2010 RRD Obsession 12m Review

At A Glance
RRD have a wealth of experience in the water sports industry and their products have always been highly regarded. They have had some popular kitesurfing kites over the years with the Type series and the Obsession first made an appearance last year in 2009. Billed as an all round machine to replace the very popular Type 9 it featured an SLE style set up with regards to the bar and bridle.

The kite was very popular and those of you who loved it will be pleased to hear that this year it has been tweaked rather than revamped. The chord depth has been reduced slightly and it is a slightly higher aspect design than the previous year. A new panel layout ensures there is plenty of strength where you need it and the profile has changed slightly too.

The kite is still finished to the usual exceptional standards with some fantastic detailing that really sets the RRD apart in the looks department. There are also plenty of reinforcements at all the major wear points.

The Bar
All RRD kites work off the same bar, so you can just buy one bar for your entire quiver. It is a neat idea. A new 2010 bar is still in development so we were riding with the bar from 2009. It comes packed full of features including an excellent above bar clam cleat depower strap. The bar itself is made from carbon fibre and the centre hole features an aluminium block that has been polished to reduce friction on the depower rope. There are also O’Shit handles for added safety and the bar ends are covered in a softer material so they are easy on your hands and non-slip for kite loops.

In the Air
Power and poise would be two words that sum up the Obsession. For a 12m kite it has a fantastic low end, but it also feels perfectly balanced in the sky and is very predictable in its behaviour. The bar pressure isn’t too heavy and delivers enough feedback for the rider to know where the kite is at all times without wearing out your arms over a long session. The higher aspect outline also helps the kite to fly upwind, something that is really handy for whatever style of riding you are doing, and if you like kiteloops then you’ll be wanting this feature!

The Obsession is quite surprising when you first send it back round the window. We got caught out a couple of times when we first tried looping it. It delivers a hell of a tug, even in lighter airs! The jumping performance is also really good, the speed of the kite, even for a 12m, enables the Obsession to be quickly powered back over your head developing great lift and hang time.

Unhooked the kite has improved greatly and now feels much more balanced, you will need to pull in on the depower strap though otherwise it has a tendency to back stall. With the strap trimmed correctly it is perfectly well behaved. There are a lot of riders out there that will get a great deal from this kite; intermediate to advanced free riders as well as freestylers will enjoy its versatility. Wave riders will like the fast responsive turns and no doubt everyone will love the easy forgiving nature of the kite.

Pros
Impressive performance and very versatile; The Obsession will help a lot of riders improve their skills. Great detailing and finish on the kite.

Cons
The Chicken loop feels a little dated, especially on such a well polished bar. It is perfectly functional, but we are keen to see if it will get an upgrade on a future bar.

Overall
A fantastic kite surfing kite with some great improvements over last year’s popular design, a huge wind range, fantastic handling and lots of power when you need it makes the RRD Obsession a real contender.

2010 RRD Poison Limited Edition (133cm x 41) Review

At a Glance
The Poison is a dedicated freestyle kiteboard from RRD, aimed at the top end of the market looking for the ultimate in performance. It features a snowboard style laminated wood core with a fully wet sanded polished finish. The overall look is pretty stunning especially with the polished effect. There is a step cap construction in the tips and the board has a very thin edge profile; perfect for cutting through the chop. The tips are very wide, as you would expect from a board of this style. The board comes equipped with RRD’s Screw-it system, which makes putting the straps on a breeze. You don’t even need a screwdriver! Just twist the plastic pieces into place and then put the strap on top. Easy and simple!

On the Water
We always say that one of the first points of contact, the footpads, can make or break a ride on a kite board. They need to be comfortable, offer plenty of grip and also allow the rider to still feel connected to the board beneath, rather than giving the feeling of being sat on top of it. The new Screw-it foot strap and pad system from RRD fills all these criteria perfectly and offers a super comfy connection to the board. Plenty of padding for those big powered moves and also lots of grip so there is no chance of the board flying off your feet after you pop for a trick.

