Gin Marabou2 hybrid foil kite tech talk/comparison to Flysurfer Hybrid and Peaks Kiteboard Foilkites

In this video I go over the design, build, what I like/dislike, and comparison to the Flysurfer Peak5 and Hybrid foilkites.

[@user-cj8uv7xz4o]

Thanks for the detailed review Jason. This post is a little off-topic, but may be helpful to people interested in the Marabou 2....Based on your earlier review of the 8m I bought a 6m and 8m Marabou 2 and just love these kites. I was a bit unsure paying out the money for kites I'd never flown but wow, I am delighted. The reasons they are so good for me is I can use them for twin tipping and foiling. For twin tipping they don't have the float of my Ozone Edge, but I can be out twin tipping on my 8m Marabou when others are twin tipping with their 10 and 12m inflatables. I can still jump, but not as high as with the Edge, but when the wind drops I can foil with the same 8m down to 10 knots (I'm not as proficient as Jason). This has allowed me to replace 4 kites with 2. Less gear to pack and unpack and no pump. I was flying Naish Boxers for foiling but sold them because the Marabou's are so good. In particular the Marabou 2 is very stable in the air. It doesn't dance around in gusty wind or backstall in light winds the way inflatables do. I also sold my much loved 13m Edge because I wasn't using it any more. Like the Peak these kites stay in the air in light winds when all inflatables are falling out of the sky - including the Boxers. They fly like inflatables so easy to use, however the water re-launch takes a bit of practice to understand what to do. After a few goes i worked it out and it is fine and very reliable. For me this is nirvana, a real game changer finally finding a kite for both foiling (which I do 80% of the time) and twin tipping! I have kept my Ozone Edge 11m for those days >20 kts for boosting in the surf. In terms of availability I agree they are hard to get. I live in Australia and had to get the 6m from Europe, but our Aussie supplier Derek had an 8m in stock. Just a comment on the bags.... the outside bag has an external pocket for the bar so you can still leave the bar attached, but not if you wrap the kite around it. By way of comparison to the Flysurfer, a guy who is often out with me has a flysurfer Hybrid and I am always on a size less then him and can hear him coming due to the flutter which the Marabou's don't have. It is quite clear to see them flying at the same time the Hybrid is much fatter both in terms of aspect ratio and thickness when inflated so I figure, together with the flutter, must be less efficient. Each to their own, he if very happy with his Hybrid and I'm stoked with the Marabou's. The next step to improve the foiling experience was to build my own bar. Here's how I built mine...kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqanZIWrqtaMoac Thanks Drew

[@derekandthechannel]

Great review @adventure-logs! RE the bridles I had the same thought when i first saw the bridle, then I realised there is a clever design of that level being smaller diameter, plus also there are more levels, not just A,B,C,Z attachments, all those little lines make more attachments on the kite which gives the single skin part more structure when the lines are tight. I was fully expecting all those lines to tangle and affect performance, but as you noted they ride amazingly well, all those little lines and the battens, the new cloth and all the little features add up an awesome little kite. Thanks for the great review!

[@adventure-logs]

It does ride really well so the design does work great, just looks different from what I'm use to seeing.

[@Freebts007]

Yesssss. Was hoping for this vid. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I already have a couple of the marabou 2 and dig them. I would say they are very well made. Only real complaint is lack of depower when the wind kicks in unexpectedly. Looking forward to getting my hands on a peak 5 next

[@adventure-logs]

Thanks! I find these Gins deal with overpowered situations pretty well, just the loop can get scary sometimes. Really wish I could find a 4m.

[@sauce729]

Just got a 6m marabou! 🎉 . Great video btw. I also order pigtails so I can attach to the flysurfer bar.

[@adventure-logs]

Where did you find the pigtails? First set I got off of ebay but then found them on adventurekiteboarding.com for cheaper.

[@marceldoyon7856]

Great video, thanks !

[@rogerdolphin1819]

Jason, Thanks for your years of great Videos, How do I buy that Hybrid from you?

[@adventure-logs]

Thank you! Best way is reach out to me on my Adventure Logs facebook account and we can work it out.

