The Ultimate Test Guide #2

THE ULTIMATE TEST GUIDE

N A V I G AT O R C O N T R O L

S Y S T E M

Think Less, Feel More.

Engineered. Refined. Intuitive.

N O RT H KB . C O M

RIDER: JALOU LANGEREE PHOTOGRAPHER: YDWER VAN DER HEIDE

F R E E R I D E

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F R E E S T Y L E

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W A V E

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J O I N

T H E

D U O T O N E S P O R T S . C O M

P O W E R

O F

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D E D I C A T E D

T O

K I T E B O A R D I N G S

I

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C

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2

0

0

1

C C 2

U S

C C 9

F O L L O W

C C 3

CIT MODES / WAVE - ALLROUND - FREESTYLE

4.0 5.0

3 STRUT LIGHT FRAME

6.0 7.0

FUTURE-C SHAPE

8.0 9.0

RADICAL REACTION TIPS

10.0 11.0

6 YEAR WORLDWIDE PARTS & SERVICE AVAILABILITY

12.0 13.5

MULTI-TALENTED UNIVERSAL+ SERIES KITE WITH FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE HANDLING

15.0 17.0

MEET THE NEXUS. AN ATHLETIC KITE THAT IS NEVER TOO COOL TO LEARN A NEW TRICK. WHETHER IT'S ON YOUR FAVORITE SURFBOARD OR TWINTIP, THE NEXUS BRINGS EXCEPTIONAL VERSATILITY TO WAVE AND FREESTYLE RIDING. NEXUS. WILLOW AND AKKIE APPROVED. AND WE’VE SEEN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

FOLLOW US ON

corekites.com | facebook.com/corekites | instagram.com/corekites | twitter.com/corekites

CORE Kiteboarding +49 (0) 4371 / 88934-0 info@corekites.com Fehmarn, Germany

WAVE + FREESTYLE / STRAPLESS FREERIDE

TWO CHARACTERS. ONE KITE.

INTRODUCTION Welcome back for our second Ultimate Test magazine. It’s been another insanely busy few months to get the test completed and out to you.

For this test our mission was to complete the whole test in Dakhla (last time round we completed some in Dakhla and some in Portugal). Running the test in Morocco is not as simple as it sounds. With this amount of kit, flying it down is simply not an option so over land from Tarifa to Tangier is the only way to go. Our initial plan to take it on the ferry in one truck was scuppered, so we ended up taking five cars stacked full of kit on the ferry, before transferring it to a truck for the three day trip down through the desert.

So, why Dakhla? Why not save a lot of time and money and run it in Tarifa? Well to test equipment thoroughly you need consistent conditions… You can’t run the kind of quantative and qualitative tests that we have if it is a steady 20 knots one day and a gusty 30 knots the next. It just doesn’t work. It’s not scientific. We needed at least two weeks of consistent conditions, and that is what we got.

So the results you find within these pages come from the test team riding 6-10 hours a day and riding the same genre of kites back-to-back. A day of freeride kites, a day of freestyle kites, a day of crossover twintips. A day of foils. Aaaaaaaand repeat. Every category got at least two days of non-stop action and most got a lot more than that.

We learnt from last year and took on board some feedback and we also kept tabs on what people were requesting via Instagram (where, incidentally, our Stories during the test got over 400,000 views!) but the philosophy was the same: ride it, score it, tweak some settings, ride it again, score it again, switch up with another kite. And repeat. Collapse on the beach.

Drink beer. The core team were in situ at Dakhla Spirit for 14 days with other riders joining for a few days here and there.

Was it fun? Of course it was! Is it the most thorough kite test we could conceive? 100%. Will you enjoy it and will it inform your next kite, board or foil purchase? We hope so…

Enjoy.

Alex

elevating sensation.

hyper HIGH PERFORMANCE FREERIDE/BIG G AI AIR A IR

TheKiteMag.com

CRAZYFLYKITES.COM

CONTENTS INTROD U CTION 018

THE TEST CRITERIA

022

WHAT WAS THE BEST?!