The board itself feels super crisp under foot, the stiff mid section making for a fast ride. In the chop the thin rails cut through it, but this board really comes into its own in the flat water where it can reach lightening pace. The pop is excellent with the wide tips giving the rider a huge platform to boost off and also offering a super wide and stable landing platform. Upwind the board flies too, those sharp hard rails allowing it to point really high. If you like a fast crisp board with bags of pop for your freestyle then the Poison certainly delivers in those respects.

Pros
Good looks, excellent fittings and some fantastic top-end freestyle performance make this a awesome kiteboard; great pop and excellent upwind ability.

Cons
No complaints from us on this one, free riders will probably prefer a more all-round chop killing machine, but if you want freestyle then this is perfect kite board.

Overall
For freestyle heads out there the RRD Poison offers a perfect balance of speed and pop with a huge landing platform to help you nail those tricks.

RRD Addiction 2009 9m Review

At A Glance
The Addiction was a new kitesurfing kite for RRD in 2009 and it is their interpretation of the Delta concept.

These kites are becoming more and more popular and with good reason; they offer some very plug-and-play characteristics. RRD have added their own interpretations of course; the bridle is very short with just two pulleys and they still use the multi kite - one bar solution that works well.

There are plenty of PVC wear patches where you would expect them and the leading edge looks very solidly constructed with parallel seams and plenty of extra stitching in the load areas. As usual, the RRD flair for colours and graphics is here and the Addiction is as bold as ever.

There is also plenty of attention to detail with pieces such as Velcro fixers for your bridle to make packing the kite away a tidy affair, as well as webbing strips on the end of the struts to prevent the lines and bridle getting caught in the kite during re-launch.

The Bar
All RRD kites work off the same bar, so you can just buy one bar for your entire quiver - which is a pretty neat idea; the new 2010 bar is still in development so we were riding with the bar from 2009. It comes packed full of features including an excellent above-bar clam cleat depower strap. The bar itself is made from carbon fibre and the centre hole features an aluminium block that has been polished to reduce friction on the depower rope. There are also O’Shit handles for added safety and the bar ends are covered in a softer material so they are easy on your hands and non-slip for kite loops.

In the Air
Once you take your eyes off the Addiction’s great looks and get down to the serious business of flying it you’ll unearth some impressive characteristics.

The 9m turns on a dime and is so responsive to bar movements that you can have it whipping about the window with ease. The bar pressure itself is quite light, but the kite still provides good rider feedback. The speed of turning on the 9m make the kite excellent in waves where you need the it to be fast, direct and precise. It is also great for free riders looking to boost some big jumps; the Addiction really pulls you off the water with some force.

The glide of the kite, as with all delta shapes, is very impressive too, giving you plenty of time when in the air. If you do mess up and ditch the kite though then don’t worry as the relaunch is fantastic, the curved leading edge doesn’t stick to the surface tension of the water at all and the Addiction is really easy to relaunch even in the lightest of airs. It does lose a little of its stability when unhooked, but it still works well and this is a very small niggle. Hardcore freestylers should be looking towards the Obsession, which is much better unhooked.

Pros
Heaps of low-end power and a great top end gives the kite a massive range. The turning is lightening sharp and super precise, a pleasure to ride.

Cons
Not the greatest kite unhooked, but it is aimed more towards the freeride market and the Obsession is the kite for the hardcore freestylers.

Overall
The Delta characteristics of the RRD Addiction give it some great capabilities, easy relaunch and great hangtime in the air. Add in some super fast turning light bar pressure and a huge wind range and you have a winner.

2009 Slingshot SX Kite Board Review (137 x 39.5)

At A Glance
The SX has been in the Slingshot stable for 6 years now! It has to be one of their most popular kite boards too. Aimed squarely at the free ride market the SX is the kite board that can do it all. Happy carving out some turns in the waves as it is boosting huge on windy days, or even throwing down some freestyle the SX can do it all.

