Best Nemesis '09 10m Review

At a Glance
New for 2009 is the Best Nemesis featuring Twister Tech. Last year the Nemesis was the performance kitesurfing kite in the Best line up, offering insane jumps and turning speed. The kite was fast, and this year Twister Tech is meant to make it faster, Lord help us!

Because the Best Nemesis uses a Cuben Fiber leading edge it allows them to build in this new feature, there are Kevlar strips stitched into the canopy every foot or so. These strips can twist and it is this twisting effect that brings C shape performance to the Nemesis. The bridle is fairly simple and utilises the new VP2 system, which allows for more depower from a shorter stroke of the bar. Looking at the Nemesis you can’t help but notice the thin leading edge; it is tiny. The Cuben Fiber fabric feels very tough and the Kevlar Twist Tech lines make it stand out from the rest.

The Bar
The new Best Nemesis’ bar is really something to pay attention too, one of the best thought out set ups we have seen in a while. It is packed with features, there are landing handles on both front lines allowing you to land the kite safely on your own. Oh Shit handles on the rear lines add extra safety, the chicken loop release is also very easy to activate and to reset. The chicken loop uses male/female shaping to ensure it won’t twist when you unhook and the bar ends are super comfy for kite loop tricks. It really does ooze quality.

In the Air
First impressions with the Nemesis HP are stability; the airframe is super solid in the air, the stiff Cuben Fiber leading edge helping to give it a poised feel. Upwind ability is really something to behold, the thin leading edge really allowing the kite to fly upwind. Something many riders will appreciate especially after wipeouts or those hangtime sessions when you spend more time flying than you do riding along.

Jumping is also something that stands out. For two reasons, first up the HP is quick; lightening quick. If you want to go high you need to go fast and the Nemesis is no slouch. Once cranking at Mach 10 you can throw the kite back through the window with astonishing speed and the result is, as they say, impressive. The kite really rips you off the water and you can almost feel the G’s.

The second reason it impresses is that while you are up there the in-flight entertainment is not short lived. You can swing the kite back and forth to generate extra lift and really stay up in the air for a long time. The HP just goes BIG, period.

Unhooked is also good and, although the kite isn’t designed for freestyle, the bar set up means you can still unhook and throw down at will knowing that everything will be where you left it when you come back to hook in. One word of caution though, this kite isn’t the most forgiving in the book, whilst it delivers excellent feedback to the rider, that rider needs to have his wits about him, with a kite this quick you really need a level of skill to be able to get the most out of it. Experienced riders looking for big thrills should apply here, beginners or the more tentative rider should be looking at the Waroo.

Pros
Fast turning high performance for the adrenalin junky looking for some big air hangtime. Flies upwind and even performs unhooked even though that isn’t in its design brief.

Cons
The HP is not a low cost kite, Best stamped their authority on the market by offering great kites at great prices. The HP is a great kite, but all the extra performance, expensive materials and fittings come at a price.

Overall
Ridiculously quick through the air and back through the window the Nemesis HP will be sure to impress. The bar set up is excellent and the build quality is very impressive. Does the Twister Tech make a difference? Surely a question on most people lips! In our eyes this is a fast kite, the turning is smooth and predictable. You can see Twister Tech on the beach easily; it is harder to notice it when the kite is in the air. But it is there to make the kite more responsive and turn faster. Considering the kite is super responsive and turns on a dime then we would have to say it works!

Griffin MMIX 2009 10.5 Review

At a Glance
Griffin Kiteboarding was born out of the flames, as it were, of Monkey Kites, those of you who read forums will be aware that Monkey Kites were among the first china kite copies to hit the market. This was some years ago and since then the brand has been quietly growing offering a low cost way of getting into the sport.

It seems the case with a lot of the smaller kitesurfing brands this year that quality has really stepped up a notch and that you will be getting a lot of bang for your buck, so to speak, and Griffin are no different.