024

TEST INSIGHT: THE AOA TEST

THE KITES 026

KITE TEST CRITERIA

028

ALL ROUND FREERIDE (orange charts)

042

PERFORMANCE FREERIDE (purple charts)

058

FREEST YLE (blue charts)

064

LIGHT WIND (green charts)

076

WAVE (yellow charts)

082

KITE WINNERS

THE BOARDS 086

BOARD TEST CRITERIA

088

FREERIDE (orange charts)

094

FREEST YLE (blue charts)

102

LIGHT WIND (green charts)

106

FREERIDE/FREEST YLE CROSSOVER (purple charts)

114

PREMIUM CROSSOVER (yellow charts)

122

TWINTIP WINNERS

THE FOILS 124

FOIL TEST CRITERIA

126

FOIL TESTS

132

FOIL WINNERS

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

15

O N E

L

E

G

E Y

BANDIT 2020

WWW.F-O NE.WO RLD

Advert B13 The kite mag 420 275 en.indd 1

F.o ne I n t e rn a t i o na l

f o n ekit es

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, R

T W O

B A N D I T S ,

©

C H O I C E .

BANDIT-S The all-new BANDIT-S, a dedicated surf & strapless freestyle kite,

TKC Sales Ltd f-onekites.co.uk

09/12/2019 17:02

PIVOT SIZES 5–12, 14 | FREERIDE/WAVE When we designed the Pivot we wanted a kite that could take riders to the next level and the results speak for themselves. It’s the kite that Kevin Langeree has won the Red Bull King of the Air twice with and continues to break the limits for all riding styles worldwide. Simply put, the Pivot is one of the best high-performance freeride kites in the world. Packed with tech and using Quad-Tex, the strongest canopy material available, the Pivot offers performance on demand for kiters of all riding styles.

FIND THE PIVOT & THE AWARD-WINNING NAISH LINEUP INCLUDING THE SLASH, TORCH WITH ESP, BOXER, DASH & TRIAD AT YOUR NAISH DEALER TODAY OR NAISH.COM

2020KB_Pivot_TheKiteMag_400x265_Spread_UltimateTest.indd All Pages

THE BEST AT

EVERYTHING! P O W E R E D BY N AT U R E

Europe: Kubus Sports BV

•

info@kubus-sports.nl

NaishKiteboarding

•

+31 (0)35 695 4 695 North America: Pacific Boardsports LLC • (509) 493-0043 • pbs@naishsails.com

Naish_Kiteboarding

Naish.com

frankiebees.com

•

Kevin Langaree: Pivot Kite, KL Pro Twin Tip

12/10/19 12:01 PM

THE TEST CRITERIA EXPLAINED

OBJECTIVE TEST CRITERIA

We looked at every element of kites, boards and foils... From the precise flex of the boards through to the quality of the supplied kite repair kit. If you like stats then there is plenty to get your teeth in to...

SUBJECTIVE TEST CRITERIA

To establish the subjective test results, every rider entered a score of 1-10 for everything they tested. We then eliminated the highest and lowest scores and took the average of the remaining scores. Through this we believe we have done all that we can to eliminate any ‘brand bias’ and to ensure that everything has been tested fairly. We often hear that ‘the tests

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aren’t fair because the brands pay for their results etc’. Well our process here has been entirely transparent.

As well as recording scores for everything tested, testers also gave written feedback which we have incorporated into the test write ups. Please note that the test write ups do not go into microscopic detail about constructions or layups – the point of the tests was to compare the products in real-world conditions and to decide which we thought performed best.

We could have written six pages about every kite or board, but you would then need the rest of the year to read the whole test (and a fork lift truck to move it around). If you want more detail about constructions/layups etc then head to the brand’s website and all will be revealed.

WHO DID THE TESTING? The core team rode the test gear for 12 days, but we also had over 20 riders testing the gear for at least two days and feeding back to the team. Here are the key players:

RICHARD BOUGHTON (HEAD TESTER)

TANJA ROSENKRANZ

ABDU MOUTAOUAKIL

JENNIFER BELL-TAYLOR

JAMES WARD

Years kiting: 15 Experience: GKA Judge; instructing 14 years; school owner 9 years; Production Manager of kite factory.

Years kiting: 5 years Experience: 4 years teaching and coaching. GKA African champion 2018.