This year the construction has changed slightly utilising the FRT Future Response Technology that was born in the wakeboarding lab, which Slingshot is now heavily involved in. The kiteboards are still constructed in the US too; this sets them apart from a lot of the other boards on the market which are constructed in the snowboard factories around Europe, or even the Far East. The outline of the SX is a classic it hasn’t changed much this year and still retains the narrow tips that it is famous for.

On the Water
If you’ve got big feet, then the pads on the SX won’t appeal, sadly they are quite short and anyone with large plates of meat will find their heel overhangs a little. However, get past that and you still have a fantastic kiteboard that we have loved in the past.

This year it feels a little sharper and more responsive in the flex. Yet the outline helps it to cut through the choppiest crappiest water states you can imagine. If you aren’t blessed with crystal clear flat-water perfection at your local spot, and instead have to put up with brown choppy slop then the SX can really transform a session.

Upwind the board is good and it you don’t get any spray in your face either which makes for a very smooth comfortable ride. The pop is still impressive and on windy days you can be boosting huge on the SX. Once the sea state gets up into some rough stuff then the SX comes into its own. As a rail-to-rail carving machine we can’t think of another board that puts such a smile on your face. If you want to carve up some waves, yet still want the comfort and ease of a twin tip then the SX should definitely be on your radar.
Pros
A fantastic all round free-ride machine that excels in choppy crappy conditions and delivers a very smooth and forgiving ride; it delivers some impressive performance as well.

Cons
The footpads are a little small in length and people with large feet will want to change them. For 2010 though there is a new footpad, which looks much improved.

Overall
6 years in the business and the Slingshot SX still delivers, performing the same remit as it did back in the day, it is the all round free ride machine that packs a surprising punch. Comfort doesn’t get much easier than this!

For more information on the Slingshot SX 2009 or any other kite surfing enquiries including kite surfing lessons, contact your local Surface2Air Sports Store.

Ocean Rodeo Mako (140 x 40) Kiteboard Review

At a Glance
Ocean Rodeo have been making the Mako for a few years now and one thing is for sure, it definitely stands out from the other kiteboards on the market. The Mako is aimed at being a do-it-all machine, for the beginner to the pro, happy in the waves or on the flat water it is billed as the ultimate freeride machine.

First of all you will look at its odd oval plan shape, then turn it upside down and check out the twin fin configuration and the HUGE concave. About this time you’ll put it back and look at something a little more conventional off the rack. But this would be a mistake, there are two types of kite surfers on this planet; those who have ridden a Mako and those that haven’t. It is fair to say the latter far outweighs the former and in reality that is somewhat of a shame, you’ll find out why in a moment.

The Mako is built tough using the classic snowboard style construction we see so much of these days. Duraclear top and bottom sheets ensure the kiteboard will stay looking fresh and the footpads and straps are nothing short of excellent. Really comfy on the foot and they offer a good amount of support and lock you to the board.

On the Water
If you manage to get past its bizarre looks then putting this on your feet and heading out into the sea will be a just reward. The Mako is nothing short of surprising. It is very stiff, with hardly any flex, which would normally make for an uncomfortably harsh ride through chop. Oddly enough this just isn’t the case. The huge concave swallows up any lumps and spits them out the back without you even knowing they were there. It is so smooth underfoot words can’t really describe it. You really have to try it to believe it. The board also flies upwind, helped by the big concave and large central fins. Because it is so stiff it also pops surprisingly well and will reward you with some decent hangtime. Of course, the oval shaped outline really lends itself well to carving and riders looking for a board to perform in the waves, who don’t want to go down the full surfboard route, should definitely check it out. The rail-to-rail carving is second to none.

Pros
Great upwind, super smooth forgiving ride, eats choppy conditions for breakfast and won’t get scared if you show it some waves.

Cons
It isn’t the fastest most radical board out there, but it is a great freeride machine. It is a shame some people will just never get over how unconventional it looks.