For under £600 you can get this set up brand new off the shelf. That’s pretty impressive in this current market. The kite looks the part with some thought going into the graphics, but the construction has also improved and the kite is well built and features a 12-month warranty to back it up. You won’t be getting the pedigree of the major brands, nor will the there be the small attention to detail that we see these days from the bigger players. But you do get a well-built kite which features One Pump and a bag, bar and lines for half the price of some of the more expensive kitesurfing kites.

The Bar
The bar on the Griffin is where you will see the biggest difference between the major players. It is packed with useful features, below the bar depower with a quality Clam Cleat, O-Shit Handles, stopper ball, neoprene tidies to keep your lines in order and 20m + 5m line extensions, but it isn’t carbon and the chicken loop doesn’t scream quality. It is also the first time we have seen a pull toward you release in a couple of years, it works but could be difficult to operate in an emergency scenario. That said this is budget kitesurfing and everything works well and is neat, tidy and very functional.

In the Air
One of the first things you notice about the Griffin is the power it produces; it is one of the few kites on the market with no centre strut. This gives a large flat power zone in the middle of the kite where you need it the most. The 10.5 is also very large for its size. Stood next to the Starkites ExA 11m for instance it is considerably bigger. Obviously this larger sizing coupled with the flat centre section gives this kite an impressive bottom end. As soon as there is enough breeze to hit the water then the 10.5 has enough power to put a smile on your face and pull you upwind. The low end upwind ability of the kite was very impressive; the kite was really attacking the edge of the window and pulling you windward.

The Griffin is also fairly nimble for its size, although it is very stable in the air it turned quickly when you engaged the bar. Jumping was a relatively simple affair the timing is straightforward and it is an easy kite to get dialled into. The jumps themselves weren’t ripping us from the water, but once you were airborne the kite delivered an impressive amount of float. Looping the Griffin is a “balls out” affair, the kite delivers a lot of power through the turn and the yank you have as you send the kite through the power zone is impressive to say the least. Definitely not for the feint hearted.

Griffin aim this kite at the all round market, and it certainly fits that bill well, easy to fly and stable enough for a beginner, fast enough to turn in the waves and exciting enough in the air to please most free riders out there. Unhooked the kite works well too, it needs a little bit of trimming to get it happy, but once set it delivers a smooth powerful pull through your moves. If you want a low cost kite that delivers a surprising amount of quality and performance then the Griffin fits the bill.

Pros
The price, easily one of the lowest cost set ups around, the build quality of the kite is good and with features like one pump it is certainly a good buy at the price.
Cons
We aren’t fans of the chicken loop release, or the chicken loop, which lets the bar down. The resale value on these kites won’t be anywhere near what you could achieve with a more premium brand.

Overall
At this price this has to be one of the best kites out there that we have seen. It flies well, is stable and delivers some impressive performance. It will certainly put a smile on your face and that’s all that matters!

For more info visit www.griffinkiteboarding.com or www.s2as.com

Takoon Furia 11m Review

At A Glance

The Furia from Takoon is their top end kite aimed at the high performance kite surfing market who are looking for a kite that will excel at both freestyle and waveriding.

It boasts some impressive features including their one pump system and a super simple bridle. In our opinion it is good to see bridles getting less complicated, it allows for easier set up and there is less to get twisted if you do ever have a nasty crash and get the bridle messed up.

The kite is very lightweight, almost a standard for Takoon, with just five struts. There is reinforcement in all the right places though and the build quality is excellent. The kite also can be set up in either a 4 or 5 line set up, so it gives the rider a little more choice as to how they want the kite to feel and ride.

The Furia also comes with loads of trim options so you can set it up to fly how you want it. We flew the kite in both 4 line and 5 line mode and it really does feel quite different so it is worth playing around with the settings till you get it set up to suit your riding style. The bar is really high quality, and is also very light, easily one of the lightest bars out there which is worth a mention if you do lots of travelling. It is a full carbon affair, so even though it is light it is also strong.

