Naish Cult 10.5m & 12m Kite Test

Size Tested: 10.5 m2, 12 m2
Style: Four-line SLE
What’s new: Direct response steering, low-drag wingtips, re-engineered bridles

The Naish Cult took the kitesurfing world by storm last season and impressed testers worldwide with its all-terrain capability, ease of use and accessible top-end performance. This year’s Cult sees some intelligent design enhancements aimed to improve steering speed, increase low-end wind range and continue to advance its user-friendly nature. For Cult riders from last season looking to expand into unhooked tricks, the Helix has also evolved to enlist enhanced freestyle-friendly performance within the Sigma series.

Bar Setup and Safety Systems
The 2009 SLE control system is a 1:1 pulley-less four-line bar setup. There’s a new thermo-molded grip and new bar ends that offer simple bar-length adjustments. Leader lines have been shortened and are covered by larger bar floats. The Smart loop introduced last season includes below-the-bar sheeting adjustment, and the system is enhanced with a new front-line swivel and easily retrofitted mini fifth-line kit for added safety.

Key Kite Features
Some new key features include Direct Response, low-drag wingtips and Delta-cut trailing edge. The kite’s design is built around the Sigma-shaped leading edge and Geo-Tech flat panels for enhanced range, control and relaunch performance. Naish’s excellent durability features include Aramid internal reinforcements on leading-edge seams as well as molded bumpers and patches.

On-Water Performance
The ’09 Cult has a similar feel to last year’s ground-breaking design, but with less bar pressure and faster overall steering available at varying levels of depower. It truly is an all-terrain magician that eats up gusts and builds confidence to reach that next level. A great kite for intermediates with excellent stability overhead and no fear of back stalling or overflying the window.

The Cult sits more forward in the window than the new Helix model but continues to offer good steering control while sheeted out and depowered. Quick pivotal turns are available for easy no-pull transitions, great for waveriding. Testers noted slightly more power and pull in this year’s design while maintaining the upper wind range.

The more you ride the Cult, the quicker you become accustomed to its light, lively feel. The bar pressure and feedback feels even less than last season and takes a while to get used to. The Cult’s water relaunch capability also rivals the industry’s leading performers in this category. Capable of boosting decent air even with the shorter 22-metre stock lines.

Reality Check
It takes some time to get used to the less than hardy positional feedback. C-kite freestylers will appreciate the smoother unhooked pull of the Helix over the Cult.

Bottom Line
The Naish Cult’s performance generated a huge following last season, and with increased performance in turning speed and low-end power, it’s poised to dominate the all-terrain category again. It has performance that gives the quickly advancing beginner confidence and enough high-end drive to satisfy a wide range of users from all disciplines and skill levels.

F-ONE Bandit Dos 8m & 10m Kite Test

Size Tested: 8 m2, 10 m2
Style: Four-line Delta C
What’s new: Redesigned front V bridles, shorter chicken-loop line, new strut placement

The Bandit DOS is redesigned this season with some refinements to its ground-breaking Delta C shape that took the kite scene by storm last season. It has flying characteristics that span all disciplines and skill levels of kitesurfing by combining good depower capability, enhanced safety with plenty of advanced performance for big jumps, waveriding or freestyle.

Bar setup and safety systems
The simple four-line control bar has smooth EVA foam grip with smaller than average bar length and leader-line length adjusters on the bar ends. Above-the-bar trim straps are within easy reach because the PVC composite chicken line was shortened this year. The bar lines work in unison with the front V-line bridle connections on the kite. The left and right lines are different colours, and because of the long front bridal attachments on the kite, the back lines are 10 feet longer than the front set.

Key kite features
The Bandit is a kitesurfing kite in a class of its own with a unique shape and bridle system. Some key kite features include Delta C shape for improved aerodynamic flow, EVO bridle system to access more depower and safety, Dacron frame and canopy reinforcement for robust build character.

On-water performance
Although visually similar to last year’s Bandit, the DOS has some definitive improvements over last season. The steering is more direct, with less lag in turn initiation and no tendency to lock into certain angles of attack. It feels more like a C kite this year, with plenty of grunt and equal amounts of depower as last year’s model. Bar pressure is moderate, with good positional feedback.

The Bandit has excellent unhooked pop and kite loop performance that combines with high levels of depower capability. It pulls fast and smooth, and is capable of big jumps and huge glide. Fast pivotal turns are available, along with more power turns depending on how aggressively you pull on the steering line.

In the water relaunch department, the Bandit gets top marks. The C-shaped leading edge and Delta cut let the kite rotate easily into launch position. The safety system works amazingly well by pulling in both front-line V bridles; it instantly puts the kite onto its leading edge. This is an ideal performance feature for self-landing on the beach. The Delta shape of the Bandit DOS reduces canopy drag and opens up its access to great amounts of speed.

Reality check
When depowered quickly or when tension comes off the back lines, the eight-metre Bandit DOS becomes less stable. A one-pump system would be appreciated by most riders.

Bottom line
This is a kite capable of dominating multiple disciplines with its speed, good unhooked performance and excellent depower capability. The Bandit DOS has proven that the Delta shape and V bridle setup can simplify the kiteboarding experience; it successfully delivers one model with one setup that can do it all.

The New 2009 Kiteboard Range from Brunotti

I’m pleased to announce that S2AS (Surface2Air Sports) will again be selling Brunotti kite boards. The new 2009 range of boards are scheduled to arrive at the end of February.

The 2009 range sees the return of the popular Onyx, ProX, Bumblebee and Pro Princess boards and now they all have the now famous Brunotti full wood core with ABS rails and each has new killer graphics, so we're sure these boards will impress again!

New editions to the Brunotti kite board range - the Youri Pro a top end freestyle board and the Pro King a totally pimped out board for those individuals looking for something unique! Both boards feature Brunotti's new GSS (Gel Shock System) footpads (see below for further info.)