Overall
If you want an easy to ride freeride kite board that excels in choppy rough conditions then you should certainly give the Mako a try, don’t be put off by appearances, they can be deceptive! Also perfect for people wanting to hit some waves with the safety of a strapped twin tip allowing them to get out of tricky situations in a hurry.

For more information visit you local dealer or go to www.oceanrodeo.com

F- One Bandit 3 Review 2010

At A Glance
F-One created a storm back in 2007 with the Bandit. A whole new concept in kitesurfing kite technology the Bandit was a Delta shaped kite aimed at being really stable and easy to fly. It was also a kite that could do it all; ridden by the Pro Team and beginners alike it was somewhat of a revolution. Last year the kite was tweaked and refined to bring the public the F One Bandit Dos.

This year there was much speculation about what the kite might be; well the speculation is over! It is the F-One Bandit 3 and this year it is quite different.

The team wanted to improve the top end range of the kite and also the amount of control felt at the bar end. The kite looks quite different to last year and it is higher aspect with a much shorter middle strut.

The real news lies in two improvements, which will sway a lot of people who weren’t convinced before. Gone is the long bridle, so now you have 4 lines all the same length on the bar. This hugely reduces the chances of the kite getting tangled inside itself in the waves, and also makes it much neater to pack away. Next up is an external one-pump system, which is just about the icing on the cake. Elsewhere, when you look at the detailing on the canopy, you can see this product oozes quality. At a time when some brands are cutting costs it looks as if F-One has gone all out at the factory!

The Bar
This year the bar has been simplified somewhat; the trim straps on the rear lines are gone and replaced with simple floats. Under the floats are knots in the leader lines so you can still adjust the backline tension should you wish to.

The Chicken Loop release has been slimmed down a little and works really well. It also has a solid plastic male pin that fits into the bar to lock the loop in place when you are unhooked, and the top part, which was plastic last year is now made from inox metal and has a loop for your leash for a suicide set up. The clam cleat above bar depower is back as is the mini 5th line safety which will totally depower the kite in an emergency.

Overall the bar is cleaner and simpler than last year, yet still retains all the important bits you need to fly the kite.

In the Air
Last year when you flew the F-One Bandit Dos it was quite tricky to distinguish it from the original, this year however the Bandit III is a totally different animal. Because of the higher aspect the kite flies much further forward in the window, developing a pull completely different to the Bandit Dos. In previous years the Bandit has always had a great low end, the new higher aspect ratio vastly improves the top end of the kite, but by using some clever profiling of the canopy the kite still develops its low-end grunt. The 10m gets going really early and coupled with a surfboard it could easily satisfy a one kite quiver for lighter riders.

Another improvement over last year is the depower throw has got much shorter; meaning that just small movements with your arms can dump the power from the kite and put it back on again. In gusty conditions this is great for maintaining an upright stance and allows you to control the kite rather than the other way round.

In terms of performance the kite has improved too, unhooked it feels much more controlled especially as the pull is more forwards rather than directly down the window. It also does some impressive kite loops, taking a much wider more powerful radius as opposed to spinning on its axis.

Riding the Bandit III as a freestyle kitesurfing kite it is certainly rewarding, and it really comes into its own as a free ride and wave machine too. Once again it seems the crew have cracked the versatility right on the head and the Bandit III will impress you in the air, wakestyle, on the wave or even just with the simple things like easy relaunching.

Pros
A really polished kite with that not only outperforms its predecessor, the improvements in the design also make it stand out against it too. Features like the one pump system and the shorter bridle will have previous non-converts reaching for their wallets!

Cons
This is about as good as it gets in terms of finish and all round performance. We used to complain about the lack of one pump and the long bridle. This time in terms of complaints we are silenced!

Overall
One of the best looking kites out there in terms of graphics and attention to detail. Happy to perform with whatever conditions or style of riding you throw at it the Bandit III looks set to have another stellar year.