In the Air

4 Lines: In the standard 4 line set up the Furia feels every bit the high performance hybrid kite. Just small input into the bar results in positive movement at the kite end and in no time you will have the Furia flying about with great speed through the wind window. All this speed and pace also add up to one thing, hangtime. The kite is really quick so when you are powered up you can really rake it back to get some impressive boost off the water.

The depower in 4 line mode is also excellent, just small movements with the bar will have the kite spilling power whenever you need it to. The speed at which the kite turns lends itself really well to waveriding, allowing you to really crank in some tight turns on the board and know the kite will respond when you want it to. The Furia also handles gusty conditions very well, on one of the days we tested the kite it was bordering on ridiculous and the kite was quite at home.

5 Lines: Once switched to 5 lines the kite feels very different, instantly you will notice it is much more direct and the bar feels totally connected with the kite, there is no lag when you turn the bar and the steering is even faster. The bottom end is also improved but at a slight cost to the overall top end depower. It was a tough call but in the end we decided we preferred the Furia on 5 lines, which is rare for us as we love the simplicity that 4 lines offers when setting up, especially with such a simple bridle set up.

Pros
Super fast through the air with awesome jumping and waveriding capabilities, simple bridle and set up on 4 lines.

Cons
Not for the feint hearted, but also small things like the one-way inflate valve being too stiff making it very hard to pump up. You can easily pump the kite up using the deflate valve though. Also for a top end performance kite the safety loop on the chicken loop seems a little extreme. But just small grumbles really nothing substantial.

Overall
An excellent high performance kite from Takoon, the ability to set it up on 4 or 5 lines will appeal to many and add versatility to the kite. If you like freestyle or waves then the Furia will excite you!

For more info visit www.S2AS.com or www.takoon.com

North Jaime Pro 134 x 40.5

The Jaime Pro kiteboard from North has been running for some time, the first kiteboard in their range back in the day to pioneer the new construction techniques now so popular in today’s board market. Each year the Jaime Pro has been one of the most popular boards in the North Range offering performance and versatility. As North have introduced more and more pro models to the line up it has allowed them to make the Jaime Pro even more appealing to the mass market as opposed to just the top end. Popular for its forgiving yet exciting ride it has long been the board of choice for many kitesurfers.

Impressions
The Jaime Pro kiteboard has an awful lot going on with the construction and shape, the only board featured this issue to utilise both an asymmetric concave and an asymmetric flex pattern. The concave is biased towards the heel side edge, giving you more control when powered up, and allowing for smoother landings, whilst the flat section gives the board an extra edge of speed when the wind is light or you hit a lull and need to level the board off to keep it going. The outline is simple and tried and tested, with a good width to the shape.

On the water the board feels crisp and sharp and eager to get going early. Through the chop the ride is smooth and the super sharp rails help it to crank upwind with ease. They do make it a little unforgiving though so remember this is still a top end board for skilled riders wanting that extra level of performance.

The mid section of the board is pretty stiff and this allows some great pop off the water, the flex tips and concave bottom then cushion the landing for the rider. The board has a three-stage rocker, the flat section in the middle again allowing for great early planing potential and giving the board a good top end speed. Graphics are as ever pretty slick, the bottom maybe not to everyone’s taste, but then it’s not often you see that when riding!

Fixtures and Fittings
The board comes as standard with Tarifa Fin Company 5cm fins, these have often been regarded as the best kiteboarding fins on the market and are an expensive thing to buy on their own. The straps and pads are easy to fit and we especially liked the way the strap can be adjusted across the foot, tighter closer to your toes and looser on the top of the foot. This allows the straps to really grip the whole of the foot and gives you a very connected ride. The pads are grippy enough and comfortable on the sole of your feet.

Overall
Fans of the Jaime Pro sreis from North will love the latest edition, subtle changes make it even more comfortable to ride, yet it still retains some impressive pop and performance at speed.

Wainman Blunt 135cm Kiteboard Review

A customer review of the Wainman Blunt Kiteboard (135x43)

Our Rider/Customer: 85kg kiting for 4 years.

