Ozone Explore V3

Ozone Explore V3

The Explore is Ozone's single skin snowkite. These are the go to kite for almost any snowkite adventure. They work great for beginners, and are incredibly capable in the hands of more advanced riders. They deliver loads of power for their size due to the single skin design. They pack down really small making it easy to add into your pack, or stash when you want to freeride back down. The stability and the safety system complete the package! The V3 has made some key improvements in terms of stability by adjusting the bridle and its positioning on the kite. Extra leading edge supports also help improve performance and stability.

From Ozone:

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS & WHATS NEW?

The Explore V3 has the same cell count, planform and aspect-ratio as the V2, yet through careful refinements, the design team have managed to:

1. Further reduce drag

2. Deliver increased control

3. Improve overall stability

• Improved upwind performance: The addition of full-length battens helps reduce drag, making the kite perform better when flying upwind in stronger conditions.
• Enhanced stability and smoother power control: Adjustments to the bridle layout,
• Better canopy tension and control: A more accurate arc and optimised bridle layout result in improved canopy tension, leading to better overall control and efficiency.
• Cleaner trailing edge: ‘Shrink’ brake tabs reduce drag and create a smoother, cleaner trailing edge, improving overall aerodynamics.

FEEL PURE FREEDOM

As a dedicated backcountry tourer himself, Ozone designer, Stu Yarrow, focused on further optimising the Explore’s accessible handling and practical ease to ensure sessions on the snow are hassle free.

Based in the snowkite wonderland of Norway, testing opportunities are endless.

 

The Explore V3’s inherent safety, tiny pack size and lightweight versatility really shine, but this is also a very capable kite and can easily get you up and back down steep hills with ease. 

Downwinders are really fun here. We take the train upwind and then ride back over the hills, knowing we can cope with any situation. There’s nothing better.

 - EXPLORE V3 DESIGNER, STU YARROW

GO SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS WITH CONFIDENCE

The amount of depower that a single surface kite offers, and the speed that it’s applied, is unparalleled, especially in the Explore V3, which is tuned for the ultimate in self-reliance.

The balance in design was to deliver as much flying performance as possible while ensuring the near-instant depower feels as clean and smooth as possible.

The Explore V3’s optimised bridle layout and tab positions, as well as the new, longer plastic ribs, help the kite maintain a more forward and efficient flying position.

The unrivalled depower and huge sense of security will encourage you to go deeper into the backcountry. Adding to your confidence is the Explore V3’s crash-resistant build, super easy self landing / launching ability and the incredibly small size it packs down to.

WHAT YOU FEEL 

 

The single surface Explore V3 makes snowkiting a real possibility for everyone. 

Thanks to the lightweight materials and design, even in extremely light winds the kite feels incredibly stable overhead. The kite remains solid and won’t collapse, regardless of the force of the gusts, and no matter where the kite is in the window, as soon as you push the bar away, the power dies.

 

The Explore V3 is the kite I choose to teach my clients with and I’m 100% confident in it.

 - JOHANN CIVEL, OZONE TEAM RIDER, SNOWKITE GUIDE AND COACH

ADVENTUROUS

The Explore V3 is powerful in any size. Take advantage of the ultra smooth and constant pull and then depower the kite instantly, wherever it is in the window.

Self-landing is at its easiest with the Explore V3, while its compact and lightweight characteristics, along with its crash-resistant build will encourage you to venture further without fear of complication.

CAPABLE

Although massively accessible, the Explore V3 is capable of delivering huge riding potential to advanced riders who want to push their boundaries. The versatile handling can be used to steer the kite through tight and dynamic loops, or slower, wider arcs; both essential for navigating difficult terrain.

Introduced on the Explore V2, the closed cells in the tips reduce tip flutter when looping the kite, resulting in less noise and a smoother feeling. Riding down slopes with the kite de-powered up high in the window, or to the side, allows you to focus more on riding and less on the kite.

CONFIDENT

Super predictable flying characteristics add the really forgiving feel which inspires confidence in all situations. Even in an exposed position on a hill, you can just park the kite at the zenith without feeling intimidated.

REVOLUTIONARY INTERNAL RE-RIDE RELEASE SYSTEM

Our unique Internal Re-Ride Release System is the market leading Snowkite release and landing system and features on both our snowkite-specific bars: the Contact Snow V5 and Snow EXP V5.

It has made mountain climbing and packing so much more enjoyable, safe, easy and quick for the user. When activated the kite de-powers instantly without tangling and will sit on the ground ready to re-launch whenever you are. If you need to, you can also completely release the kite.

DON’T FORGET TO STOP FOR A SNACK AND ADMIRE THE VIEWS

Another advantage of the Ozone Internal Re-Ride Release System is the land and secure option. To land the kite simply pull the 5th line until you reach the Secure Loop which can be found approximately two metres up from the control bar.

The kite will stall and fall to the ground without any pull. Use the Secure Loop in the 5th line to keep the kite on the ground – it can be hooked onto the kite leash clip, or slipped over the bar end. This makes landing and packing your kite safe and easy even in high winds.

The Brake Handle that spans between the back leader lines on the control system makes reverse launch and light wind landing easy.

SUMMARY: WHY CHOOSE A SINGLE SURFACE DESIGN? 

Here are some general differences when comparing single surface designs to ram-air foils and tube kites:

• Single surface kites depower instantly for a very safe and easy feel.

• They’re much lighter weight, which also means they can fly better in lighter winds. You can really work the low end of the Explore V3 very efficiently without worrying as much about keeping the kite in the sky.

• The single surface design uses less cloth, so is not only lighter in weight, but also packs down to an ultra compact size, making it easy to pack multiple kites into your backpack, or to take a kite along on a ski mission ‘just in case’.

• The Explore V3 is super easy to self-launch and land. Unlike other single surface kites it rarely gets tangled when landed with the 5th line re-ride system. It is easy to relaunch, even in strong conditions.

• The Explore V3 build is very resistant to crashes. As a single surface design there is no internal pressure build up between the surfaces that could potentially cause the seams to explode if you tomahawk it hard into the ground.

Specifications

We recommend the Contact Snow V5 bar.

Wind Range

Based on 80kg average rider

Package Contents

Kite Only - Kite, Kompressor Bag, Repair pack