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Review of the North 9m Rhino 05 w/ 5th element
In the second month of the year two-thousand and five….
By Dr. Winthrop Whittemore
The sea was angry that day my friends… 20 to 30 mph winds had turned Miami Beach into a windblown desert completely
free of tourists and other beach going civilians. But alas, the tumultuous atmosphere would prove a suitable testing ground
for my new marine wing. I relieved the sack of it’s kite and new 5th element bar. Setting up the bar was relatively easy. Just
attach the lines as usual then, run the fifth line to the front of the kite. After donning my harness I gave the signal to the nearest
rigging boy and gave the signal to lift my kite to the wind. When the young lad released the kite, I immediately noticed a
lightness on the bar making the kite very easy and quick to turn. Just from my position on the beach I could tell the kite had a
good bit of de power… I grabbed my Hana 120 and hopped to the water for a bit of testing. My first impressions were that the
kite was very fast through the window and generated a fair amount of pull. Rhino’s in general do not have a lot of low end
grunt but generate power by speeding through the window. This kite was exceptionally fast, I was able to make it dart about
the sky with minor inputs to the bar. If you are one of those chaps who’s elbows become fatigued after many hours of riding
you will enjoy this rig a great deal.
In the second month of the year two-thousand and five….
By Dr. Winthrop Whittemore
The sea was angry that day my friends… 20 to 30 mph winds had turned Miami Beach into a windblown desert completely
free of tourists and other beach going civilians. But alas, the tumultuous atmosphere would prove a suitable testing ground
for my new marine wing. I relieved the sack of it’s kite and new 5th element bar. Setting up the bar was relatively easy. Just
attach the lines as usual then, run the fifth line to the front of the kite. After donning my harness I gave the signal to the nearest
rigging boy and gave the signal to lift my kite to the wind. When the young lad released the kite, I immediately noticed a
lightness on the bar making the kite very easy and quick to turn. Just from my position on the beach I could tell the kite had a
good bit of de power… I grabbed my Hana 120 and hopped to the water for a bit of testing. My first impressions were that the
kite was very fast through the window and generated a fair amount of pull. Rhino’s in general do not have a lot of low end
grunt but generate power by speeding through the window. This kite was exceptionally fast, I was able to make it dart about
the sky with minor inputs to the bar. If you are one of those chaps who’s elbows become fatigued after many hours of riding
you will enjoy this rig a great deal.
The Rhino bar has a rather unusual system of locking the bar for power. Instead of a trim loop, a small wire is employed at the
bottom of the bar. At the top of the chicken loop there is a small hook that grabs this wire. This simple yet effective contraption
works well and allows you to lock in the power at will, but I digress. I shall return to my tale of nautical adventure. After riding to
the north and to the south for some time I decided to take part in some aerial trickery. For any manner of unhooked maneuvers,
one needs to be aware of where the hands are placed on the bar before liftoff. With my wing at 45degrees vertical, a quick turn of
the board launched my frame into the classic S-Bend position. Upon my decent glide I noticed that controlling the kite with one
hand was possible as it was so easy to turn. This tendency can work against you if you are not careful. A careless roll to revert
brought the kite full circle, looping in silent fury and giving by arm a frightful jolt and thus, ripping the bar from my hands. “Great
Neptune's Ghost!” I swore and began paddling through the heaving seas and back to shore. As fate would have it, a rigging boy
had secured my kite and had it waiting for me on shore when I returned from my swim. Despite receiving a good thrashing in the
surf, the kite was no worse for the wear. The stitching is solid throughout and the load points are triple stitched in most places.