First things first the kiteboard looks sick, good to see a move away from the standard Kite board graphics - even if you've never seen a Wainman Blunt, someone rocks up on the beach with one you'll be drawn to its beauty. Pick it up and you'll be caressing its sleek curves, before your brain realizes how light the dam thing is - including the fins, pads and handle it came in at around 3kg. With regards to durability its minimal weight does nothing to ground any concerns, in your hands you know this thing is strong and built appropriately, no question.

On the water: First thing I noticed and in comparison to my old TT was how locked in I felt the conditions were very choppy but the board just flew across the water cutting its way through everything in its path, it was ridiculously smooth and almost felt like it was on rails hovering a few millimeters above the water. Was not sure how it would cope switching to toeside but it effortlessly made the transition before locking itself in again, without attention I was riding toeside with the same control and stability as heelside with absolutely no loss of ground or speed.

Storming upwind on my weaker toeside I was laughing at how good this board was feeling and I still hadn't turned back to shore. At this point I was joined by a mate and, it's always good to see how good the board performs upwind when you have a direct comparison to someone else's wake trail. Switching back to heelside we set off around the same sort of time I was probably about 50 yards further out, he has no problem going upwind but the difference was unbelievable, if observing from above I was probably tracking 30/40 degrees further upwind, the next thing hit me at just how fast I was going within seconds I had overtaken him (we were on the same brand and sized kites) for a board of its size it just fly's.

The next revelation, driving straight into the chop not a single drop of spray was hitting my face, absolutely nothing was being thrown up by the front of the board due to the rocker. Time to try some jumps and test its metal - loading jumps was a synch plenty of power and pop. The board is relatively stiff but this never comes across when landing, such gorgeous soft landings.

Turning into heel or toeside is awesome, the radius of the turns are a tight as they could be without the board skidding of its rail or stalling, no matter how strong the wind was the board was not going to run away.

After about a week of constant riding I took the fins off for a finless session... the wind was around 20 / 25kts choppy but no waves. At times I could have been fooled into thinking I still had fins you need to ride it slightly flatter on the water but there was no loss of upwind performance. Pushing the back out and skating around was great fun but you always felt you had control.

I've had this kiteboard out in 15 - 40kts of wind, overall I couldn't be happier, no complaints.

This review was done by a customer of S2AS Kitesurf shop in poole

North X-Ride 135 x 39 Review

With over 10 boards in the North kiteboard line up this year it would be easy to over look the X-Ride, especially with the star studded pro model line up. The X-Ride kiteboard is designed as their all terrain board, using their snowboard style construction. Aimed at the rider who turns his hand to a bit of everything it really defines what we mean when we say free ride. If you like blasting about, smacking the odd wave and throwing down a raley or two then this could be the board for you.

The X-Ride is very light, noticeably so when you compare it to other boards in the test. It also uses a much more oval outline shape than the Jaime Pro; the board is really at home carving from rail to rail. When you design a board with freestyle in mind you want pop and speed. And quite often will sacrifice all else to achieve it. In a free ride board you want it to have an ability to carve and slash the odd wave here and there. The outline of the X-Ride coupled with the softer rail shape really allow the board to power through those carves and turning rail to rail on this board is a dream.

The lightweight construction allows it to jump up onto the plane early and the board feels very crisp underfoot. The ride is super forgiving and the shape cuts really well through the chop. The flex is quite soft and this makes the ride really comfortable, anyone looking for a gentle cruiser or something that is easy on the knees will appreciate this, especially if you ride in choppy conditions a lot of the time. That said the kiteboard still pops well and if you want to throw down the odd new school trick then you won’t be disappointed with the outcome. It is also pretty forgiving in the landings as the softer rails allow you to make the odd mistake. The super flexi tips also make coming down from any height a fairly painless process. The board cruises upwind with ease and although it needs a little bit of power to get going once it is up and riding it has a good turn of speed. The single concave bottom shape allows excellent control when you are powered up and the continuous rocker line, which is quite large, adds to this.