The full range includes;

09 ONYX Kite Board

The new Brunotti 09 Onyx is the beginner to intermediate’s choice of kite board for either progressing through the initial phases or for getting into more advanced techniques such as jumps, spins, and transitions. The moderate rocker line is an ideal compromise design between speed and manoeuvrability. Multiple foot strap inserts allows a newbie to ride in a variety of configurations. The Onyx comes complete with a grab handle for transport or “board-off” style jumps. The Onyx is an ideal beginner-intermediate board, but is also a great lightwind board for those 10-15 knot days. The slight single concave shape on the bottom provides extra “lift” for an early plane with extra grip.

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fibreglass
• G10 Fins
• Variable Foot Pads- & Straps

Sizes: 136x36, 136x38, 136x40, 130x36, 130x38 & 130x40 cm

09 PROX Kite Board

Brunotti’s legendary Pro X series has once again been refined to allow for even more radical freestyle action. The new Brunotti 09 Pro X is the board that international pro-riders are using during competition for unmatched power and pop. Brunotti have added Carbon/Kevlar strips strategically placed in an “x” pattern, which provide even more control and “pop” when loading up. The all-wood core has been extensively tested for a precise, moderately stiff flex pattern that remains constant with time and usage. Flip-nose tail ends allow for a smaller wet surface area when on a plane, resulting in increased top-line speed, which is also great for pop.
Whether you’re just starting to get into freestyle tricks or are the latest kiteloop-handlepass master, the Brunotti 09 Pro X is the kite board for you.

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fibreglass
• Carbon Kevlar Torsion Stringer
• G10 Fins
• Variable Foot Pads- & Straps

Sizes: 128x37, 128x38.5, 128x40, 134x37, 134x38.5 & 134x40

YOURI PRO Kite Board

Fast and aggressive, replicating pro rider Youri Zoon’s aggressive style, the new Brunotti Youri Zoon Pro Model represents the purest in freestyle kite boards. A carefully tuned, progressive flex pattern provides maximum pop off the water for trick riding. Slightly wider tips allow for extra planning surface when landing hot from jumps, which means more stability and control. The Youri Pro is designed for speed with popping, so more parallel lines, and a faster rocker line. The board incorporates Brunotti’s now famous Woodcore interior for maximum durability and strength.

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fiberglass
• Carbon Kevlar Torsion Stringer
• G10 Fins
• Variable GSS Foot Pads- & Straps

Sizes: 130x39 cm & 130x41 cm

PRO KING Kite Board

The new Brunotti 09 Pro King is specifically designed for overall freeride performance. A more rounded outline provides fast and grippy rail to rail transitions, with a flatter rocker line which is tuned for speed and upwind capability. Incorporating the latest in Brunotti WoodCore technology, the Pro King will outlast even the harshest of punishments. The Pro King also features the new GSS (Gel Shock System) footpads as featured on the Youri Pro.
The Brunotti Pro King is totally pimped out with diamonds on the foot straps, pads, and grab handle, giving it an unique aesthetic styling!
Pro King is available in two sizes, to cater for different rider weights, and wind conditions.

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fibreglass
• Carbon Kevlar Torsion Stringer
• G10 Fins
• Variable GSS Foot Pads- & Straps

Sizes: 128x38 cm & 133x40 cm

09 PRO PRINCESS Kite Board

Kiteboards are designed with a number of variables in mind: wind/water, riding conditions, preferred style of riding, stance, and rider weight. Women typically have a narrower stance, prefer a more forgiving flex in the overall contour of the board, even the graphical designs are of a different preference.

The new Brunotti 09 Pro Princess is a board which has been designed for women and their specific needs. Incorporating a moderate flex pattern in combination with a smooth rocker line, the board provides enhanced tracking, upwind, and top-line speed while at the same time being forgiving on the knees and legs. The narrower footstrap stance (inserts) is ideal for women, providing more comfort on the legs during straight line riding, and the pads have been designed to tailor for smaller feet (more comfort and control).

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fibreglass
• G10 Fins
• Variable Foot Pads- & Straps

Sizes: 125x36, 125x38, 130x36 & 130x38 cm

09 BUMBLEBEE Kite Board

The Brunotti 09 Bumblebee is a unique kite wave-surfing board. The progressive rocker line in conjunction with the proportionately thin (16 mm) volume allows for unprecedented control in wave riding. The Brunotti Bumblebee has been designed for typical “real-world” wave conditions, but also for pure, down-the-line wave riding. A single concave hull ensures the board planes early and remains “loose” on the water. A thruster fin set up on the tail makes for even more grip with bottom turns and cutbacks on the wave face, and on the nose of the board two small, central fins allow for control during “fakie” or “switch” riding. These front fins are placed clear from the rail so as to stay clear of the water when charging through bottom turns. Symmetrical foot strap placement ensures comfort for riding both goofie or rightie. The Brunotti 09 Bumblebee provides unprecedented performance and comfort for riding waves with a kite, and tracks upwind like a rocket.

Features:
• ABS Sidewalls
• Inside Screen-printing
• Full woodcore
• Fiberglass
• Variable Foot Pads- & Straps
• G10 truster fins 7.5 cm
• G10 middle fin 9.5 cm

Size: 152x42.5 cm

GSS FOOTPADS

Introducing the ultimate in footpad comfort, grip, and fashion statement: the Brunotti Air Pads. A multi-layering of high and low density moulded EVA, extra heel and toe reinforcements, and an elevated mid-foot design ensures maximum comfort and protection to the feet. Incorporating a unique Kryptonite gel, this moulds into an anatomical shape of the rider’s foot, providing ideal fit (Efficient Density Control). The sum of the design and materials involved equate to up to 50% more shock and vibration absorption, compared to traditional foam pads.

Connecting the straps to the board is a plate, which is screwed on to the deck only once. A link webbed in via a unique retainer strap connects the straps to the board. No more hassles of screwing and unscrewing foot straps! Available in black & white.

Contact S2AS now to place a pre-order!

The 2009 Nobile Kite Range

This is the first release of the 2009 series kites from the Nobile kite range. The existing 2 kite range will be expanded into a 3 kite range with the inclusion of this N62. This is an all new, full production kite that has been worked on for the past 9 months. Its Mark Shinn latest creation; trying to push the handling and performance characteristics, which the 555 and 666 NHP kites are famed for, into the Delta concept of kite.