2nd Philippines tour 2018

Years kiting: 10 Experience: Full time kiter!

Instructing and managing centers for 9 years.

Years kiting: 17 Experience: Kite repairs 13 years; school manager / senior instructor and kite shop manager.

KHALID EL FAIZ

MATT BELLAMY

KATIE EVANS

SOUFIANE HASSOUNI

WILL MAKINSON

Years kiting: 11 years Experience: Teaching 9 years, managing kite center two years.

Years kiting: 19 Experience: Began kiting on 2 line Naish R3s, which he converted to 4 lines.

Currently spending a lot of time using kites to explore the mountains‌

Years kiting: 9 Experience: Traveled extensively over the last 8 years including multiple extended trips to Dakhla and Paros. Regular feature on the Freestyle and Wave tours in the UK.

Years kiting: 13 Experience: 10 years instructing, two-time Moroccan Freestyle Champion.

Years kiting: 12 Experience: Ridden and taught all over the planet, plus competitive experience.

Years kiting: 17 Experience: Kite repairs 11 years; instructing and managing kite centers 12 years; brand R&D and testing; professional team coaching.

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

21

Kites cued up for another rigorous day

A TYPICAL DAY...

Rich having some ‘quiet time’ on the foils.

Freestyle gear day. A test team favorite.

TheKiteMag.com

Lunch time number crunching

Freestyler Will coming to terms with the world of foil kites

Jen and a pile of twinnies‌ Was this her favorite? Time will tell.

Pro Limit keeping Tanja and Will warm while Jimmy talks stats‌

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

23

WHAT WAS THE BEST?!

Everyone likes a winner… So at the end of the magazine you can find the kites and boards that we think performed best across each category. So there is a winner and then – depending on the number of items in a category – there are also ‘standouts’, who are those who came closest to the top of the pile.

Please note though, a lot of the tests were very close, and choosing a ‘winner’ doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best kite for you. If you’re looking in the freeride category for example, then you might want a kite that is slightly more aggressive because you want to do some freestyle, or you could be looking for something that has a solid wind range as your local spot is super gusty. So please check the individual scores for all of the kit and read the write ups to work out what is going to meet your exact needs.

WHAT’S WITH THE €?

You will notice that we have decided to do all of the pricing in Euros. As you know we usually have pricing in Dollars and GBP as well, but as space was limited and there is already a lot of data, we have decided to keep things simple. Apologies to our US and UK readers but you should be able to easily find pricing online.

HOW DID WE KEEP WARM?

ProLimit were kind enough to sponsor the wetsuits for the test.

We had their top-end suits and they were kind enough to print our logo on them. Was anyone cold? No. Was there any unexpected chafing? No. Will we be wearing these suits with pride for the rest of their usable life? Yes!

WHERE’S THE 2020 XYZ KITE?!

It’s super difficult to choose the right time of year for this test.

We want to test as much ‘new’ gear as we can, but different brands do things in different ways. Some brands have one big release, some brands have two biggish releases, some release every two years, some release ‘when we have something better’.

So there is no way we can find the right time to test everything.

We’re sorry about that… This guide will be coming out in time for you to choose your kit for 2020 though, so we thought this was the fairest way to do things. And if something isn’t tested this time round then – rest assured – we’ll get to it next time!

I JUST CAN’T DECIDE?!

Are you buying a new kite and the results of the test have just given you too many options, or maybe the kite you want didn’t perform as well as you expected? Or maybe there are two contenders for who gets your hard earned bucks. Well feel free to drop us a line at HQ@thekitemag.com, or send a message to our Instagram and we’ll get back to you and help out where we can.

TheKiteMag.com

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

25

AOA TESTS

WHAT DOES IT SHOW? JIMMY’S SCIENCE CORNER Jimmy is our king of stats – he has been riding and repairing kites for many, many years as well as being a bonafide science boffin. He has been responsible for helping to devise many of the quantitative tests.

We won’t bore you with an in-depth analysis of every test (trust me, it’s not worth it) but we did ask him to run over his favorite tech test to give us a flavor of the science behind the test. He thought long and hard and decided on the AOA test. Here he is…

Whenever I have read kite reviews, the scientist in me always desires some quantitative data that can be used to compare the kites, because, as we know, most of the reviews are based on rider opinion and an element of subjectivity. This presented the problem of what could we produce a physical value for.

