SBC Kiteboard - Gear Article

2012 Olympic Kiteboard Buyer's Guide: Best Boards

Fri, 25 May 2012 09:05:00 -0400

With all the excitement of kiteboarding being made an Olympic Class for 2016, SBC Kiteboard is taking a look at the top boards available to get you on the water training this year. The Internatioanal Kiteboarding Association's Olympic bid proposed using a box class similar to the one that IKA and racers on the PKRA world tour use today, (From 2012 on, only registered production equipment is eligible for any IKA sanctioned course racing events) and all indications are thet ISAF will approve this at their Novemeber meeting for the new Olympic Kiteboarding Class. Racers are limited to one approved production board per event. Here is a look at the top appoved boards available today.

Mike's Lab ML 70
Retail: $1925
Weight: 5.1 kg
Length: 190 cm
Width: 70 cm

California's Mike Zajicek hand builds the Mikeslab boards, and these are the current board to beat! Johnny Heineken winner of the first event of 2012 was riding one of these bad boys. Before the Olympic announcement a 9-12 month wait was not uncommon. To inquire about lead times and further details, e-mail Mike at mike@mikeslab.com or call 510-222-7338.
http://www.mikeslab.com/

Aguera CR 69 LE
Retail: $1600
Weight: 6.2 KG
Length: 189.7 cm
Width: 69.7 cm

"This is one of the fastest race boards in the world and hopefully it will be THE fastest model during the 2012 season!!
As seen on the race course so far this year, the 2012 LE CR 69 is extremely fast in lightwind conditions. Damien Leroy won the very lightwind races in Santander at the Olympic Regatta with 6-8 knots of wind and an 18m kite over the top sailor presently in the World, Johnny Heineken. And in 11m-13m weather, Johnny and Damien swapped 1st places at the event."—Alex Aguera

http://alexaguera.com

North LTD 69
Retail: $2100 USD
Weight: 5.4 kg
Length: 189 cm
Width: 69.9 cm

"Designed to comply with the IKA Production Class “Box Rule”, the 69 Edition is the preeminent course racing craft, developed by the North Race Team through countless hours of testing in wide-ranging conditions. A newly developed rocker line accounts for earlier planning, increased board speed and better handling. The 69’s new diamond tail is designed to offer more control and easier jibing while also accommodating the new 6-strap configuration, which offers better leverage over the fins for reaching and increased control in rough conditions. Constructed with exceptionally accurate, state of the art molds, the Ltd’s Carbon SandwichConstruction is not only incredibly precise, but also strong and remarkably light. For use with the 69 Edition, the North Race Team has developed two sizes of molded carbon fins with an optimized flex pattern and a very fast, control-oriented foil. They are available in 40cm and 43cm lengths and are sold separately. Board comes without Fins!!!"

http://www.northkites.com

Airush Monaro V4
Weight: 6.9 kg
Length:189.8cm
Width: 69.5cm

"Designed for the diehard racer that won't accept anything less than the fastest board around the course. The Monaro V4 is the result of ongoing development by Rolf van der Vlugt and Katja Roose, to develop the ultimate race weapon for our pro team. The numerous features of the IKA Production Class "Box Rule" approved Monaro V4 makes the board ultra efficient. The construction comprises of a high modulus carbon fiber construction with high-density foam sandwich for stiffness, strength and minimum weight. The subtlest design adjustments on the Monaro V4 result in massive gains on the racecourse. A dual chine rail eliminates the drag produced by spray against the feet. The concave deck in the nose area allows for reduced weight and wind lift on the nose area. At the tail end of the board, the innovated Step Squash Tail increases control off the wind or in high wind condition."

Fins Included
Front - 42cm Tuttle Pair / 3.5 Deg Cant
Back - 38cm Tuttle Single / Vertical

NJS CF6
Retail: $1600
Weight: 5.3 KG
Length: 188 cm
Width:69 cm

"The 2012 CF6 is the latest NJS design for high performance kiteboard course racing. The main objectives of the new CF6 were to blend increased upwind ability and stable high speed control on the downwind. To achieve this, many aspects of the CF6 are refined including fin box placement, outline, and the wide point of the board. NJS is also utilizing state of the art CAD technology in all of our boards to guarantee exact NJS design specifications for each board produced. This combined with feedback from our team members and hundreds of hours of GPS speed testing has allowed us to achieve what we feel is the ultimate course racing board."

http://www.njsdesigns.org

Aguera 69 LE HW
Weight:
Length:
Width:

For a complete list of IKA registered series production boards click here.

2013 Cabrinha Kiteboarding Gear Preview

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:53:00 -0400

Here is the full 2013 Cabrinha Kiteboarding collection.

2013 Naish Kiteboard Gear Videos

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:13:00 -0400

2013 Naish Kiteboarding Gear Preview

2013 Naish Park

The one kite that does it all – any rider, any style, any condition. The Park’s three-strut design and Swept Compact C outline results in a very stable and responsive kite. The powerful profile and leading edge give the rider good low-end power and consistent pull over a wide range of wind speeds. The Park uses just enough sweep to maximize depower and allow for easy relaunch. The Swept Compact C platform remains very close to a real C-shape in order to provide the crispness and feel in the bar that you really need. Designed with fun in mind, the Park provides the rider with the power to boost, the handling to hit the lip with style and the ability to feel good in any condition. Sizes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

Check it out >> naishkites.com/2013/park/

2013 Naish Wave and Lightwind Collection

Check out the boards of 2013 in action, then see the details on naishkites.com

naishkites.com/2013/wave-light-wind/

2013 Naish Torch

State-of-the-art C-kite for competition freestyle, power freeriding and unhooked waveriding. The Torch flies quickly through the air and will depower easily with a quick check of the board edge. Power is delivered smoothly, with depower similar to a bridled kite by virtue of the kite’s ability to fly fast. Whether you are hooked in or unhooked, riding is effortless and precise. The position of the kite’s struts makes it stiffer in the air, for even more precise handling. The Torch is equally at home winning heats on the world stage as it is ripping up your home beach. Sizes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

Check it out - naishkites.com/2013/torch/

2013 Naish Kiteboarding Twin-Tip collection

Check out the boards of 2013 in action, then see the details on naishkites.com
naishkites.com/2013/twin-tips/

2013 Naish Ride

The Ride is simply fun. Paul Serin is enjoying the Ride jumping, riding waves and just cruising.
"The Ride was derived from the base origins of the Park, but with more focus on a 'sheet in and go' feel and water relaunch ease. Our R&D team set out to create a kite that was simple, easy and fun for 'all around, hooked-in freeriding'; and a kite that a novice or entry level rider could use for learning the basics and improving into an advanced rider."
~ Damien Girardin, Naish Kite Designer

Learn more about The Ride here >> naishkites.com/2012/kites/ride-kite.html

Sneak Peak! Airush Lithium Zero

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:32:00 -0500

Thought we would give a sneak peak of the all new Airush Lithium Zero 18m (no strut kite). This follows the Lithium One 16m (single strut kite) as an ultra-lightwind freeride kite!

This baby weighs 3.4 kgs - the same as your average 10m!

2013 Nobile Kiteboardiong Sneak Peak

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:20:00 -0400

2012 Surf Kite Buyers’ Guide

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:46:00 -0500

SBCKiteboard.com will be providing category specific Buyer’s Guides for each style of boards and kites. We have compiled information from the manufactures, along with videos and advice to help you find the perfect kite and board for your style of riding. If you have any specific questions or comments please feel free to post them in the comment section at the bottom of the article. —John Bryja, editor

The surf kite category is the fastest growing in the sport today. The evolution of this kite category is no less impressive. Designed to maximize our enjoyment in the surf, the performance enhancements in these models give these kites a decide advantage over the jack of all trade freeride models in side-shore and side-onshore surf conditions. You don't need to live on Maui, or ride C-Street in California everyday to enjoy a kite designed for the surf. The great freeride crossover potential of these designs is making the surf kite the kite of choice in the 5 to 9 meter size range for riders on both the West, and East coast as well as the Great Lakes.

Cabrinha Drifter

Sizes: 5.5, 7, 9, 11

In the break away sector of Kite Surfing, there is one kite which hides its technology behind its simplicity. The Drifter's minimal 3 strut design both hides and illuminates its brilliance. The three well placed struts keep the profile of the kite intact through constant angle of attack changes while reducing the weight. This light weight but durable kite is dedicated to surf, yet it shines as a freestyle kite for wakeskating, skimboarding or flat water freestyle. While surfing hooked or unhooked the Drifter makes the most of its excellent slack line drift ability. Slack line drift is the kite's ability to stay aloft even when the lines are temporarily slackened by depowering. But the Drifter's main beauty lies in its simplicity. We've pushed the complicated technology into the background so that all you have to think about is how you're going to tear apart the next wave.

Surf Specific 3 Struct Design

Excellent Slack Line Drift
High Depower
Stable and Direct Feel
Simplified Bridle
Squared Off Wingtips For Increased Stability
Quicklink Control System with IDS
Sprint

Characteristics:

Direct and responsive steering = FAST
Sits further aft / back in the window
Enhanced slack line drift
Static balance
Excellent relaunch
Light overall weight: 3 struts / Reduced Dacron
Thin profile
Enhanced durability

Cabrinha Drifter Wind Range

http://www.cabrinhakites.com/wind-range-chart.html

Read the SBC Kiteboard Cabrinha Drifter test review.

2012 Kite Reviews

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:09:00 -0400

The 2012 test session in Cape Hatteras was SBC Kiteboard magazines biggest ever with over 40 kites taking part in the head-to head test categories: All Terrain Freeride, Advanced Freestyle SLE, Surf, Lightwind, and Progression.

It took SBC Kiteboard's six experienced testers two full weeks— more than 12 full days on the water—to achieve the level of feedback necessary for this years reviews reviews.

The 2012 Freeride and Freestyle kite reviews are now available online at sbckiteboard.com.

2012 Freeride All-Terrain Kite Reviews

2012 Freestyle Advanced SLE's Kite Reviews

SBC Kiteboard magazine's second issue of the year will feature the Lightwind, and Progression reviews.

Save 40% Subscription Info

2012 Freeride All Terrain KIte Buyers' Guide

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:32:00 -0500

New for 2012 each week SBCKiteboard.com we will be providing category specific Buyer’s Guides. We have compiled information from the manufactures, along with videos and advice to help you find the perfect kite and board for your style of riding. If you have any specific questions or comments please feel free to post them in the comment section at the bottom of the article.—John Bryja, editor

Freeride All Terrain

2012 Best TS

Every size of the TS kite is uniquely engineered for a specific set of riding conditions - allowing the TS range to cover all riders and riding styles. Every aspect of design, shaping, material selection and construction in the TS has been refined to bring each size even closer to perfection.

Any rider looking for a high wind kite that is stable and predictable needs look no further than the 4m and 5.5m TS kites. Unhooked wave riders will find that the medium size TS kites offer the perfect blend of tight and fast steering responsiveness, light bar pressure and unhooked control, allowing them to express their style like never before.

New-school riders searching for blistering performance will be blown away by the improvements in handling, power delivery and jumping from the mid-sized TS kites. Hooked or unhooked the 7m -14m TS kites deliver greater stability, precise feedback and more performance than ever before.

For course racing and light wind conditions, the 15m and 17m TS kites are the most aerodynamically refined kites we've ever made. Refined even further they have been trimmed back to deliver maximum light wind performance and racing advantage. Changes to the center strut design and bridle positioning make them even easier to relaunch in the lightest conditions.

With sizes ranging from 4m to 17m there is a TS for every rider and every riding style.

Highlights

Ride optimized kite geometry
Responsive unhooked handling
Wide wind range
Stable in all conditions

2012 TS product video from Best Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com

2012 Blade Trigger

“All-around” is too many times mistaken for “good for everyone”.
If you are looking for an all-around kite, you likely want to do a little bit of everything and need a kite with well-balanced characteristics. But riders have different personalities, different mindsets out on the water, and that means a different definition of their ideal all-around kite.

We designed the Trigger to promote progression especially for riders who are powerful, playful, and dynamic. If you like to do a little of everything on the water, and like to be actively in control of responsive high-energy fun, the Trigger was designed to be your ideal kite.
The 4th Generation Trigger continues to excel as a fast, nimble, and powerful all-around performance kite.

The powered profiles and refined overall kite geometry leed to the Trigger’s dominant feel and provide the big low-end fun. The perfectly engineered bridles are a key factor in the kite’s excellent stability and depower, balancing the Trigger’s dynamic handling with predictability and safety. This refined engineering is also responsible for a very direct bar feel that is rarely felt in a bridled kite. The swept back LE contributes to the Trigger’s effortless Reflex Relaunch, so you can push yourself past the limit and get up and riding again in seconds.

The 4th generation is based on its successful predecessor, and like the Triggers before it, each size boasts individually designed geometry.
Many small refinements are made individually to each size so that it performs ideally in the conditions it is meant to be flown, here are some of them: The Trigger 12m and 14m received beefed up power profiles and the 14m also features narrower struts to deliver the same low end grunt and turning speed as their smaller siblings. The Trigger 9m and 10m received a special bridle geometry to seat them slightly further forward in the window, giving them the right balance of power and stability for their wind range. The Trigger 7m has been modified for excellent depower performance and rigidity in strong wind. The Trigger 5m hasn’t been touched, we’re proud to say it is one of the best kites on the market.

Finally, we have added an Advanced Wave setting to the bridle of the new Trigger.
Setting the bridle in this position adds depower and seats the kite even more forward in the window. The more tolerant ride is perfect for carving waves, trading up only a little of the power and rock solid stability in the Trigger’s standard mode.

Active pilots looking for the ultimate fun ride will love the quick handling, perfect stability, direct control, and generous power in all conditions. If you are a dynamic rider looking for a kite that can deliver the ultimate fun session, the Trigger’s high energy all-around performance will put a big smile on your face.

http://www.bladekites.com

2012 Naish Ride Kite

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:50:00 -0400

The official details of the new Naish Ride kite have been released. The SBC Kiteboard test team will be on one this weekend, and will be posting a review ASAP.

INTRODUCING THE Naish RIDE...
THE WAY KITEBOARDING SHOULD BE.
Kiteboarding should be easy. That's why we created a kite and board combo that delivers easy control and use with no loss of performance.

"The Ride [kite] was derived from the base origins of the Park, but with more focus on a 'sheet in and go' feel and water relaunch ease. Our R&D team set out to create a kite that was simple, easy and fun for 'all around, hooked-in freeriding'; and a kite that a novice or entry level rider could use for learning the basics and improving into an advanced rider." ~ Damien Girardin, Naish Kite Designer

Naish Kite Designer, Damien Girardin, explains the design process and specifications of the new Naish Ride kite.

Check out the Ride kite and board in action with riders Verda and Christian.

Best Kiteboarding 2013 Gear preview

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 22:14:00 -0500

TS Project from Best Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

team rider Rich Sabo introduces the Kahoona v5 and new Kahoona+

Short video explaining the features of the profanity v2 wakestyle board.

Team rider Rich Sabo introduces the the GP v2 C-kite

Short product video explaining the features of the new Pro-creator newschool twintip

Short product video explaining the features of the KB4Girls freeride/newschool twintip

Short product video explaining the tech features of the Armada v4 freeride twintip

RP | GP bars Project from Best Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

2012 Airush NO Strut Kite

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:08:00 -0400

Here is a spypick posted on the SBC Kiteboard Facebook page wall from Airush team rider Alex Pastor. Last year SBC Kiteboard tested the Airush One. Looks like for 2012 they are working on a zero strut kite.

Join the conversation on Facebook.

Airush One Review

Industry Insider: New Kite Brand ASV

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:31:00 -0500

There is a new kite brand that is focusing exclusively on racing kites and boards. The brand, ASV Performance has made a big splash by recently announcing the addition of American Adam Koch to the race team.

ASV XR race kite

"The XR kite has been developed focusing on the simplicity of use that naturally allows any racers to be faster. Upwind and speed are major points that make the XR an incredibly fast kite, but we made sure that the design it took to develop these qualities didn't limit us in developing all other key quality such bar feeling, steering speed, acceleration after tacks and floatation during jibes. What we really wanted to create was a fast wing that would inspire confidence in all conditions and that would help the racer to perform his best with all the fundamentals involved in Kite racing."

Sizes Available: 17.5, 14, 11, and 9M.

http://www.asvperformance.com/

Boot Camp: Why Boots?

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

There can be no denying that boots add an element of style to kiteboarding that you just can’t get any other way. The change in rider style makes kiteboarding look more akin to wakeboarding and even snowboarding. In this issue of SBC Kiteboard magazine the sport’s top riders share some tips for riding with boots. No mater what your skill level there is some tasty info for you. Give boots a try, you might be surprised at what you have been missing.

Why boots?
Better connection: “Boots offer a much more comfortable and connected attachment than footstraps. They allow the rider to land harder and faster with more control. Oh, and did I mention they feel so right they can’t be wrong?” —Andre Phillip

Control and Power: “First off, they give you more board control. That in turn will let you ride a bigger and wider board, allowing for more flatwater pop, and more cushion when landing big tricks. Secondly, they keep you locked onto your board, so that you can load more power into your moves without getting ripped off your board. Third they give more cushion under your feet when landing hard, which usually happens when doing tricks with the kite low.” —Jason Stone

Improve Landings: “I will only take boots when the conditions are perfect, for me that is dead flatwater and a smooth, consistent wind without being too overpowered. Also, I will use them if there are some good wave kickers with flat sections in between and off course on kickers and sliders. I use them for landings, I find you can go into all your tricks, especially off kickers, full belt and be able to take the landing. Also I find it adds to style because you have more swing weight and a smoother rotation, if done right.”—Aaron Hadlow

Smoother and More Stylish: “I think they change the momentum of a move, giving it a more smooth, stylish look. Because there is extra weight on your feet you have to initiate the move correctly from the pop to get it to come around correctly. In straps you just jump and then do whatever trick you want to do, with boots you really have to focus on the move before you pop.” —Jason Stone

Tricks Look Better: “It gives you more support and more leverage for holding a hard edge on powered tricks. It makes some tricks a bit harder because of the extra weight and you lose some of that movement in your ankles, so tweaking out grabs takes a bit more effort. But the extra effort you have to put in seems to make the trick look better when you do stomp it, and it feels so much better. The extra support and cushioning also helps on hot landings. So overall it requires a bit of extra work but it’s so worth it in the end, and those who know will appreciate and applaud your work.” —Adam Anton

Basic Training
First Time: “Most people dislike or feel very uncomfortable on bindings the first time they try them. Boots take longer to get into than straps and are a lot heavier, but given some time you’ll find that boots give you much greater control over the board when doing powered wake tricks, which can almost instantly lead to better style.” —Denver Coon

Stance and Angle: “Stance and foot angle are very important to getting the most out of your boot riding experience. You want to set your stance to what’s comfortable to your body type. Personally, I usually set my bindings two hand-widths from inside arch to inside arch. Another quick way to get a general idea of what your stance should be is to jump off a step or chair with both feet, and how you land is usually a good indication of what width your stance should be. Foot angle is also important, and is just personal preference, I think I ride my feet ducked out at 15-18 degrees from 90.”—Jason Stone

Set em Wide: “Wide stance, it make everything easier and it looks better too.”—Mauricio Abreu

Heel Hold: “Whatever binding you’re using make sure you have good heel hold down. You don’t want your heel moving up and down in the binding while you’re riding or it will make you feel like you’re floating off your board and have no control. Make sure the binding is tight enough to hold your heel down properly.” —Jason Stone

How To Pick a Surfboard for Kitesurfing

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:48:00 -0500

REAL's Toby and Pete help you pick the right surfboard for kiting.

Blade Kites Uni Bar website online

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:11:00 -0500

Blade Kites have launched an html5 site dedicated to their new control bar, the Uni.
It’s a very cool website exloring the different features of the system. If you haven’t already, check it out:
www.bladekites.com/unibar/

CORE Fusion Full CARTAN® Carbon Kiteboard

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:33:00 -0400

MORE TIME ON THE WATER AND LESS TIME TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH BOARD TO RIDE: THE FUSION TAKES THE COMPLEXITY OUT OF THE BOARD CHOICE DILEMMA.

"We have developed a real CROSSRIDE board that covers all aspects of kitesurfing without compromising on any of them. The Fusion is ideal for riders of all levels and will develop with you as you continue to improve. We have transferred our expertise from our custom CARVED boards to a high-tech CARTAN® high-performance carbon series production board."

CORE Fusion Full CARTAN® Carbon Kiteboard from CORE kiteboarding on Vimeo.

New F-One Trust Kite

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:06:00 -0500

For 2013 F-ONE presents the Bandit’s little brother. A kite built and designed 100% for FREERIDE. The goal was to offer riders of all levels a kite with an intuitive feel, optimum relaunch, great stability and complete power control.

The TRUST gives the rider amazing control of his speed, therefore providing a very smooth ride. Its main attribute being giving the rider easier control in his edging, it is living proof that a kite can also help significantly in absorbing chop and waves. Combined with its great upwind ability and exceptional stability in neutral positions, you will have complete confidence in the TRUST!!