For more information on the F-One Bandit 3 or anything else regarding kite surfing, including kitesurfing lessons, contact your local S2AS Kitesurf Shop.

S2AS Brighton: 01273 746836
S2AS Kent: 01303 269828
S2AS Poole: 01202 738448

S2AS Team

Liquid Force Havoc 10m

At a Glance
Liquid Force have been around for a very long time. Their board making skills have never been in question; with over 20 years manufacturing wakeboards you would expect them to have that dialled and they do.

Their kitesurfing kites in the past have sometimes been overlooked by some but have always had certain characteristics; low-end power and a solid wake style pull through the air. Last year the Havoc was their flagship kite and it won quite a few fans in its first incarnation.

This year Liquid Force have tweaked the design quite a bit and adjusted a few things on the kite in an effort to improve it even further. They have increased the flat section in the profile and increased the chord depth to give the kite up to 25% more power and have introduced a slightly more compact bridle system, which incorporates a static pulley on the wing tip of the kit. The wingtips have also changed to incorporate a diamond shape, which gives the direct feel and strength of a square tip whilst offering the high depower of curved tips. All of this combines to give the kite increased depower and improved turning speed over last years model.

One thing we should mention is just how pimp these kites are getting, heaps of neat little features are present as is a one pump inflation system and some very smart graphics that help make the kite look stunning. The bar set up is super simple too with everything looking very neat and where it should be. They even have a nifty plug system so you can neatly tuck away any excess depower rope!

In the Air
As soon as you launch the Havoc you will notice the small bar in your hands. Easily the smallest bar we have seen on a 10m kite for a while and with perhaps good reason. Liquid Force like the wakestyle of kiting and so want a kite that sits and pulls and having a small bar obviously reduces the chance of rider input mid move and throwing the kite off. So you would think that with such a small bar the kite might be slow and sluggish. Well that is where you would be wrong, the bridle set up and static pulley combine to make the kite surprisingly fast. The advantage of this is that if you want to ride wakestyle and keep the kite pulling like a cable then you can easily, but as soon as you want to throw it about, on the waves or just for boosting big air then some input from the rider will have the kite quickly moving about the window with some impressive precision. There is a slight lag in the directness of the response due to the pulleys but this is really negligible.

In the air the jumping is impressive but while it may not rip you off the water as fast as others it has some insane hangtime. Once you are up in the air you will be there for noticeably longer than on most kites on the market today. It really is quite incredible.

The Havoc has heaps of low-end grunt and power too. At the low end of its wind range the pull is still smooth and consistent. At the top end the kite is pretty stable as well, a good rider will be able to get out in an awful lot of wind conditions with this 10m, possibly if they have a few boards a one kite quiver even.

Pros
Mega hangtime, low-end power, consistent pull and excellent for freestyle and waves. We also liked the fact it flew right out of the bag.

Cons
Not as many trim options as some would like, this is a kite with pure simplicity in mind in terms of set up.
Overall
Possibly one of the best kites Liquid Force have ever produced, definitely one to rival the big boys out there. If you want some hardcore wake style pedigree that won’t disappoint in terms of performance, look no further.

For more information visit your local dealer or go to www.liquidforcekites.com

Naish Cult 2009 10.5m Review

At A Glance
Last year the Sigma series of kitesurfing kites from Naish burst onto the scene under a hail storm of marketing and hype. Some of it was met with scepticism, but anyone who actually tried the kites was smitten. The new shape and panel layout combined to offer unprecedented stability in the canopy and the kites truly excelled themselves in gusty conditions.

Of course there were the doubters who claimed the geometric leading edge would fail under constant use. This was proved wrong and the kites stood the test of time very well. We actually have a 9m here at S2AS that we used every time it was 9m weather, which was a lot this year, and we have had no problems whatsoever and found the build quality to be excellent!