Deltas have proven very popular over the last twelve months, and although the kiteboarding has never seen such easy to use kites, it seems that the even easier to use Deltas are very popular... life can never be too easy... right....?

Trouble is, you are sacrificing something with the Delta kite... after all nothing comes for free, and the price to be paid with the delta is efficiency and handling. That big old luff curve may make the kite stupidly quick to re-launch and very fast turning, but it doesn't go upwind as well, neither does it have as much forward pace through hard turns or as positive a bar feel. Mark set out to push the advanced hybrid handling traits into the super easy and safe Delta; the result is the N62.

From what I hear it retains the Delta characteristics;
- plenty of power on tap at the back of the window,
- fast turning in the big sizes
- immediate re-launch
- lots of hang time
- stupidly stable (sink back) feel.

Improvement include;
- improved steering feel
- improved efficiency
- improved forward turning speed

Prices will be set when the kites are ready for shipping... keep you fingers crossed that the £ is worth more than rotten apples by that point!

Massive Snowboard Sale at Surface2Air sports

Great Savings and amazing discounts on all Snowboard Equipment in-store and online at S2AS.

S2AS have a huge range of Snowboard Equipment from the industries leading snowboard brands such as Ride, K2, Forum, Never Summer, DC, Vans, Volcom, FourSquare, Special Blend and Nitro.

Get your weapon of choice this winter with huge discount savings on Snowboards, Snowboard Bindings and Snowboard Boots.

S2AS not only have a great range of Snowboard Hardware but a large range of the latest Snowboarding Outerwear now at amazing discount prices.

Stay warm Snowboarding this winter and look good doing it, with the hottest Snow Wear this season. S2AS bring you Snowboard Jackets and Snowboard Pants from Special Blend, FourSquare, Vans and Volcom. Be sure to pick yourself up a bargain on all the latest 2009 Snowboard Equipment this season.

The biggest 2009 Sale with the Hottest Snowboard gear only at S2AS.

Slingshot RPM Kitesurf Kite

Slingshot RPM in Stock Now at S2AS!

The Slingshot RPM Kite is the latest edition to the Slingshot RPM KiteSlingshot Kite Range.

The Slingshot RPM Kiteboard Kite has set its mark in the Slingshot Kite Range between the Slingshot Rev and the Slingshot Fuel ideal for any the intermediate rider who is looking for targeted performance and ease of use at a great value!!

Slingshot's goal when producing the Slingshot RPM Kite was to develop a hybrid style kite that has C kite characteristics along with options for performance tuning.

The Slingshot RPM has the performance depower benefits of a bridled kite, mixed together with the unhooked & turning characteristics of a C kite. The RPM Kite customization is beyond anything else seen in the kite market and is extremely simple.

The Kitesurf industry has not yet seen a kite developed that has achieve maximum performance for all style of riding. The Slingshot RPM Kite has been developed to suit all styles of kitesurf riding including surf, freeride, & freestyle.

The The RPM marries all of the targeted performance benefits, ease of use, re-launch ability and in flight stability, all with great value. The RPM addresses two of the most common hurdles when learning, a Kitesurfing Kite that is easy to progress and develop skills with and quality well designed equipment.

No set rules, definition or condition.

Progression and evolution!

Beginners Kitesurfing

So you fancy having a go at Kite Surfing! Where do you begin? What do you need? Hopefully we can provide some helpful advice for those not sure where to start.

Firstly, a little information on kite surfing; a relatively new sport having took off in the late nineties, combining elements of windsurfing, power kites, paragliding and wakeboarding.

Anybody can learn the sport of kite surfing, it helps to be comfortable in water and have experience of any of the aforementioned sports. Having a moderate level of fitness will also make learning much easier.

Naturally, the best way to learn the sport is to attend professionally taught kite surfing lessons at one of many schools around the country; learning solo is inherently more dangerous, technique is also likely to be better as an instructor will be able to monitor and correct you. A school will also provide you with all the necessary equipment, saving you the risk of buying expensive equipment should you find out the sport isn’t for you. To find your nearest school, visit the British Kite Surfing Association website (other useful information for beginners can also be found here).

A good school will start by teaching you the essentials including; safety precautions, use of equipment, landing, general understanding of how kites work and essential manoeuvres. Once you become competent you can begin to learn some basic tricks.

If you decide you would like to pursue Kite Surfing after learning the basics, then you will need to purchase some kit to continue. The essentials you will require include a kite (unsurprisingly!), a kite surfing board, harness and accessories (wet suit, helmet, life jacket etc), or buy the whole lot in a kite surfing package. For the beginner, a ‘Trainer’ kite would be most appropriate; these will typically be small limiting the amount of power generated and have beginner friendly features. A good example of a beginners kite is the Cabrinha Convert.
You know the basics; have the essential kit, now where should you go? Many choose to join a kite surfing club. These can be found on shorelines all around the country, and will be the best way to develop your skills alongside other surfers. You will be able to pick up invaluable tips, safety info and important connections.

Some quick safety tips; avoid extreme weathers, poor visibility conditions and off-shore winds. Start in cross-shore wind so you will only go across the beach instead of being blown away from the shore. Ensure you have the proper safety equipment.

This concludes our short guide, hopefully those of you out there new to the sport or hoping to start soon will have found it useful.

About Dakine

Seeing as we like Dakine so much here at S2AS and harp on about how great it is, we though why not have a look at the background to the company.

Dakine had its humble beginnings from Rob Kaplan who designed the Dakine Leash, a surfing leash, back in 1979. Kaplan lived in Maui in Hawaii, and to the name Dakine from the Hawaiian Pidgen word “Da Kine” which has several meanings, one being “the kind”

The Dakine Leash was a big success, and by 1980 many professional windsurfers asked Kaplan to make foot straps for their new wave boards. Dakine also developed the first adjustable foot strap along with waist harnesses and seat harnesses some time later.

Dakine made the move towards snowboarding gear in the mid 1980s when it opened its facilities in Hood River, Oregon.

Being positioned at the base of Mt Hood, a very popular place for snowboard and ski camps meant optimum expose to the desired customers. A few years later and it began in earnest to manufacture and market Dakine snowboard bags, snowboarding accessories and other snowboarding gear.