The kite is very predictable making the steering instinctive and very intuitive. With its direct steering, you will always know where the kite is in the sky – just as if it was part of your own body. The first time you fly the TRUST you will immediately be able to take advantage of the kites full potential.

Stability was at the core of its development and you know you will be in complete control of the TRUST regardless of the wind or wave conditions. Maneuverable and responsive this kite will very quickly give you the confidence to try some new moves.

The DELTA C Shape originally designed by F-ONE remains the most progressive design in recent years to optimize relaunch. The leading-edge diameter tapers towards the wingtips, allowing the kite to pivot on its wingtips. This new flexible design allows the kite to quickly relaunch when it is on its back. This auto-relaunch feature gives the rider complete peace of mind when riding or trying new tricks as he knows the kite will always relaunch.

The TRUST was designed to give the rider consistent power and depower with smooth transitions without any twitching or jerking in the bar. With its great depower ability you can bring the power all the way down to zero, making you feel very secure in any conditions.

You can also easily neutralize your kite by activating the quick release, which will make the kite land depowered, on its back. The TRUST is equipped with the same quick-release technology as the BANDIT that has been used for years by thousands of kiters who trust its effectivity.

The bar of the TRUST kite also benefits from the advanced technology applied to the BANDIT MONOLITH BAR and is similarly carved from a single block of aluminum 6061. This CNC tooling process enables us to manufacture the bar from single piece of aluminum. This new technique is combined with the use of aluminum 6061, a composite aluminum made with magnesium and silica used in the aerospace industry. Apart from its increased strength this alloy offers very good stiffness and excellent corrosion resistance.

The TRUST will surprise you with its outstanding performance and give you amazing sensations of power and control every session.

FLYSURFER SPEED3 COLOURED EDITION

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:50:00 -0400

At Flysurfer we call the SPEED3 the “ultimate flying machine.” And for more than 2 years nothing about that has changed really. Whether it’s the 21.0m in light winds from about 6 knots onwards, or the 12.0m in strong winds up to 25 knots – performance, stability, depower are still the measure of all things… Pure fun!

How can you improve a viable and accepted product in the market?

If you know the philosophy of Flysurfer, then you know that “Flysurfer only brings a successor to its line-up, if it has significant improvements over its predecessor.” Since we are not ready to present a successor product to the SPEED3, we want to inspire our customers in the summer of 2012 with a facelift of our successful and popular high-performance kite… the Speed3 Coloured Edition!

What are the three differences to the current Speed3?

1. Colour coding for the first time in Deluxe sizes

Up to now, the Speed3has a gold/black/white color combination in the light Deluxe cloth, for sizes 12.0m/15.0m/19.0m and the “Silver Arrow” design (in white) for the 21.0m.
Due to the demand and fashion trends towards more vibrant colours, we were able to produce more Deluxe cloth and use it for the first time in our Speed3 Coloured Edition.
The colors grass-green DLX (12.0), yellow DLX (15.0), cyan-blue DLX (19.0) and gold DLX (21.0) makes it easier to identify a kite size on the spot and provide a much more colorful appearance with Flysurfer kites.
By the way, the “old” Deluxe color combination is no longer the standard (As of; 15.05.2012).
The color coding in the standard cloth versions 12.0 (green)/15.0 (blue)/19.0 (red) remains the same.

2. The Infinity 2.0 Control Bar as the ultimate control bar

Sophisticated and technically up to date, that applies to the Infinity 2.0 Control Bar. Many features – such as our in-house developed quick release, that meets the tight requirements of the French safety norm, a special bearing design, ensuring 100% un-spinning easiness, a V-shaped eyelet to allow for easy depowering while steering, a chicken-stick instead of a chicken-dick for added durability in the snow and many more – but please convince yourself! From now on integrated as the standard control bar on the Speed3 “CE” and Unity.

3. An adapted “CE” Kitebag for more style and easier use on the spot

Functionally, tidy and in a timeless black and gold (deluxe) or black and silver (standard) colour combination. The new “CE” Speed3 Bag is the perfect packaging for this kite.

Whether you are a kiteboarder, snowkiter or kitelandboarder – all user groups appreciate the lift, the hang time, the incomparable feeling of flying and the butter soft landings with this kite. For old-school fans the Speed3 is a must-have. But especially freestylers can have their thrills with the 21.0m (light winds + flat water = more days of perfect kiting conditions) being able to learn many unhooked tricks easily and improve their level fast and significantly. Last but not least – the extreme upwind performance and the large depower-effect results in a huge wind range for each size, i.e a lot of passive safety, especially in gusty wind conditions, combined with light wind cruising joy and top results in the Kite Racing comps… a kite for “almost” everything!

So, the Speed3 is no longer just a problem solver for light winds – a lot of enthusiastic Flysurfer fans swear by this product and their number is growing day by day. The handling – even with size 21.0m – whether male or female is easy and simple for everyone. Adjustable bar pressure allows for individual tuning to personal preference. The easy reverse launch the kite brings in no time back up from the water and into the sky. And with the integrated Infinity 2.0 Control Bar, this results in a harmonious and colorful performance package…

Speed3 Coloured Edition – it‘s time to change!

The Deluxe Cloth Features (compared to Standard-Cloth)

flies in super low-wind conditions
better turning & better catching after a kite-loop
easy-to-use low-end performance
in general easier to fly
less prone to tip collapsing
snowkiting and landkiting possible in the lightest breezes
more stability
lighter pack weight
smaller packing dimensions

The total package will consist of:

1x Speed3 „CE“ Kite
1x Infinity 2.-0 Control bar with 21m flying lines
1x Repair-Kit (including Sandbag und Safety Leash)
1x FS Manual
1x Bag „S3 CE“

http://www.flysurfer.com

KIteboarding Racing Secrets

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:40:00 -0400

The evolution of races has been changing and advancing so fast in the past five years. I can honestly say that I am lucky enough to be a part of this fun changing racing evolution. Around five years ago the boards to be using were twin tips, but not just any twin tip, a light wind with real flat rocker board. That was soon changed as people started to ride surf boards or a directional of some sort. Then the next year racers where on bigger surf boards with different fins. That is where everything started going towards bigger boards and fins. Now I sit here today with a massive Alex Aguera board in my garage with four gigantic daggers that individually are the size of your fore arm.

So now 2010 you would think we would see things slow down on the evolution side. No No No. The big question is tri-fin boards over quad fin boards? Here is the scoop on the tri-fin boards. It is incredibly easy to get the board flat and it actually makes you want to ride the opposite rail going up wind which seams to be the fastest these days. The down side is if it pointing up wind as good as a quad. My opinion is it is only a matter of time before someone wins on it and then we might go into another change where everyone rides tri-fins. The tri-fin gives you more control on the down wind and is much easier to jibe and handle the board. I think the big issue with the tri-fin is no one has had enough time playing with it and testing different set ups. As for the Quad at the moment it is the most used set up and it is what is dominating this year hands down. The quad rides like it is on rails and just wants to tack in one direction. It seams at the moment to be out pointing any board that is out there!!! It has a little more drag considering you are running with an extra fin but usually when you are racing you are really powered.

Top secret tips:
When you are riding in light winds we will just say anything under 12 knots, use longer lines anywhere from 27meter to 40meter lines. Sounds crazy but in light winds you just need a little power to get you up and riding. The longer lines gives you a huge power stroke. It also makes you untouchable on the down wind because you can go down wind so much deeper. I can honestly say this really works. I have been recently riding in 7mph and completely lit ripping around a glassy ocean!!! Makes it so much fun now in light winds!!!

Use a bigger bar in lighter winds, it will make you be able to turn your kite faster and you will then have more control!! Anything over 50cm is great but bigger is better.

Fins: This is truly the big question? While some are trying wider or corder fins and others are using supper high aspect vertical fins. I think we are still at a testing and changing stage here but if you want to be in the ball game you would want fins around the 28cm range!!! A little smaller in the back and the front fins are angled out just a hair. This set up will be very competitive at the moment on the right board. Cabrinha has a sick race board coming out in two sizes that were made by Alex Aguera and they are excellent!! This would make you competitive with the best considering it is the same board we are all using at the moment.

We have talked all about gear here!! One more big tip go learn how to tack and jibe fast and you will make massive jumps on your competitors. That to me is more important than the gear at the moment......
A little insight of good news, I have been playing with the tri-fin recently and well the future looks like it might be changing! One the same note I am in Puerto Rico and there are some new foils that a few guys are on and they are absolutely ripping up wind. It never ends!

See you on the water,
Damo

Damien LeRoy is sponsored by Cabrinha Kites, The Black Dog, NPX, Corner Five Surf Co. Lynch Associates, Aguera Boards

Naish Kiteboarding Mid Season Launch

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:06:00 -0500

Naish Kiteboarding is proud to announce the mid-season release of the new Draft and Ride kites, and the new twin tip kiteboards and bindings.

Check them out on naishkites.com!

DRAFT - HIGH PERFORMANCE FREERIDE/RACE
Sizes: 7, 9, 12, 14, 17

The Draft is a high performance freeride kite that excels at hooked-in riding, hang time and racing. This state-of-the-art design has powerful lift for boosting big airs and long gliding jumps. The Draft features a Static Bridle Platform. This eliminates the pulley and keeps the kite stable and driving forward for unrivaled windward performance and downwind speed. The Draft has five struts on the 7, 9 and 12 sizes for added control in strong winds and three struts on the 14 and 17 sizes for light wind performance and faster turning. Stability, high floating jumps, and speed are characteristics that define the Draft.

RIDE - ALL-AROUND PERFORMANCE FREERIDE

Sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

The Ride is for everyday kiteboarders looking for ease and simplicity. The lightweight, two-strut design provides superior low end performance due to its fuller center section, as well as faster inflation and smaller packing for easy transport. The Ride has rounded wing tips, which allow the kite to rotate with less drag while resting on the water. This makes for extremely easy water relaunching characteristics. It also has a slightly flatter arc compared to other kites, which gives it more punch when sheeting in and provides that nice sheet-in and go feel and easy jumping.

INTRODUCING THE NEW TWIN TIPS The NEW
Naish twin tips are the Monarch for Pro Performance Freestyle, the "dub" for Freestyle/Freeride, the Motion for Performance Freeride and the Hero for All-around Freeride.

2011 Slingshot Gear Preview

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:48:00 -0400

Biggest news

This year we are bringing new innovations to market with more authority and clarity than ever! We have a new kite platform the OPEN DELTA C, six new twin tip board innovations and a new surfboard construction with the track.

New technologies

1. F A S T R A C K : Slingshot’s proven proprietary mounting system offering endless stance options and a superior rider to board connection. Another industry first!
2. S I N G L E S H O T F U S I O N T E C H R A I L : We have moved the same technology found in skateboard wheels, to the rail of our boards. This industry first for kiteboards improves the overall dampening of the board and increases rail durability beyond anything available anywhere. Our innovative manufacturing process literally fuses the rail in to the board in one single shot. NO staples, tape, glue or seams. The rail literally is one piece of perfection. An another industry first!
3. R E S I N X : Resin X is the latest in high tech organic urethane resins. What does Resin-X have that epoxy and polyester don’t? Exceptional flex memory that can withstand longer flex cycles. Superior vibration dampening, increased elongation without failure. All these features combined store a higher rate of loaded energy, insane durability, and best UV resistance on the market. What does all this really mean to you? The boards are half a pound lighter in weight, offer more pop, and rebound, without feeling like a ping pong ball.
4.4 D G R A P H I C S : Another industry first, our latest innovation in graphic technology offers unlimited possibilities to the “cutom culture” market, and showcases the inside of our boards with virtually clear top and bottom sheets.
5.
T H E W O R L D S G R E E N E S T B O A R D :
At Slingshot we like making sustainable “green” products whenever possible. And that’s the trick. It has to make sense. Green is only cool when you advance the performance of the product because of it. Not the other way around. In this case the boards are super tech and as an added bonus they are the world’s most sustainable board ever made. Here’s how we do it. NO PVC foam.Sustainable wood core. Lowest carbon foot print from forest to factory.
Resin X. Lowest VOC resin available in the market. New science in resin technology , that Resin X is the greenest resin made today. The factory electricity is produced by locally produced wind power. No airborne solvents are used in the manufacturing process. No plastic top sheet material. Slingshot has made a commitment to eliminate plastic top skins made from oil. Hopefully this new age of bio-resins will reduce the need to invade small helpless countries so we can enjoy our sport.
6. : : F U T U R E R E S P O N S E T E C H N O L O G Y ( F R T ) – Using the most innovative materials and construction methods available to design the correct shapes, flex characteristics, rebound rates and torsional strengths for specific riding conditions and ability levels.
7. OPEN DELTA C platform: For the past 10 years Slingshot has remained committed to the C kite platform for one simple reason...it out performs all others time after time. While everyone talks about C kites we invested to refine them. 10 years strong, we are proud to introduce the industry’s first high performance C kite series.
:: Fuel / Traditional C kite :: RPM / Open C kite :: NEW! RALLY / Open Delta C kite
Embracing C kite DNA throughout our entire range of performance kites is an industry first move by Slingshot. All aspects of design including the kites platform, canopy curve and foil shape benefit from the performance characteristics of C kites. The critical use of C kite DNA throughout our line up is dubbed, within Slingshot R&D, as C-ology. The idea behind this technical bulletin is to study the C kite design and how it has resurfaced as the pure DNA that all other kites are compared to, and how it drives all future kite designs. For the past 10 years kite design has evolved radically. Platforms such as the Bow kite, Hybrid kite, Sigma, SLE kite, Delta kite, and Delta C kite offer more convenience and performance features than ever before. The one important “take away” is that every kite and every brand compares their kite performance and feel to a traditional C kite and Slingshot is the only brand to remain steadfast to the C kite.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. The number one C kite on the market today is the Fuel. It has been quietly setting new performance standards for 10 years!
2. Top pro’s continue to demand C kite performance to push the limits of our sport.
3. All kite platforms are eventually compared to a C kite.
We have recognized the importance of this pure DNA and have built on it for 10 years. We have evolved the Fuel. In 2009 unveiled the Open C platform with the RPM, and new for 2011, we debut the Rally first ever Open Delta C kite.
8. WVS construction
We use a complex layering system combined with a use a superior epoxy resin. Old PU boards typically use polyester or standard epoxy resin. They are cheaper, because they are faster to manufacture. Unfortunately they are also super toxic and not very durable. We start with a super light weight foam core, and then put on a layer of light weight glass. We then bond all of this on a more dense layer of wood. The final layer is glass and superior epoxy resin. Along each step of the way we use vacuum bagging techniques to enhance the bonding strength. The final result is a proven light weight sandwich construction custom board that is more durable than the old PU boards.
This proprietary construction method is WVS (Wood Veneer Sandwich)

Kite models

KEY HD available now, The Slingshot KEY HD is the newest kite in the Slingshot line up featuring the Hybrid Delta canopy. Benefits to the freeride minded rider are unmatched range, superb upwindability, easy water relaunch, instant 100% depower and safety in a clean uncomplicated package.
The KEY HD kite and board package represents the best quality, performance and value today. Discover the key to successful kiteboarding with the Slingshot KEY HD package.
Fuel available now, 10 Years of refinement translate to 10 years of commitment, integrity and passion to the highest performance C Kite that ever lived. It’s this kind of dedication that legends are born.

The 2011 Fuel is the most unrivaled C kite ever! It derives all of its performance from the truest form of C kite DNA. Characteristics such as unmatched deliberate power, fearless looping and unwavering recovery make the Fuel the C kite expert riders weapon of choice.
Leading the charge is Freestyle Global Team Rider, Ruben Lenten as a calculated part of the design and development process of the Fuel. Innovative features such as Onepump (original Slingshot patented single point inflation system), Custom Fuel Injection (fine tune for wake or freestyle), unique FUEL canopy (consistent grunt and power through the stroke) and Slingshot’s legendary construction position the Fuel as the pinnacle of all C kites.
Day after day the Fuel delivers, without excuse, uncompromised C kite performance. Fuel your passion!

RPM available Feb 2011,Maximum versatility in equipment without sacrificing an ounce of performance is the Crossover Collection mantra. Slingshot is proud to announce its third generation RPM. The RPM is changing kiteboarding with its innovative 3 strut “Open C” Canopy design. It delivers limitless high end performance options for all conditions. Excel your riding regardless of your style. Discover what the pros already know. The RPM is the one kite that allows for top performance while executing un-hooked freestyle, wakestyle and surf style.
*The RPM is the first and only non “C” kite to take a PKRA championship podium finish ever.

Rally available now, New for 2011, Slingshot introduces the Rally. We extracted C kite DNA from both our legendary Fuel and RPM, and added the third element of the Delta shape to create the industry first Open Delta C kite. We expect the Rally and the new Open Delta C kite platform to deliver all the desirable features of a Delta coupled with the performance feel of a C kite. The Rally is the choice for crossover freestyle and excellent in surf!
Proven Delta features such as low end power, responsive pivotal turning, endless lofty hang time, effortless relaunch and unbelievable range are matched with C kite predictable power and uncompromised stability.
The 3 strut design of the Open Delta C harnesses and delivers smooth efficient power through the stoke and offers a light weight balanced build for maximum flight stability. Our industry first pulley-less bridle lends itself to a direct feel, enhanced responsiveness, and unmatched upwind performance. The range on the Rally has been optimized for maximum low-end grunt. This means riding in lighter wind speeds with smaller size kites and notice bigger boost with longer hang times. The stroke at the bar combined with our pulley-less bridle lets you tap into a top end range that translates into complete control when the wind picks. Fine tuning the Rally is easy with Custom Fuel Injection attachment points. CFI alters the overall feel and bar pressure enabling you to tune the kite to meet your personal riding preferences.
Progressive freestyle, expert surf, high wind, low wind; do it all with the
2011 Rally!

B-4 available now, The B4 is the perfect recreational foil kite for snow and land applications. With the addition of the Ready Relaunch system this compact, lightweight foil kite is safer and easier to fly than ever before. Ready Relaunch offers instant de-power and an advanced relaunch system for the traction kiter.

B-2 Trainer available now The B2 is Slingshot’s original 2-line foil trainer kite. The B-2 has a proven reputation as the best trainer kite ever
produced and is easy to fly. The B-2 kite is durable, forgiving and gives you the edge in basic flying skills.

B-3 The B3 is Slingshot’s original 2-line foil light traction trainer kite.
The B-3 is hands down one of the best light traction kites on the market. board models with a brief three sentence description and date available in shops.

