New Shinn Boards: The Monk Forever and The New Supershinn

Shinn has released this little teaser showing their two new kitesurf boards: 

"The Monk Forever" and "The New Supershinn"

The New North Trust Bar 2013

 

The North Trust Bar is legendary in the kitesurfing industry and amongst the riders; we have developed it, tweaked it and refined it for many years. The Trust bar 2013 once again stands for unmatched safety and reliability. As with all things at North Kiteboarding, if we do something new, we do it right, this year the bar has been completely reworked, updated and redesigned! The new bar for 2013 is the culmination of years of development, testing and competition winning success.

http://www.northkites.com/products/bars/5th-element/

The 2013 North Trust bar can be bought with the North Rebel 2013.

Cabrinha products at S2AS

At S2AS we understand your need to hit the waves and to feel the thrill of kite surfing, that is why we offer a range of leading brands that can quench your needs. Cabrinha is a brand that we sell that has climbed the ranks to take the position as the leading kite surfing manufacturer that is selling in over 40 countries worldwide.

We like to provide our customers with variety, which is why we stock Cabrinha as they produce everything from kites to boards to accessories in order to make sure your surfing needs are met. This brand has evolved from the knowledge and experience that builds up from people that have spent many years surfing, so you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.

New technologies have been embraced to develop the products in the Cabrinha range. All products also go through testing especially the kites and boards that undergo wind and water conditions to ensure endurance and sustainability.

Featured on our website is the Cabrinha Switchblade 2012 Kite surfing kite that expertly blends high performance and design in one carefully crafted product. The Switchblade is the world’s premier water style kite, this kite has pitch perfect balance when riding unhooked and a light bar pressure when riding hooked in.  Through testing and experience this product has been enhanced to make it more efficient, prices start at £799 so there is no reason not to have this kite!

We also offer a range of kite surfing packages from Cabrinha that start from £843 that offer a multitude of products that will provide you with all you need. Packages work out cheaper than buying the products individually and providing a package that’s allows you to buy what you need in one go makes things easier for you!

Consistency, accuracy, design and technology are a few features that are tailored into making this brand that is stocked at S2AS. For more information on the product range visit our Cabrinha product page of contact us by finding our contact information here.

New In! Kit yourself out with our latest longboards

Here at S2AS we like to cater for all your adrenaline needs that is why we are excited to announce that we now have longboards in stock!

A longboard is a longer variant of a skateboard and is commonly used for cruising, downhill racing, slalom racing, sliding and general transport. So why buy a longboard in comparison to skateboard? Despite the two being very similar, it’s more about personal interest, longboards turn better and roll faster than a regular skateboard so you can approach corners faster. If you have a keen interest in snowboarding and surfing than getting a longboard is a must as having one and using it will help you to build up your skill repertoire when it comes to using longer boards.

Longboards have big wheels so you can have a smooth ride were ever you go, but most of all these type of boards of fun! Experience a different way of travelling as you experiment and play around with the fun concept of Longboards!

We stock a large variety of longboards which come in various sizes, designs, and colours for whatever you may need when looking for a longboard. Our prices range from as little as £69.00 to £375.00 which is the Landyachtz Carbon Nine to Five longboard 2011 which is one our most exciting products to date!

If you are interested and want to know more about our range of longboards than click here to visit our site.  For more information don’t hesitate to get in touch, you can find our contact information here, or just call us on 01202 738 448

Location Review: Safaga - Egypt

Safaga, Egypt

Safaga, located 30 minutes south of Hurgarda on the Red Sea, offers guaranteed sun, heat and more importantly, win. Wind tends to be a pretty vital aspect in any kiting holiday and Safaga certainly has the perfect mix.

For the 9 days I was out there I had perfect wind every day, but I have to admit the wind out there has come very awesome bonuses, such as lay-ins! Basically due to the thermals the wind is off-shore until it switches cross-on at around 9-9:30. It is quite surreal how, like clockwork, every day in the space of about 10 minutes the wind will transform from being gusty off shore to constant, smooth, strong and perfectly behaving cross-shore. This means after the full days kiting from the previous days, or possibly a few to many drinks the night before, there is need to rush out of bed and get out on the water at 8am. Instead enjoy a cheeky lay in and a lazy breakfast and aim to be ready to hit the water for 9.30.