This year the range has been slimmed down somewhat and there will be two versions of the Cult and a new Helix that will make up the Sigma Series. With the Cult you now have the option of choosing a full octopus one pump inflation system, or you can save a bit of cash and opt for a non octopus version. The latter is called the Cult Sport and apart from the way it inflates there is no difference whatsoever. So take this test as a given for both kites.

With the Naish Cult being such a huge hit last year they haven’t changed much on this years kite. A new wingtip shape, which is aimed at creating lower drag, distinguishes it from the previous model. As does an even more beefed up construction of the struts. The zip bladder access also now incorporates a Velcro closure. It is now even more unlikely for this part of the construction to fail. The Cult and the entire Naish range is probably one of the most beefed up kites on the market, particularly where the struts are concerned.

The bridle is the same as last year but the bar has changed slightly with bigger floats and the ability to change the pull point of the lines on the bar, effectively making the bar longer or shorter without actually changing bars. The tried and tested smart loop remains, as does the excellent stopper.

In The Air
We loved the Cult last year and it was one of our favourite kites from the season, so this year we were expecting to be as stoked as we were back in 2007! It is often the case when a company makes a great kite that they don’t change it too much, and this is certainly the situation with the Cult. Apart from the wingtips it looks like a carbon copy of last years kite. The bridle is exactly the same and you only notice the changes in construction on closer inspection.

In the air you feel that familiar solid pull from above and once again the Geo Tech canopy layout and the Sigma Leading edge combine to create a kite that really does define the term ‘solid’. Try as you might the kite just doesn’t flap, even when fully sheeted out on a gusty day the canopy remains taught and delivers a very smooth, stable and solid pull.

If you’re a beginner or intermediate the Cult really was made for you. The smooth, steady pull makes it the perfect platform for learning. The jumping, hangtime and float is excellent and the bar pressure is just right, you never feel like you aren’t connected to the kite above your head.

The only thing the Cult doesn’t do is scare the hell out of you when you loop it. It delivers a tighter much more gentle loop than some of the kites out there and this is great for learning. Last year the 9m was actually pretty good for looping, so maybe it is the larger size that holds the 10.5 from delivering a serious pull through the loop.

The new wing tips this year have tightened up the steering though and the kite feels a bit more direct and certainly engages the turn a little quicker.

Relaunching the Cult is an absolute dream; it is one of the easiest kites to get back up off the water helped by the low surface area that actually touches the water when it is face down. The depower is also amazing and the kite is about as safe as you can get. With nearly a meter of throw with the stopper removed the kite depowers and falls from the sky very quickly and even in strong winds you can ditch the bar and lose the power in the kite.

Pros
Perfect for beginners or intermediates looking for a super stable kite. Excels in gusty conditions and really comes into its own in the inconsistent European winds that we get so often.

Cons
Although packed with great freeride performance the kite isn’t the best freestyle kitesurfing kite out there. You can unhook and do tricks but it lacks a little in the looping department. Naish have the popular Torch and the new Helix that fill those roles this year.

Overall
If you haven’t tried a Sigma series kitesurfing kite yet be sure you do. Last year the Helix was the first kite out and a lot of people rode it and made a judgement on the rest of the range. Sadly the Helix probably wasn’t the best kite in the range last year. The Cult certainly was awesome though and this year it is even better!

For more information go to your www.s2as.com or check out www.naishkites.com

The New 2010 F-One Bandit 3 Kite

F-One have a two week trip every year in which they invite their biggest importers from each country and also the kitesurfing mags, to come and try out all the new Fone Kiteboards and F-One Kites for the coming season.

F-One have come up with some lovely Kitesurf equipment on an already amazing range. Turning up to the beach in the morning and grabbing whatever gear takes your fancy is an unbelievable privilege as a kiteboarder. From kiteboards at 128cm in lenght to the form of the sporty white F-One SK8 Kiteboard– which makes a welcome return this year - through to the sleek black and white F-one Trax and F-one TX3s, the kiteboard range is extensive. I'll be surprised if there's not a board for you in the 2010 Fone kiteboard line up. Favourites are the F-one bamboo surfboards, crafted to an insanely high standard with the most comfortable (but not too soft for a surfboards) pads and straps, with plenty of sizes in that range too.