Board Models

Lunacy MEGA and DJ modles
The new 2011 Lunacy has been reworked and retooled by chief designer Tony Logosz and world’s most influential rider, Ruben Lenten. The design criteria is intense; to create a board that amplifies Rubens insane riding style. New for this year is our lighter Future Response Technology. Exclusive innovations include Radioactive Pop Core, Single Shot Fusion Sidewall, Resin-X, Fastrack and Custom Culture Graphics. According to Tony, Ruben’s needs are specific, we maintained the rocker and outline, but added Twin Channels to enhance edging and pop. When you add these features to our new construction you get a light weight, responsive, hard core freestyle board that can take the abuse Ruben delivers in every session.
DARKSIDE
In its second year the Darkside is the board is driving the wake scene in kiteboarding. Ruben Lenten, Alex Fox, Eric Reinstra, Joby Cook and the rest of Slider Crew in Hood River work tirelessly with Tony Logosz to design this board. It is the ultimate weapon for wake style riding. On the water it offers massive drive, power and no whip pop. On the rails it is balanced, flexible, and super durable. New for this year is our new lighter Future Response Technology. Exclusive innovations include Radioactive Pop Core, Single Shot Fusion Sidewall, Resin-X, Fastrack, Duraglide grindable base and Custom Culture Graphics.
MISFIT
The new 2011 offers a new outline, deck profile and Twin Channels, for more edging capability, consistent load with flex control, excellent upwind drive, and insane pop. With a weight reduction of .5 lbs (110g), the Misfit is designed by Tony Logosz and our top PKRA riders, Andy Yates and Eric Volpe. The Misfit rides smoothly through chop without spray, and offers the most versatility in all conditions. Exclusive innovations include our Radio Active POP Core, SingleShot Fusion Sidewall, Resin X, Fastrack and Custom Culture Graphics.
DARKO
Slingshot introduces the DARKO board series. The designer series DARKO is the first twin tip to feature FASTRACK, Slingshot’s proprietary mounting system offering endless stance options and a superior rider to board connection. The DARKO is also equipped with the FRT core technology. FUTURE RESPONSE TECHNOLOGY delivers an advanced, smooth, steady yet explosive pop to any freestyle minded rider through the innovative vertically laminated wood core. Be on the look out for the newest high performance riders as they redefine freestyle kiteboarding with the signature DARKO designer series board.
TYRANT 6'2
Cherry picking the favorites from our test boards and developing what is the best 6’2” tri fin shortboard model to date. Fractionally thicker over the stringer under the chest with flatter entry for paddling, than last years BW Pro. The NEW TYRANT 6’2” has a much smoother blend of curve, bottom contour (single double concave) and outlines that harmonize for clean release and drive. The all NEW incorporated WVS Bamboo construction and the only board with parabolic CARBON rails, delivers a more crisp feel and spring when loading and unloading the rail. WVS and the carbon rail also makes the Tyrant the most durable kite surfboard offered today to handle everything from hard lip smacking to aggressive ariel moves. This board will blow your mind in good surf! Kiting or surfing reigning as a dominant force to be reckoned with, the NEW 2011 Slingshot Tyrant meets the needs of expert kitesurfers looking for all out hard core performance.
TYRANT 6'1
Breaking bounderies, the NEW 2011 Slingshot Tyrant 6’1” meets the needs of expert kitesurfers. The 6’1” Tyrant is a tri fin, tru to the bone short board that does it all wthout the parabolic carbon rails as in its sibling the Tyrant 6’2”. The 6’1” has a deeper single concave under foot with double between the fins. It also has a more “pulled in” tail than the 6’2” making it sharp and explosive. The Tyrant 6’1” also incorperates the all NEW WVS Bamboo construction that translates to rail tight traction and a lively feel. WVS also makes the Tyrant the most durable kite surfboard offered today.
The Tyrant 6’1” lets you put more power in your wave riding. Ride it strapped or strapless. The tri fin configuration also allows for snappy turns in the pocket and solid drive down the line. And the mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up.
PIT
Two words, SMASH and DESTROY come to mind when referring to the Pit. The NEW 2011 Pit designed by master shaper Tony Logosz is made in the same WVS Bamboo construction as it’s counterparts make it lighting fast, super stiff, explode with power and committed in every turn. The Pit is an ideal kite surfboard for those looking to ride river or ocean swell in nuking conditions, letting it all hang on the line. The tri fin configuration also allows for snappy turns and solid drive. And the mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up.
The Pit is not for the conservative.
CELERITAS
Looking for some speed in your surf riding? Look no further than the refined 2011 Celeritas with WVS Bamboo construction. The harmony created between the bamboo and the sandwich construction makes this board is faster than fast and durable! The Celeritas is a short “trunk” style board, with exaggerated concave and curvy tail lines. It also features a fast center rocker that blends from the center to the tail giving this board off the charts speed while maintaing perfect control. It is so versatile it is a blast to ride in small mushy surf but also holds it own in good medium surf. The Celeritas is for riders looking for an innovative board that excels in small wave conditions or the rider looking to set new standards at their local spot. It’s faster than fast! Quiet literally the Celeritas has an afterburner built in!
GLOBETROTTER
Where skim meets surf design, Tony Logosz takes his 30 years of shaping experience, and turns it into a board that equals high performance surf with a floaty, lively, effortless skim feel. The Globetrotter is the sitting at 4’10” is, what we dub as, the perfect board “trunk board” because with its compact size it comfortably fits into our Slingshot Golf Bag as well as the trunk of your car! The Globetrotter is made with Bamboo WVS construction making it a super responsive board yet has a solid feel for driving hard. WVS also means that it is the most durable high performance board on the market. The tri fin configuration also allows for snappy turns. And the mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up. Equipped with Fastrack, the Globetrotter can be packed away in seconds.
DIALER
Master shaper Tony Logosz fuses his knowledge of surf & lightwind kite and delivers a board aimed towards a light wind kite enthusiast who also wants a high performance surfboard. The Dialer is our quad fin light wind kite “SURF” dominator. Made in the NEW 2011 WVS Bamboo construction the Dialer does not sacrifice weight for durability or lively, fast acting feel. It has it all. The quad fin arrangement make the Dialer an exceptionally smooth in turns and easy to negotiate in swell. The custom tail and outline shape give it excellent drive and release off the wave. And the mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up. The Dialer is also equipped with Fastrack making the transition from strapped to strapless a matter of seconds. It’s is a great travel option when you know you have to have your bases covered in case of marginal wind.
COUPE
When you seek a high performance kite surfboard that is a craving machine, the all NEW 2011 Coupe Twin is your answer. The Coupe 6’0” is a twin fin (5.125”) short board made with the all NEW WVS Bamboo construction. WVS give the board rail biting traction for carving and drive while maintaing a lively responsive feel. WVS also makes the Coupe the most durable kite surfboard offered today without sacrificing weight.
The unique outline and tail shape of the Coupe loves to lay down an edge, drive and power you through turn after turn. With Fastrack this board can be ridden strap or strapless in seconds. And the mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up.
VERVE
Newly redesigned for 2011, the classic Verve is the perfect board for heavier riders in light wind and excels for all riders in onshore conditions or clean surf. Morphing from a quad in 2010 to a tri fin in 2011, the Verve is more snappy and livelier than ever before. Made in the WVS construction family the Verve, with its wide outline,is a great all around performer that performs in the broadest surf conditions available. The mini tuttle fin box provides super structure when reefs or shoreline crop up. And the new tri fin configuration makes the Verve pivot turn to make “smacking the lip” timeless fun and easy all day long.
GLIDE
The light wind dominator just got lighter! Nothing beats this board in marginal or light wind conditions. If you are in the search for the ultimate soul searching freeride session, your search is over. The Glide is your answer! Exclusive innovations include our Radio Active Pop Core, Single Shot Fusion Sidewall, Resin-X, Fastrack and Custom Culture Graphics.
SCUD
For those looking for fun options and variation in lightwind kiteboarding, Slinghot brings you the all SCUD skim style kiteboard as the latest addition to the LIGHTWIND COLLECTION. The SCUD skim style board is a great addition to any quiver for an intermediate to advanced rider looking to maximize their time in marginal conditions. Features such as the custom shape, removable fin, skim style front and rear pads, Custom Culture graphics and Slingshot proprietary FRT core construction make the SCUD an effortless decision for lightwind riding. So if staying upwind and making the most of your time on the water with a fun strapless skate like feel is important to you, one word...SCUD.
IGNITION
Top end performance for the advanced
freeride kiteboarder is what defines the
Ignition board.
Slingshot showcases the new and
improved IGNITION series twin tip board
as a perfect compliment to the KEY HD
hybrid delta kite.
Solid upwind performance, soft landings
and butter smooth carving are all benefits
the Ignition delivers. It’s user progressive
shape is ideal for advanced freeride tricks
as well as riding the swell on those
perfect downwinders.
So whether its your first kiteboard or an
addition to your quiver, count on the
IGNITION to lite up your summer!

CRISIS
Top end performance for the advance freeride kiteboarder is what defines the Crisis board. Slingshot showcases the new brand new CRISIS series twin tip board as a perfect compliment to the KEY HD hybrid delta kite. Solid upwind performance, soft landings and lively agile transitions are all benefits the Crisis delivers. It’s user progressive
shape is ideal for advanced freeride tricks as well as cruising. So whether its your first kiteboard or an addition to your quiver, count on the CRISIS to heat up your summer fun!

Website address: www.slingshotsports.com <http://www.slingshotsports.com>

2012 Naish Ride Boards

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:02:00 -0400

2012 Litewave DV8

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:36:00 -0400

The DV8 new for 2012.

The DV8 is a new type of surf machine that's designed to makes all your moves easier. The wood/EPS construction is only 1cm thick in the center giving you a low center-of-gravity, but the raised rails make for a surfboard shaped bottom, while still giving you a grab rail all the way around the board. Full deck pad completes the strapless functionality. Comes with straps, and 3 fins. Sizes: 5'7" and 6'1".

http://www.usa.globekites.com/

The All New 2012 Turbine

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:55:00 -0400

Slingshot is proud to introduce the all new 2012 Turbine...

We had one thing in mind as we developed the 2012 Turbine, make it even lighter. Every change we've made down to the smallest detail was to make it even lighter. When you want to stay on the water in 5- 6 knots you have to be light, and that is exactly what we set out to accomplish with the 2012 Turbine. We started off with a new bladder material that is 25% lighter, we also reduced the leading edge diameter and introduced a smaller strut size. Efficiency is king so we completely updated the design geometry as well as adding a few new features in increase on-water performance.

One the wing tips we have developed a new concept called "free twist tip technology." Developed to increase the narrow wind range of large kites.

We also added a new and improved "forward steering bridle." Designed for more improved steering, power delivery and adds more support to the wingtips. It's clean and light to the leading edge to maximize performance and Lightens up the bar pressure. No Pulleys!

Less wind does not have to mean less fun. Get the right kite for the job...

SlingshotSports.com

Kite lines - a science of its own

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:19:00 -0500

Flysurfer Kites are technically very complex products. Over 1000 single parts must optimally function together on a Speed3, for instance. And whoever has adjusted the mixer of a Flysurfer kite, knows how small adjustments make a huge difference in the way a kite flies. It is not for nothing that our kites are tested up to three times before they reach the hands of their new owner. And that is exactly why we, as manufacturer, put a lot of thought into each and every part. At this point we would like to share some background information from our development on a very important part of each Flysurfer kite: the lines.

Whoever has first laid out their Flysurfer kite for the first time will probably have some respect for the many bridles which are attached to the kite. If you know at least a little about the Materials, you will notice quickly that the system is not too difficult, and in the end you have to do a lot less sorting or untangling than with a kite that has to be separately attached to the bar before every session.

For this reason, we will introduce every component from the chicken loop to the canopy.

The first line that you have in front of your nose when flying the kite: the depower line.

The depower line carries the entire load of the kitesurfer and if it breaks, serious consequences can be the result. For this reason, Flysurfer kites have a very abrasion-resistant depower line, just to play it safe.
It still does not hurt to replace the depower line when it starts to disintegrate.

We put a lot of effort into making this component as reasonable priced as possible, since it gets the most wear and tear of all the components. Additionally, all of our kites are delivered with a replacement depower line.

The use of tubes as a cover around the depower line is currently not under consideration, since they break in low temperatures and then the bar can get hooked on the areas of breakage, making it impossible to depower.

For Flysurfer as All-Terrain-Kites, often put to use in the snow, this is naturally a no-go. Additionally, using tubes could lead to problems with our fully untwistable bar system. The next line that you often have contact with is the front line, a somewhat thicker and easily accessible line needed, for example, when relaunching.

However, as a kitesurfer, the flight lines are the most important, which truly provide an amazing function. They should provide the most optimal compromise of tensile strength, diameter and stiffness and long product life at the same time. As a general rule, woven Dyneema lines with a breaking strength of 250 – 300 daN (with almost the same load capacity in kilograms) are used. Our front lines, in new condition, can take somewhat more load – over 400 daN.

In the Mixer, the pulley construction above the flying lines, the steering commands and tractive forces are distributed to the bridle lines and thus to the kite. Most of our kites have four levels of bridle lines. The very back one is the brak (BR) as well, also called the Z-level. The others are numbered from front to back with A, B and C. Some paragliders have an additional D-level, but this is not necessary on kites.

In the long run, it is our goal to use the very minimum of lines. To reduce drag and the danger of getting tangles, there are main lines for every level (A-Main, Z-Main, etc.), which divide once again towards the kite.

There are small line parts about one centimeter long at the connections, the so-called little connection lines or LCLs.

These serve to facilitate the replacement of defective bridle lines and at the same time as a predetermined breaking point at excessive load. For example, when a wave breaks on a kite and the kiter is still hooked-in, this small innovation has saved one or another cost-intensive repairs.

An amazing Material

Different constructions enable a line to fulfill its function. Basically, there are two major types of lines: covered and uncovered.

While the uncovered lines consist of a hollow woven structure, the covered lines have a woven core with a cover over it. The advantage of an uncovered line is a smaller diameter and thus, less drag, as well as the smoother workmanship. In contrast, covered lines are especially constant in length and the cover protects the line core, which carries the load. Exactly because of that, our increasing tendency is to use covered lines for the bridle lines. It is not recommended, however, to use covered lines for the flying lines, due to one very simple reason: Since these lines are coarser, it could happen that the kite could no longer be controlled after a double rotation.

For lines that go through pulleys, nothing else can be considered, since these lines are constantly bent and diverted and would shrink too quickly. The neon yellow spare part lines of the mixer (the lines which run over the pulleys) are a special development made exactly for this purpose: constant length over a long period of time and high abrasion resistance.

For the requirements that we place on our lines in our sport, two materials in particular have turned out to be particularly suitable: Polyester and Dyneema. Dyneema is a high-strength polyethylen fiber, produced in a special process (a so-called gel-spin process). Along with an unbelievably good tensile strength, Dyneema also offers a good abrasion resistance and resists dampness. Additionally, it is resistant to numerous chemicals. Not only is the production patented, the term is a brand name. Thus, most kite lines find their origin in a Dutch company.
Spektra is another high-strength Polyethylen, which is only seldom used in the kiting sector. Polyester can not compete with the unbelievable tensile strength of a Dyneema fiber. But it does offer another advantage: It is very abrasion- and UV resistant. For this reason, line covers are usually manufactured from polyester. How the fibres are manufactured depends upon the experience of the line manufacturers. And there is an enormous difference. Flysurfer has been working, with regard to flying lines, together with the German manufacturer Liros for many years now and has played a part in numerous new developments.

The basic manufacturing procedure is always identical. The fibers must first be spun into a yarn and this must be woven in turn. There are various weave patterns and finish processes, so a whole lot of variables that can be adjusted. At the end of the production, the lines are once again prestretched, heated and waxed at high temperature and close to the breaking load. This guarantees that the lines will not stretch over time. And also when many may believe otherwise: They really do not stretch.

Ends good, everything good?

How the lines end is usually a decision of the kiting company itself. The simplest variation is a knot. However, this can reduce the breaking load of a line by more than half, since you bend it around a very narrow radius and the fibers are thereby subjected to different load. For this reason, you will seldom find knotted lines on kites. It is more common to simply sew the lines, as we do with all of our covered lines. On many kites, the flying lines are provided with a cover on a short piece before sewing. This is advantageous where the connections are opened more often and tied. You will not find this variation on our kites, since the most elegant and most effective variation with regard to breaking load is the splice. A splice means pulling one line end through the line and sewn, so that a loop results. A very clean end is produced, which cannot get caught and holds extremely well. However, this option is only for uncovered lines, like our flying lines. Furthermore, splicing is handwork and therefore relatively complex and expensive.

Aging means shrinking – Or: the properties of a line over time
If you have ever compared the lines of an older kite, then you have most likely noticed that the frontlines have lengthened over time in comparison to the backlines. If you took the time to measure, you would notice that it is actually the back lines which have shortened, whereas the front lines have hardly changed at all. Confusing, at first, but enlightening if you take a closer look.

You have to have it in the back of your head that the lines are extremely prestretched and cured before delivery. Bending the lines (e.g. while winding) or abrasion (e.g. after rotations), the coating of a line fractures. In addition, sand or düst can get into the lines over time. Both have an effect: the line gets thicker and therefore, shorter. This is almost and sometimes entirely reversed by the frontlines, by the high load that must be carried while kiting. Still, while the back lines are subject to only a little load, they shorten remarkably, sometimes up to 20 centimeters. In order to balance this, there is a small black line, the depower leader line, above the adjuster, which can be simply adjusted in length. Under normal use, the lines should be readjusted after one year, earlier under frequent use.

Whether the lines are correct can be easily checked. Fix all the lines to a point, open the adjuster and tension the lines on the bar. Frontlines and backlines should now be tensioned to exactly the same degree. At a certain time, even readjusting will no longer help: Just like you, the life of every line will eventually come to an end.

Exactly how long this will take depends highly on the amount of use. For most kiters this means many years, yet it does not hurt to replace a part once you no longer trust it. First the depower line, then the spare part lines in the mixer, followed by the flying lines.

It is also important to replace paired lines (Mixer, flying lines, bridle lines), because as we noted before, aging causes shrinkage – and if you do not replace them it could lead in certain conditions to the kite flying inconsistently.

Here, summarized once again, what you should do so that your lines last as long as possible:

Rinse off with freshwater and allow to dry in the shade before storing over long periods of time
Do not bend or knot the lines
Avoid UV-exposure (do not let the kite lay around on the beach)
If the lines get caught on an obstacle (tree, rock), untangle them carefully if possible. Pulling with excessive force can result in permanent damage to the lines and can negatively influence the symmetry (lines are subsequently different lengths).

You should check your lines for damage every time you lay them out. Replacement is recommended if you notice any clear signs of wear and tear. Always replace symmetrically to avoid negatively influencing the kite geometry, since in the end it will only effect your fun if the kite flies badly.

All replacement lines can be found in our Online Shop

BWS launches their new collaboration with Rawson Surfboards & Nanotune

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:19:00 -0400

Pat Rawson signature series surfboards are a collaboration between Ben and Pat Rawson to maximise performance - surf in the morning and kite in the afternoon.

Decent volume and width through the front foot area allows you to move up-wind incredibly well and motor through flat sections of the waves both surfing and kiting. They have a medium rocker with a nicely pulled in tail to allow straight up and down turns through steep sections of the wave. Click here for more information.

This specifically designed performance board series is given some power and steer by NanoTune’s Board Tuning Technology to improve the performance and speed of their signature range.

NanoTune uses super-hydrophobic molecules to repel water and increase surface tension, lowering the board’s friction and reducing drag. By increasing speed and manoeuvrability, you can get the most out of every session and fine tune your skills.

"We are very excited to be involved with the calibre of athlete Ben Wilson represents in the sport of Kite Surfing. We pride ourselves in only partnering with top companies and athletes in their respective sports - BWS and Ben tick all the boxes. Having our NanoTune speed coating system applied at the factory level has proven a huge benefit to the user and we are very pleased to bring this technology to BWS and its full range of products." Dave Tarantini, NanoTune

"Speed is everything and each session seems better since I’ve been using NanoTune on my boards over the past 6 months. I’m definitely stoked to be partnering with NanoTune and using their products on all my boards and our BWS production boards." Ben Wilson

BWS factory Tuned boards are now available online and through selected retailers. NanoTune kits are also available at BWSurf.com so you can upgrade and re-tune your current board. Just follow the simple steps and coat the bottom, rails and fins on your board every 2-3 months.

Continue your search for perfection at BWSurf.com or nanotunenow.com

2011 Airush Gear Preview

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:45:00 -0500

Biggest news for 2011
The biggest Airush news for 2011 is of course the whole range...It’s Big! The most complete range in kiteboarding, the Airush brand provides every type of product imaginable for any type of conditions. The goal for 2011 was to introduce products that are specific to conditions and riding styles understanding that one size sometimes does not fit all. Snowkites to C-Kites to One Strut Kites; Skimboards to Competition Freestyle boards to Raceboards. All in high quality well thought out designs and innovations for the 2011 season.

Highlights and new technology

Lighter is better. The goal for the 2011 season was to provide new patent pending constructions in our kite and board lines. The Active surf range provides a new look in stringer technology. A Carbon I-Beam running through the center of the new Active construction allows for a board that has flex and weight properties of a PU surfboard with the durability of our flytech II construction. The FS Team employs an extremely lightweight construction method boasting a competition standard freestyle board starting at 1.8 kgs. In kites, the Airush One is at its bare minimum. A new design to the market using only 1 strut for reduced weight that increases turning speed and relaunching making it an awesome wave kite especially in lightwinds.

Please list all kite models with a brief three sentence description and date available in shops.
All Available Mid October

Access: Taking design into a realm of unprecedented innovation and kite evolution, the Access breaks barriers by introducing an entirely new kite category Short Line Kiting. With a kite that is fast and lively enough to power stroke on 9M lines, yet stable and predictable enough to allow for getting your first rides, whether on 12m lines or 6m lines, this versatile kite is bred for exploration.

Lithium: Standing out as the kite that can do it all, the Lithium suits any level rider, offering the best in effortless relaunch, pivotal turning and smooth power delivery. Designed to excel in performance where it matters most, the Lithium integrates the V2 bridle system for the ultimate riding experience with simplicity and safety always in the forefront. When every session counts, let the Lithium change your perspective on what high performance really feels like.

Lithium LW: With a newly designed 3-strut system, the 2011 Lithium LW weighs less, enabling it to turn quicker, relaunch easier and achieve unmatched low-end power. Designed to be ridden 1-2 meters smaller than your previous lightwind kite, gone are the days spent waiting on the beach for that extra few knots of wind. Paired with a light wind specific board, the Lithium LW will have you blasting around and going upwind, while other kites are left sitting lifeless on the beach.

One: For riders from beginner to expert, the Airush design team worked tirelessly to make the ONE extremely responsive, stable and predictable while still remaining easy to use and dependable. Up to 30% lighter, the ONE still maintains all of the superior qualities of its multistrut brethren, resulting in the ultimate kite for light or strong wind conditions. When absolute perfection is effortless, ONE kite is all you need.

Varial: Massive lift and increased hangtime contribute to the superior feel of the Varial, while the enhanced jumping features and ACTive Engineering (Active Conical Tension), the most stable and forgiving platform available, allows the rider to focus on their riding rather than the kite. With the confidence that comes with extraordinary design, the 2011 Varial takes the rider beyond limits and to new heights, each and every time.