What we came up with in this example is the Angle Of Attack (AOA) test.

The principle of the test is to measure the force the kite exerts on the rider in two scenarios. With the kite fully powered, and then with the kite fully depowered. Last year it became obvious that these values gave a clear indication of the “grunt” of a kite. This year it has been our aim to further analyze these results and see how the different values relate to in areas such as the kites performance and attributes and see if we can find any links or patterns.

The force measurements are taken in newtons. 10 newtons equates to 1 kilo (on earth). The test is done from a stationary position with the rider braced against the kite and the kite at about 45 degrees. The rider then alternates from having the bar fully pulled in and powered, to having the kite fully depowered. Wind readings are taken at the same time. Whilst we can acknowledge the test is not 100% perfect as, well, the wind is involved, the results present a clear, positive correlation as can be seen from an example below.

To standardize the results, a value for 15mph was then extrapolated from the graph for each kite allowing a fair comparison.

Kite Freestyle

Target market

# Struts

Aspect ratio

Pulleys per side

Powered (N)

Depowered (N)

Difference (N)

Cabrinha Switchblade

Performance freeride

5

Medium

none

232

118

114

CORE impact

Freestyle

5

High

none

232

120

40

North Carve

Surf

3

Medium

none

248

120

128

North Orbit

Performance freeride

5

Med / High

none

218

122

96

CrazyFly Hyper

Performance freeride

5

High

none

280

105

175

CORE XR

Performance freeride

5

Medium / High

3

287

148

139

Naish Triad

Beginner

3

Medium / Low

3

251

80

171

Naish Dash

Freeride / Freestyle

3

Medium

none

250

95

155

Naish Pivot

Performance freeride

5

Medium / High

1

275

112

163

Slingshot Rally GT

Freeride

3

Medium / Low

none

210

127

83

Cabrinha Moto

Freeride

3

Medium

none

253

142

111

Slingshot Bandit

Performance freeride

3

Medium

2

220

87

133

TheKiteMag.com

y 450

x= wind speed in mph y= force in newtons

400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

x 0

5

10

15

20

25

From the table above you can see we took our values at 15mph for each kite and also looked at different attributes and categories that we thought would influence these values.

When we look at the powered readings, the three kites with the highest readings are the CORE XR, CrazyFly Hyper and the Naish Pivot. All three of these kites share the similarities that they are aimed at the boosting market, with large spans and flat arcs. They present a solid airframe and they have a medium/high to high aspect ratio. In comparison, the lowest value was for the CORE Impact which has the most C shaped characteristics and smallest projected area out of all the kites tested.

With the depowered readings, medium to medium/low aspect ratio kites and those with pulleys produced the lowest reading. The pulleys are also the most important in showing how much a kite depowers with the difference in values. All of the kites with pulleys appeared in the top half of the chart.

This is as expected as the pulleys should allow the kite to change its angle of attack more and so “dump” or gain more power in contrast to a fixed bridle. At the other end of the scale, again the CORE Impact gives the lowest difference due to the fact it is C shaped, has no pulleys and is a freestyle kite with a narrow sweet spot.

These values don’t necessarily tell you if a kite is “good” or not. They do however suggest what the kite may be excel at and they do not show any massive surprises. But what is interesting and rewarding is how closely they relate to key factors.

There are of course many other variables that could affect these readings, such as the fact they are only static readings.

They therefore don’t necessarily show, for example, how the kite would perform under apparent wind or how far round the window the kite flies. The exciting thing now is that it gives us more to investigate next year, and to see if there are any more trends to be unearthed. Watch this space. The search for more data continues…

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

27

KITES – WHAT WE TESTED… ANGLE OF AT TACK FORCE TEST

See Jimmy’s rundown on this one for the full lowdown. Here’s the summary… We attached a Newton meter between the harness and chicken loop… Two readings are taken:

1) The initial reading is taken with kite in depowered position (bar out). The pilot sits braced against the floor with the kite at 45 degrees and, when it is stable, a wind meter reading and the reading off the crane meter is to be taken.