The F -One Bandit 3 Kite is the star of the show though, having undergone a little tinkering and some considerable changes and improvements as well as the rudimentary refinement. Four days on the 9, 10 and 11 metres and these kites just won't back out of the sky... no matter how much I try to fly underneath them! I will persevere!

Come to an S2AS Store for a demo of the new F-One Bandit!

Kite Surfing Safety: Self-Rescue Techniques

Kite Surfing Safety

Self-Rescue Techniques

You will probably not use this technique a lot, but if you get yourself in a situation where no one can help you, then it is best that you know how. Knowing self-rescue techniques will also allow you to rescue other kitesurfers or any other water sportsmen.

Here are some examples of scenarios you may encounter when you are Kitesurfing:

1) You are experiencing some difficulties while kite surfing and your kite is sill flying.

• Use the kites power to pull you and the kiteboard to the shore. Just make sure that there is an open and approachable shore in the direction where you are going.

2) Kite is located on the water and cannot be launched again.

• Wind all the lines in. Make sure that you do this in such a way that your kite will not launch again by accident.

• On the other hand, in the event that you lose your board and you need to get to the shore, perform a body drag.

• Another technique is to quick release your kite and swim towards the kite while pulling in your leash line. Once you get to your bar, you will have to make sure that the lines are rolled up unevenly. In this way, the kite will lie stretched out on the water and will not be filled with wind and generate power. Start by winding up one line around your bar, roll up a few meters and start rolling up all four lines.

• When you get close to the kite, secure the lines on both sides of the control bar. Pull in the kite by one line, take hold of both the wingtips and direct yourself towards the shore.

Hope this helps,

Thanks for reading

The S2AS Team

MBS PRO 90 Kiteboard review

I have owned the MBS Pro 90 kiteboard for just over four months now. Due to its short size this MBS board is not really for beginners or for general cruising, the shortness can make it a little twitchy underfoot (a longer board around 100cm provides a more stable platform for learning and cruising), but its short length makes it ideal for progressing into freestyle trickery.

The MBS Pro 90 deck has a lovely pop to it, which is great for getting that extra bit of height to nail a grab and also really softens those big heavy landings if you don’t quite nail the redirection. I weigh over 11st and so far have never had the deck bottom out on me i.e. where the deck flex’s so much on landing that it hits the floor!

The MBS TI trucks are titanium skate trucks; they’re lighter and stronger than channel trucks and they come with White pivot bushings.

Carving is a joy on this Mountain board with white rubbers, I can carve 180deg within a 4ft radius! Heelside to toeside downloop transitions feel firm and solid on this deck even if the lines go slack halfway round. The shortness of the deck and the lightness of the TI trucks means most tricks just flow instead of being forced! Heelside to toeside slides and snaps are so easy its almost funny and rotations in the air are easier due to the low spin weight of the ATB board. Grabs are also easier as there is less swing weight on the board its much easier to get the board up to your hands. I still cant get ‘board offs’ so I cant comment on them but Im sure they would be easy with this deck, LOL!

The MBS T3 tyres offer huge amounts of grip on sand but its easy to snap the deck round to toeside. A friend I ride with has the same board and he uses the less grippy MBS T1 tyres if he’s riding on grass as he feels the T3’s offer too much grip.

Conclusion
The MBS PRO 90 is a great freestyle kiteboard and unless you regularly jump over 10ft and do 1240’s in the air and are going pro, this board would suite most beginner - intermediate freestyle riders.