VaporX: True to the high performance attributes of the Vapor III, the Vapor X adds 4-line simplicity; increased lift characteristics, and more parked power to the proven Vapor platform. With an all-new canopy profile designed for fast turning speed, wake style pop and all terrain fun, the Vapor X is a new generation kite bred for high-performance kiteboarding, while remaining intuitive and easy to use. Offering limitless possibilities on the water, the Vapor X compels every rider to take their riding to the next level.

Razor: Designed to be flown on 5 lines, the Razor has a clean profile and increased aspect ratio for increased lift and hang time, while still retaining incredible unhooked performance. With aggressive graphics, Airush’s hardcore construction details, and smooth but deliberate power delivery, the Razor is sure to make its mark as the true C-kite aficionado’s C-kite.

Crest: Designed with snow kite guru and world record holder, Jerome Josserand, the 2011 Crest has been redesigned for higher levels of performance and reliability with a new canopy outline, more stable wingtips, added reinforcements and a reduction in overall weight. Maintaining a strong focus on safety, the Crest offers a new bar release system and a more durable flying line connection system. For
2011, the Crest has definitively emerged as the ultimate kite that will keep you riding the limit and soaring without bounds.

Outback: The Outback has been developed to allow all riders maximum enjoyment on land or snow. Successful in creating a kite that excels in these areas, the Airush design team worked hard to further enhance the great qualities of this kite. Whether with a first time rider or a multi-season veteran, the 2011 Outback shines with refinements such as improved stability, faster turning speed, more reinforcements and a lighter weight to create a ram air kite perfect for all skill levels.

Boards

All Available Mid October

Wakeskate: Compelling every rider to explore another realm, the Airush SKC Wakeskate is the ultimate strapless board for skate inspired tricks, terrain park riding and strapless freestyle fun. Versatile and incredibly stable, the proportioned weight distribution provides predictability and control in even the windiest conditions, giving riders the ability to explore new tricks and bridging the divide between skate and surf with ease.

Skim: The Airush Skim board stands alone as the first of a new generation of kite specific skims that combine a skim rocker, hybrid outline and wave inspired rails to create the quintessential strapless board for light-wind cruising, small wave bashing and skate and surf inspired freestyle. The combination of a wide parallel outline, pivotal tail and late entry rocker allow for an early planing board that is very versatile
and easy to use.

Switch: The Switch delivers dynamic freeride performance through a precise combination of shape and construction technology. The progressive flex curve is achieved through the tapered ABS rail, 3D stepped deck profile and abs flex tips. These work in conjunction with the multizone biotech core which comprises a stiffer Poplar center section for enhanced durability and response, with the Balsa outer section for reduced weight. This innovative core is the basis for our industry leading two year warranty.

Protoy: The Protoy is suited to the rider looking for refined freestyle performance,
with riding comfort normally only found in a freeride board. The secret lies in the unique double concave bottom combined with the new generation three stage rocker and three stage outline. The double concave bottom shape works in conjunction with the new three stage rocker for a softer ride through chop and a more directional feel for stability at speed, this is further enhanced by the new three stage outline due to the more parallel hip section.

X-Over: The Airush X-Over offers the ultimate blend of carving, jumping and control while being the twintip of choice in surf & heavy chop. This is the result of the unique shaped ABS rail, bottom shape and X-Over specific outline. The bottom shape comprises of a double concave centre section which ensures a smooth ride, with the spiral V in the tips enabling the rider to move from rail to rail easily and the compact flip tips which direct spray away from the rider and prevent the nose from pearling.

FS: The 2011 FS is the result of intensive R&D with our pro team. The contrasting styles of Tom Hebert & Alex Pastor have resulted in range that performs in a diverse range of conditions and a solid evolution in design. The new three stage outline features more parallel tips, enabling the rider to hold the edge for more pop, working in combination with a slightly shorter overall planform for 2011.

FS Team: This unique development is the result of a complete rethink of the production process, along with the huge innovation found in the quad layer multiaxial 100% carbon construction. This comprises two layers of T700 Carbon on each side of the board with combination of uni directional and Biaxial carbon fibre. The result is the most finely tuned freestyle board on the market today starting at 1.8 kg.

FS Park: Jibs, kickers, wallrides, or flatwater, the 2011 Airush FS Park is here
to give you the necessary tool to become your own menace to society.
The Park gives you the optimal benefit of planning power without
compromising the feel of a standard wakeboard. The bottom contour
includes a moderate rocker allowing it to excel in upwind ability,
pop, and smooth landings.

Quad: Developed with emerging wave talent Bear Karry, the Quad reflects the demands of the Southern Californian conditions, excelling in cross onshore to cross offshore conditions. Best for mushy waves, where it really out-performs a tri-fin is on a flatter section or softer surf. The narrower relative width and intermediate rocker make the Quad better suited to faster, top to bottom down the line riding when compared to a traditional small wave board or fish.

Choptop:
• 5’3 - The original choptop concept started with the 5’3 by setting out to combine the abilities of a small wave surfboard with the throw around factor of a skimboard. Wide tail and flat rocker entry for incredible light wind performance, with great high wind control due to the “over the board” rider geometry.
• 5’8 - For medium to light wind and heavier rider, the 5’8’’ offers enough buoyancy for paddle surfing up to an advanced 85 kg rider in small surf (up to shoulder high). The snub nose outline keeps the volume forward allowing for maximum planning.
• 5’8 LW - Airush introduces the Widebody concept to surf with the Choptop LW. This unique design pushes the envelope of extreme light wind wave performance by allowing you to ride aggressively in the most marginal conditions.

Compact: At 6 inches shorter than your regular board, the Compact fits into every section of any conceivable wave. At the same time has the stability and drive to deal with high wind and bigger wave conditions. The compact introduces a new generation of power wave riding.

Converse: The pure surf inspiration of the Converse delivers a thoroughbred shape that enables you to ride more vertically, with more snap than imaginable. The new shapes are slightly shorter with a fuller nose for increased drive in aggressive bottom turns along with a flatter tail section for more speed and drive.

Sector: The obvious increase in width enables the Sector to get going earlier, and continue planning in absolutely minimal wind conditions. Developed to be used in conjunction with kites such as the Airush Lithium LW and ONE, the combined innovation enables you to ride the relatively smaller sizes than traditional light wind kites from around the 7 knot threshold.

Monaro: Airush takes a unique view towards the development of the Monaro by introducing a custom carbon sandwich design that is updated every six months. The four man team races and tests actively throught the year in USA, Europe and South Africa in an ongoing prototype process sharing insight and feedback with each other and the design team. Final designs are immediately forwarded to our custom sandiwhc line and the fastest prototype is duplicated in production.

Chocolate Series: The Chocolate series represents a significant step in developing a
performance product that will set a path to evolving Kiteboard and Surfboard construction towards more environmentally conscious constructions.
We looked at fundamentals such as an EPS core versus a PU Core, SAN Foam sandwich instead of PVC and introducing a second sandwich layer of wood to absolutely minimize the resin and glass content. The Chocolate series is clear finished to avoid needing to paint the outer layer. This complex construction combined with unique materials, ensure a high performance product using the most environmentally friendly options available.

Is there’s anything exciting you would like to tell us that did not fit within one of the question’s parameters, please feel free to state that here.

I LIKE TO STATE THAT SBC SHARES THE STOKE! Oh yeah, and check out the new AFT III side lacing system with a completely streamline and integrated chasis giving you the most comfort and adjustment from one pads and straps system!

Website address: www.airush.com

2012 North Dyno

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:55:00 -0500

The Dyno stretches the boundaries of what was thought to be possible in a light wind inflatable kite. Utilizing the highest quality lightweight fabrics the Dyno’s specialized construction allows it to fly in super light wind and create more efficient power than a heavier kite of equal size. The Dyno’s optimized canopy profile offers unparalleled upwind performance and superior low-end grunt for steady and predictable parked power that carries you through wind lulls. Besides it’s impressive light wind abilities many of Dyno’s free-ride attributes, like steady bar feel, quick turning and generous depower, also happen to make it the number one choice for our world cup race team. With multiple world championship race titles to its name, the Dyno is clearly a highly competitive course-racing kite, but it is also equally at home free-riding and boosting huge jumps.

http://www.northkites.com

Have you tried the 2012 North Dyno? Let us know what you think with your own review below.

Airush Lab: Airush Sector V3

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:32:00 -0400

Clinton Filen takes you through the Sector V3 range. The original widebody design for the ultimate lightwind board. Check out the newest updates and changes.

Check the tech at http://www.airush.com/blog/blog/airush-introduces-the-sector-v3

Tools Of The Trade: Dimitri and Cameron Maramenides

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:42:00 -0400

Tools of the Trade: Dimitri and Cameron Maramenides
If you’ve spent any time in Cape Hatteras, NC or on the kiteboarding forums, you will have certainly met Dimitri Maramenides. He is very enthusiastic about his company, Epic Kites, and the gear he helps create. We caught up with Dimitri to find out what gear he and his young son, Cameron, use.

KITES:
We have three and a half models of kites: Renegade, Screamer, Judge, and a fourth one coming out soon called The Racer. I love the Screamer. It was designed to do all tricks and then, once done the trick, be able to land. The Screamers are my jumping-hang-time-board-off-handlepass kites. I designed the Renegades as my surf kite, but I don’t advertise it as a surf kite because it’s also an amazing all-around kite: easy relaunch, incredible stability, and fantastic feel in the air. When I travel to a place that has only waves, then I take my Renegade (7, 9, 11 m and maybe 13 m). If I travel to a place with no waves, I take only my Screamer (7, 9, 12, 14 m—or just 7, 10, 14 m, depending). But if the place I travel to has waves and flats, I take my Renegade (7, 11 m), Screamer (9, 12, 14 m), plus my Droid, Spartan and one of my Reef boards.
   Cameron came up with his own kite called the Junior Pro 4. When the wind dies down he uses the Renegade five-, seven- and nine-metre, and the freestyle Judge eight-metre C kite. He rides all the kites with his Junior Pro bar that comes with the Junior Pro 4 kite. I don’t let him use the Screamers yet because I don’t want him to land on a tree or building.

BARS:
I ride Epic Kites’ Xtend bar. You only need one bar for all your kites, as Xtend bar can be a 55- or 45-centimetre bar depending on what kite you want to use.
   Cameron uses the Junior Pro bar, which is a 40- or 45-centimetre bar. He loves it because it has a small diameter for his hands, and the centre line (CL ) is very small so he can reach the bar or the de-power strap. But now he wants a bigger CL so he can do handlepasses.

TWIN-TIP BOARDS:
My favourite board is the Spartan 129 x 39 cm. I’m 180 lbs., and I designed this board for 20- to 40-knot wind conditions. It tracks incredibly well, has amazing pop, is very loose but also very light. The problem is that when it gets to be 30 knots, it’s hard to do board-offs because the board is so light, and this is why I have another, much heavier custom board. I also use the Droid 135 x 41 cm. I love this board for 15- to 22-knot conditions. It does the same thing the Spartan does but in lighter conditions. The Oxygen 135 x 47 cm is another board I use in light conditions; it looks big but rides like a small board. I usually use the Oxygen in six to 14 knots, and most of the time I use it with the Infinity or the Screamer 14 m.
   Cameron came out with his new Junior Pro 110 x 34 cm board, a mini version of the Spartan. He loves it. This board is excellent for small riders who are under 110 lbs. for 20 to 38 knots.

SURFBOARDS:
In the waves I use the Reef 5’7” for light conditions (eight to 20 knots max), mushy surf, and in stronger winds (18 to 35 knots) with bigger waves I use the 5’11” Reef. Don’t get me wrong, you can use these boards in any kind of wind, but I found these conditions to be best suited for these different types of boards. We’re also coming out with the Reef V2 soon.
   Cameron loves the Reef 5’7” for strapless riding. He also has a 5’0” custom, but it’s not in production yet.

HARNESS:
I use the Dakine harness, but after a lot of demand from customers worldwide asking us for an Epic harness, we came up with the Epic Harness. It’s a waist harness that comes in two colours—red and yellow. Cameron wants us to make him an extra-small one because right now they come in small, medium, large, extra-large.

WETSUITS:
Cameron and I use Hyperflex wetsuits, which are very nice. And no! We are not going to make a wetsuit.

TRAVEL BAG:
In order to travel with all this gear, we came out with the Travel Bag that has two partitions and can fit seven kites and three twin-tip boards. We call it “medical equipment” because airlines don’t charge for medical equipment, but they’ve started charging for Golf Bags.

epickites.com

2011 Nobile Kiteboarding

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:19:00 -0400

Since the very beginning Nobile Kiteboarding is driven by the pursuit of revolutionary innovations, highest quality, technical superiority, best performance and on–water fun. Every single one Nobilekiteboarding branded product is the effect of our experience in design, construction and passion for kiteboarding. Our dedication to provide premium products drive us to search for new and one-of-a-kind approaches. Each year we create unparalleled selection of unique high end products that stand out from any other company in the industry.

Highlights

In 2010/11 collection you will find not only the range of still unequaled boards with 3D Construction that already proved it’s superior quality and performance, but also a line of totally new products like our Double Hydro Dynamic, Flying Carpet and extended Skim series.

New Technologies

Pre-stress

The idea of pre-stress was probably already known architects in ancient Rome and was used during the construction of the Colosseum. Prestressing means the intentional creation of permanent stresses in a structure for the purpose of improving its performance under various service conditions. Nobile Pre-stress is the technology inspired by our 3D Construction. Now we took this famous solution and, what seemed to be impossible, upgraded it to the next level. Pre-stress allows us to load the board with energy already during the production process. Storing the energy in the board means it’s even more reactive, responsive and livelier. It also allows us to build thinner (means: lighter!!! ) but yet still more durable than any other boards on the market.

3-D Construction

Today’s riding styles result in heavy impacts and with the wider stances currently used, such loading can result in the board “inverting” and the rocker becoming convex, which normally leads to the tips catching and the rider coming to an unwanted stop. Since 2006, when we introduced the Elliptical Concave, we’re still improving the technology that combines the advantages of both a flat-bottomed board and concave. The 3D Construction allows us to create differing flex, both longitudinally (along its length) and laterally (across its width), throughout the board. Our unique and yet still unequalled technology allows the board to arch across its width, providing extraordinary comfort on landing. In the same time it maintains stiffness along board`s length ensuring there is no flattening of the rocker on impact, thus vastly reducing the chances of the board catching. Reducing the longitudinal flex has the additional advantage that the rocker line can be made fuller without the resulting loss of speed normally associated with this type of change. The deeper rocker eliminates spray and reduces the possibility of nose-diving when riding through chop and waves at speed.

Boards

2HD – DOUBLEHYDRODYNAMIC

FLAT AREA

It’s SUPER FAST – allows you to glide as fast as a cheetah! It takes 70% of the board’s hydrodynamic profile, allowing you to push the speed limits ever further.

OUTSIDE ROCKER

This is a shape that not only gives you supper grip and edge on turns, but also directs the unwanted water sprays away from your face.

TRANSITION AREA

A perfect bridge between the flat area and the outside rocker – just to make sure everything goes as smooth as You have planned.

POP GROWER

It’s like pieces of semtex mounted on tip and tail of the board to give you explosive pop, so you can now fly higher than ever.

PRE-STRESS

This marvelous technology allows us to load the boards with energy, so they are even more reactive and responsive.

DoubleHydroDynamic is the next step in kiteboarding evolution. 2HD it’s an exceptional and unrivaled mix of technological advancement with long experience in creating high qualitative products. This project is a synergy of advantages of our best boards in all range. Super speed and explosive pop are the main advantages of this model.

Taking what’s essential in Hydro and Aerodynamic we developed this unique design of double-profiled bottom. This one of a kind shape was created to bring the most performance to advanced riders. The result is the fastest and best performing board in Nobile range. 2HD is even that good, it may easily compete with race boards. Twin Tip faster than a traditional race board? It has to be the 2HD!

Over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. 70% is also the amount of 2HD’s hydrodynamic base profile we did flat. Inside flatter profile makes the board extremely fast (less water resistance) and increases longitudinal stability.

The other 30% of the 2HD’s surface is outside deeper rocker. It increases versatility and edge grip. What is more, it also dramatically reduces unwanted spray in choppy water, makes your riding smother, easier and more comfortable.

DoubleHydroDynamic is also loaded with Nobile Pre-Stress technology. During the production process we “freeze and store” energy in the board construction. This energy is then for your disposal just when you need it. It benefits with more pop, faster reaction, better grip and maneuverability. This technology also allows us to make boards lighter than ever. We also added our explosive Pop Grover tech for sky-high jumps.

Features:

- Extremely fast hi-performance all round board for demanding riders

- NEW DoubleHydroDynamic profile increases versatility, control and speed

- Pre-stress technology for improved response

- Pop Grower tech for massive jumps

- Lightweight construction

Who is it for?

Advanced riders looking for:

- Best performing board on the market

- Maximum versatility

- Hi-performance all-round board

- Maximum comfort & speed

- Controlled and Smoothest landings

- Excellent Upwind Performance

SIZES:

131x40

134x42

137x44

50Fifty

The 50fifty is the most powerful force for performing new school moves with precision, control and aggression. This board is something for those who desire a pure wakestyle board that provides huge levels of control at speed, still feeling solid aggressive carving and unbelievable POP combined with butter smooth landings in all water conditions.

The 50fifty is designed with Mike “The Knife” Blomvall for all the new school enthusiasts looking for the board to launch huge tricks with technical precision.

Features:

- 3-D Construction mould for even more advanced flex control

- Wide stance options for more stable riding position

- Multiple insert spacing for footstraps and conventional wake bindings

- Fin Shims for stronger fin+board connection

- Smaller fins for looseness and control on landing

Who is it for?

Advanced freestyle Riders looking for:

- New School style board

- Wake Binding compatibility

- Aggressive riding

- Huge pop

- Easy and controlled landings

SIZES:

139x40

140x41

141x43

NHP

Since the beginning, the Nobile High Performance (earlier 666) has always been the product of evolution. This model repeatedly win tests in magazines and has always great feedback from riders.

The NHP is the board of choice for everybody who's looking an exceptional, big air freestyle machine, without compromising on comfort and upwind performance, making it ideal for everybody who desire high power riding, explosive POP and controlled, smooth landings.

Features:

- 3-D Construction mould allows for even more advanced flex control

- Hydrodynamic Rocker Line dramatically reduces spray in choppy water

- Dynamic Asymmetrical Shape increases versatility and comfort

- Wide stance options for more stable riding position

- Fin Shimms for stronger fin+board connection

Who is it for?

Freestyle and Advanced riders looking for:

- Unlimited performance

- Maximum versatility

- Big air freestyle

- Comfort and speed

- Controlled, smooth landings

- Great Upwind Abilities

SIZES:

125x38

128x39

131x40

134x42

137x44

Also available in white.

NHP WMN

Girls edition was designed with our team rider, PKRA pro-tour winner Asia Litwin especially for girls riding style. All the men’s model advantages packed in the way girls like it. This is not just the standard version packed in different colours. The NHP WMN is all adjusted to meet women’s needs and demands. More flex and narrow stance options than in men’s version makes it a great all-round woman’s board.

The NHP 3D is the board of choice for girls who's looking for an exceptional, big air freestyle machine, without compromising on comfort and upwind performance. It’s just ideal for girls with desire high power riding, explosive POP and controlled, smooth landings.

2011 NHP WMS features:

- All 3-D Construction mould allows for even more advanced flex control

- Hydrodynamic Rocker Line dramatically reduces spray in choppy water

- Dynamic Asymmetrical Shape increases versatility and comfort

- Narrow stance options for more stable girls riding position

- Fin Shimms for stronger fin+board connection

- Softer flex than in men’s version

Who is it for?

- Freestyle and Advanced female riders looking for:

- Unlimited Performance

- Maximum versatility

- Big air freestyle

- Comfort and Speed

- Controlled, Smooth landings

- Great Upwind Abilities

SIZES:

125x38

128x39

131x40

XTR

The 2011 Nobile NHP XTR (eXTRa range) is performance board created to extend your riding time at the lower end of the wind scale. Dynamic Asymmetrical Shape combined with Hydrodynamic Rocker provides incredible early planning, outstanding upwind performance, effortless carving and endless control.

Now you don’t need a smaller board when the wind strengthen. Traditional light wind machines offer a seriously compromised “fun factor” however application of Nobile’s Human Concept and legendary flex control ensures that comfort and control remain paramount even as the wind starts to pick up.

Features:

- Hydrodynamic Rocker Line extremely reduces spray in choppy water

- Dynamic Asymmetrical Shape increases versatility and comfort

- Wider stance options for more stable riding position

- Fin Shimms for stronger fin + board connection

Who is it for?

Free-riders and heavy-weight riders looking for:

- Extending the Wind Range

- High Performance Light-Wind Board

- Superb Upwind Abilities

- Comfort and Control

SIZES:

140x46

143x48

The 2011 T5 is created to rise your riding to the next level in the easiest way available, a perfect freeride combination from the beginner to advanced rider.

T5 is an easy to ride twin tip for your on-water pleasure! This multi-universal machine makes your progress faster and more effective.

