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.

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