Dakine continued to create extreme sports gear and accessories venturing into skateboarding during the 1990s with such products as the Park Pack. The Park Pack's innovation and durability proved to be a winning combination and has led to many other versions being made over the years.

In the early 2000s Dakine ventured into the Kiteboarding arena with kiteboard specific harnesses nd accessories. The Fusion harness quickly became Dakine’s best selling harness, surpassing all other harness variations.
Today Dakine are one of the world’s top manufacturers and sellers of extreme sports accessories. These include kitesurfing harnesses, snowboarding gloves, snowboard bags, surfboard bags and cases and much, much more besides.

Like we said at the beginning of this article, we love the range, choice and quality that Dakine have to offer and if you are looking for some Dakine gear, be it a Dakine bag or backpack, harness or whatever you need , then come and have a look at www.S2AS.com

History of Kite Surfing

The use of kites for propulsion dates back to the 13th Century (kites dates back to as early as 478 BC), attempts at combining kites with other platforms such as canoes, skis and roller skates continued through the 19th and 20th Century. It was not until the development of multiple control lines by George Pocock in 1826 that kites could be piloted, instead of merely being used for propulsion. A landmark arrived in 1903 when Samuel Cody crossed the English Channel using a kite powered canvas boat. This was the beginning of the traction kite…

Kites had been used to propel craft across land, ice and water for some time. They required an initial thrust of air to take off, but once in the air could stay up under their own power. Early kites that had been designed for use on the water had to take off initially from the land. Once in the air, kites can generate their own wind. The effect of a kite flying across the sky produces ‘apparent wind’. Apparent wind is faster than actual wind, multiplying the natural available wind force by up to four times! This effect has caused some beginners to traction kite flying to underestimate the pull of the kite, sometimes causing injury.

Further developments continued through the ’70s and ’80s with the improvement of the flying lines and kites which saw the efficiency of the kite designs rise. The most important of these were water launchable kites, the first of being the Wipika, first developed in 1987. The Wipika consisted of a floating kite which could be launched even after having crashed into the water. As you can imagine, it was using these kites in the 1990s that caused kitesurfing to take off. Further refinements to these foil kites gave birth to the sport of kitesurfing in its current form in the late ’90s.

Kitesurfing is a relatively new sport that has only reached mainstream popularity in recent years. From the handful of pioneers developing the sport in the late ’90s, it has exploded in popularity to well over 200,000 kitesurfers from all around the world. The sport first took off on the coast of Maui, Hawaii pioneered in 1996 by Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin. Maui was also the first place to hold the first-ever kitesurfing world championships, despite some of the competitors having only just started kitesurfing some months before!

The apparent simplicity of kitesurfing has helped the sport to take-off quickly. Maintaining control over the kite and kiteboard simultaneously proves a great challenge to most! Newcomers to the sport are recommended to take kitesurfing lessons from a qualified instructor.

Today, a plethora of equipment is available from popular manufacturers including Cabrinha, Airush, Naish and North. Beginners can purchase kitesurfing packages containing everything they need to get started. For information and advice on kite surfing visit S2AS, we even have kite surfing schools, based in Poole, Dorset

Snowboarding Impact Protection from Protec & Dakine

It’s a fact snowboarding comes with a certain level of danger; then again it probably wouldn’t be called an extreme sport if I didn’t. However if we’re honest, there are very few sports of any kind out there that don’t some element of risk or injury (bowling maybe?) and as snowboarding includes a high velocity aspect the risks do increase.

So once you except you might be in for a few bumps or bruises, and unless you’re the luckiest person it the world, you’re going to need some protection.

Making sure you are kitted out right is one of the first things you should be thinking of for a novice snowboarder (and should be up there for any boarder from amateur to pro). There are and abundance of snowboard safety clothing and equipment on the market and if you make sure you buy reputable stuff, you should be on the right track.

First up. A helmet. Now many snowboarders don’t bother with these and just stick a beanie, cap or some other headgear on, however at the speeds you can reach protecting your noggin is probably a good idea. Shaun White has been an advocator of snowboarding helmets, and he’s had enough knocks over the years to know what he’s talking about. A few good examples are the Protec Classic Snow Helmet and the Protec Ace Freecarve Helmet both solid dependable ways to keep your grey matter intact. Want something flashy as well as protective? Why not go for a helmet with built in earphones so you can snowboard and listen to your favourite tunes at the same time? Well there’s the Protec Classic Snow with Audio Force Ear Pads and the Scotty Arnold Signature Helmet with Plantronic Audio.

As snowboarders often land on their hands or knees, having adequate protection here is vital. Some good quality products here are Dakine Wrist Guards and Protec IPS Knee Pads. Good snowboarding gloves will always benefit the hands as well, with Dakine being one of the market leaders for snowboarding gloves.

Other sensible protective clothing includes snowboarding pants (trousers), jackets, boots and goggles and some sturdy hip protectors underneath such as Protec’s IPS Hip Pads, which come in styles for both men and women.

Finally you have back protection and once again Protec come through with the IPS back protector. This back protector offers spine protection for those who want focused back security. Soft shoulder straps keep the pad in place for all day comfort and the anatomical design just adds to this more.

So there you go, a run down of some snowboarding protection to keep you safe and hopefully free of broken bones and bruises. It may seem a lot of kit, but to coin the old cliché, better safe than sorry.

For a great range of snowboarding impact protection and protective clothing, as well as snowboards, accessories and more visit S2AS.com, we are all avid boarders ourselves and will advise you on the best protection to buy for your needs and level of skill.

Slingshot Rev 2009 Kite Review By S2AS

Slingshot Rev 2009 Kite Review By S2AS

The S2AS team have just got back from Lake Garda in Italy after having 3 amazing days testing the new Slingshot Rev 2009 kite.
The Slingshot Rev 2009 has some very important changes. Before I arrived at the test I was unsure as to what Slingshot could do to improve on the Slingshot 2008 Rev. I soon found out that they had made many changes.
New Features on the Slingshot Rev 09 are...

1,Surf Proof Seams – Surf Proof seams makes the kite stronger and more durable. When the kite is dropped in the surf or the shore dump it will withstand the punishment. Not that we had any problems with the 2008 Slingshot Rev!

