The New Flexifoil Hadlow Pro 2011 review by S2AS Team
Well, to start I’d like to say that I have had both the 2008 Flexifoil Hadlow Pro and the 2009 Flexi Hadlow pro and I have been fortunate enough to have had my hands on the 2011 model Hadlow kite after a month of riding this kite these are my personal views.
The Flexifoil Hadlow pro kite just seems to get better every year. Aaron Hadlow and Flexifoil team together have obviously listened to all of the feedback from Aaron and the buyers from the last couple years and have tackled all of the issues that they’ve had to make a SUPER KITE!
In the previous models of the kite, some of the problems that riders had was of course… the relaunch! Let’s face it, those of you that have ridden it will know, it was a bit of a bitch to get back off the water especially in choppy conditions.
The leading edge would fold in half every now and then making it really hard to get off the water making people reluctant to try new tricks as it took a while to get back up in the sky.
For this year, the leading edge has been made 2.5% thicker, making it stronger and less prone to folding. Having a slightly thicker leading edge also makes the kite more stable in the strong winds. I was out on the 11m Hadow Pro in roughly 18mph, decked the kite and thought, shit, this I going to take a while, grabbed one of the outside lines, yanked it, and the kite just popped out the water! Didn’t even hesitate. I was so impressed.
The relaunch has improved a considerable amount.
I recently took out the 7m Hadlow Pro in around 35mph at Camber Sands in Kent, and the kite just did exactly what I wanted it to do. Because I had the kite set up in 4 line mode which has 2 support lines to the leading edge the kite is SO SOLID in the sky, it does not jellyfish or wobble, if a big gust came through, it just flew further in the window.
Looping the Hadow Pro was awesome, I think with the slightly thicker leading edge the kite definitely feels a bit slower on the turn in the smaller sizes (still very fast) making it easy to get nice and low in the window, but because the kite drives to the top, it catches you every time.
One of the problems I think that Flexifoil and Hadlow had with the previous year kites was the fact that it was so full on! The bar depower throw was very short and the kite had very little depower, making the Hadlow Pro kite only accessible to a really small amount of people.
This year, that has all changed!! The bar throw is now customizable with a stopper ball, which you can set before you go out with an allen key that comes with the bar. And the kites new shape and design straight out the bag also has more depower.
Not only is the kite more user friendly for any kitesurfer on the standard setting, but the kite now has something sooooo revolutionary, in my opinion its genius. You have the option of adding a very small bridle on the kite which if you add on, (only takes 2 mins) it offers over 50% more depower to the kite! It gives the kite so much more wind range, and it also opens the kite up to a much wider audience.
With the Hadlow bridle, pretty much anyone can get it out the bag and take it for a spin this C kite has changed kitesurfing for the better.
It’s also fantastic for people that want to start getting into freestyle but don’t want such a full on kite, they can start off with the Hadlow bridle on the kite, making it really user friendly, and if they make a mistake they don’t get smashed about on their suicide leash, the kite just depowers, and they can get up and try again.
Once of course they’re comfortable with the kite and have improved, they can then take off the bridle and all of a sudden have a whole new kite, with even more freestyle performance.
Having the bridle on the kite also opens the kite up to any waveriders or If people want to use it on the snow!
Think of being on your 7m, the wind is absolutely HAVIN’ it and it gets to the point where you can hardly hold on anymore, all you have to do is simply come in, put the bridle on and head back out and enjoy the kiteboarding session!
For me, this is going to be the kite of the year, anyone looking for a C kite that has a good wind range, without lacking any performance, this is most definitely the kite to go for the Hadlow Pro.
If you’re looking for a kite that isn’t going to hold your riding back in any way, and want to push yourself and your riding to the limit, look no further.
I have all sizes available in the kite for people to try, 7m, 9m, 11m, and 13m.
If you like any more info on the kite or would like to arrange to take the kite out for the day
Please call me on – 01303 268269
See you on the water
George
S2AS TEAM