Repeated at least three times ensuring no anomalies in recordings.

2) The test is repeated as above but with the bar sheeted in all the way.

Both results are recorded and the difference between the two values is recorded. We found this to be a very solid indicator of the power a kite had on tap. So the higher the value, the more power the kite had.

TURNING SPEED

Subjective assessment of turning speed as perceived by individual riders.

•#10 Flies constantly up and down with no lag or stalling in turn.

•#7-9 Kite flies very quickly and has a quick turn which is fairly tight with little lag or stalling.

•#4-6 Kite flies steadily up and down with a small amount of lag or stalling.

BAR PRESSURE

Subjective assessment of turning speed as perceived by individual riders. NB: 10 is not necessarily a ‘good’ score.

•#10 Bar pressure is light and almost unnoticeable and after a session riders arms do not feel tired. Can comfortably ride with kite fully powered all of the time.

•#7-9 Bar pressure is still light with only a small amount of fatigue after a session or when riding the kite fully powered.

•#4-6 Bar pressure is heavier and after a session the rider experiences some fatigue in arms.

Rider feels they can only ride with the kite fully powered for a limited amount of time.

LOOP RADIUS

Loop radius was assessed in three ways. A static loop in light wind, a down loop turn, and a sent kite loop. The kite was assessed to see if when it was turned hard if it pivot turned (a tight turn) or if it took a large arc and flew low through the window. The kites were then assigned a value of 1-10, 10 being a tight turn and 1 a wider arc.

BAR FEEDBACK STABILIT Y AT ZENITH

The kite was flown at 12 o’clock. When stable it was then fully depowered and then powered again in quick succession.

•#10 Kite is stable at all points with no falling back.

•#7-9 Kite has little movement during test with only a small amount of falling back.

•#4-6 Kite falls back a small amount during test but after a short time it restores itself to the zenith.

•#1-3 Kite is barely at zenith, it falls back significantly into the window before catching itself or falls out of sky.

OVERSHEET TO STALL TEST

The kite was flown at 45 degrees. When stable it was then fully depowered and then powered again in quick succession.

•#10 Kite stays stable at 45 degrees and does not fall back at all.

•#7-9 Kite is relatively still with only a small amount of dropping back but quickly recovers itself.

•#4-6 Kite stays around 45 degrees and at times it drops back into the window but still recovers.

•#1-3 kite barely stays in position, it drops back significantly into window resulting in power spikes on recovery or back stalling.

UPWIND ABILIT Y

Subjective assessment of upwind angles as perceived by individual riders. 10 is the ‘best’ upwind angle on a kite. NB: 10 is not necessarily a ‘good’ score, for some kites you would want them to sit closer to the middle of the window so to have a lower score.

PLEASE NOTE: To make it easier to compare prices, all kite prices are for a 9m kite only.

If a brand doesn't do a 9m then the size is stated afterwards in brackets.

K I T E T ES T C R I T ER I A

DOWNWIND DRIFT

The tester rides as hard upwind as possible before quickly heading directly downwind towards the kite.

•#10 Kite remains steerable and never looks like it will fall out of the sky.

•#7-9 Kite sits stable and does not look to fall out of the sky but loses a degree of steerage.

•#4-6 Kite sits relatively stable but loses steering and starts to fall slightly.

•#1-3 Kite rapidly loses steering and starts to fall out of the sky.

POP / SLACK TEST

The tester unhooked, loaded and popped for a basic Railey. On landing, they rode towards the kite and assessed how easy it was to hook back in / land blind / surface pass out of the maneuver.

•#10 Kite will slack out on landing and not pull on arm. Pass out would be easy •#7-9 Kite slacks out a degree on landing allowing easy hooking back in or relatively easy. pass with little pull.

•#4-6 Kite has a small amount of pull on landing and effort is required to hook back in.

•#1-3 Kite still pulling hard on landing and hooking back in is difficult.

KITELOOP POWER TEST

The tester performs a downloop turn or a sent kiteloop. Subjective assessment of the amount of pull from the kite.

•#10 Very strong pull resulting in being pulled or almost pulled off edge on a downloop turn, or a huge pull in loop.