Fixtures and Fittings
The board comes as standard with a set of “new wave” carving fins. These are unlike any of the other fins in the test and have a swept back shape to them. The swept back outline allows extra grip and control when you are carving hard off the back foot. The straps and pads are easy to fit and we especially liked the way the strap can be adjusted across the foot, tighter closer to your toes and looser on the top of the foot. This allows the straps to really grip the whole of the foot and gives you a very connected ride. The pads have plenty of grip and are comfortable on the sole of the foot.

Overall
If your riding isn’t just about freestyle, and you like to carve up small waves and bits of swell then the X-Ride could be the board for you, a true definition of the term freeride. It is happy cruising, wave riding and even likes a bit of freestyle. If that sounds like your riding then look no further.

Flexifoil Blade 5 Kite Review

A short review of the Flexifoil Blade 5 6.5m as promised:

The weather on Devils Dyke in Brighton was somewhat changeable today, the 8th of July 2009, with the occasional heavy shower moving through.

Despite this we managed to launch our new Flexifoil Blade 5 6.5m towards the end of the day. Winds were a nice predictable 17 to 20 mph with partly cloudy skies. We were immediately impressed by how predicable this Blade kite handles. A Strong steady pull throughout the entire envelope. What especially impressed us was unexpectedly good lift at the extreme edges of the wind window! The kite seems to turn quite quickly and a couple of pendulum jumps with nice floaty landings wetted our appetite for some more fun. However our first experience was somewhat limited due to time constraints but we were left with a very positive impression.

Construction of the Flexifoil Blade 5 is of similar high standard very much like the earlier Blade 4. The supplied rucksack is nice and roomy, well stitched together and with plenty of room for lines, handles and other accessories. A definite improvement over the previous ''freebies''. On another occasion we will test the new Flexifoil Blade 5 Powerkite against the Blade 4 kite to see where both designs differ.

For more info of Flexifoil Kites go to our website at www.S2AS.com

Slingshot Octane 2010 Kite Review

 The Slingshot Octane kitesurfing kite returns with all new sleek styling and performance characteristics - making it a welcome addition to the Crossover collection.

The Octane is the answer for every kiter looking for the performance requirements of a traditional 'C' shape kite but more of the depower and range of a dedicated hybrid kite.

It has a unique ultra compact bridle and comes complete with the new Comp Stick control bar setting the performance level of the Slingshot Octane at the peak.

Hard core riders looking to boost big airs and down loop their kite to smack the lip is where the Octane excels.

PACKAGE

• Slingshot Octane Kite Comp Stick Control Bar
• Kite Backpack
• Jena J XL Double Pump
• Kite Patch Kit
• Octane Quick Start Guide
• Lifetime Rider Service Membership

RIDER PROFILE:

• Freestyle and Surf
• Advanced to expert
• Advanced skill level looking for a kitesurfing kite that transitions from flat water to waves
• Uses mostly chicken loop throw to depower the kite
• Enjoys all conditions
• Looking for reliability and excellence in every condition
• Rides unhooked and excels hooked in

The Slingshot Octane Kite offers maximum versatility for surf and flat water riding making it the
most complete all around kite on the market.

BENEFITS:
The Octane offers maximum versatility for surf and flat water riding making it the most complete all around kite on the market.

• Progressive hybrid shape canopy = Great low end and super stable in high winds
• Effortless relaunch in every condition
• At the bar depower “C” performance and feel
• Massive boost, float longer and go higher
• 4 strut design
• Faster turning response
• Light weight
• Onepump*
• Original Slingshot patented single point inflation system
• Surf Tough Seams = Minimizes and contains canopy tears
• CFI attachment points = Provides custom options for depower and bar pressure.
• Ballistic Aramid scuff guards on every segment seam = Prevents overall wear and tear
• Mark cloth reinforced trailing edge = Increases durability
• Compact Bridle = In flight stability and eliminates the risk of tangle
• Ergonomic nipple placement = Less overall drag
• Slingshot legendary construction = Bomber quality
• Lifetime Rider Hotline Membership = Unsurpassed customer service NEW FOR 2010