After a speedy re-rig I was back out cutting through the seas like a mighty clipper under full sail. Two of my comrades had joined
me for a bit of riding, after a quick discussion we decided to speed to the north to seek out the shoals of 91st street. Midway
through our journey an ominous black cloud approached from the east. At this point most sensible water men would return to
harbor and weather the storm in safety, alas it was not to be. Caught up in the enjoyment of our riding we pressed on and soon
the dark heavy skies were upon us. A fierce rain began pelting us from a horizontal angle. The winds increased to gale force
overpowering two of my comrades and sent them downwind. While I was powered the 9 meter held it’s own and actually de
powered quite well. Despite what I would guess were 35 knot winds, I was able to hold an edge and the kite retained it’s stability
through the gusts. During one of these gusts I attempted a high sent jump. I locked into the trim hook and sent the kite to the
one o’clock position. Within seconds I was high above the raging sea. I continued to float for some time at altitude, indeed I was
able to relax for a moment and take in the view. My comrades below and the land mass to the east. After many seconds I began
to wonder if I would ever return to earth but alas, gravity enforced it’s cosmic law and began to draw me down in a gradual
descent. As this document is intended to review the merits of the equipment I will say this; The Rhino 9m is really the best small
kite I’ve ridden in five years of riding. It turns very quickly and the bar feel is sublime. Rigged with the 5th element in place it
retains massive de-power. It is a fine marine wing and one any experienced waterman would enjoy a great deal… And so I end
my tale. I plan on acquiring a larger kite perhaps a 16M. When the transaction and testing is complete I shall relate my
experiences to you all. Thank you and good day.
Dr. Winthrop Whittemore
bottom of the bar. At the top of the chicken loop there is a small hook that grabs this wire. This simple yet effective contraption
works well and allows you to lock in the power at will, but I digress. I shall return to my tale of nautical adventure. After riding to
the north and to the south for some time I decided to take part in some aerial trickery. For any manner of unhooked maneuvers,
one needs to be aware of where the hands are placed on the bar before liftoff. With my wing at 45degrees vertical, a quick turn of
the board launched my frame into the classic S-Bend position. Upon my decent glide I noticed that controlling the kite with one
hand was possible as it was so easy to turn. This tendency can work against you if you are not careful. A careless roll to revert
brought the kite full circle, looping in silent fury and giving by arm a frightful jolt and thus, ripping the bar from my hands. “Great
Neptune's Ghost!” I swore and began paddling through the heaving seas and back to shore. As fate would have it, a rigging boy
had secured my kite and had it waiting for me on shore when I returned from my swim. Despite receiving a good thrashing in the
surf, the kite was no worse for the wear. The stitching is solid throughout and the load points are triple stitched in most places.
After a speedy re-rig I was back out cutting through the seas like a mighty clipper under full sail. Two of my comrades had joined
me for a bit of riding, after a quick discussion we decided to speed to the north to seek out the shoals of 91st street. Midway
through our journey an ominous black cloud approached from the east. At this point most sensible water men would return to
harbor and weather the storm in safety, alas it was not to be. Caught up in the enjoyment of our riding we pressed on and soon
the dark heavy skies were upon us. A fierce rain began pelting us from a horizontal angle. The winds increased to gale force
overpowering two of my comrades and sent them downwind. While I was powered the 9 meter held it’s own and actually de
powered quite well. Despite what I would guess were 35 knot winds, I was able to hold an edge and the kite retained it’s stability
through the gusts. During one of these gusts I attempted a high sent jump. I locked into the trim hook and sent the kite to the
one o’clock position. Within seconds I was high above the raging sea. I continued to float for some time at altitude, indeed I was
able to relax for a moment and take in the view. My comrades below and the land mass to the east. After many seconds I began
to wonder if I would ever return to earth but alas, gravity enforced it’s cosmic law and began to draw me down in a gradual
descent. As this document is intended to review the merits of the equipment I will say this; The Rhino 9m is really the best small
kite I’ve ridden in five years of riding. It turns very quickly and the bar feel is sublime. Rigged with the 5th element in place it
retains massive de-power. It is a fine marine wing and one any experienced waterman would enjoy a great deal… And so I end
my tale. I plan on acquiring a larger kite perhaps a 16M. When the transaction and testing is complete I shall relate my
experiences to you all. Thank you and good day.
Dr. Winthrop Whittemore
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