•#7-9 In downloop turn there is a large pull resulting in a downloop turn with a lot of speed, in a kiteloop there is a fairly large pull in loop.

•#4-6 In downloop turn there is a fair amount of speed maintained in the turn, in a kiteloop there is a noticeable but controllable amount of pull.

•#1-3 In downloop turn the kite pivots and little speed generated, in a kiteloop there is little power generated.

NAISH TRIAD

€1,229

In context with the rest of the range, the Triad sits as a freeride all-rounder, and probably has most crossover and provokes most comparison with the Pivot. It’s a three strut, open arced with a mid-size bridle, which sports a lower aspect ratio and deeper canopy profile than its Big Air proven cousin. Naish have quite a few unique build features this year. First of all, the leading edge has been engineered to take a comfortable 11 PSI, nearly doubling what some brands recommend. This makes a tangible difference in the rigidity of the air frame, improving stability and gust handling, and aiding relaunch. You notice barely any twist or distortion in the kite when you initiate a turn.

On a twintip, The Triad provides a wonderfully simplistic sheet and go experience. Bar feedback is very positive and turning the Triad required a little more input than expected when compared to the Pivot. The kite meets its design brief well, and tows you around the ocean immaculately with very few surprises even when at the top of its wind range. Upwind ability is great with minimal edging required, and a serious credit must go to the overall stability of the Triad at all angles of attack. You’d need a cataclysmic gust to make it even slightly flustered.

Sheet and go characteristics normally translate well to sheet and jump, and sure enough boosting is exceptionally easy to initiate and the tuned down turning speed means you have to work hard to make any bar input errors (and unwanted results). A true all-rounder can’t be rated as such for 2020 unless it had some credibility in the hydrofoil department. In lighter wind, the Triad flies fairly early, and that deep profile has the grunt to get you up and foiling earlier than most three strut kites. Naish have really nailed down what’s required in the beginner to intermediate sector with the Triad. It’s highly accessible, with a linear power development and predictable handling, and is a generally more mellow experience than the Pivot. More advanced riders may want something a little more responsive to get the adrenaline running, which is where the Pivot fits. But the Triad is no disappointment particularly when boosting, and in its top end when things deserve to go wonky, it behaves exceptionally well.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,17

Weight per m²

0,35

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

3

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23,5

Recommended Pressure

11

Battens

None

14,96

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Quadtex Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron In Wingtips

Bridle Material

4mm Dyneema With 2Mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Stability at Zenith – front stall

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Boston

Nb

Octopus

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good)

Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

SPLEENE QX II

€849

German brand Spleene have been around for many years and have introduced some excellent products. They released the revolutionary door board which conquered lightwind twintipping in the early days. As they’ve evolved as a company, a very complete product line has been built up including a kite range which kicked off in 2009. The QX II is their freeride offering.

The build is impressive, with German-produced Dacron used throughout, coupled with Teijin D2 cloth, which many brands tout as the best compromise between weight and performance on the market currently. The QX is a four strut kite with a deep profile and low diameters on all the inflatable tubes. This allows the central canopy of the kite to luff nicely, and in practise almost eliminates front stall as well as improving the kite’s adaptability in gusty wind. It also allows a lot of twist in the canopy helping the kite initiate its turns eagerly.

The immediate thing you feel in the QX is how much power is at your fingertips.

The lack of center strut means a huge sail like area in the center of the kite with no obstruction. Bar pressure weighs in at medium amongst its peers and turning speed is probably also smack in the middle of the field. Being so lean, mean and efficient it’s quite rapid in the board speed department and absolutely fires upwind. Relaunch is exceptionally easy on one rear line, and you could easily hand this over to a beginner in its low end with a clear conscience. Once powered up, it’s got some lift with shallow lofty airs available on tap, complemented with a gentle descent and easy bar feedback.