In new 2011 T5 Nobile´s Human Concept made possible the ultimate synergy between rider and material, harmonizing the needs, requirements and limitations of our bodies. T5 is the best board for your kite evolution and fast progress.

Features:

- Improved flex control

- Woodcore + honeycomb technology

- Dynamic Asymmetrical Shape increase versatility and comfort

- Wide stance options for more stable riding position

- Fin Shims for stronger fin+board connection

- High visibility orange accessories to assist in locating the board in the water

Who is it for?

Intermediate and free-riders looking for:

- All-round Board

- Easy handling and comfort

- Increasing skills

- Good upwind performance

SIZES:

125x38

128x39

131x40

134x41

137x42

140x44

WMS SIZES:

125x38

128x39

131x40

FLYING CARPET

Flying Carpet is another NEW superb light wind machine. The name of it explains it all. The synergy of advanced technology and excellent shape give the rider unmatched upwind performance and previously unattainable light wind fun with unexpected freeride possibilities.

We use pre-stress technology that makes this boards livelier and more reactive. During the production process we “Freeze and store” energy in the board construction. This energy is then for your disposal just when you need it. It benefits with more pop, faster reaction, better grip, maneuvering and anything you want to use it for. Pre-stress also allows us to make boards lighter than ever. It’s not an another truck on water!

Flying Carpet is also good board for the first timers and kite schools. It makes your learning easier, faster and more comfortable.

Features:

- Pre-stress technology for improved reactiveness

- Elliptical Progressive Concave

- Pre-stress tech

- High visibility orange accessories to assist in locating the board in the water

- Fin Shims

- Reasonable price

Who is it for?

Beginners and Intermediate riders looking for:

- Light wind board

- Comfort

- Excellent Upwind Performance

SIZES:

160x46

NBL

The 2011 NBL is a board with fantastic early planning and excellent upwind characteristics, along with supreme comfort and durability. Our modern Twin Tip design with advanced flex control at an inexpensive price, representing great value for money and surprisingly good performance. Whether you are fresh out of kite school, an occasional rider, or simply looking for a board that balances progressive performance, ease of handling and superb value then look no further than the NBL. It’s the board designed for those who want to push their riding skills to next level and explore.

Features:

- Elliptical Progressive Concave

- Improved flex

- Wide stance

- High visibility orange accessories to assist in locating the board in the water

- Fin Shims

Who is it for?

Beginners and Intermediate riders looking for:

- All condition board

- Easy maneuvering

- Comfort

- Excellent Upwind Performance

SIZES:

130x38

134x39

138x40,5

142x42

SKIM

Our Skim Board was the very first kite specific on the market, and after four years continues to introduce a new, exciting and fun element of kiteboarding. This strapless design, featuring a relatively parallel-sided outline with optional fins, to provide grip and upwind drive is the best alternative activity for intermediate and expert riders in light winds and less than perfect conditions.

If you want to stay on the water and try new technical moves whilst others are heading to the beach or only riding from left to right and back then it’s time you tried one!

Features:

- Integrated, thermo formed pads provide all around foot traction with reduced possibility of stumbling on their raised edges

- Optional fins, so you can chose a traditional skate feeling or opt for more grip and ease of use

- 3-D finger grips to make grabs easier

- Un-paralleled light wind performance

- UV resistant, textured top foil increases traction and protects colours from the sun

Who is it for?

Riders looking for:

- Alternative activity

- Strapless riding

- Light wind fun

- Riding small waves

- Improving skills in a new direction

SIZES:

130x50,5

WOOD SKIM

Wood Skim is another new tool in our line. Wooden version has more wave ability thanks to pre-stress tech that makes board livelier and more reactive. All wooden skimboards feature skate-style foil at the top for better feet grip. Wood skim is also a perfect tool for your fun in waterparks.

Wood Skim comes in 3 sizes, so you may choose the perfect version for your joy:

1. Standard (130x49,5 cm) – Similar shape and size as regular, airex skim.

2. Hybrid (139x47 cm) – middle size skimboard for extended fun. It features increased stability and maneuverability than the standard one. This board

3. Skim Wave (154x47 cm) – the name explains it all. Take this one and discover new aspects of fun and the surf style of kiteboarding.

2011 SKIM features:

- Pre-stress technology for improved reactiveness

- Optional fins meaning you can chose a traditional skate feeling or opt for more grip and ease of use

- 3-D finger grips make grabs easier

- Skate-style foil at the top for better grip

- Un-paralleled light wind performance

Who is it for?

Riders looking for:

- Alternative activity

- Strapless riding

- Light wind fun

- Riding small waves

- Improving skills in a new direction

NOBILE KITEBOARDING TEAM:

Joanna Asia Litwin

Eli Zarka

Mike “The Knife” Blomvall

Remi Muem

Pop Grover

This special shape cut is an another new technology that helps us on our way to the best board flex management ever. It’s like pieces of semtex mounted on tip and tail of the board to give you explosive pop, so you can now fly higher than anyone else on the spot.

Dynamic Asymmetrical Outline:
You can’t escape the fact that kite-boarding stances are not symmetrical; can you ride the same on your toe side and heel side edges? If not, then you have to ask yourself why your board has the same outline and fin position on the heel side and toe side edges.
Dynamic Asymmetrical Outline is designed around their Human Concept, performance that is destined to enhance and work in harmony with your natural physiology, not fight against it.
We have tailored the outline on your stronger heel side rail to have more grip, better upwind performance and maximum POP. On the weaker toe side, we have increased the curve radius and bought the fins closer to your feet improving the carving potential and comfort factor of the board when riding switch whilst at the same time radically decreasing the foot pressure needed to hold your edge.

Hydrodynamic Rockerline

A conventional rocker with it’s flatter centre section and increasing radius towards the tail causes the water to accelerate along it’s length as the distance it has to travel increases, this acceleration causes drag on the board. Our hydrodynamic rocker contains most of it’s radius in the centre of the board. The straight section enables the water to maintain it’s direction of travel all the way along the bottom of the board thus the drag from the water is reduced to a minimum as it’s travelling the shortest distance possible. We also have also tweaked the heel-side outline and moved the footstrap inserts to ensure minimal interference with water release on the rail - a major cause of spray.The major benefits of Hydrodynamic Rockerline are reduced water drag – increased board speed.

Eliptical Progressive Concave

Exclusively featured on all Nobile kiteboards since we introduced the concept in 2006, our Elliptical Progressive Concave combines the advantages of both a flat-bottomed board and concave. The tail area of the board is completely flat allowing the board to flex in the controlled fashion defined by us during testing to enhance control, comfort and performance whilst the centre section of the board has up to 5mm of concave providing earlier planning, extra rail grip and a smoother ride. It also allows to control much more accurately the flex in different areas of the board.

CAV - Complete Anti-Vibration Technology

It’s a little known fact that proper flex control in a kiteboard is not solely restricted to the decks overall deflection in response to pressure. Variable flex zones, flex response speeds and vibration control are all equally important factors. Fast flex response speeds can raise the performance characteristics of a board but can cause rail 'chatter' at speed leading to a loss of rail grip and a general lack of comfort. Reducing this 'chatter' or vibration through the use of advanced core materials and laminates provides exceptional rail grip in all conditions and increases ride comfort and control.

UV Resistant Foils

Having the best performing (and best looking?) board on the market won’t stop the feelings of disappointment if the colours start to fade after 6 months use. Our UV resistant foils ensures your board will look as good in six months as the day it came out of the wrapper.

KITES

T5 - KOINOBORI

The progress continues - once again we redesigned and improved the T5. To have it done properly, we've teamed up with aerodynamic engineers (their everyday job is to design plane wings) and together we've remade the T5 kite. The main goal was to improved the kite performance, while simultaneously maintaining those T5 characteristics that you liked so much. The resulting new, smoother profile of T5 – KOINOBORI is even more aerodynamic then the previous version.

We’ve taken what’s the aerodynamics science has to offer and implemented it into this kite's construction. The result surpassed all our expectations so much, that we ended up upgrading it`s name. All aerodynamics-driven improvements start from the new profile. We've redesigned the leading edge area, included new, flattened Wing Tips, thinner bridles and steering lines. T5 - KOINOBORI is now much faster, and more stable at the same time, even in gusty wind conditions. Amazingly enough, the lift and hang time have also improved greatly. Incredible low-end wind performance also allows you to use kites smaller than usual, so now you have more versatile tool for your kiteboarding passion.

Additionally, side-strut kite valves have been moved to the outer sides of the struts, to gain the “catch – free” location. Now it’s almost impossible for the bridles to catch the valve when launching the kite.

Already impressed? Breathe slowly, because that’s still not the end ... T5-KOINOBORI also features an innovative, reinforced bridles attachment points. The kite is now equipped with double layer of Dacron where it's most exposed to risk of breaking the leading edge. Reinforced V-attach mounting system featured in the crucial point of bridle’s attach area – makes the kite stronger. Good news for Kiteloop fans – no more problems with this feature!

The T5-KOINOBORI features superior, direct-feeling control, improved predictability, and perfectly balanced bar pressure. The huge wind range, lift and hang time remain, but with a massive improvement to the low-end power and re-launch capabilities.

If you desire an easy re-launching kite with outstanding power range, smooth and precise handling, focused on freeride but also suitable for big air, waves and even unhooked freestyle, then the T5-KOINOBORI is a perfect choice.

IMPROVEMENTS:

- New aerodynamic profile

- Thinner bridle lines

- Thinner steering lines

- Smooth leading edge profile

- Redesigned, flattened wing tip

- Reinforced, double Dacron bridle attachment points

FEATURES:

• Incredible stability

• Zero overshooting even in gusty wind conditions

• Improved lift & hang time

• Smooth and easy power stroke

• More low-end power

• Quick re-launch capabilities

• “catch-free” valves location

• Amazing Low-End wind Power

- Fully featured kite bag

SIZES:

5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 m2

N62 V2

After success with the N62, Nobile Kiteboarding introduced the N62 V 2.0 all-round kite - a more compact kite to its predecessor with improved turning speed, more constant power and progression focus, plus thanks to added reinforcements, the kite is now more durable and impact resistant.

The new N62 delivers the latest generation of innovative design into the Nobile kite range - it's compact shape and reduced aspect ratio offer super stability, as well as delivering easy power control, direct handling and instant relaunch.

The new N62 is an ideal kite for riders who value ease and simplicity in their kiting, and for those who ride in demanding conditions where control is paramount.

The N62 V2.0 features reduced sweep through the wing tips (compared to a traditional delta), ensuring phenomenal low-end performance, massive wind range and pivotal turning without the indirect, imprecise handling of a traditional delta.

This kite delivers “Park and Ride” ease, allowing you to just concentrate on riding. It is extremely forgiving due to an excellent 'sink back' characteristic (the ability to drop back into the wind, instead of luffing and falling out the sky, should you get yourself too far under the kite).

However, if the kite does get wet, the most effective relaunch system ever will have it back up in the air with the minimum of rider technique or effort.

Reduced strut configuration, uncomplicated bridle and SMART pump II make rigging simple for all. The single point attachment for the front and rear lines means the rider doesn’t have to work out the different flying lines positions – there is only one universal position.

The N62 V 2.0 also benefits from the excellent performance, quality and safety characteristic of the innovative Nobile Kiteboarding control bar and the revolutionary Fulcrum quick release. With ease at the forefront of its design, the N62 V 2.0 will give maximum safety and confidence to riders, pushing riding skills to the next level.

Whatever your style or ability and whatever the riding conditions are, the new N62 introduces a new era of versatility and all-terrain performance.

Who is it for?

Beginners and Intermediate riders looking for an easy to ride all-round kite.

FEATURES:

- Easy kite for fun in all conditions

- 3 Strut Layout - less weight, better agility, faster inflation/deflation

- D2 - Delta Evolution Shape - impressive pivotal turning and progressive power control

- Outstanding Safety

- Short De-Power Throw

- Park & Ride Handling

- Superior stability, easy power control, direct handling, and instant relaunch

- SMART Pump 2 Inflation System

- 100% De-power

- Simplified bridles

- Huge Wind Range

- Fully featured Kite bag

SIZES:

5 m2

7 m2

9 m2

11 m2

13 m2

NHP

With 2 years in the development, Nobile Kiteboarding is happy to present to you the all new NHP.

Recognizing the limitations of 5 line set ups we went back to the drawing board and drew on what we learnt from the recent N62 Delta concept development to create a completely new style of freestyle

kite.

The criteria for performance was clear…fast and direct feeling, axial turning, low bar pressure when un hooked and instant response to rider input, however we placed increased priority for 2010 on enhanced de-power range and super easy re-launch. Using a short and simple bridle also allowed us to reduce the size of the leading edge on the NHP resulting in a fast flying kite that climbs to the front of the window in all wind conditions…. An essential trait for a modern freestyle kite both for smooth power delivery after landing and for completing kite loops without

stalling.

The new 4 line NHP format has allowed us to increase light wind performance with no effect on the upper range handling and usability. For most riders this increased range will ensure no more than 2 kites are necessary for 90% of riding conditions.

The kites of choice for KPWT winner Mike Blomvall, the new NHP will allow you to push your limits and improve your level without the compromises normally inherent with such high performance equipment.

Sizes:

5 m2, 7 m2, 9 m2, 10 m2, 12 m2, 14 m2

IFS Pro

The IFS Pro is the multi-density molded pad resulting in a foot bed system where the compression “ramps up” through its depth of travel. Heavy impacts sees each layer becoming progressively firmer, preventing any possibility of your foot coming into contact with the board, yet maintains the direct feeling for perfect synergy between the rider and the board.

For 2011 we’ve totally redesigned both the footpad and the strap. The one of a kind, multi-destiny, 3D molded asymmetrical footpad not only adjust to rider’s unique foot shape, but also remembers it for the ultimate comfort and perfect fit. The new footpad consists of four PU layers. 3 of them: Medium, Hard and Soft with “remember the foot shape” feature are inside the footpad combined in perfect balance to give you maximum comfort and perform. All those layers are covered by very durable, external foam shaped in the most ergonomic way possible.

IFS PRO also features totally new, double Velcro ultra comfortable asymmetric strap. One hand, quick and easy adjustment combined with the ultimate fit makes the new IFS PRO one of the most rider-friendly footpad system on Planet Earth!

Extraordinary cushioning provides you ride smoother than ever, while the perfect fit makes the new IFS PRO so comfortable, you want to wear it instead of

your regular slippers!

FEATURES:

- New 3D ergonomic footpad that remembers foot shape and adjust to it for ultimate comfort

- New double Velcro strap system

- Quick and easy, one hand adjustment

- Perfect board control, performance and grip

- 2 screws quick mounting

- Full comfort shock absorption

- Ultimate dampening formulated to withstand repeated impacts

- Unique 4-density, ergonomic molded footpad

- Fits all feet

- High visibility, “rescue orange” coloring

FINS

Smaller fins for more looseness, maneuverability and stability on landing. To make fin+board connection indestructible we use special Fin Shims. 2011 Fins are made in extremely high visibility, Baywatch’s Mitch Buchannon favorite lifeguard “ultra orange” colour, so you always know when you dropped your precious kiteboard.

Q&A WITH RIDE KITE DESIGNER, DAMIEN GIRARDIN

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:08:00 -0400

Why did you make the Ride kite?

The concept of the Ride kite came from the idea that we wanted to design a kite that was truly dedicated to normal kiters. There are a large number of riders who are not necessarily riding everyday but want to have as much fun as possible every session.
With this targeted rider in mind, we spent quite a lot of time analyzing the way average and beginner kiters were riding. We noticed a couple key elements that had to be taken in account: Oversheeting the bar.
Letting go of the bar and using both hands to get the board under the feet.
Relaunching the kite by only steering the bar and not pulling on the flying lines
Just sheeting in to get going (while more advanced riders will sine the kite to generate power).
Riding underpowered.

The design objectives became then quite clear. I just had to make a kite that would excel at all of these elements!

What are the benefits of having only two struts?

The two struts idea came from the design objective that the kite had to have a superior low end, and for that you need a really light kite. Removing struts was then the obvious choice to save weight and build a kite that could fly well in light wind. There’s also the fact that having no center strut allows the center section of the kite to slightly expand, and lets the kite act a bit like a spinnaker that can harness more wind. The gain in low end is quite noticeable.

Since we kept quite a lot of depower on the kite, we’ve added a Nylon rod batten that stiffens the profile in its front area. This allows the profile to stay solid even at a low angle of attack.

How is it that the kite can be stable when it only has two struts?

Lots of people think that struts help the stability of a kite. I have a different vision. If you design a kite that is naturally well balanced, then you barely need any struts. To me, the secret of stable kite is that the tow point (the virtual force that results from all the loading forces created by the bridles) is aligned with the center of effort of the kite. The center of effort is the virtual point that is the net of all the vectors created by the wind pressure on the entire canopy of the kite. If these two virtual points are aligned, then your kite will be stable.

Why is the Ride so easy to start?

One of the big focuses in the design of this kite was to get an easy start by simply sheeting in and have the power delivery right away. For that, the overall geometry of the kite was taken into account. By having a slightly swept outline, the kite will generate power when you sheet in, since you allow for big angle of attack adjustments instantly. Because the center part of the kite is free of any strut, you have a slight deepening of the profile that gives you that extra “punch” at the start.

How is the Ride so stable on its wingtip when on the water?

First we made a wide wing tip to allow for a wide resting surface on the water. With the stability of the tow point of the kite, we worked on the bridles in order to make sure that they would not let the kite go to a too low angle of attack (the kite would then invert) and not too high (the kite would then pull too much on the rider).

Why is the Ride so easy to relaunch off the water?

In order to have outstanding water relaunch, we rounded the wing tip to minimize friction on the water. We also increased the size of the Anti-Stiction windows to allow for very quick water drainage of the wingtip when you relaunch your kite. The wing tip tips are swept back in order to provide a greater amount of leverage when you pull on one side of the kite. The kite can then relaunch by just pulling on one side of the bar, without having to reach the flying lines with your hands.

2011 North Kiteboarding Gear Preview

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:22:00 -0400

North Kiteboarding

Biggest News
At NKB we strive to make the most innovative, durable and user-friendly products on the market. It’s often the smallest details that make a difference and for 2011 we took a even closer look at all existing production details and continued to improve them one by one after a great quality advantage in 2010. The result of our extensive construction overhaul is what we call PROGRESSION 10: A very detailed catalogue of product features that are simple yet highly effective for quality and performance. By simplifying the production process and standardizing single parts of products throughout our range, the construction process and the number of parts needed has been greatly optimized. For the first time ever computer supported sewing machines have been implemented, guaranteeing a perfect stitch that is durable and of the highest quality. Cloth cutting processes have also been optimized, allowing us to use more expensive and higher quality materials that are lighter and more durable. Even the seam construction diagram has been changed from the classic zigzag stitch to a stronger triple zigzag. All top are now stitched and glued. The list of improvements is long and peppered with completely new innovations like the Fusion 10 and the new pigtails. Before any product can leave the factory, it must pass all quality inspections and check points. Every production process is defined in the smallest detail and accurately logged, allowing us to achieve the highest level of quality control for every single product. With the sum of innovations, new materials, construction changes and quality control procedures, the standard of our products has risen to an entirely new level.

Highlights
Think about two slightly different surfboards; both the same size, same shape, same rails, same fin configuration, yet subtly different in rocker or outline or fin angle. From just looking at them not one person in 100 could tell which is going to ride better. Yet after riding both you might easily determine that one is clearly superior. Now think about the 2010 Rebel and the 2011 Rebel. To even the trained eye they look almost exactly the same. Not one in 100 people could tell by looking at them what the differences are. Yet still, when we handed a 2011 Rebel 6 proto to one of our long-time Rebel customers for a test run, he thought it was a big step better than the older model. That's where kite design has arrived lately. You just
can't tell much by looking.

New Technologies
All 2011 North Kiteboarding Kites are now built using the highest quality Technoforce D” material. D” stands for Dynamic and Durability. Over the past years the North Kiteboarding R&D team has been experimenting with exclusive Technoforce D” material and developing it closely together with Teijin, the market leader in canopy materials. Multiple tests over the years have consistently produced the same results:
• Technoforce D” material offers a 40% higher breaking strength
• 70% higher tearing strength and also improved flying characteristics.
The main advantage of Technoforce D” is less broken kites due to way higher durability than other canopy materials – even after years of heavy use. One main reason for this is the unique coating system of the D” material. Each individual thread is first coated before being woven together and then completely coated again to produce the final material. This ensures that even if the outer coating is beginning to wear thin after years of heavy use and UV exposure, the individual threads are still protected and the material remains crisp and durable. Technoforce D” also features a unique double ripstop construction which significantly increases diagonal stiffness.
Because of the dynamic load transmissions placed on kites, stiffness has a massive influence on flying characteristics. Practical tests have shown better flying performance of kites with Technoforce D” compared to typical canopy cloth due to this higher diagonal stiffness. The stiffer structure of the entire kite geometry ensures that all kites feel more solid and crispy and react immediately on steering commands. Load transmissions working on 3 dimensional bodies are variable, besides warp and weft the stiffness has an massive influence on the flying characteristics. Due to the unique double ripstop construction, Technoforce D” offers a significant higher stiffness concerning diagonal stiffness then common clothing. This is the key to the stiffer structure of the whole kite geometry and this is the reason why all kites feels more solid, crispy and react immediately on steering commands.
From now on, all North Kiteboarding Kites are built with Technoforce D” material. There’s simply no better choice of canopy material.