For more information on the Slingshot Ocatane kite or for a huge range of kitesurfing gear and kitesurfing lessons, visit www.s2as.com

Cabrinha Nomad 2010 Kitesurf Review

Bit of background info, I’m currently riding for the Cabrinha UK Kiteboarding team and have been since October 2008. I also work in Surface2Air Kitesurf Shop in Poole, Dorset ,Mixing up freestyle with waves. On the rare occasion when the south coast gets a cheeky bit of swell you will find me out on the 5’9” S-Quad from Cabrinha. Last weekend I was lucky enough to get my hands on the new 2010 Cabrinha Nomad kite a freestyle and wave machine.

Here are my thoughts on the kite

The first thing that caught my eye was how Cabrinha have made the bag slightly bigger this year, as in previous years if you don’t iron your kite it can prove a bit of a mission to get it back in the bag after a long kite. The bag has the usual Cabrinha quality about it with some nice new simple features like the pump holder on the side and a couple of extra pockets for your spares. This year the bar goes inside the bag so no problems with losing that if you have a hike to the beach! The pump this year is the usual deal with all the features you will ever need to inflate a kite.

The Bar
So to the bar; I’m currently using the IDS bar, but I feel there are a couple of things that needed changing for future bars. All these have been thought about and resolved for 2010.

To start the override on the bar this year always seemed to move or slip if you were to let go after a pass or being silly overpowered, which is great for all people wanting the Cabrinha renowned instant depower. However for my riding and a lot of you people out there, this is quite frustrating. Nothing worse than missing the bar and dropping through the sky like a bullet or landing a trick and sinking due to the bar being half a mile away.

For the Cabrinha Nomad and all 2010 kites they have built the bar to perfection to cover all a riders needs! The stopper now grips much tighter and has very little movement. There is also a second stopper, which is sat behind the override, which gives you the ability to set a length of depower which you require and not move under any circumstances.

The chicken loop for 2010 has some nice new features like the new swivelling donkey dick; super handy for unhooking. The loop also has a set suicide leash connection as you can see in the pictures. Release is very similar to last years IDS bar.

Another great feature for this year with the bar is that the IDS line is now all sleeved and integrated with the depower line. This makes the bar very smooth, simple and no more worn IDS lines!

The swivel this year works very well, so no twisted lines. There is a nice new colour scheme for the bar and a stronger, more durable centre insert. The same integrated bar end/floats from last year. Overall the bar has some fantastic new features working in conjunction with all the features which were impressive for last year.

The Kite
First impact would be the new colour scheme! WOW there is some seriously pimp looking vibrant neon colours combined in this kite! Nothing quite like it on the market! Some sick new graphics also work in combination to produce the best looking kitesurfing kite at the beach!
On to pumping up - The same pump non-return system which Cabrinha kites are known for, very similar one pump system, difficult to change when it works so well.

One big change I noticed for the Cabrinha Nomad 2010 that there is no centre strut! A lot of brands for 2010 are steering towards this idea of no centre strut. It’s believed to generate more power through the canopy and for the main focus for power on the canopy not to be disturbed by a strut. Overall the kite has six struts, which makes it very rigid and keeps the canopy reasonably tight at all times. As for the bridle, it is slightly more simple than other kites the market. You get no tangles or time wasted trying to work out which point to connect your lines too. There are the usual slow and fast turning settings with another setting for more or less bar pressure to accommodate different styles of riding.

This kite had the usual bomb proof build quality looking at the stitching and canopy materials; no money spared in this department.

This is pretty much everything I can cover without getting it in the sky and taking it for a ride. Oh all lines are colour coded as always so adds to prevention with setting the kite up incorrectly.

