and aerodynamic performance gains they wanted to reach.

LIGHTER WEIGHT CANOPY

Utilising the weight saving properties of the latest 46g double ripstop Teijin cloth (17% lighter than a 55g standard triple ripstop) further contributes to the increased drift performance in particular. The performance coating ensures high levels of strength and durability at a reduced weight.

REDUCED DIAMETER BRIDLES

Ensuring every inch of the new Zephyr is as performance oriented as possible, the new bridles have also been reduced in diameter and are made of an abrasion-resistant sheathed Dyneema line material.

Every millimetre of potential drag savings count when it comes to finding the extremes of accessible lightwind performance. You can rely on our team to have poured over every square inch of the new Zephyr V8 Ultra-X to ensure it’s tuned to get you riding sooner and for longer with less of the handling complications in flight that are often associated with light wind riding.

WHAT YOU FEEL: 

• More responsive kite with more stability, especially in marginal conditions
• Lighter handling and bar pressure
• Faster airspeed and turning. This 17m feels more like a 13m kite
• More forward drive, less tendency to back stall
• Smaller packing volume
• Better drift and stability over head

WHY YOU FEEL IT:

• Overall, the V8 17m is 17% lighter than the V7
• Continuous curved leading edge
• Transversal shaping
• Ultra-X lightweight, performance materials
• Reduced bridle line diameter

Ozone Zephyr V8 Ultra-X Features

• Factory Ownership Advantage – Ozone uniquely owns its own factory where all kites, wings, boards, hydrofoils, paragliders, speed wings and accessories are made. Guaranteeing hand checked quality control and the finest materials at every step, there are also excellent working conditions for all 1000 employees.
• Designed with OzCAD – The future is now. All Ozone kite and wings are designed with our own highly advanced custom built CAD software that we control and modify with each new product design. Allowing for specifically tailored technical developments, our designers can maximise performance while also minimising waste. 
• Teijin TechnoForce Double Ripstop Lightweight canopy – Teijin is the world’s leading supplier of technical performance materials for marine sports, setting the benchmark in quality with proven superiority in dynamic strength and durability.
• Performance Dacron – Lighter and Stiffer – The leading edge and struts are made from a 125g performance Dacron that’s 20% lighter than conventional Dacron. The reduction in weight translates to true performance advantages. The dacron is also stiffer to provide a more crisp, instant response and feeling from the kite.
• 4-line Pulley-less System – NO pulleys, NO problems. We design all our inflatable kites without pulleys, to inherit the unique Ozone feeling and performance across our range.
• High Performance Bridle Lines – High performance sheathed Dyneema bridle lines offer a vast reduction in parasitic drag and reduced weight.
• Continuous Curve Leading Edge and Transverse Sail Shaping – Each Leading Edge segment is curved to form a perfect smooth arc from tip to tip as opposed to straight segments with angled joints. Transverse Sail Shaping perfectly matches the Continuous Curve Leading Edge. These latest design features reduce parasitic drag and create a cleaner surface at the most important area of the airfoil. The result is less turbulent airflow, which positively affects the lift to drag ratio increasing overall performance.
• Internal reinforcements – What’s on the inside counts too – internal reinforcements for improved strength and durability; such as a Double layered Dacron + Insignia taped Leading Edge closing seam with high strength threads.
• Overlap Flat Seams – Overlap flat seam construction improves sail control resulting in an overall cleaner canopy.
• Direct Connect Struts – Our Direct Connect construction method improves load distribution between the Leading Edge, Struts and Canopy. Struts are connected directly to the Leading Edge with internal and external reinforcements. This unique construction method ensures clean profiles are maintained with the optimum canopy tension.
• Load Distribution Panels – Dacron reinforcements are used on all loaded areas for enhanced load distribution. This means all loads are spread evenly into the sail ensuring the kite flies and performs at its best.
• Reinforced Leading Edge and Struts – The Leading Edge and Struts are reinforced in high stress areas to ensure the kite canopy remains in shape and performs at its best.
• Reinforced Trailing Edge – Trailing Edge reinforcement with an internal lightweight Dyneema line reduces canopy wear and helps to maintain optimum Trailing Edge tension as designed.
• Low profile aerodynamic Scuff Pads – Leading Edge bumpers are often large and unnecessary cosmetic items. At Ozone we build our kites and wings for performance and durability using the best materials & components available. Any areas requiring scuff protection we use a lightweight durable material with superior abrasion resistance, while keeping a low profile in order to reduce drag and maintain performance.
• Unique bladder construction – Our bladders are constructed in-house with advanced custom built welding machines. Double layered sections are applied to any potential wear areas.
• Anti-Snag Line Deflectors – The Anti-Snag line deflectors prevent bridles and lines from tangling around the wing tip. Safety is increased when launching with a partner and water re-launch is made easier.
• Fast Flow One Pump Inflation System – The Fast Flow One-Pump Inflation System makes set up and packing quick and easy. It features single point inflation/deflation and a high air flow rate between the Struts and Leading Edge, with clips to seal the hoses to prevent unwanted air flow in case of damage.
• Anti Flat Soft Battens – Soft Battens strategically positioned along the Trailing Edge provide canopy support and reduce flutter, enhancing kite feedback to the rider and also reducing canopy material wear.
• Back-line trimming options – Customise your handling and bar pressure with the back line bridle attachments. Closer to the Leading Edge for slower turn speed and more bar pressure, or closer to the Trailing Edge for faster turn speed and less bar pressure.
• Fool proof line connectors – Fool proof line connectors prevent incorrect rigging of the flying lines to the kite.
• Water Kite Technical Bag –
  • Technical Bag with loads of space
  • Internal stash pocket
  • External control system pocket
  • Board straps
  • Pump holder
  • Adjustable shoulder straps
  • Back panel foam padding provides extra comfort

Bar Size

Bar sold separately. We recommend the Contact Water Control System with 27m lines.

Wind Range

Based on 80kg average rider

Package Contents

Kite Only – Kite, Bag, Repair pack