Kite models

2011 Rebel 5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/14 : Available Now
Whether you're ripping apart waves, getting huge, lofty jumps or just blasting around on flat water, the 2011 Rebel is a stylish 5-line all-terrain free-ride/wave machine that gives you an unmatched "connected" feel and virtually limitless performance in all conditions.
The Rebel has become famous for it's direct de-power, smooth, predictable turning, even when de-powered, and short bar stroke. And this year is no exception! Flutter-free wingtips have again greatly improved the smoothness and consistency of the Rebel's turning. This smooth turning combined with optimized canopy profiles that are highly resistant to back-stalling provide seamless power delivery ideal for surfing. Improved bar feel and de-power in the small sizes means even more comfortable and accessible top-end so you can keep having fun even when the wind gets nuclear.
The loaded 5th line design provides the highest level of safety as well as being responsible for the unique short de-power stroke and direct lively feeling. Mainly due to the floating strut construction, the Rebels get a very direct and precise feeling – even when depowered. Our highest quality standard "Progression 10" construction means the Rebel is built to last and withstand the demands that serious riders put on their kites, as well as providing a long list of other slick details like back line V bungees and snag free strut ends. Now stop dreaming and go ride!

2011 Vegas 5/7/9/10/12/14: Available Now
The Vegas is a pure C-shape kite that embodies radical new-school riding and delivers the precision feel needed to stomp today's most technical tricks and challenge tomorrow's limits. A non-compromise design that delivers massive pop, steady pull and a predictable, direct turning radius. Pull the trigger on massive mega-loops or unhook and launch into a mobe with the assurance of rock-solid pull and steadiness. The Vegas delivers high de-power with the widest range of use although it’s a C-kite and gives you virtually no de-power for full-on powered wakestyle. The 2011 Vegas: Style and conviction without compromise.

2011 Fuse 5/7/9/10/12/14: Available January 2011
A dedicated free-ride/wave kite that already sparked the future of 4 line performance. The Fuse is a brand new kind of free-ride/wave kite with a huge wind range, light, predictable feel and great jumping qualities. Its unique and simple new Attack Control Bridle gives the Fuse smooth, reactive steering that is especially evident when de-powered, making it a huge step forward in terms of manoeuvrability and directness on 4 lines. Additionally, the new AC Bridle gives you the ability to safely and completely de-power the Fuse on its back similar to a 5 line system. Easily accessible low-end power and extreme resistance to back-stalling gives the Fuse great light wind capabilities while the AC Bridle ensures direct de-power and a crisp
bar feeling even in strong winds with easy push and pull power.

2011 Evo 4/5/6/7/8/9/10/12/14: Available January 2011
The Evo presents a seamless blend of free-ride and new-school characteristics. Offering an incredibly stable, C-oriented feel with the smoothness and de-power ability of a hybrid, the Evo allows you to bang out the latest unhooked freestyle tricks, jump high, throw kite loops and cruise with ease. Consistent, predictable power development and steady bar feel makes the Evo excellent for unhooking and super easy to throw kiteloops while providing tons of pop for throwing new-school moves! Super easy relaunch due to the round, compact shape of the Evo makes trying new moves all the more tempting. With added low end in the big sizes the Evo will also get you out on those light wind days to strut your stuff.

2011 Dyno 16/18: Available January 2011
Enter the Dyno. This is the light-wind kite. It offers parked power similar to a parafoil together with superior dynamic power, better depower, more nuanced bar feel, better turning speed and superior safety (owing to inflatable elements). A versatile kite that will fly on either four lines or five, it has superior performance and handling, light winds and lulls are handled with ease.

Board models

2011 Select 132/135/137: Available October 2010
Utilizing our unique and incredibly lightweight Textreme® carbon construction this board is simply magical under your feet and has a feel like no other! The Select is aggressive and incredibly responsive while still retaining insane control through the roughest and choppiest water. This precision flex and feel gives you crazy, explosive pop for new-school moves and big jumps and encourages you to step up your riding within minutes of stepping into the straps! If you're looking for a lively, fast and incredibly smooth ride, the Select is as good as it gets!

2011 Team Series 135/131/133/135: Available October 2010
The Team Series range is comprised of three high performance new-school boards, specifically designed for and tested by our progressive freestyle competition riders. With the team's ever-increasing demand on specific performance qualities, the Team Series continues to push the limits of board construction and development. Featuring the most aggressive and uncompromised flex patterns, the Team Series' stiff centre flex and bendy tips account for the ridiculous pop and solid, precise landings attained by these boards. Edgy and fast with excellent upwind performance, the Team Series is a powerful new-school tool that knows no limits when it comes to launching into the most tech tricks and stomping those impossible landings.

2011 Jaime 129/132/135/137: Available October 2010
Our longest running model to date, the Jaime is a product of years of refinements in both shape and high tech construction and just like the man himself is an absolute legend! The Jaime continues its legacy as a performance oriented freeride / newschool twin tip with an emphasis on early planing, comfort and speed. The stiff center and flexy tips help the Jaime retain positive grip and powerful pop for tech tricks and jumps, yet still blaze through the chop with smoothness and ease. In a nutshell, the Jaime is a stylish, high-performance all-rounder that adapts to nearly all conditions it encounters.

2011 X-Ride 129/133/136/140: Available October 2010
The X-Ride remains one of our best selling models with it's smooth, comfy feel and versatile range. Heaps of grip from the specially designed G-10 S-bend fins make takeoffs easy for boosting over the moon. Or take advantage of the curvy outline, the cylindrical concave and the progressive rocker to carve like a hot knife through butter in small waves and blast through the most evil chop with ease...All without ever getting rail-spray in your face! A truly versatile machine that feels easy and comfortable from the moment you place your feet in the straps, the X-Ride appeals to a wide audience and a variety of styles.

2011 Soleil 128/134: Available October 2010
The Soleil remains the high performance freestyle board, now completed with a constant rocker and a cylindrical concave, being the choice for our progressive female riders competing on the world tour. With optimized flex tailored specifically to women's weight, this board provides massive pop for female freestylers looking to jump and throw technical tricks! A little
bit more scoob is responsible for less water in your face, a little bit more grip and easier turning. Other customized accessories include smaller foot straps and specialized fins with female kiters' specific needs in mind. And let's not forget the progressive graphics to keep things stylish!

2011 Gonzales 130/135/143/151: Available October 2010
The Gonzales is a free-ride twin tip with a forgiving flex pattern ideal for jumping and cruising. Get up and going easily with the Gonzales' early planing abilities and take advantage of the excellent upwind performance it has to offer. The lightweight and durable construction is built to last. 4 nice sizes, so anyone should find his Gonzalez which suits him the best!

2011 Spike 141/153/163: Available October 2010
The new Spike is the ultimate light wind twin tip that will get you out on the water in 6-8 knots! Get the technical advantage of optimized flex, lively response and large, flat planing surfaces at the center and heelside to maximize your fun when your friends are sitting on the beach waiting for wind. Unrivaled upwind performance and loads of heel grip will have you blasting around in wind speeds you never thought possible! Because of its size, the Spike can also double as an entry level twin-tip.

2011 SkimFish 137: Available October 2010
Carve up small waves, get out in light wind or challenge yourself with some strapless airs. Whatever your style, the Skimfish is the perfect little toy to keep in your board bag for those days when you need a little something extra to get you stoked and out there! Now built in a classic, durable skimboard construction with comfy grab rails, the Skimfish also offers the option of four fins and a foot strap inserts.

2011 Kontact 5’10”/6’0:/6’2”: Available October 2010
The Kontact is ideal for big, powerful waves or choppy water and high winds. A great weapon for advanced riders and riders who love precise control. The Kontact is ideal for strapped riding and surfers looking for maximum control at high speeds. Long and narrow, the rounded pin tail rides low and smooth through the water. The thin, knifey rail line offers plenty of
grip to drive off the bottom with seemingly limitless hold to grind through high speed top turns. The Kontact is designed around the premiss that kiting allows you to ride with much more power than you ever would surfing and the Kontact is all about harnessing that energy and exploiting it. If you are looking to drive hard through high speed turns with tons of control at
high winds and in big surf, the Kontact is the one and only!

2011 WAM 5’8”/5’10”/6’0” Available October 2010
A high performance all-rounder, the WAM is suited to nearly all conditions from small onshore mush to powerful beach and reef breaks. The WAMs ability to adapt to nearly all conditions makes it the perfect travel board or the perfect one-board-quiver. Super smooth and lively under your feet, the slightly fuller outline, semi-boxy rails and pulled in thumb tail carry lots of speed when the waves are small yet still provide hold and drive when you need it most in bigger surf. The tri/quad fin configuration gives you the option of riding the WAM in quad fin mode for a more skatey and snappy feeling ideal for smaller waves or in thruster mode for more drive and more positive back foot drive in bigger surf.

2011 Whip 5’5”/5’7” Available October 2010
Searching for a little something to get you fired up on those small wave days? Well we were too and that's exactly how the Whip was born! The Whip is a short and wide high performance quad-fin design capable of making even the most marginal conditions fun. Low entry rocker, deep single concave and an optimized thickness profile get this board up and going quickly and effortlessly to generate blazing speed in small surf. Lively under your feet with quick rail to rail transition, the Whip accelerates out of tight arcs and is a blast to ride even in the smallest surf. The wide nose and tail give you plenty of surface area for carrying speed while also effectively creating the longest possible rail line to prevent sacrificing drive when the surf picks up. The classic diamond tail design blends with modernized performance aspects to create a board that can be ridden at least 4" shorter than your normal board allowing it to fit easily into the pocket of small waves.

2011 Race LTD 180: Available October 2010
Kite-course racing is rapidly gaining momentum and the demand for competitive light wind boards is now greater than ever. In the ongoing development to push the light wind boundaries and upwind performance to the absolute max, North's third generation Race Ltd. is once again leading the charge. The 2011 Race Ltd. features a shorter, wider design with more volume that will carry you through the lightest wind lulls. An optimized rocker makes the Race Ltd. incredibly smooth and controllable through the chop and you will never have to worry about stuffing the nose when you're flying down wind towards the finish line. The extremely domed deck allows you to maintain lateral pressure for optimal board trimming to maximize your upwind angle. The 2011 Race Ltd. also features CNC-cut G-10 quad fins and Textreme® Carbon construction that is not only performance enhancing, but also extremely light, reducing weight by 20% over conventional carbon construction. So if you're looking to get out in the lightest possible breeze or blazing around the race course, the Race Ltd. is the absolute performance leader.

2011 Free Race 5’3”: Available October 2010
The Free Race is a 5'3" twin-fin directional that bridges the gap between race and free ride. It will get you up and going in lighter wind than a surfboard without the typical constraints of a full-on race board. The super flat rocker, wide blocky tail and optimized swept-back twin-fins get you flying upwind in a light breeze, while a slightly rounder outline and surf-influenced
rail shape keep things loose and free through the chop. A smooth, comfy ride in any conditions, the Free Race still allows you to put it on rail to tear up small waves or do full speed flat water carves.

Website address: http://www.northkites.com

2010 Naish Q & A with Damien Girardin

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Damien Girardin the product manager of Naish Kiteboarding recently sat down and answered a few commonly asked questions from Naish Importers regarding the design intent behind the new 2010 Naish Kite line-up.

Damien Girardin                                                Damien, Sam, and Sjoukje

What are the differences between the Cult, the Helix and Charger in terms of riding?
Damien Girardin: The Cult is the ultimate tool for all-terrain riding, and is unmatched on the market for stability, broad sweet spot, and linear bar pressure. It is the easiest kite yet.
     The Helix provides a more engaging kiting experience. It will generate more power in the turns, and yanks you more out of the water when you jump. It is a more powerful kite overall, and is faster turning.
     The Charger is similar to the Cult in terms of performance and ease. But it’s bar pressure is more “proportional” to the angle of attack of the kite making gusts and lulls more apparent. You’ll be amazed by the stability and smoothness compared to other Delta kites, none of which has our Geo Tech Construction. The Charger’s relaunch is automatic and gives novice kiters the ability to launch their kites in the most challenging conditions.

Why has Naish designed the Charger without the Sigma Outline?
The non-Sigma design has some interesting elements, like water relaunch and the way it engages in turns. We improved the concept by adding Geo Tech. The main flaw we found in other Delta kites was the lack of stability at low angles of attack. By adding our exclusive Geo Tech construction, we’ve been able to stabilize the kite tremendously. For Delta kite enthusiasts, the Charger clearly provides something new.

Why is Geo Tech absent on the new Helix?
We designed the Helix with Power Foil Canopy instead of Geo-Tech because we were looking for extra juice and power. With advanced riders in mind, the Helix’s new power foil moves more while riding. It provides an extra touch of power at crucial moments when sheeted-in.

Why does the 2010 Cult have a more pronounced Sigma outline in comparison to last year’s model?
The increase in the Sigma enables the LE to twist at the kite’s center. This allows the rider to induce a pivot turn when wanted. Therefore, the Cult steering capabilities have expanded, and can now do either pivots or tight radius turns. This simply makes the kite even easier to control and steer.

Why does the 2010 Helix have a reduced Sigma outline in comparison to last year’s model?
Again, the Sigma outline allows the kite to pivot more from the center. By reducing the Sigma, the kite pivots less from the center and turns more around the wing tip. This generates more power through the turn. With the Helix, that is exactly what we were looking for…a more aggressive pull in the turns.

Can I put a fifth line on a Charger, Cult, and Helix?
Yes. All three of these kites allow for a fifth line to be connected to the pump leash attachment point on the Leading Edge. The Universal Control system is also designed to allow a fifth line system. However, that option will only suit fifth line enthusiasts. Most riders will much prefer riding these kites with only four lines for performance and simplicity, which is how they are meant to be ridden.

What did you do to improve low-end performance?
In order to have the kites fly more efficiently in lighter winds, we spent a great deal of time adjusting the foil’s profile and the LE diameter. We had incredible success as we optimized the profile. The end result is a kite range that flies faster, turns quicker, and generates very efficient low-end lift.
We also increased the length of the flying line extensions that come on the bigger Helix, Cult and Charger kites. The 13.0 to 16.0 kites come with 7m extensions. While, the 9.0 to 12.0 kites still come with 4m extensions.

How does the Torch depower so well without any bridles?
The Torch is a kite that depowers by flying to the edge of the window. Compared to other kites, the Torch’s foil profile is thinner, and its LE diameter is smaller.
     These two characteristics allow the kite to fly further forward in the window, and get there fast. This gives it the ability to depower quickly. We can confidentially say that it has more depower than most bridled kites.

Will a Sigma kite accidentally launch itself when sitting on the beach?
No. Not when positioned properly like any kite. A Sigma kite actually sits on the beach in windy conditions as well as non-Sigma kites, because the wind forces the center portion of the LE to stay down.

Are the 2010 Control Systems compatible with last year’s kites?
Yes, absolutely.

Why is the trim line so long on the Universal Control System?
The long trim line allows for full depower of the kite when the bar is pushed all the way up. High depower is crucial and the number one safety benefit on any kite. Our trim line allows the rider to easily handle situations that could be potentially dangerous. If a rider wants to adjust the reach, he/she can easily set the “stopper” at the desired height, while keeping the ability to push it up with the bar when needed.

2010 Naish Kite Images

2010 Helix 2010 Torch 2010 Cult 2010 Charger

The 2010 Naish Kiteboarding website is scheduled to go live on August 1st.

2011 SBC Kiteboard Gear Tests: Week 1 Update

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 13:47:00 -0400

Update: (Click here for the 2011 Kite Reviews)

The first week of the SBC Kiteboard 2011 Gear test has come to a conclusion with the team experiencing some epic flat-water conditions at the SBC slick in Avon. It has been invaluable for the team to have a private launch closer to the big island giving them the ability to demo as many different kites as possible without driving a single mile.

If you’re a wake-style rider, or freestyle rider, you won’t be disappointed with this year’s C-Kite Lineup. The Slingshot Fuel delivers the grunt and power of a true C-Kite, the North Vegas is smooth, fast and direct, and the Naish Park is ready for you to start throwing down.

On the few days that they have been without wind, the guys have managed to keep busy with a plethora of no-wind activities. Test team member Dan Steiner has been racking up slider sessions with the REAL Kiteboarding Crew, Jason’s Slezak’s backyard bowl has been getting put through its paces with daily skate sessions and the “KITE-KATAMARAN” has been a huge hit.

The second week of testing brings the promise of more warm, strong southwesterly winds. The ocean swell has been building steadily and the guys are eager to test some of the new 2011 Surfboards including the Naish Fish 5'8", Slingshot Tyrant 6'2", Wainman 5'10", Best Short stick, Airush Compact, RRD Salerosa, North Whip, and LF Rawson Mulcoy Pro.

Check back on SBCKiteboard.com for more pics, reviews and updates.

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2011 Naish Charger

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:07:00 -0400

Design Aim: All-terrain riders who seek effortless water relaunch and added lowend lift. Totally re-engineered, the all new Charger continues its pedigree of all terrain performance with added focus on stability and range of use. Naish has implemented a new outline that is both fast turning and very stable. Added sweep in the wingtips increases depower and improves water relaunch capabilities. The 5 struts frame provides the needed
support to keep the Charger incredibly stable through a wide wind range. The Charger is the ideal choice for riders who demand a fast, highly stable kite with superior upwind ability. The Charger is LWR compatible.

2011 Naish Bolt

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:39:00 -0400

Newly released from Naish, the 2011 Naish Bolt is designed to be versatile, stable and predictable. The Bolt is for riders who are looking for an all-around kite, with superior stability.

The 2011 Naish Bolt is built on Naish's Sigma foundation, to provide stability, fast turning and solid bar feel. Featuring the new Evolutive Profile, the Bolt is power-oriented in the large sizes and control-focused in the smaller sizes.

The Geo-Tech construction maintains the designed shape even in the gustiest of conditions — ensuring a long-lasting kite.

The Naish Bolt is designed for riders who demand performance over the broadest of conditions. It incorporates the newest design DNA for incredible stability, direct bar feel, fast turning and easy jumping.

The Bolt is LWR (Light Wind Relaunch) compatible.

Look for a full review as soon as the entire SBC Kiteboard test team gets a chance to put the new 2011 Naish Bolt through it's paces.

More details also coming soon at http://www.naishkites.com

Designer Ian Ponting joins Naish International

Sam Bell

2010 Naish Q & A with Damien Girardin

2011 Naish Kiteboarding Gear Preview

Sat, 18 Sep 2010 10:24:00 -0400

Naish Kiteboarding

Biggest news
Introduction of two brand new kites: the Bolt and the Park.

Highlights
The most exciting kite for us this year is the Park. This kite was designed using our experience of C-shapes design (Torch) mixed with advantage of bridled kites. We have then designed a kite that’s a “swept compact C™”. It is more compact than a C-shape and then only needs three struts which bring a lighter kite with great low end. Like Sam Light would say, you get the best of both world: smooth power threw the turns and the range of an sle, making it the easiest way to have a lot of fun.

New technologies
With all the new options available in light wind boards like our barnd new Venturi, riders are pushing the envelope of what is considered rideable. The new LWR (Light Wind Relaunch) comes now as an option on the Bolt and Park. It gives the rider complete confidence when going out in the lightest of wind. This system lifts the wingtip independent of the rear leader line, and cups the trailing edge for instant relaunch. The LWR works when nothing else will.

Kites

Bolt: The Bolt is built on our Sigma foundation to provide stability, fast turning, and solid bar feel. Featuring the new Evolutive Profile, the Bolt is power-oriented in the large sizes and control-focused in the smaller sizes. The Geo-Tech construction maintains the designed shape and ensures a long lasting kite. The Bolt is for riders who demand performance over the broadest range of conditions. It incorporates the newest design DNA for incredible stability, direct bar feel, fast turning, and easy jumping. Available Aug 2010

Torch
The world views the Torch as the benchmark in C kites. Its proven pedigree of performance makes it the perfect choice for riders looking for a kite that is equally at home on the competition circuit, or when riding unhooked in the waves. The Torch has depower similar to a bridled, by virtue of its ability to fly quickly to the edge of the window. The smooth power delivery and easy handling make hooked or un-hooked riding effortless. The Shift Control system allows easy water relaunch and arc support. Kevin Langeree marched to the top of the podium and earned the World Championship Title using the Torch. For 2011, the Torch continues its unsurpassed performance with polished refinements that will take all riders to the next level. Available Aug 2010

Park
The Park is a performance-focused kite condensed into an easy, simple package. The Park’s three-strut design is stable and responsive. This configuration, combined with a powerful profile and full outline gives the Park the consistent pull of a “C” type kite and the power control of a swept kite. The swept leading edge positions the wingtips behind the center of the kite, which gives the kite easy relaunch capabilities and maximizes depower. The “do everything” nature of the Park opens up a huge range of performance options for the rider. It is the perfect tool whether you are focusing on sticking that handle-pass rotation, bashing the lip, or maximizing your freeride time on the water. Available Fall 2010

Boards

THORN CC
The Thorn CC delivers the most direct power for light-wind efficiency, upwind drive and explosive freestyle pop on-demand. The Thorn's relatively more parallel outline, wider tips and low rocker-line perfectly balance locked-in grip with essential control. The board’s midsection flex has been tuned for 2011—through the addition of composite I-beams through the wood core—locking the top and bottom laminates into a higher-tension framework for greater board control.