[@alenskykiteboarding6292]

Really You made excellent review. Really you did. To complete this mission take my advice and go for airwave alma 8, you will see why.

[@markfranklin99]

Tell us why, can you do a review of the Airwave Alma series? It is my understanding that they behave more like an LEI, including that you have to choose a larger size than for a foil kite - is that correct?

[@alenskykiteboarding6292]

@@markfranklin99 no, it is not correct. In range 12 to 27knots comfortably hybrid alma 8, 28+ to 40 i am using 6, for kitefoiling. Best description for alma is superb downwind drift capability even with HA foils going straight down on the waves, always in the air, impossible to submerge it, amazing depower, easy and soft handling. Once i started kitefoiling with these 6 and 8 a year ago, i was really not able to kitefoil with my inflatable kites no more 😅, once you try this almas it is really difficult to go back for any reason, for kitefoiling i am saying.

[@ugge101]

@@alenskykiteboarding6292very strange that you use a 8m² alma "12 to 27knots comfortably hybrid alma 8". I use my peak4 4m² in those conditions. So the alma has only half the power of a peak??

[@adventure-logs]

Thank you, I would love to demo one to see if it fits my riding style. I looked it up and it's an interesting foil with 3 struts fully inflating to the trailing edge. The lower aspect ratio makes me think that they might not be as powerful but I would only be guessing until I got my hands on one. Most definitely unique and now I really want to try one but I haven't even heard of the brand here in the USA. Are there any dealers stateside I could reach out to?

[@alenskykiteboarding6292]

Maybe i will borow you my 6, so you can review it. Some time without 6 i can survive.

[@jongroten5377]

Great review- how you finding the sizing compared to the peak 5's? You rigging bigger or same sizing generally?

[@adventure-logs]

They are pretty much same power per size...the Peak5's might have a very slight edge. Peak5 might have a slightly more powerful loop but the Marabou2 will be slightly better upwind and jump much better.

[@aleshaborisovich]

Thanks for reviewing! Why Peak5 6m is your favourite?

[@adventure-logs]

The Peak5 6m WAS my favorite, it's quickly being replaced by the Marabou2 6m. The Peak5 is extremely agile, powerful for it's size, drifts extremely well, dynamic, and just plain fun. The only thing missing was the ability to relaunch. The Gins do everything the Peak5 does plus relaunch and you can actually jump it. The 6m just is the sweet size that has a huge range and useability.

[@aleshaborisovich]

@@adventure-logs Thanks for sharing this.

[@ugge101]

Thanks, great explanation. You say: Marabou2 fly's more like a peak 5 than a peak 4. What's the diff in riding between peak 4 & 5? (I ride peak 4's, not tested peak5 or hybrid yet)

[@adventure-logs]

Peak5 has a little more power, holds it shape a little better, less flapping, and it a little more dynamic. The hybrid is VERY different than the Peaks.

[@ugge101]

@@adventure-logs Thank you. @ 23:13 you say that the Maribou2 is more like the peak5. So Maribou2 is -like the peak5- a bit better than the peak4. (flying, not relaunching off course)

[@markfranklin99]

Hi mate, great review, thanks! I mostly foil (Triton T1), I have a 5m Airwave Koala and an 8m Gin Spirit, looking for a kite with a sweet spot right in the lower middle, maybe 13 knots. Will the 6m Marabou 2 do it? I really don’t want to buy another 8m kite.

[@adventure-logs]

What size foil and your weight? On longer lines(round 20m) it should be no problem.

[@markfranklin99]

Awesome, thanks for quick reply! I’m 76kg (167 pound?) and use the Triton T1 mono foil from Canada, which has incredibly low stall point, so that should be fine?

[@adventure-logs]

@@markfranklin99 Oh yea, it shouldn't be a problem then. I need to try out the T1, I've heard good things about it.

[@alenskykiteboarding6292]

Airwave alma 10

[@sauce729]

What's the max wind speed you've foiled with on the 6m Marabou? I finally was able to go out an use my new Marabou and I was very very over powered. After looking at a local wind meter, it showed it was around 18kn and was gusting ~30kn. I was riding with kite fully depowered, bar all the way out, and at mock speed. It seems to have less depower than the hybrid, since the hybrid flaps when over powered, and I was expecting that. I need more time on the gin before I can form a real opinion on it. I haven't been kiting or kite foiling for that long. Probably a skill issue on my part.