2, The Graphics - Graphics are no big deal I know, but people like to know what the new kite will look like so some pictures have been put up here for you guys to see. There is a real nice touch on the wing tips of the kite and a Slingshot spikeball screen print. Personally I think it looks so cool but the overall Graphics i do not like and i feel that this is the place Slingshot Kiteboarding have let them selfs down but make your own mind up.

3, Bar Pressure Adjustment Tabs – You can adjust the rear line pigtails (3 options) so that you can ADD bar pressure. If you’re coming from a C shape kite you will know all about bar pressure and how important it is to be able to feel where the kite is in the sky without having to look at it all the time. The bar pressure adjustment tabs will also help beginners as they will be able to feel where the kite is when in the air. Unlike some brands where the bar is super light and you have to keep an eye on the kite at all times. There is more to this feature, however this will be mentioned later within the review.

4,The Control Bar – The Slingshot Rev 09 has a new bar, with a softer grip and the diameter of the hole has been increased. This will reduce chicken rope wear considerably. The softer grip will stop forearm fatigue caused by long sessions on the water. The new bar features will give you a better grip for when you are carrying out unhooked tricks. Nice new colours too!

That’s it for the new features, now for the review:

The bag and the kite both look the same as they did for 2008. Is this a good or a bad thing? I couldn’t decide as the Slingshot Rev 08 was so good and I felt it didn’t need any alterations. Well after flying the 2009 Rev I changed my mind straight away!!!
Oh forgot to say - Lake Garda has no beaches so we had to launch from a boat. That’s all cool though, I have done this loads of times before, however not with a new kite that I have never used - this could have been bad!! Also a 13m kite was being used in 11knots!
When I pumped up the kite for the first time I thought nice new graphics!! I then connected the lines, let the kite drift off down wind, waited for the line tension and pulled on the left line - up she went just like the 2008 Slingshot Rev - Still super easy to re-launch – sweet!! I jumped out of the boat and the wind felt light. I sent the kite and “wow” the pull is unreal – I was instantly on the plane! Two sines and I parked the kite at 45 degrees - just park and ride!! It felt so sweet, so smooth and precise and the bar felt light. My first impressions of the difference between the 2008 and 2009 Rev was that the low end was better. Last years Rev did not get me going as early! Other than that and the feel of the actual bar [softer grip] the kite felt the same.
I did a couple of runs with no jumping just to get a feel of the kite. After about 30 minutes the wind dropped off! This was not good but ‘not a problem’ as I still had another day left!! The locals told me that it would be 15-18 knots - perfect!
The next day I went out on the 13m again - it was about 15knots!! I planed with ease and did a couple of unhooked tricks - no drama’s at all, the kite felt smooth and powerful. I then decided to make some changes to the kite to test the features that have been introduced for 2009. I started with the bar pressure adjusters. I moved the pigtail on the back lines in one as I was told that this would give me more bar pressure. I then went back out immediately and it felt like I was flying a different kite. If I had not changed the settings myself I would have sworn that it was not the same kite.
It felt similar to a C-kite. Many people have problems going from c-kites to hybrid kites and back again. It can be done but it takes practice for you to feel comfortable with the kite and to get the light feel on the bar. So now I have the de-power of a Slingshot Rev 08 and the safety of a rev 08 but the feel of a C-kite.
I took the kite down again and moved the setting on the back lines to the furthest setting away from the wingtip. I was told that this would provide more bar pressure, and it did!! The bar pressure increased for a more c-shape kite feel, however it was not too dramatic. On the Slingshot Rev 2008 I felt that the kite unhooked well when it was de-powered slightly. When I was riding the Rev 2009 on the same setting, i unhooked and the kite just sat there in the window in fact I was so happy I rode the width of the lake unhooked. I did not get pulled off my edge or feel the gusts in my shoulders, it was just ultra smooth like the fuel. The wind then picked up to 18 knots and I was still riding comfortably.
I felt so comfortable that I went for an F16 and “wow” did the kite loop. Hell yeah - I came down hard but I went high, lots of time in the air, very big pull and lots of power though the loop. I was so happy that at 18knots I could get such height and power out of the kite. The settings that I had altered had changed the turning of the kite, it turned slower but with a wide arc, very wide for ANY hybrid kite.
It was then time to try the 11m as I know companies make a good kite then let themselves down on other sizes...

One word: SAME!!!!

The low end wind range was so good, like the 13m. As there wasn’t enough wind I was unable to test the full potential of the kite. At 20 knots on the 11m I still had not pulled in any de-power, so the full wind range of this kite is yet to be seen [by myself]!!
The only thing that I did on the 11m kite that I did not do on the 13m was test the CSS (CENTER SAFTEY SYSTEM). Slingshot did not and have not pushed or informed people of how good it really is! Let me – it is the best safety system on the market!! I can assure you that this system is simple, easy and effortless to reset ON THE WATER!
The industry leading safety system of 2008 continues to excel on the 2009 Slingshot Rev. You can pull the release system on the chicken loop, whilst in the water out of your depth, and the bar travels about 15 metres up the centre line. It may seem that your session is all over and that you are swimming back to the beach, but you will have the kite back in the air and riding within 20 seconds. This is done by pulling on the centre line until you reach the bar, enabling you to hook back in and re-seat the safety system at ease. Guiding the centre line allows the kite to sit in the correct re-launching position. I did this 7 times on the 11m and every time there was 100% no problems as we previously found with the 2008.
If you have a Slingshot Rev 2008 and you are looking for that bit more, or you are unhooking more, I would say that the upgrade to the Slingshot 2009 Rev is well worth it!!!! The surf proof seams are another beneficial factor of the kite as you can crash the kite hard and there’s no need to worry!!
If you don’t have a Rev, but you want a kite that is easy to re-launch from the water, is strong, feels like a C-shape kite or hybrid and would like the best safety system you can get - you know what I will say... “GET A SLINGSHOT REV 09!”
I have a 13m and 11m here in the UK so if you want to try the new Slingshot Rev 09 give me a call on 01202 738448 and I will be happy to give you the kite to demo for the day. If you simply want more information just give myself or your local Slingshot dealer a call.