Riding characteristics
I was looking at a nice NW breeze in sunny Poole harbour over the weekend maxing out around 22 knots. Some perfect conditions to give the Cabrinha Nomad a good test. Up in the sky it pretty much flies straight out the bag, no adjustments needed.

Being NW this isn’t the cleanest direction in the harbour and the kite seemed to handle the gusts without any hang-ups at all. I couldn’t believe how stable the canopy was without the centre strut. It just didn’t budge! I had the 9m out on this occasion and compared to the 10m Cabrinha switchblade the 9m was vey fast through the sky and turning was very tight and reactive depending on how aggressive you are with the bar.

Freestyle Capabilities
Starting with kite loops, this kite has a nice tug to it with a tonne of pop for unhooked loops. Very smooth power delivery throughout the loop, nothing worse than a kite which tends to unexpectedly yank you trough the air backwards!!

As for the handle passes, the bar seemed to have very little pressure and really slackened off in the pass which was a great change to what I was used to. No unexpected movements with the kite.
The kite is very direct, so when landing to blind, the kite didn’t take any unexpected dives. In all fairness the Nomad is a real competitor with all those C kite lovers out there. No stalling or flying backwards, boosts without needing to over sheets the ass off of it.

Wave performance
I will be updating this ASAP. Awaiting some swell!

Depower
I’m under the impression that with my weight at 70kg I will be looking to get going on the Nomad 9m in around 16knots up to 25. This is a nice size wind range for one kite. Obviously this will vary a lot depending on weight/ riding style but it gives a rough estimate. Depower on this kite is incredible as with the whole Cabrinha range. Letting go of the bar with the over ride off or set very light will instantly kill the kite! Trimming the kite makes a huge difference with unhooked riding as you are still able to unhook at the top of the kites wind range.

Re-launch
The re-launch on the Cabrinha Nomad Kite is very slick. You have a couple of options available with this kite. If you let go of the bar, the kite will generally fall to the side of the window and sit waiting to be re-launched. If you happen to dump the kite straight down the middle you can either pull one of the outside lines and it will rollover or you can grab both lines and pull which makes the kite fly up backwards and turn over! A real handy option if you need the kite up quick!

Any question or more info on any of the Cabrinha range just email or call us on 01202 738448.

Mike Marsh
S2AS kitesurf shop
Poole

My First Test Flight of the New Slingshot Rev Kite

I was in Holland on a Slingshot kite / kiteboard test and this is my personal review of the new Slingshot Rev.

As I got the kite out of the bag I could see that the bag had not changed from the 2007 kites, but hey it’s a bag! As I was pumping the kite up I did see that the bridle was very small, now this is something I really like as with long bridles you can get tangles very easy. The kite still has the original and best one-pump system, the graphics are the usual Slingshot style “in your face” - again this is something I think is unique about Slingshot.

Now on any bridle my first question is pulleys – how many? And what have you done to prevent wear from the pulleys? My questions were answered as I took a closer look at the pulleys I could see that the pig tail use to attached the pulleys to the kite/bridle was used in a way that I have never seen on ANY kite before and when I asked why, it all made sense! It keeps the pulley from pulling to one side and creating friction and ware. Now I know this is a small thing, but it all makes a big difference on the water after 4 months of use.

Bar & Lines:
I personally am made up with what Slingshot have done here; 800lb lines (stronger than any other Slingshot kite before now and the Rev is a simple 4 line kite; no options for 5 lines just simple. ‘Rider simplicity’ that’s what Slingshot are all about. The bar itself has been changed, but only to the trained eye.

They have put a solid metal insert into the bar to stop chicken loop rope wearing too fast and used a better EVA grip on the bar a bit like a expensive wakeboard handle.

The lock and load chicken loop is still here so it looks pretty much the same apart from one major thing - The safety stem!

Now this is new and I was told by Slingshot that I could let the bar out on the re-ride and recover the bar and still re-launch the kite with ease. To be fair every kiteboarding company says that and to date not one is true, so I thought it best to not go and try this out of my depth… just in case.