[@adventure-logs]

I’ve done mid 20s before on the 6m and I’m around 82kgs. I don’t know if the hybrid depowers more or just simply makes less power. Give it a couple sessions, you’ll get it. But 30kts with the 6m while hydro foiling is quite a lot.

[@sauce729]

@@adventure-logs Yea, that's good advice. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm about 77kg for reference on 1300cm mid aspect foil.

[@sauce729]

@@adventure-logs I wish I had something smaller for super strong days. I'm looking into 3.5m hybrid. My other kite is 7.5m hybrid and have had it out in mid 20kn.

[@adventure-logs]

@@sauce729 yea you are lighter than me and that's a pretty big foil for higher winds. Doesn't help the situation.

[@adventure-logs]

@@sauce729 The hybrid doesn't really produce any power which is why you can ride it in higher winds. Bigger kites aren't as fun though for my style. I just found a Marabou2 4m in Sweden that I bought. Should get stateside in a week or two. I'm pretty excited about it.

[@Nash762]

Is Gin still in business? Kites look awesome!

[@adventure-logs]

Man I hope so...I want the V3.

[@christianhuegel1495]

@@adventure-logs NOT happening,........

[@derekandthechannel]

Gin is changing, the old company is stopping but the designer of the Marabou is continuing the Marabou and some of the other kites that he designed. So things will continue, but possibly with a branding change. Definitely no more tube kites or wings in the near future for the new Gin, but the Marabou2 is awesome

[@adventure-logs]

@@derekandthechannel Glad to hear it's continuing! I heard rumors that Gin was mismanaged and that would explain why I can't find a 4m anywhere. Sucks I really want one in that size but hopefully we get a V3 sometime in the future.

[@alenskykiteboarding6292]

No,i would not say it is about power, i would say different, if you like comfortable foiling without bothering with kite power and the kite that is doing for you, and that you are not ocupied with techniqe to manage the kite than this is the kite. For wind range of course manufacturer instructions should be followed, for my weight i choose sizes alma 6 and 8.

[@peteribs5643]

GIN marabou 2 is impossible to relaunch if this kite touch water. did you try a water relaunch with marabou and hybrid ?

[@adventure-logs]

I highly disagree, I think the Marabou2 water relaunches extremely well and I prefer the way it relaunches over the Hybrid. You really can't reverse relaunch the hybrid which I think is a huge benefit of foil kites but the Marabou2 does very easily. Hybrid does one line relaunch easier though due to it's beachball shape.

[@peteribs5643]

@@adventure-logs ????? I did 3 water relaunch with the Marou 2 when the kite is in deep water, I can tell you that this kite is an anvil in the water and impossible to relaunch, if you not agree, please show US a video !!!!! ;-)

[@adventure-logs]

@@peteribs5643 Funny since yesterday I crashed my Marabou2 6m and had no problem whatsoever relaunching. The only time I have difficulties is when I bowtie the wing. Next time I'm out I'll try to record some relaunches but that won't be at least till sometime July. Tomorrow I'm moving to my lakehouse for the summer so I won't be able to get out on the water for a couple weeks.

[@janwrob]

I had Marabou2 12m and did not like it. I don't understand why Gin has such a poorly designed bridle. There is no adjustment like a mixer test on Flysurfer, you cannot replace pulleys without cutting through the bridle lines. The bridle is permanently attached to the kite, so if you want to replace a single line you have to open the kite up, cutting threads or send it for repair. It’s a real pain in the behind. It’s a major screw up in my opinion.

[@adventure-logs]

I agree with the no adjustable bridle, that needs to be upgraded but hell ozone JUST started offering one if you pay more. In my over a decade of owning Flysurfers I've never needed to use the LCLs to replace a bridle line and there's ways of reattaching without getting into the wing. The bridle does need to be cleaned up some higher in the levels. All in all though, it destroys the FS Hybrid in performance and agility and that's what matters most to me.