An awesome kite!!!!!

I hope this is a good read for you all.More pics will be added to our website within the next 48hrs.
Angelo
S2AS Team
http://www.s2as.com/

Naish Cult 2008 Kite Review by S2AS

If you go down to the beach and look at the kites been flown the chances are the one that will catch your eye will be the new Naish Cult sigma series. All of the new Naish Sigma Kites look radically different with their angular design and tight canopy. It is with no doubt that Naish Kiteboarding have done their homework everything stated in their design brief about both Geo tech and Sigma outline makes engineering sense but the question is will it all work.

Having been kindly given a Naish Cult by James from Naish UK to demo, it is with eager anticipation that the Naish Cult kite was taken out and inspected. On pumping up the Naish Cult has Naish’s octopus inflation system, the build quality of the kite also looks very good with plenty of scuff guards and bumpers. You also notice that the kite features a lot of Naish’s “aramid reinforcements” these are used to help keep the kite in the designed shape and strengthen the corners.

The Naish bar and lines are nice and simple. The lines work off a direct 1:1 system with de-power below the bar. The safety system is also obvious and can be released and reloaded simply and quickly. The bar feels nice in the hands and is comfortable to use. The simplicity of the bar makes it clutter free and is super easy to use. The only downside was the lack of the stopper ball, this makes spinning the bar tricky and we found that shorter riders like myself struggled to reach the bar when fully de-powered. (This stopper ball does however come in the bag) You just have to put it on yourself no real hardship it’s just that when you buy this kite you will be super stoked and rushing to get out on the water and the last thing you will be thinking about is fitting the Naish stopper ball!

On the water the first thing you noticed is that the there is a light bar pressure, their is still positive feedback but if you are not use to it, it will take a bit of time to get dialled in. The effect of the geo-tech and sigma series features is apparent in the flight of the kite. Firstly it is super stable and has a lovely solid feel to the kite. Even when we attempted to make the kite over fly and fall out of the sky it would not and instead just sat there rock solid. In loops or aggressive turns there was minimal if any flutter. In the air the Naish Cult demonstrate a consistent power delivery through the up stroke, down stroke and turns. This gave the kite an ultra smooth feeling and coupled with the impressive low end grunt was astounding in light winds.

The Naish cult 2008 demonstrated an impressive arsenal for most disciplines. As an unhooked kite it is very grunty with a lot to pop against, un-hooked it still demonstrates a continual pull. The airs on the kite are impressive being both big and boosty. Probably the forte was in wave riding, the kites continual even pull through the turns as well as the power stroke, it is quick and responsive and the re-launch is quick and easy making it an ideal weapon.

The smooth power delivery, responsiveness and easy re-launch of the Naish Cult make it an ideal kite for beginner’s / intermediates and wave riders. It provides massive scope with its unhooking potential and would be immediately be down as a kite accessible to anyone. The advantages of Naish’s technology are best seen through the continual power delivery and smooth turns and you have to think that Naish are on to a winner with this kite. After testing the cult we were very surprised that these aren’t more common on the beaches. Maybe this is due to a wait and see approach due to the big changes from the norm of kite design. In our opinion these kites will only gain in popularity and following as once tried they will win many over.

Naish Kitesurfing kites

Naish Alliance Kite 2008

Naish Code Kite 2008

Naish Helix Kite 2008

Naish Torch Kite 2008

Naish Kiteboards

Naish Haze Kiteboard 2008

Naish Sol Kiteboard 2008

Naish Thorn Kiteboard 2008

Naish Board Bags

Naish Golf Bag Without Wheels

Naish Golf Bag With Wheels

James Ward

S2AS Team

Surface 2 Air Sports

Slingshot Enters the UK with Wakeboards & Bindings!

Slingshot Kiteboarding has been with us here in the UK for some 18 years now at the top of the Kiteboarding game with Slingshot Kites and Slingshot Kiteboards, Slingshot has been hard at work building and testing a new SLINGSHOT WAKEBOARD RANGE for 2020 With the following new

WakeBoards:

Slingshot Bishop Wakeboard

Slingshot Native Crossover Wakeboard

Slingshot Solo Crossover Wakeboard

Slingshot Volt Cable Wakeboard

Slingshot Coalition Wakeboard

Slingshot Water Gunn Wakeboard

Slingshot Windsor Wakeboard

Slingshot Terrain Wakeboard

Slingshot Valley Wakeboard

Slingshot Super Grom Wakeboard

And they have not stopped there Slingshot have also made a Range of Wakeboard Bindings all closed-toe check out the Slingshot Wakeboard Bindings Below:

Slingshot Wakeboard Bindings:

Slingshot Space Mob Bindings

Slingshot Rad Wakeboard Bindings

Slingshot KTV Wakeboard Bindings

Slingshot Jewel Wakeboard Bindings

This is completely New Technology from Slingshot and no other wakeboard company do anything like it! with the flex (FRT) in the Slingshot Wakeboards, it makes everything easier like Giving you a smoother ride over both flat water and chop, softer Landings and a huge amount of pop of the wake!

What are you waiting for get over to Surface2Air Sports and get your new Slingshot Wakeboard set up today!

Thanks for reading

S2AS Team

Slingshot Turbo 3 T3 Kite Review by S2AS Team

Slingshot Turbo 3 T3 Kite Review by S2AS Team

Slingshot Turbo 3 Review by the S2AS TeamAfter the success of the Slingshot Turbo 2 last year it was with great anticipation we awaited the arrival of the Slingshot Turbo 3’s Last year’s Turbo 2 was a leap forward in bow technology with slingshot creating a super stable, easy re-launch and user friendly kite. It was immediately recognised an ideal kite for those looking for a free ride kite or their first kite to learn on.

When we received these kites we where to intrigued to find out what and how Slingshot had attempted to improve their thoroughbred workhorse. On first inspection of the kite you can see it is still built with Slingshot’s legendary build quality. The kite itself looks fairly similar with maybe a tweak up in the aspect ratio. The bridle again came with the floating pulley connecting the front and back bridle. The bridle itself seems more compact and neater than last years. To be honest the major differences are the fact that with a small adjustment at the bar and on the bridle the T3 or Turbo3 can be transformed from a 2:1 free ride user friendly kite to a 1:1 more aggressive kite capable of impressive wake style characteristics.

