Ozone Imp Trainer Kite Review

Introduction: The Ozone Imp Trainer is a 3 line evolution of the Imp, Ozones entry level 2 line fixed bridle foil. The Imp Trainer ships on a bar with safety system as standard and comes in 1.5m, 2.5m and 3.5m sizes. The Imp trainer is designed as an extremely safe and durable way to get into powerkiting or kitesurfing. Easy to fly and great for building kite control this 3 line powerkite can also be used for training with a board or buggy on land.

Talk the Talk: The Imp trainer has been on the scene for a couple of years now and only seems to be growing in popularity. Due to the way the kite is packaged no prior knowledge of kiting or knots is required to set up and fly. Everything comes preassembled in the bag with the bar and lines all connect to the canopy. Besides the kite and control gear the kite also comes packaged with a decent instruction manual and some Ozone stickers, and everyone loves stickers! Because the kite comes ready to fly you can be flying in a matter of seconds, simply unwind the lines from the bar and your ready to go, absolutely no fuss or hassle.

Unlike a lot of small trainer kites the Imp comes with a third line attached to a safety system, this makes the kite a lot more versatile in terms of a persons age/weight/flying ability and also wind ranges. Its a real Dr Pepper scenario – What’s the worst that can happen? With the safety system attached to your wrist the answer is not a lot, if the kite is to powered, fatigue kicks in or you trip over you can simply let go of the bar and the third line stalls the kite back to the ground, we tried this over and over again with the kite at different levels of power and different positioning in the wind window to the same effect every time, the system is flawless. Even flying the Imp inland we found it to be extremely stable, it felt smooth and confidence inspiring to fly no matter where abouts it sat in the sky. Hopefully as your start learning to fly in lighter winds, and with the stability the safety system is not something you will be using to often.

One of the days we tested the 2.5m it was windy enough to landboard with (11 1/2 stone), although the kite is fast on the bar it is not twitchy or uncontrollable which means you can spend more time thinking about whats on your feet and what to do with the board than flying the kite itself. Having a kite to fast for beginners can be a real hindrance whilst learning the basics so Ozone have got it just right in this department. Although the kite is not as good performance as a kite such as the Flow in terms of full on traction and upwind ability the Trainer is cheaper, comes in smaller sizes and is perfectly adequate for learning the basics with – which is its intended purpose. Ozone use the same quality of canopy materials and bridle on all of their kites so you never sacrifice quality for price.

Kites such as the Imp Trainer really bring the family element back to kiting, whether you are 6 or 60 you will always have fun with this kite, even if it lives tucked away in the car boot for days at the park or family beach holidays.

Overview: The Ozone Imp Trainer is a fantastic choice for anyone and everyone to start off in the kiting world, regardless if  you have any intentions of ever touching a board or buggy every family should own at least one.

Liked: The overwhelming ease of use for beginners, stern Ozone build quality and the big grin factor from flying it.

Would Change: A ground stake is the only piece of hardware missing from the package and wind is not guaranteed with purchase.

Size on test: Ozone Imp Kitesurf Trainer 2.5m

Kite provided by Ozone Kites & ATBShop.co.uk