It holds down loads of power thanks to the T3’s, carves wonderfully thanks to the TI trucks and has great pop and flex in the deck with out it being to soft for the bigger landings. I have come down hard from jumps of 10-15ft and kicked it off from the same heights too and apart from the truck the decks held up great (apart from a bit of paint flaking of from the side rails). The biggest person I’ve seen bouncing on one of these was around 15st and the deck looked fine, but there isn’t many 15st freestylers out there. I would say if you under 11st use the white rubbers for ease of carving and over 11st I would stick with the standard orange rubbers for a more stable ride.

But all in all I would highly recommend this kiteboard to any rider looking to get into freestyle boarding!

Nobile N62 11m Review

At a Glance
Mark Shinn and Nobile launched their first run of kitesurfing kites last year with the 555 and NHP, the kites were well met by the kitesurfing community and Nobile Kites had a stellar launch year.

The N62 is the first 2009 kite from Nobile this year; they are on a slightly different launch schedule to a lot of brands preferring to release kit in 2009 for 2009 as opposed to 6 months before hand. The Nobile N62 is a bang up to date delta style kite aimed squarely at competing with the revelation that was the Bandit in 2007. The delta style and shape has grown in popularity over the last two years and you should expect to see lots more of these kites hitting the market.

The Nobile offering, as you would expect, reeks of quality. The build quality is as solid as you will find anywhere, and this year the graphics have been improved too, with some well thought out styling on the kite. It is a three strut design edging towards simplicity, the centre strut is quite long giving the kite a deep chord and when laid out flat on the ground you can really see the delta shape.

The Bar
Last year the Nobile Bar set a few heads turning with its innovative chicken loop design, and this year it is back. The chicken loop is made from plastic so it can’t deform with use. The release mechanism is simple too and works really well. There is a pull-pull trim strap above the bar and O-Shit handles for added safety. A stopper ball provides your arms with some respite on those long sessions and there is a front line safety system to be used when you need it.

In the Air
The 11m Nobile N62 has an impressive low-end range to it. The deep chord depth of the kite ensures it has maximum power at the bottom end of the wind range. Even when other riders were out on 12m and 14m kites we found the 11m had enough grunt to get up and riding.

When it is in the air it flies with a very smooth predictable style, characteristic to the delta design. It is very easy to fly and won’t do anything unexpected even if you make the odd mistake with your bar input. The kite will quite happily fly itself all day long leaving you to ride about beneath it and concentrate on your tricks. A word cropped up with the team whenever they flew this kite; ‘easy’! It’s a kite you can pick up and just fly, without having to take time to get adjusted to its characteristics.

While the kite has an impressive low-end range, it also manages to hold its own when the wind picked up. The turning speed of the N62 is impressive. Whilst it is super stable, when you want it to shift you can pull on the bar and get it to really pivot off the wingtip. A few times we landed a trick with it headed for the drink, a quick pull on the bar and what seemed like a sure fire crash was avoided. Kiteloops are also good fun; the kite pulls like a truck with its low aspect shape adding to the power when it dives round the window.

The deep chord depth is what makes this kite so stable and easy to fly, this shape also causes it to sit a little further back in the window which helps give the N62 its grunty low end power. It isn’t the quickest off the blocks upwind at the bottom end of its wind range but it will get you there.

Jumping is good, it takes a little getting used to in order to get the timings right to get some real performance out of it though. The front line safety system also works really well and when engaged leaves the kite dropping from the sky with no power and then when you’re ready, simply pull on the bar and engage the other lines to take off and get started again.

Pros
Awesome build quality and a fantastic bar set up compliment what is a truly easy kitesurfing kite to fly, simply put it in the sky and enjoy the ride from down below. The safety features should be a big pull for the more cautious kiter out there.

Cons
Compared to a higher aspect sleeker style of a kite like the 555 from 2008 the N62 lacks a little in outright performance. But this kite is about ease of use; if you want something that will make you look good and won’t punish your every mistake then the N62 is the kite for that job.

Overall
We loved the N62, yes it doesn’t jump the highest, or get upwind the quickest, but the finish, quality of materials and just the pure simplicity of flying the kite far outweigh any small niggles we may have found.