Like the kite the bar has a couple of differences. The first as already mentioned is the ability to change it from a 2:1 system to a 1:1 system, which is a quick and easy job. The second is incorporation of the same highly successful safety system as used on the Slingshot Rev Kite. No longer does your leash have to be stretched out, forever wrapping your lines to reach the re-ride. Now the re-ride line is neatly extended to finish just above the chicken loop. Not only is this system notably neater and more user friendly but also highly efficient, as well as giving the rider a high probability of immediate re-launch even on release.

The improvement however is more noticeable in flight. Having had these kites since mid may we have been able to test them in a variety of conditions and styles (free ride, wake style and in the school).

Firstly in the 2:1 system the kite feels faster and more responsive than last year. This may be down to a slight increase in aspect ratio or to do with the tweaking of the bridle. The main way you can notice this is in the turns. The Slingshot T3 in comparison to the T2 seems to turn tighter, quicker and easier than last years making it feel extremely sprightly. This increase in turning speed makes the kite feel a lot more fun and makes it boost massive whilst still providing awesome float. The re-launch and de-power are still both excellent, pull the outside line and he kite re-launches in seconds, let go of the bar and you still have the huge de-power.

Secondly in the 1:1 system the kite does feel slower than in the 2:1. However it really shows off its versatility and potential when you start trying to unhook against it. With the low end power and stability of the T3 there always seems like there is plenty to pop against and it gives consistent steady pull.

Slingshot have succeeded in making an extremely versatile kite this year that is going to offer many more options than previously seen. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you are a complete beginner, free rider or wake style monkey, the T3 can offer everyone something. Whilst it will never be as pure a freestyle kite as the likes of the fuel or as fast as the rev, it is a massively impressive. This year slingshot is onto a winner with a kite that almost everyone will enjoy and be able to get something out of. As a first kite it has the advantage of offering huge progression and scope for anyone coming into the sport whilst still offering all those features that people look for in a bow kite.

Review by James ward

Surface 2 Air sports Team

What is Kitesurfing?

Kite surfing or kiteboarding as some call it is the fastest growing water sport in the world, with Large C-shaped kites flying along coastlines all over the world including the UK.

The most extreme of water sports, kite surfing fuses three other extreme sports: windsurfing, wakeboarding and power kite flying. It is tougher, faster and a lot more exhilarating than any other water activity I have ever done that’s for sure.

There is a lot of disputes about where & when kite surfing was invented, with some kite surfers claiming it was France and others saying it was Hawaii. I believe it was France however the Hawaiians took to the sport a lot faster with the perfect wind conditions they get but, no matter where kite surfing came from, there’s certainly no arguing that Kite surfing has taken off in a big way in the UK alone in last eight years.

The concept of kitesurfing is relatively simple: kite surfers use a small Twin tip board (very much like a Wakeboard) with straps and are powered along the water by a large power kite the size depending on the wind strength. The Kitesurf kite is attached via 25m-long Dyneema lines to a Control bar, which the rider uses to steer & depower or Power the kite. This type of Water sport allows you to cruise across the water at vast speed, jump as high as a 3 story house in what feels & looks like slow motion, as well as perform triple loops or spins, only once you’ve got good control of the Kite, speed and power! Kite surfing is a sport for extreme thrill-seekers who love water, waves, speed and a whole lot of power in their hands.

It truly is a sport that you can learn at a BKSA kitesurf school and within two weeks look good at. Unlike some other water sports like Windsurfing, Kite surfing has a very fast learning curve.

For more info on Kite surfing or kitesurfing lessons

Surface2Air sports
Thanks for reading
S2AS Team

Flexifoil Kites have a new Colour Range at S2AS

S2AS and Flexifoil would like you to be aware that we now have received small stocks of the latest colour scheme HULK, For all new Flexifoil Kites.

With the release of the New Hulk colour scheme, S2AS will be having a 10% discount on all Flexifoil land kites. (the discount code will be at the bottom of this blog)

Please find below the links to the Flexifoil Kites on the Surface2Air website.
S2AS would like to add that this is only the first delivery and numbers will be limited.
The Sting and Rage range are perfect for learning Kitesurfing


Flexifoil Buzz
Flexifoil Big Buzz
Flexifoil Sting 1.2 on Handles
Flexifoil Sting 1.2 L&B on Control Bar
Flexifoil Sting 1.7 on Handles
Flexifoil Sting 2.4 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Sting 3.3 on Handles
Flexifoil Sting 3.3 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Rage 1.8 on Handles
Flexifoil Rage 1.8 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Rage 2.5 on Handles
Flexifoil Rage 2.5 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Rage 3.5 on Handles
Flexifoil Rage 3.5 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Rage 4.7 on Handles
Flexifoil Rage 4.7 on Control Bar
Flexifoil Rage 6.0 on Handles
Flexifoil Rage 6.0 on Control Bar

S2AS Discount Code is "Blogflexi" this will give you 10% off the RRP on all Flexifoil 2008 power Kites