2011 MOMENTUM
The Momentum offers absolute versatility thanks to smooth edging, balanced power, easy control, consistent planing and limitless performance potential.
While the Momentum was initially built with massive freestyle pop and control for the wake-style rider, it has also taken its place in the market as a leading freeride board. With a wide surface area, increased rocker and great flex— the Momentum encourages you to push yourself to the next level.

2011 HAZE
The Haze delivers reliable performance for all riders in all conditions. Outline, rocker and flex have all been engineered to provide power when needed and control at a moments notice. It offers an unmatched combination of reliability and user-friendliness to help take your riding wherever you want to go.

2011 CUSTOM VENTURI
Modern raceboard designs have doubled the number of days you can kite—by their ability to plane in much lighter wind, while pointing far higher upwind. With the Venturi, Naish has developed the first competitive board in this category, with riding comfort far superior to anything else on the market. So while boards designed to win will continue to evolve to meet the demands of the world's most dedicated professional racers, the Venturi will endure as an amazing light-wind weapon that is actually enjoyable to ride!

2011 WAKESKATE
Riders continue to expand their riding with new tools and riding styles. The Wakeskate is the new board for extending the possibilities of riding behind a kite. A great addition to any quiver of boards, the Wakeskate turns any condition into a good session.

2011 CUSTOM WAVE
Ten options dedicated to one purpose—Surf. The Custom range offers the industry's highest-performance shapes, the leading premium construction technology and the most expansive selection. While each model offers unique performance, we are proud of the fact that no matter which Custom you choose, you will be completely stoked.

Other News

With all the new options available in light wind boards, riders are pushing the envelope of what is considered rideable.
The new LWR (Light Wind Relaunch) comes now as an option on the Bolt and Park. It gives the rider complete confidence when going out in the lightest of wind. This system lifts the wingtip independent of the rear leader line, and cups the trailing edge for instant relaunch. The LWR works when nothing else will.

Website address: www.naishkites.com

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2011 Cabrinha Gear Preview

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:58:00 -0400

2011 Cabrinha Gear Preview

SBC Kiteboard catches up with Cabrinha's Todd Greaux for a look at what's new in the 2011 Cabrinha Kiteboarding lineup.

Biggest News: My Ride: Our riders have taken ownership of the sport and worked closely with the brand to develop a diverse range of products to satisfy everyone from first time rider to seasoned professional. My Ride is an evolution of 2010's Year of the Rider. My Ride focuses product development from the team to offer a diverse and complete range of products that are not only good looking, durable, and well functioning, but fully rider approved. Every and all Cabrinha products have been tested and developed by both engineers and pro riders and the result is our 2011 range. Riders can choose to model their own equipment choices after the Cabrinha rider that most emulates their style.

Highlights:
The 2011 Nomad has been redesigned to offer a significant improvement in low-end power without sacrificing it's incredible high end. For 2011, we put more focus into light wind again with super easy relaunch on the Crossbow, and the addition of a 16m Switchblade. Our new Recoil technology on our Powerdrive IDS control system keeps lines clean and uncluttered while providing more universal functionality for riders of all sizes.

New technologies:
We have a new leading edge construction technique that enhances the durability of the closing seam and the segment seams. This means equipment that will last longer and take more abuse.

Kite models

Crossbow: The Crossbow kite's bow outline and high performance profiles work in concert to provide the largest wind range in our kite offering. The Crossbow's open arc delivers the highest power to size ratio of any kite in our range. This power comes in handy when looking for high hang times or when flying across a wide stretch of water. When you combine these characteristics with easy handling, excellent relaunch, and quality finish details, the 2011 Crossbow completes its dominance in the role of the ultimate performance freeride kite. It will be available August 12 in stores.

Crossbow Race Edition: The Crossbow Race Edition combines a new profile with an ultra stable laminate material to deliver a highly tuned racing machine. The CB Race is made to do one thing - win. Our exclusive laminate material and its 7 batten frame keep the canopy flying rock solid on all points of sail. The XB Race comes complete with a 1.5 to 1 ratio control system. It will be available October 2010 in stores.

Nomad: If throwing kite loops or towing yourself into surf is your thing, then the Nomad is for you. New and improved material and construction are the foundation of a totally new design which enhances its quick turning, high depower characteristics. A major emphasis has been placed on low end end power. The Nomad will be available in late August 2010.

Switchblade: The Switchblade has the distinction of being the premier wakestyle kite worldwide. It also shines as an excellent all around freeride and freestyle kite. Kudos is given to the Switchblade for having feather light bar pressure and easy handling. Its bow kite outline makes its relaunch a snap. The right combination of turning speed and power efficiency make the Switchblade the go-to kite for for anyone looking to hit a rail or launch off a kicker. The Switchblade will be available in September.

Convert: If you were stuck on a deserted island and only had one kite... you would be best off with the Convert. The Convert performs in any and all conditions with the ease of handling of a thoroughbred Cabrinha kite. Its robust build and no compromise IDS security system assures an exciting and secure experience in and out of the water. At a value, the Convert uses many of the features and materials of our pro level kites. The SE version has a beefier, but slightly heavier canopy material that stands the test of abuse and time in the sun and wind - perfect for centers and schools. The Convert and Convert SE will be available in November.

Board models

Caliber: The Caliber is serious about freestyle and freeriding. If you want to ride fast and hard then the Caliber is made just for you. The Caliber has a lower rocker line than the Custom which makes this board crisp and lively. It accelerates quickly out of the gates and keeps its speed through the lulls. The Caliber’s outline and flex pattern give the board mad pop whether you are riding unhooked or hooked in. Sporting a quad concave bottom, the Caliber holds steady in high winds or choppy water.

Caliber X: The Caliber X takes the Caliber Freestyle concept to a whole new level. The Caliber X makes use of a high grade carbon fiber to deliver a board which is lighter, and places the stiffness in precisely the right spot. The all wood core provides the durability while the carbon X pattern delivers its progressive flex pattern. Built in rail grips mean that you can ditch the handle for a more legit sense of style while keeping a positive hold where it’s needed.

Caliber XO: When it comes to kiteboarding girls want the same performance products as the guys. So we bring to you the Caliber XO girls model. Developed together with the iconic Susi Mai, the Caliber XO is smaller and lighter than a typical mens model. Based on the winning Caliber design, the 125 cm Caliber XO is perfectly suited for serious Freestyle and Freeriding. The Caliber XO has all the performance and construction of its bigger brother, but none of the testosterone.

Custom: Following the same trajectory of one of kiteboarding’s brightest stars, the Andre Phillip Custom wakestyle twin tip evolves once again this season. Expanding on the logic of defined channels as grip, we have increased the depth of its quad concave channels. This provides the board with increased grip and can be ridden finless if desired. The Custom utilizes its extreme rocker line to its advantage when riding powered in rough water. The Custom can be ridden with just about any type of boot, binding or footstrap system, making this model truly customizable and versatile.

Prodigy: The 2011 Prodigy is one of the smoothest riding twin tips in our range. Made to perform in any and all conditions the Prodigy is known for its “feel good” ride. The Paulowina wood core and moderate rocker line are responsible for a dampened ride with clean and easy tracking ability. Its wide outline delivers quick planing and a stable ride for an all-round kiting experience.

Rival: The Rival stands alone in a sea of all purpose Freeride board models. The Rival defines the price / value equation in board features. This multipurpose board shares many of the same quality board features as its more expensive Cabrinha counterparts. Features such as Paulownia wood cores and hard glass. The Rival can be use with just about any footstrap system from our CoAx to the Sync to a dedicated wakeboard binding. The Rival especially shines when paired with the versatile Convert kite for the ultimate experience in all-round freeride kiteboarding.

Wakeskate: Developed specifically for kiteboarding the Wake Skate represents a new genre of strapless trick riding. A low priced highlight to anyone’s board quiver. It can be considered a high performance toy or a low performance twin tip. Made for strapless trick riding in flat water or waves, the Wake Skate will challenge your skills in ways you wouldn’t expect Nothing is out of the question. The Wake Skate is built with a durable wood core. Models come complete with either a full EVA deck pad or grip tape traction.

Raceboard: Evidence of the incredible versatility of our sport is seen in the popularity rise in Course Racing. With Bruno Sroka’s 2009 world title in course racing, we hit the ground running in 2011 with a fully dedicated course race board. The 2011 Race comes in two sizes to suit your size and wind conditions. The 178 for high wind chop. 183 for flat water light wind. We spare nothing when it comes to construction material and quality. We know that the difference between the podium and the rest of the fleet is sometimes measured in fractions of a second. Be sure to read the review in the Fall issue of SBC Kiteboard magazine.

Plasma: Headlining our specialty board program is the Plasma light wind twin tip. Made to perform in the fickle conditions known as threshold winds. Threshold winds are generally thermal breezes with wind speeds just strong enough to fly a kite. The flat rocker line and extra wide outline make the most of these less than ideal wind conditions. In many cases the Plasma twin tip will be the difference between sitting on the beach or getting a full kiteboarding session.

S-Quad: The S-Quad is a purpose built board for high performance surfing. The S-Quad is a four finned epoxy board made to surf fast and hard. The S-Quad can be ridden with or without straps,hooked or unhooked, in surf anywhere between 2 and 15 feet. The curvy outline makes for a looser feel especially in smaller surf. However, when the conditions deliver pumping surf and strong winds the four fins really come into their element. The S-Quad boasts an all new durable EPS construction this season featuring a full length wood deck and Carbon reinforcements.

Trigger: The Trigger is a modern classic design start to finish. It is as comfortable paddle surfing as it is riding with a kite. This board has more rail profile than the S-Quad giving it more bite from the rail alone. The tri-fin set up performs well in higher wind and waves. The Trigger boasts an all new durable EPS construction featuring a full length wood deck and Carbon reinforcements.

S-Killit: The all new 2011 Skillit is re-designed from the bottom up and features two new sizes..... a 5’6 and a 5’0. The smaller, sleeker surf shapes are on que with what’s happening today in progressive surfing. The Skillit likes to be ridden strapless and is perfect for punting big airs. Riding the 5’6 in small to mid sized surf is like riding in a skate park. The 5‘0 can be ridden as a freestyle trick board or as the ideal surf board for a grom. From rail gouges to airs the Skillit makes the perfect board to round out your quiver.

Website address: http://www.cabrinhakites.com

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Most Popular Kite of 2011

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:36:00 -0500

What was the best kite last year? Vote for the SBC Kiteboard 2011 Kite of the year! All kites tested by the SBC Kiteboard test team are listed.

AIRUSH Lithium

Airush Varial

Best Kahoona V3

Best Nemesis HP V3

BEST Taboo

Cabrinha Convert

Cabrinha Nomad

Cabrinha Switchblade IDS...

Epic Renegade

EPIC Screamer ltd

LIQUID FORCE Envy

LIQUID FORCE Havoc

Naish Charger

NAISH Park

Nobile T5-Koinobori

NORTH Fuse

NORTH Rebel

North Vegas

OCEAN RODEO Razor

Ocean Rodeo Rise

RRD Obsession MKIII

Behind the scenes at the 2010 F-One Importer Meeting Mauritius

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

“I am the head designer and the boss, I own 100% of the company, no shareholders or partners, so decisions are quick and easy for me! I make a decision and go fully into it.”—Raphael Salles

So I’m standing on the beach waiting for wind and I get this email on my blackberry from John Bryja, reads something like this “Hey Matt, F-One just invited me on an all expenses paid trip to Mauritius for their distributor meeting, I can’t go, you want to?”. Two and a half seconds later I was confirmed on what would go on to become one of my best kite trips ever.
    Mauritius is a little slice of tropical heaven located about 1000km east of Madagascar. For years I’d seen the incredible kiting pictures from this place. Strong trade winds, incredible waves, green lush countryside, crystal-clear waters, massive flat-water lagoons, all of this half the world away in the Indian Ocean. So two weeks later after long back-to-back overnight flights and a relatively short cross-island bus ride I find myself on the beach at the Hotel Indian overlooking the Le Morne kite spot and pinching myself. What followed was a near perfect kiteboard trip.
    F-One founder and owner Raphael Salles had assembled his team riders for two weeks in Mauritius this past July and had a few things he was looking to do. First, like most kite brands that time of year, he was working with his R&D guys to put the finishing touches on the Bandit III’s. Second, he was completing the filming of their team video Addict II, due to be finished Sept. ’09. And third he wanted to entertain and become better acquainted with his top distributors and their local kiteboard magazines as well as personally introducing them to the new 2010 product. With John out of the picture, I was representing SBC Kiteboard Magazine and I accompanied F-One Canada distributor Michel Montminy and F-One USA distributor Nico Ostermann. In addition to Nico and Michel, the F-One UK and Dutch distributors were there and editors from Kiteworld, the Kiteboarder, and Ikitesurf mag.
    Look for a full Mauritius Ride Guide in a future issue of SBC Kiteboard, but suffice it to say Le Morne, Mauritius is one of the best kiteboard spots in the world. Steady trade winds that blow most of the year, amazing waves breaking on a series of reefs, and huge expanses of flat water make this an idyllic spot for riders of any level. For testing new kites and boards, this spot is truly amazing. Riding from the Hotel Indian, we’d launch in some relatively flat water, then hit some small waves (sometimes big enough to ride), then we’d either head way upwind to a massive flat water lagoon, or downwind and out to the reef in front of Club Mistral where we could mix it up with the windsurfers in some great waves, or head way out about 3km to Manawa and catch rides on the massive waves breaking on this offshore reef. In one short session we could experience everything from perfect flat water to way overhead madness. It’s a tester’s dream come true and an amazing place to ride.
    I’m not sure I can imagine a much better trip. The hotel was awesome, food, drinks, service were great. The F-One guys were awesome and took really good care of us. The riding was amazing, and I as totally stoked on the boards and really impressed with their kites. We totally scored with the conditions. Wind every day, great waves, and a really fun group of riders to hang out with. F-One founder Raphael Salles was a gracious host and I must thank him for his generosity (hint, hint, can I come back next year?).

F-One Bandit III
Three years of Delta refinement
As one of the original brands in kiteboarding (F-One entered the sport after only Naish and Wipika) F-One has traditionally offered one of the broadest ranges of kites in the industry. Two years ago F-One made a radical move, rather than offering a full range of kites, they’d have one, the F-One Bandit, kiteboarding’s first Delta kite design. F-One kite designer Sylvain Peretti has been with F-One since ‘97/98 and along with a background in sail design, windsurfing sails (he founded Storm Windsurfing), he comes from a long history in paragliding. Based on his paragliding design experience he felt that just like a wing, the more sweep he added to the leading edge the more control he could build into the kite. So the first prototypes were made and testing began. Sylvain explains it like this,” We wanted to build one kite that could be used by advanced riders, beginners, and even pro riders. I had thought about this design for some time, with a hang-glider when we wanted stability we put more angle on the leading edge. We made some trial kites, we had to redesign the lines, but we found with this design we could have the stability we wanted but at the same time we had good re-launch. After one year of development we had the first Bandit.”
    Raphael Salles, owner of the company and head R&D guy, was so impressed with the new Delta design that he bailed on all their other kites and put everything into the new delta shapes. F-One never produced a bow style kite, they went straight from C Kites to the Delta design and have never looked back. Now, with their Bandit 3 about to enter production F-One has a very polished Delta kite design. Prototyping of the new Bandit III began in Sept ’08 and involved over 50 versions of the 9m. They tested year around in Montepellier, in the south of France and added a couple trips to Cape Verde and Mauritius. Once the 9m was finished they then scaled the kite up and down for the other sizes. Since kite shapes need to change as they get bigger and smaller, each individual size was further tweaked with five or six prototypes. Countless more hours were spent tweaking the bridle set up for each individual kite. The new Bandit III is the culmination of a lot of R&D hours. As the only kite in their line (they also make the Revolt, but it is essentially the same kite, with a few less features, and targeted at schools and beginners) it benefits from 100% of their kite R&D focus and the results speak for themselves. It’s an extremely refined kite that works in any condition for any type of rider.

The Boards
Partnership with brand and factory
Raphael Salles describes his board R&D process as a partnership between F-One and their factories. Raphael acts as head designer and works with his shaper on the prototypes and they build at least one prototype a week all year around. In the case of the twin tips once the shapes are finalized, they are sent to the Nidecker snowboard factory in Switzerland where all the twin tips are manufactured. According to Raphael, once finished with the shape, it’s working with the manufacturer to finalize the type of wood used for the cores, the glass and carbon lay-ups, and top-sheet details, where the real magic comes from. Raphael describes the process of working with the snowboard factory like this, “We experiment with the wood we use, the fiberglass, the flex, and now we are using a lot of carbon twist control as you can see on the new Trax. We have learned how to control the flex and twist to control the board, it’s amazing what a little strip of carbon can effect”. For 2010 F-One has a really dialed looking line of four different twin tips, all with different rocker lines and flex patterns designed to suit the needs of different riders.”
Raphael gets really excited when speaking about their Bamboo line of surfboards. F-One works with surfboard manufacturer Firewire and has an agreement to be the exclusive kite brand manufactured by Firewire in the factory in Thailand. On his choice of materials on the surfboard line Raphael says “Bamboo is nice looking, super strong, not too expensive, fast growing and renewable. We like the wood feeling from our twin tips and we know full wood is really nice. It absorbs shock, and there’s no vibrations. As soon as we put bamboo in the surfboards they felt really smooth and are really strong.” For 2010 F-One has a full range of bamboo surfboards from 5’2 Fish to 6’9” Gun.

Addict II
The most expensive kiteboard film ever
While in Mauritius the F-One team was busy filming the follow up to Addict. With a budget expected to top $100,000 Euros, the new film is shot exclusively with the new Red 1 camera. Developed by an original Oakley founder, Red 1 delivers an incredible 120 frames per second and delivers 2X HD 4000 X 2000px imagery. The surf industry is starting to use Red 1, but with the new camera, F-One will deliver a film with better image quality than any kiteboard or snowboard film ever made. Two filmers and two technicians worked tirelessly with the F-One team. Check it out this Fall.

Related Stories:

2010 F-One Bandit III Review

Top 30 SBC Kite Tests of 2009

F-One's Raphael Salles

2012 Naish Importer Meeting

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:18:00 -0400

Since its inception, Naish has been holding its annual importer sales meeting on Maui, where the head office and R&D team is based. With some big improvements for 2012, Naish flew the editor of the prestigious German Kiteboarding magazine, and SBC Kiteboard editor John Bryja to Maui to check out the kite gear first-hand.
   The four-day sales meeting provided ideal conditions for testing out the new gear, and some definite highlights emerged. The twin-tip line has seen the biggest overhaul under the new influence of designer Ian Ponting. Dramatic changes to rocker lines, construction and bottom shaping have resulting in a five-model lineup with the high performance Moneyshot (freestyle), and Arcade (wakestyle) as real standouts. The new Ally “Binding” foot strap is a complete redesign, standard on all boards and a huge improvement in terms of fit, feel and ease of adjustment.
   The real head-turner on the beach is the new Alaia board. Based on the ancient Hawaiian finless surfboards that are as core as you can get in surfing today, this board is like nothing else we’ve ever ridden. You can use it in surf, but its natural habitat is in flatwater, lightwind conditions, rivaling the best raceboards for early planing.
   The successful Global surf designs are now complemented by the new Skater series of strapless surfboards. The Skater series is based on the shift in the surfing world towards shorter, more compact designs (4’8”, 5’4”, 5’9”). A new Fish 5’6” rounds out surf lineup and has been retooled for lightwind use in both flatwater and surf.
   Some fine-tuning of the Naish Park kite range sees some big improvements (see review on p. 22), complemented by a major redesign of the Universal Control System bar. The below-the-bar cleat has been improved to allow for much easier adjustment, and the front line V has been lowered to improve kite feedback and handling.
   The new 2012 Naish kiteboarding gear will be available in local shops as early as mid-August. Look for more photos on SBC Kiteboard the week of July 18th.

Photos:
The Naish Team. From left: Robby Naish, Alexa Delke (kite press relations), Nick Stuart (U.S. kite sales manager), Nitsan Solomonov (consumer liaison), Greg Drexler (surfboard designer), Des Walsh (kite test co-ordinator), Ian Ponting (development engineer twin-tips/boards), Damien Girardin (kite designer/product manager), Olivier Soutet (intern), Andy Church (general manager) and John Bryja (SBC Kiteboard editor).