The wind will then happily blow for anywhere between 3-6 hours, dying down in mid-late afternoon.  I was out on a 7m or 9m Cabrinha Switchblade most days. However saying that, being a small chick some days the wind kept blowing enough for me to have sunset sessions on my 17m Zephyr. In my eyes, there is definitely no better way to spend a sunset than strapped to a kite with nothing but you, the wind and the waves! paradise.

The water conditions in Safaga also have some massive bonuses. If you are a learner, then quite honestly this is the place to go. Club Mistrel is right on the beach looking out over a gorgeous flat water lagoon. This lagoon is the ideal play ground for a new kite to have their lessons! It is shallow, sandy and boasts crystal flat waters. There are a couple of coral heads...but my encounter with them is a whole new story, let’s just say don't land a trick...or should I say fail to land a trick just up wind of them! Sorry back to the learning. The club offer lessons pretty much any time the wind is blowing, so ideal if you want to get your partner out on the water learning while you smash it up at the same time!

The lagoon is paradise for any freestyle kite, however the drawback is that Club Mistral have taken ownership of the gem. This means that if there are lessons the lagoon is a no goer. But have no fear, the kiting around the lagoon and slightly upwind is still calm just not butter flat. Club Mistral offer/ enforce you to have boat rescue which means you can quite happily ride out a good fair distance without having to give 'what if I have to self rescue' a second thought! The further you go out the rougher it is, giving you a wicked play ground of kicker like waves, but if you prefer the calm flat water simply stay closer to chore and that’s guaranteed. Another point worth noting is that Club Mistral have a break in their lessons for lunch...meaning the lagoon is free for all, so enjoy!

I feel I must qualify my last statement, free for all. When I say all, I mean the handful of kiters who have made the magical discovery of Safaga. Never once during my time there did the water feel over crowded or manic with kiters. It seems Safaga is a relatively unknown gem of a kiting location. If you head down the coast a little further to Nama bay I hear you will find water heaving with kiters, but Safaga gives you the space needed to bust out new tricks and push your riding without panicking that someone is going to plough into you...or visa versa.

Even with few kiters the place is buzzing with people to chat to about new tricks, get advice from and generally have an ace time. The Club has air compressors, so no pumping kites in the scorching heat. Warning when you return home you WILL miss the compressor! Trust me!

Written by: Vanessa Procter

O'Neill Technobutter Neoprene - What is it and why we should be excited!

O'Neill's exclusive TechnoButter Neoprene boasts a 20% lighter formula with a 30% less water absorption and quick dry properties that make this the most technical and buttery neoprene on the market.

Technobutter can be found in many of the new Fall 2012 O'Neill wetsuit range which can be found HERE

Available in the New O'Neill Psychofreak, Psycho 3 and Psycho 1.

Flexifoil 2013 Kite: The Force

The Flexifoil Force 2013
New for 2013 we introduce to you the FORCE. Combined with the qualities of the ION but with a brand new shape, the FORCE flies like a true C-Kite but generates a performance similar to that of a hybrid. Its 4-strut design creates a more curved profile whilst its fully supportive bridle produces better performance, stability and control of the kite.

Outstanding design and build quality have always been at the centre of Flexi- foil’s core values. Our customers can be assured that a Flexifoil kite will give them the best value along with a performance that is second-to-none, whether they change kites annually or prefer to keep them for the long haul.

The FORCE has been created from the ground up using the latest 3D CAD technologies;  a completely new series that has taken on manufacturing processes that have evolved over the last few years. This ensures capable and reliable production to guarantee quality you can trust.
A refined leading edge and strut design with improved canopy construction gives the FORCE a more fluid and curved leading edge providing the ultimate in performance. The FORCE will deliver more than just satisfaction to every level of rider.

Standard Features
- TEIJIN T9600 TECHNOLOGY
Premium Quality Japanese and European Materials: We just won’t compromise on materials and use what we believe to be the best. Teijin T9600 still proves to have the best coating and longevity with excellent UV resistance. Dimensions Polyant Dacron® provides the best combination of fabric stability and stiffness for our Leading Edges whilst a new Kevlar-neoprene reinforcement patch material over every Leading Edge circumferential seam will protect against the harshest beach environments.
- 110 MICRON TPU BLADDERS
Flexifoil is proud to use 110micron TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) bladders (as opposed to the standard 90 micron) giving you the peace of mind of having a more puncture resistant and durable bladder in your FORCE kite.
- MOLTEN BLADDER TECHNOLOGY
Our uncompromising Molten Bladders still require frequent production tests to prove endurance of 120degC of heat without failing. Only the best will do!
- SOLID & STIFF WINGTIP CONSTRUCTION
Regardless of the conditions you like to ride, every FORCE is enduring and dependable due to its solid wingtip construction.