Thanks for Reading
S2AS Team

North Evo 9m 2008 Kite Test

North Evo 9m Test

At a Glance
The North Evo is a totally new kite in the line up this year and it is using a design not previously seen in the North Kiteboarding range. The delta shape is perhaps something we will see more of over the coming years from other brands especially with two of the major brands now using it. The North Evo can be ridden as a simple 4line affair or you can set it up on the North 5th Element Bar for added safety and a slightly more direct feel. The North Evo kite lacks one pump and is aimed at the more entrylevel market as opposed to the top end users out there. All the struts have oneway valves though so it isn’t too much of a hardship to rig up. Funny how we are so used to one pump now it seems a real effort when it isn’t present on a kite! The 4line bar is similar to the 5th Element bar with the same twoway cleat that allows heaps of personal trimming to suit your needs and the improved Iron Heart safety. The bridling on the kite is fairly simple with two V Bridles on the leading edge of the kite and a direct connection to the rear lines. We should also mention the chord depth of the kite, as it is quite low aspect. The chord depth simply is the length of the middle strut a shorter length makes for a high aspect kite and a longer one a low aspect kite. The North Evo kite is easily the lowest aspect 9m we have seen for a while. This should make the kite super stable in the air and also help reduce the chance of the kite stalling and flying backwards when over sheeted.In The AirAgain on this kite ensure you set up the adjustable cleat to make sure the bar is set up not only to your riding style but also your body size and shape. With so much adjustment it is easy to set it up perfectly for the way you ride, it is also easy to set it up incorrectly though so a few minutes spent on the beach during your first session will reward you with hours of fun on the water. Probably the first thing you will notice about the North Evo is the lowend grunt the kite has, with its deep chord depth comes heaps of low end power. The 9m really felt really powerful but it is worth noting that the pivot angle is good, as with all delta shapes, and the kite has a good amount of depower. Definitely the bottom end is more impressive than the top end though. In terms of handling the one word that kept coming up again and again was easy. This is a really simple easy kite to fly, super forgiving and just effortless in terms of getting upwind, jumping, and steering. Plenty of feedback for the rider too on the bar and you can easily feel where the kite is in the window at all times. One thing that is really worth a mention is the jumping, we were expecting this to be fairly basic in the air, but it is actually bordering on insane! Huge boost off the water and immense hangtime once you are up there will leave you with the biggest grin on your face. It is real plug and play enjoyment too. Unlike some kites that take a while to get dialled into the North Evo will be sending your skywards on your first attempt and make timing those landings easy!

For:
Amazingly easy to use, fantastic relaunch ability, huge air and a great lowend

Against:
Is one pump too much to ask? We know it adds to the price but surely it is worth the little bit extra in manufacturing costs…

In Short:
An amazing kite in a surprising package, we really weren’t expecting so much performance with such ease of use. One of the best allround kites we have flown. If you want an entry level kite that you won’t grow out of then look no further.

For more info go to our website www.S2AS.com or call us on 01202 738448 or 01303 854065

North Rhino 2008 Kite Test

North Rhino 2008 9m

At a Glance

The North Rhino is one of the longest running kites in the history of kitesurfing. First appearing way back in 2001 the North Rhino Kite was, for a very long time, the flagship kite in the North Kiteboarding range. Much loved for its low-end grunt and renowned for its big air capabilities lots of riders had at least one size in their quiver! Last year though saw a big change for North kiteboarding and for the first time the North Rhino underwent a complete facelift. Instead of tweaking the usual design year on year the Rhino was sent back to the drawing board and a totally new North Rhino 07 was rolled out. Met with some surprise by the regular North Rhino fans the new 07 Rhino was a flat hybrid style kite utilising a 5th line rather than a bridle. For 2008 it has changed yet again with a flat delta shape that looks very different from last years kite. North Kiteboarding have used far less struts in the construction and interestingly there is no middle strut! Instead two struts straddle the centre section of the kite. The bar has also been tweaked a fair bit with a redesigned Iron Heart release, said to work much better in sandy conditions and also release under less load. Plus an innovative stopper ball system that works really well. We must also mention the new bridle set up, with 7 connection points on the kite the bridle at first does look pretty confusing. But once you get your head around all the lines then rigging up will become a breeze. The North Rhino Kite also comes standard with one pump.

In The Air

First up when you launch the Rhino 08 you will notice the distinctive delta shape the kite has, it looks totally different to last years model against the back drop of the sky. One thing you will want to familiarise yourself before you head out though is the new depower cleat which allows you total control and trim over the length of the depower and the distance that the rider can set the depower cleat from the bar. By adjusting this to your own arm length and personal riding style you can totally trim the kite in a manner that best suits you. Not for the novice out there but then this kite isn’t designed with the novice in mind. The tech heads will love the amount of choice this affords the rider in terms of set up. Once set how you want to ride the kite is impressive in its performance to say the least, a good low end grunt comes coupled with literally huge top end range, the delta shape really allowing the kite to pivot off its front axis and dump power. We were also surprised at the stability of the kite, especially in gusty and windy conditions. Last year the North Rhino relied on an obscene amount of struts to keep its shape. This year the kite is just as stable and North Kiteboarding have utilised different canopy materials and layout to achieve this. Even without the middle strut the kite is rock solid in the air. The North Rhino is also very very quick through the window, with a positive amount of pressure on the bar and a great amount of feedback for the rider you feel in total control in all conditions. Upwind is very impressive and the North Race team are using this kite to devastating effect on the current race tour. Lastly the North Rhino Kite has always been loved for its huge air and jumping capabilities. Will it disappoint this year? The answer is quite simply no, the Rhino has regained some of its glory days from the past, not the most impressive in terms of float, but if you are looking at sheer rocket factor off the water the North Rhino will not let you down, quite literally.

For:

Super stable shape, fantastic build quality, huge air and great upwind ability

Against:Not a kite for the freestyle rider, feels much more comfortable hooked in and kiteloops aren’t as impressive as the more freestyle orientated kites in the line up.

In Short:

A great kite from North and one that many riders will enjoy, if you used to love the North Rhino’s of old because they boosted huge and had loads of power then perhaps now is the time to revisit the range. It definitely has its original qualities back!

Remember Get Kitesurfing Lessons Before you go out Kitesurfing

For more info please visit Our Website http://www.s2as.com/ or call us on 01202 738448 or 01303 854065

Liquid Force Havoc 2008 Kite

S2AS Review the 2008 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, which they do. The Liquid Force kites in the past have sometimes been overlooked by some but have always had certain characteristics; low-end power and a solid wakestyle pull through the air. Last year the Liquid Force 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 Liquid Force Havoc 2008 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!

The Liquid Force Havoc 2008 In the Air
As soon as you launch the Liquid force 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 Liquid Force 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.

For
Mega hangtime, low-end power, consistent pull and excellent for freestyle and waves. The S2AS Team also liked the fact it flew right out of the bag.

Against
Not as many trim options as some would like, this is a kite with pure simplicity in mind in terms of set up.

In Short
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 our website at http://www.s2as.com/ or call us on 01202 738448