So I put the kite up above my head unhooked and let the bar go - the kite had instant de-power and dropped from the sky onto the water, the bar went about 15 meters up the center line and the kite laid out flat, normally at the stage you’re on a long swim back to shore!

Now the kite was leading edge down facing me and any one who owns or has flown any hybrid or bow kite will know this is not a good position to be in.

I pulled in the center safety line until I could reach the control bar re-hooked myself in and looked down at the bar, I saw the center safety line whizzing back though the bar until all 4 lines where taut again.

The kite then swung round back into the re-launch position, I pulled on the outside/steering line and the kite just re-launched off the water back above my head… nice!

So I know the kite re-launches well, I know the kite has a very good safety system, but I still don’t know how stable the kite is above my head or how well it flies in strong winds… Keep reading!

Stability:
Now this is a big issue with kites; we need a kite that is very stable in the sky in both clean and gusty winds this is how it went.

I walk out into the water with the kite above my head about 40 meters away from land and everyone else (I was thinking the worst). I unhooked the kite and tried to make the Slingshot Rev over fly and drop from the sky; however it was just sitting there perfectly. So I pulled very hard on the bar down to my knees and back up above my head but the kite would not over-fly at all!

Now I was really impressed, but that was just the start!

Anyone knows if you walk under a kite that is above your head it will fall from the sky. Newbies make this mistake all the time when leaning to jump (they do not re-direct the kite on landing) and just walking up the beach, or if its gusty at your local beach the kite will rock back into the wind and then surge forward over your head and drop from the sky; hence you need to keep most kites moving in these conditions.

Remember I am still unhooked - the kite is not falling back into the wind at all like other kites - so I ran under the kite about 5 meters and the kite just rocked back with me until it was back above my head. So I did it again, and again, until I was running about 30 meters under the kite and the kite just kept gliding back into the wind and above my head. I was blown away by this!

How could a kite with so much performance have such good stability? I know there is a secret but Slingshot aren’t going to tell me that’s for sure!

One thing left to do…. Fly!

Well on this day it wasn’t possible as the wind was only around 10-13 knots max! But still I was up and riding an 11m with some good power (not super powered, but good)

Later that day everyone was going for dinner and myself, Lewis (UK kite boarding Champion) Justin, Stacey and Brian from Slingshot all decided “we can eat anytime lets go and kite!” The wind was picking up and we were all damn keen.

We got to the beach and it was 20+ knots - sweet!

Everyone was rushing around to be the first out on the new Slingshot Rev fully powered up.

First out was Justin (this guy is so quick on setup your never beat him to the water) on a 9 meter Rev and he had the kite parked and powered. Now I was just about ready to go and I looked out to sea only to see Justin do what I can only describe as a massive jump with huge distance covered and I think to myself, “Should I be putting this 11m up?” - But hey someone had to test the high end of the kite! I was ready then and there so Brian from Slingshot put my Rev in the air, but the kite did not feel that powered? So I pulled in on the bar and went about 5 feet in the air… Nice!

Out on the water both the 9 and 11m Revs were powered and both riders the same weight. Now that’s great as it tells us the kites have a large wind range. My safety was on the new Slingshot centreline safety system as I had a lot of power in the kite when I wanted it.

Now I don’t know about you guys (and girls) but I am always talking to people about those crazy days on the water where the wind is light and you just mess around and try new stuff that you know you won’t land but it’s nice to try. These days don’t come around often, but when they do I try to make the most of them. Well myself and Justin had one of those days in 20 knot wind! Now I have never had one of those days in 20 knots - it‘s just too dangerous, but I just felt so safe on this kite. I dropped the kite trying new stuff on the centreline safety system over 8 times with no tangles or failures at all… now that is a kite I am happy with.

What’s the best way to describe this kite? The stability of the Turbo 2 with the safety of a bow kite and the performance of the Fuel.

Try one ASAP - I promise you will be blow away I was.

Angelo
S2AS Team
www.S2AS.com