Naish USA’s Charlie Burwell and Kai Lenny in action at the morning beach workout run by waterman Dave Kalama.

Ian Ponting and Nick Stuart discuss the new 2012 board lineup.

2011 Best Kiteboarding Gear Preview

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:05:00 -0400

Best Kiteboarding 2011 Gear Preview

SBC Kiteboard tracked down Best Kiteboarding's Simon Clark for a sneak peak at the 2011 Best Kiteboarding line-up.

Biggest News

We have a brand new range of high performance kites, the Taboo. The Taboo is unique because each size is designed differently to make them the perfect fit for the most popular riding styles in their size. The sizes go 4, 5.5, 7,8,9,10,12,14,15,And 17m. It’s the opposite of your standard freeride quiver kite where every size is designed to perform as closely as possible to each other, the Taboo is designed to be different giving you great unhooked wave and wake style kites in the small sizes, exceptional big-air and new-school kites in the medium sizes and unbeatable lightwind and course racing kites in the two largest sizes.

The most exciting products in the line, new and or redesigned.
Taboo kites- all sizes-new
Redline perrformance bar- new

New Technologies
The Taboo uses our ‘ride optimized geometry’ concept. Unlike every other range of kites you’ve ever ridden each size of the taboo is designed to be different, it’s the opposite of the one size fits all philosophy that all freeride kites are based on. Every size of Taboo is different to the next size, materials choice, canopy shape, aspect ratio, construction techniques, bridle ratios, wingtip shaping and even number of struts varies across the rnage to help make each kite perfect for its intended use based on it’s size and wind range.

Kite Models

Taboo:
The taboo range represents a new concept in building the ultimate quiver of high performance kites. Each size of the Taboo is uniquely engineered to optimize performance for specific riding conditions. Every size is designed differently and the performance is unlike anything you’ve ever ridden before. Available sept.

Kahoona:
The kahoona still reigns supreme in the delta kite market, no other delta kite can match it for all round performance, safety, or stability and none come close to matching the build quality at the price. It’s simply the best delta kite available for riders who like to push themselves on a wave or above it. Currently available.
SBC Kiteboard Best Kahoona Test Review
Bularoo:
With its easily recognizable design heritage the bularoo will be an instant hit with legions of dedicated fans for whom no other style of kite will ever suffice. Surf tough construction provides a kite that is built to handle all conditions, delivering predictable, responsive handling mixed with rock solid stability in all winds. Regardless of where or how you kite the bularoo with an external ez-pump system will provide you with the mind blowing versatility and reliability that you have come to expect from our sle kite range. If you prefer the handling and performance of our classic waroo sle kites, then the new bularoo is the perfect choice. Available currently.

Board models

Spark: expect to be shocked
Wake influenced freeride board. The spark mixes our woodflex core with a grip-tip channeled base design for entry levels riders who want a taste of wakestyle without the punishing ride. A subtle bottom concave and controlled flex zones provide a smooth ride through the chop. Available now.

Armada: get blown away

The Armada sets sail once again with a package of advanced build quality and construction technologies usually only reserved for much more expensive freeride and freestyle boards. Our supremo wood core uses a laminated paulownia construction with a uni-directional reinforcement tape spine to deliver the perfect blend of low weight and high strength between your feet. A pvc foam core-surround with integrated flex-tips gives you low swing weight and provides bullet proof durability for all conditions riding. A smooth waisted outline with a shallow concave keeps the board responsive underfoot, helping to maximize low-end ability without adding volume. Thinning the core towards the tips of the board allows smooth progressive carving through the turns and gives you ample flex for checking in even the roughest landing or smoothing out the heaviest chop. The Armada board delivers top flight performance and construction for less money than you would expect. Its blend of light weight, high strength, easy handling and great looks make it the ideal freeride board for riders of all levels. Available October

Profanity: the mother of all wakestyle boards.

The Profanity uses a unique vertical sandwich wood-polymer core, blending paulownia wood sections with a pvc foam underlay for the ultimate reinforcement and precise flex placement. The new pvc core surround allows us to push the flex profile right out to the tips and gives a stronger, more durable core than either pure wood or foam constructions can provide on their own. It’s the definition of bomb proof. A single to double concave helps rail to rail progression and softens out the hardest of landings. Twin channels in the tips give you more straight line grip and allow you to run smaller fins without losing bite when you need it most. A deep section abs rail system with a beveled rail profile protects the edge of your board from hook ups on rails and kickers, while a lightly waisted outline helps keep the spray under the board and not in your face no matter how hard you ride. The Profanity is for wakestyle riders who want a faster, stiffer board with insane pop. It’s built to handle the abuse that rails and kickers can hand down no matter how hard you ride, with bindings or straps, it’s the ultimate wakestyle weapon. Available october

Website address: bestkiteboarding.com

2011 Wainman Hawaii

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:02:00 -0500

Biggest News

The Rabbits will still be flying with the same performance as expected and very soon, new Wainman Hawaii board shapes will make every rider on the water even more stoked. The board line-up was designed to offer an extensive variety of performance resulting in a product line that will be suitable for any riders skill level.

KITES

- Rabbit Gang Series Kites: 5m Bunny, 7m Gypsy,9m Smoke 12m Boss, and 15m Big Mama. Each kite has a unique canopy profile that offers unrivaled performance for all disciplines of riding from free-riding to wakestyle to waves. The Rabbit kites were designed with the concept of combining performance and simplicity with 3-struts and small compact bridle. This makes the Rabbits really different from other bridled kites with a very direct and responsive feel. They are faster, more responsive, and lighter-weight but also very solid and powerful due to their high quality, heavy-cloth framework. Additional Rabbit characteristics include high de-power, ridiculously easy re-launch and rock solid stability. The versatile Rabbit offers riders of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced, a unique performance ride that will ensure a cosmic experience.

TWIN TIPS

- Blunt II: Continuing with the success of the original Blunt, Wainman Hawaii is pleased to present the Blunt II twin tip with a brand new construction and graphics. The Blunt is produced in our new world class facility with a super durable construction. With the same shape and new construction, the Blunt II provides a dragless, smooth and edgy ride for freeride comfort and control. The Blunt II also comes with a new pad/strap combo and fins with the reduced drag. WH discontinued the 120cm and added a new 135 board, being a scale up of the most popular size from last year - the 130. The old 135 – a low rocker, wide, light wind board is now replaced by a 137cm, which has different proportions than the current 125, 130 and 135. Sizes: 125, 130, 135, 137

- Joke: The Joke is a brand new addition to the Wainman Hawaii twin tip board line-up for the wakestyle freerider. The Joke was designed to provide the serious rider with a blend of performance and ease of use no matter if they are hitting sliders, carving waves or charging in the flats. A unique 3D bottom shape provides stability and enables the rider to go big with amazingly comfortable and forgiving landings. The combination of performance characteristics which include superb upwind performance, massive pop, insane turns and stability, make the Joke a board a serious contender. Additionally, the Joke can be used with wakeboard bindings or pads/straps. Sizes 134, 138 and 142.

SURFS

-The Magnum: This is a continuation of our classic/last year surfboard model. Available in 4 sizes (5'7, 5'10, 6'0, and 6'2) it is bit narrower than before and designed for the highest performance. This classic is a perfect blend of nose rocker and 3D bottom shop that allows you to enjoy any type of waves. This board is incredibly fast like no other what makes it perfect for riders who love to ride with power and speed. These boards are made to rip. If you are looking for a perfect recipe for fun, whether you are kicking it in the flats or taking on serious swells, Magnum is for you. The Magnum comes complete with a board bag, full deckpad, straps, five fins (quad or thruster setup), multifuctional tool and fin plugs.

- The Gambler: This is a totally new and very modern, progressive shape that was designed for everyday fun in all conditions. The Gambler is available in 2 sizes (5'7" and 5'10") and is ridden 4-5 inches shorter than your average classic board. With less length and more width, this board is made for progressive and more floaty radical surfing even when the waves are not that great. The 3D bottom shape, special bottom channels and perfect amount of rocker, makes this board very fast and stable in higher speeds despite being wider than the average board. The boards width is its advantage for the bottom end, both in wave and wind conditions. Additionally, this extra width gives this board quicker surf planing and catches more of the wave to surf it. The Gambler provides the fun factor in smaller onshore waves and flat water, but is an excellent performer in bigger waves as a result of its smart rocker line. The Gambler comes complete with a board bag, full deckpad, straps, five fins (quad or thruster setup), multifuctional tool and fin plugs.

- The Passport: This is a totally new 2 in 1 surf shape and designed to be a "World Traveler`s” first choice. It is a great all-round surf/kitesurf board that you can take with you on any trip. You can traditional paddle surf the waves with the Passport, or surf them with the kite when the wind picks up!!! This new school shape is available in 2 sizes (5'8" and 5'11") and is usually ridden 4-5 inches shorter than your normal shortboard and 3/4 to an inch wider. The lower rocker line than the Gambler makes the Passport plane quicker in small waves or lighter wind. This board is a great tool for those average wind and wave days. The turning characteristics provide the rider with pure fun because of the perfect outline, step-shaped tail and 3D bottom. This surfboard was designed for strapless riding and is perfect for strapless jumping and fun. It is very light but strong enough to survive the overloads that occur everyday while charging. The lightweight construction allows for quick planing and superior overall response on the water. The Passport comes complete with a board bag, tail pad, five fins (quad or thruster setup), multifuctional tool and fin plugs.

New Technologies

Having such great kites gave us comfort to focus our RnD energy on boards and so we fully utilized this opportunity. Not only did we add new shapes to our existing range of boards but we totally redesigned our construction(s). Our main focus was to make the technology of the cores and laminations better and not focus so much of our attention just on the finish. What really matters for the performance is boards shape and its construction. New boards are stronger, yet light enough, and with the good amount of proper flex. Great hydro-efficient new shapes are produced in the best available constructions. Full custom epoxy technology is used for handcrafting each single surfboard and engineered wooden/PVC/PU cores of twin-tips are epoxy laminated in computer operated hi-temperature presses. We aim at specializing and produce boards designed A-Z by professional kiteboarders in order to provide the ultimate kiteboarding tools for what they were programmed.

Kite Line Availability

- Rabbit Gang Series Kites: 5m Bunny, 7m Gypsy,9m Smoke 12m Boss, and 15m Big Mama. Already available

Board Line Availability

- Blunt II: Available: September 1, 2010

- The Joke: Available: September 1, 2010

- The Cruzer: Available: TBA

- The Magnum: continuation of our classic/last year performance surfboard model made to ride with power and speed.
Available: October 1, 2010

- The Gambler: Progressive and performance surf made for everyday fun in all conditions.
Available: October 1, 2010

- The Passport: Dedicated strapless surf design that is fast, loose and extremely stable.
Available: October 1, 2010

Website address: http://wainmanhawaii.com

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Airush Monaro: Race and Lightwind Board

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Airush is releasing a new Race and Lightwind board called the Monaro. SBC Kiteboard editor John Bryja caught up with Brand Manager and Product Designer Clinton Filen and Product Manager and Tester Dave Tyburski for a behind the scenes look at the project. Look for a full test review in the Summer issue of SBC Kiteboard magazine.

How did this raceboard project get started?
Clinton Filen: The focus of the Monaro is not only racing but also lightwind freeride. The growth of racing was clear and about a year ago and we decide it would be worth pursuing on a commercial level. Before that we had feedback from customers using our current Converse and Choptop range for light- wind flat water, for which it was not developed, but felt initially that was a very small segment. Together the two groups looked like an interesting area to develop a product for.

How many competitors boards did you look at and what were you looking to improve?
Clinton Filen: When we started the project there were no production race boards on the market. We looked at what some of our national team were doing (many were modifying existing boards) and there were many different ideas at the race competitions. This gave us an idea on what to improve and which directions made the most sense. Current windsurf boards have been through a lot of development and this was a big source of practical design concepts as well as our knowledge from Directional’s and Surfboards. We primarily looked at upwind performance combined with speed and control off the wind.

Where did you guys design and test it?
Clinton Filen: Prototyping is done in our workshop in Thailand, design and testing took place in Perth Western Australia.

What sort of things did you try in the prototyping stages?
Clinton Filen: That is a very broad question when you are coming into a completely new design. We considered everything from length, width, rocker, outline, fin placement and angles, bottom shape, rail shape etc. However the key testing areas in development was find a rocker that was fast, without sacrificing control and an outline that balanced upwind performance with stability at speed. The fin design, placement, cant and positioning was also very important. We spent a lot of time working with how deep and vertical we could make the fins before the board became a handful at speed. This lead to us offering the Monaro with two fin configurations, an upwind oriented fin set along with a reaching oriented fin set.

Why did you choose the final shape over the others tested?
Clinton Filen: It had the best combination of upwind speed and a high level of control off the wind.

Why did you choose to use two fins instead of four?
Clinton Filen: We originally experimented with single, twin and quad configurations each with their own merits. We felt that the twin fin configuration offer a good combination of efficiency and maintained the ability to edge.

What sort of trade off is involved in using just two fins?
Clinton Filen: One of the tradeoffs of not having 4 fins is that it could make the board more sensitive to overall design and fin positioning, as with 4 fins you can could technically use the relative position (to each other) along with relative size to influence the board trim angle, stability etc. However in the end you can achieve similar results on a twin by working with rake, position etc. as ultimately you are looking for the best position of the centre of lateral resistance, in relation to the rider, board and kite.

Are different fin sizes available?
Clinton Filen: We offer a upwind oriented fin set along with a reaching oriented fin set. This enables the rider to set the board up for blasting and windier reaching conditions or more dedicated upwind racing or light wind.

What is the wind range of the new board?
Dave Tyburski: The low end of the board really depends on the kite. At 85 Kg, I have had the board going upwind on a 13M kite in around 6 knots of wind. Basically, you can get going before any other board that I have ridden. The Monaro project really opened my eyes to lowering the light wind threshold. The right combination of volume, rocker, outline and fin significantly lowers the wind threshold and allows extreme upwind angles that most kiters have not experienced before. For sure, the Monaro will give you more low-end out of any kite than you have had before. On the high-end, the board handles extremely well for a board of its size and maintains its stability at very high speeds.

What did you and the testers discover about footstrap placement during the testing?
Dave Tyburski: You want to have your foot straps set up for how you want to ride. Our testing was focused on using the board as a high performance race board and also as a lightwind freeride board. For racing, I want my rear footstrap back centered over the fins. As you increase the length of the fins, you will want to begin moving the straps a little further back to keep the board manageable. I really only use the rear strap when I am reaching off the wind or down wind. For freeride situations when you are in both straps most of the time, I found that it was more comfortable with the rear strap positioned a little further forward rather than centered over the fins.

What Airush kite compliments this board the best?
Dave Tyburski: For racing, for sure the FLOW FT would make the most sense due to its profile, range and speed through the wind. The FLOW FT and Monaro are actually a perfect combination and we will have team riders competing on this kite board combo in many of the international races this year.
For freeride. we tested it a lot with the DNA, VAPOR III and even prototype kites for 2010 as well as from years past. The board will work well with any newer kite designs that have descent depower and range. It is important to match the kite size with the conditions. Even for racing, you are able to easily drop a kite size than you would normally use.

Any race speed tips you discovered during testing?
Dave Tyburski: I have learned a lot over the past few years racing and toying with new shapes and designs. Most races are won on the upwind legs of the course. One basic tip that I could give is to position your rear foot in between the front and rear straps when you are pinching upwind for maximum penetration. This way you can feather your rear foot closer forward to the front strap and back as your power situation changes. It will also enable you to hold your angle longer with fluctuations in the wind speed and it will be more comfortable and less fatiguing on your body. As for speed and going fast off the wind, think of your feet in the straps as being on accelerator pedals. You will likely be edging a bit on your heals, even off the wind. Try to ride the fins more instead of the rail of the board by pressing down with your toes and flattening out the board. It is definitely more physically demanding, but extremely fast.

www.airush.com

2011 Cabrinha Switchblade

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:10:00 -0400

2011 Axon Kiteboard line-up

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:05:00 -0400

Axon Kiteboarding

Axon is a brand that is 100% dedicated to kiteboards. Every piece has to fit and every board has to perform at the highest level possible. We believe that every riding style and skill level deserves a board built the best that it can be.

Biggest news

This is the first year for Axon Kiteboards and we are really excited to introduce the premier collection of the brand.

Highlights

The most exciting products in the line are the Freeride and Freestyle twin tips, the three Surf Series boards, and the AGS Footpad with Q-Loc Footstrap.

New technologies

In the Axon twintips, we utilize a 3D core molding technique that allows us to keep the boards very stiff between your feet (for solid landings and great upwind power), a bit thinner and more flexible by the fins (for great pop reflex and response), and even more flexible on the tip and tail to cut through chop smoothly and easily. The Surf Series boards all have a full top sheet of bamboo the helps to disperse the compression in the board while riding. The bamboo adds strength while eliminating the chatter that other wave boards can have. The pads and straps for the twintip boards are molded pieces built for comfort and ease. the AGS Footpads have a 3-piece gel system that is visible right on the pad. The molded EVA foams are built just like the sole of a running shoe to give you the ultimate comfort on the water.

Board models

MAYA 127-Womens specific board with a wide, square outline for easy maneuverability that produces great speed and power.
RELIC 130-Smallest of the Freeride boards with moderate flex and great power for a small size.
RHYTHM 133- The Rhythm is playful and maneuverable but big enough to provide the extra surface area for easy landings and early planing.
PULSE 136-The Pulse has consistent control and power thanks to its 42 cm with and concave bottom and is a powerhouse for its size.
NYC 132,135- The NYC has a round outline, stiff flex, shallow concave, and is built for instant reaction and pop out of the water for today’s power freestyle.
5’7 Thruster-Super deep double concave and a straight outline make the 5’7 fast and fun in any condition.
5’8 Quad Fish-The Quad fin fish is thinner than traditional fish shapes keeping it fast and lively and easy to surf or have fun in flat water.
6’0 Thruster- Deep single concave squash tail that is designed after modern comp surf boards for true wave riding.

Website address: www.axokiteboarding.com

2011 RRD Domingo

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:55:00 -0400

2011 SBC Kiteboard Gear Tests Update: Day 1

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 07:30:00 -0400

Day one on the water of the 2011 SBC Kiteboard magazine gear tests graced the team with warm Southwesterly winds. After two days of unpacking, strapping, and organizing the gear, the SBC test team was eager to get out on the water and ride the new 2011 kites and boards.

This Fall’s massive head-to-head tests features over 40 kites from Airush, Best, Cabrinha, Epic, F-One, Globe Kites, Griffin, Liquid Force, Royal, Naish, North, Ocean Rodeo, RRD, Slingshot, and StarKites.

The kites range from freestyle specific kites to pure wave kites. The day’s action took place in the Pamlico Sound. It was the perfect day to test the mid-range kite sizes with winds hovering around 16 mph mark as the testers hit the water. As the morning came to a conclusion, so did the wind. Some of the stand-outs in the lighter winds were the 13m Airush Lithium, 12m North Rebel, and the 12m Cabrinha Switchblade. All of these kites had great low-end power enabling the testers to throw down some freestyle and boost some airs in their own personal slick.

This year’s SBC test house is at a new location featuring a 200-yard flatwater slick. This spot is ideal for testing boards in butter flat conditions, as well as hitting some double-up chop kicker ramps at full speed. Hatteras is the ultimate kiteboarding park.

After the morning session, they test team made their way over to Kitty Hawk Kites to rig all the gear for a kite and bar photo shoot. Everyone was excited to see that there are multiple air compressors on hand to aid the rigging process. The Kitty Hawk Kite’s launch site in Waves is open to the public for a small $5 a day launch fee. A large grassy area, steady winds, waist deep water as far as the eye can see, and a restaurant and shop on site make this an ideal Photographer David. G Tran and editor John Bryja snapped the shots we needed.

After the photo shoot, Nick Barret gave the team a tour of the new waterfront condos located at the Kitty Hawk Kite resort.

The crew then headed over to Mojo’s at Real Kiteboarding for some Fish Tacos (Taco Tuesdays) and cold Lagers.

An early evening skateboard session at Liquid Force team rider Jason Slesak’s own personal backyard skate park rounded out an awesome day in the Outer Banks.

Wednesday’s forecast looks promising with another day of warm, boardshort-friendly, 14-to-18 knot Southwesterly winds. Check back daily on SBCKITEBOARD.com for more updates, pics and videos from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

BenWilsonSurf The Drifter

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:08:00 -0500

After spending long months developing and testing a small wave board both surfing and kiting, BenWilsonSurf started the production. The Drifter is 5’9 and is Ben Wilson’s signature board.

Specs: 5’9” x 18’3/8” x 2’1/4” 2 x 6ox deck, 1 x 6oz bottom, 4oz feet and fin patches Polyurethane Blank (PU) Standard surfboard density 4mm Stringer 3-hole extruded PVC block inserts (metric thread) FCS Fusion fin boxes