Construction Features
- RIGID STRUT JUNCTIONS
Our rigid strut to leading edge reinforcement is highly successful across our entire range of water kites. This gives each strut a much stronger and stiffer connection to the leading edge, resulting in a smoother profile of the canopy that optimises the performance of the kite.
- REINFORCED DACRON DP 175 LEADING EDGE TUBE
We have continued to use the Dacron® Leading Edge construction owing to its impressive levels of strength and durability. Past inflation test results have shown a 40% increase in the air pressure required to destroy the test samples and endurance tests carried out in the Sahara were passed successfully.
- EZ SINGLE-POINT INFLATION
Still simple and reliable and easy to change should you ever get a puncture. The Single Point Inflation System minimises your setup time and gets you on the water quicker.
- DACRON REINFORCEMENTS
The FORCE generates a solid pull that is spread throughout carefully positioned reinforcements to the wingtips and down the lines to your bar, optimising strength and weight. The much-copied Dacron cage retains a strong frame that means if you are unlucky enough to damage your canopy, the repair should be simple and cost effective.
- KEVLAR SCUFF PADS
At points susceptible to wear on the leading edge of the FORCE, we have introduced Kevlar scuff pads. This helps protect the leading edge of the kite from damage when it is left pumped up on the beach.

Overview
- 4 STRUT LAYOUT
The FORCE is the first Flexifoil high performance hybrid kite to use a 4-strut design. Not only have we reduced the amount of struts on the FORCE but we have also made these thinner making the kite lighter & faster.
- REDUCED LEADING EDGE
Designing the FORCE required the correct balance between stability, upwind ability and weight of kite. For the FORCE we were able to reduce the size of the leading edge to give it greater speed and to offer a more efficient turning experience.
- REFINED AEROFOIL SHAPE
An important part of kite design is producing a kite that is as close to the original 3D model as possible. Taking a 3D design and translating it into patterns cut by CNC fabric cutters, printed and then assembled by skilled seamstress’s takes expertise, which only comes with experience (something we have plenty of!)
- ANTI FLUTTER TRAILING EDGE BATTENS
The material used to construct the batten is extremely tough and flexible. Combined with Dacron® they eliminate resonant frequency vibrations that can occur as the trailing edge changes shape during a driving turn, avoiding any unnecessary drag or turbulence.
- ULTRALIGHT VERSION
Another addition for 2013 is the FORCE UL 13.5, which offers a completely different profile to the rest of the range whilst still incorporating the key performance characteristics. With a higher Aspect Ratio, thinner profile, and a revised planform unique to this design, the 13.5 has greater relaunch capabilities, speed, and response in lighter winds.
- SINGLE OPTIMUM FRONT TOGGLE
A distinctive feature on the smaller FORCE kites, the 7m & 9m, is a single connection point on the leading edge. The optimum position has been tested thoroughly so the rider benefits from maximum performance, wind range and stability from the kite.
- FULLY SUPPORTIVE BRIDLE
A fully supportive bridle system creates better stability and control of the kite through its entire wind range and angle of attack. Each size has a unique bridle system that has been customised to suit that particular size.
- SLASH CUT WINGTIPS
Similar to the HADLOW ID, the FORCE uses Slash Cut technology on its wingtips. The heavily tapered wingtips distribute the load across the entire tube, allowing for a thinner tip and creating sharper, faster turns as well as helping with a quick relaunch.
- VARIABLE PROFILE
Each size has its own unique profile. The kites aren’t just scaled up; each size has been designed individually. This gives every kite the ultimate performance in their given wind range.

Flexifoil Hadlow Pro Kite 2013 Prototype Spotted!!

Our main man Aaron Hadlow was spotted flying a prototype 2013 (or 2014) Hadlow Pro Kite! We absolutely loved the Hadlow Range with the new Hadlow Pro Board. Little is known about this kite other than what you can see in the photos, let us know what you think! And keep an eye out for it coming in store soon!