Four strut kites certainly feel different to the majority of three struts now dominating the marketplace. The QX is no exception and has a far more dramatic power increase on sheet than the majority of its rivals. It’s great to see a design that’s not conforming to the norm, gleaning some practical performance benefits from being different and coming out as a genuine head turner amongst the test team who all enjoyed the performance and the different vibe of the QX II.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,93

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,33

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

2 x Pulley, 1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

4

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

6 x Hard

Linear power development on sheet

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

15,92

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

4 X 4 Canopy Tech (4Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Doube Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3Mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Edge Binding

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

14

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

?? Looked Like Test Kite

Valve Type

Spleene Screw

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

31

SLINGSHOT RALLY GT The Rally has been a mainstay in the Slingshot range for the best part of at least a decade. This year Slingshot decided to separate the old Rally out into two kites, with the Rally GT inheriting the softer freeride characteristics of the previous model and the new Raptor model boosting off into the sunset with the Big Air capabilities. Build-wise it’s all change and the shape has been completely revised with plenty of arc and a much lower aspect ratio than previously. The Rally GT has lost its two struts to the Raptor and has a couple of soft battens in the wingtips where the extra struts used to be to firm things up and reduce flutter. The new swept back and heavily segmented wing tips are stiff and help get a little more leverage into the turn, which is pleasantly pivotal. The long-standing split strut design remains, and the canopy material has been upgraded to a four core, bulking things up on the durability side. So with the ‘gnar’ toned down, what are we left with? Well, it’s a wonderfully playful cruisy tourer, which retains that trademark sheet and go potential, but seems smoother and friendlier with less surprises. The bar pressure is a little higher and provides way more feedback than the old Rally. Jumping with it is on par with most other freeride-specific kites. The medium ground pull and lighter build mean the foiling potential is much improved over the previous model, with decent drift in the smaller sizes for easy wave use. Reverse launching is exceptionally simple with the low aspect ratio and massive arc having little suction on the water. This year’s Rally GT incarnation is the biggest rework of the long running model in its ten-year history and, let’s face it, it needed a bit of a makeover to make it truly competitive again.

Separating the models out makes perfect sense in a way, as there’s less compromise built into the final product, and the more defined purpose enables an easier purchasing decision for the end user. They’ve managed to maintain all of the trademark positive features of the original Rally particularly for beginners and breathe some modernity into the design, most notably in materials and overall handling. Stalwart Rally fans won’t be disappointed as it’s definitely playful enough for most freeriders, but if you’re a more focused booster, go for the Raptor. The GT makes kitesurfing exceptionally cruisy irrelevant of which craft you decide to stand on and it does everything with grace, as a Grand Tourer should.

€1,369

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,49

Weight per m²

0,39

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

26,5

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

4 x Hard

Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

16,87

Construction Canopy Material

4 x 4 Canopy Tech (4Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema With Irs Bungee

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

21

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Linear power development on sheet

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

The RS is a high-performance freeride kite with a huge sweet spot over an impressive wind range. It is very well balanced and works for all riding styles.

Sizes: 05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 / 10 / 12 / 14 / 17

Rider: David Tonijuan Colomer Picture: Samuel Flotat Location: Almeria, Spain

CABRINHA MOTO After a great success in its first year, the Moto is back again for 2020. This is Cabrinha’s highly playful cross discipline all-rounder which is notorious for how easy it is to throw all over the wind window with great gusto and few negative outcomes. It’s a three strut mid-aspect kite, with no pulleys and relatively large square wingtips to keep the steering crisp and responsive. The main changes from last year are found in the materials and construction. The newly implemented, and currently unique to Cabrinha, Nano Ripstop technology has a tighter weave than most canopy fabrics and certainly feels as though it stiffens things up which is noticeable during flight. There’s further promise of better durability and twice the strength of the material it replaces, whilst remaining the same weight, and a UV coating involving a plasma treatment. This all sounds very space age but the material does feel very bling and we were impressed. Like many kites this year, the Moto has been on a further weight loss program with regards to the quantities and placement of Dacron. With the stronger ripstop comprising more of the kite, there’s been quite a significant amount shaved off the wingtips, and the kite is all the better for it. By our calculations it’s around 200g lighter and the weight savings enhance its low end, making its application for hydrofoil use even more legitimate. Turning speed is as perky as ever, and the new materials haven’t really changed the kite’s character too much. It has the same delightfully light and smooth bar feeling akin to a hot hatchback with precise power steering. It ticks the boxes on the three F’s: freeride, foiling and freestyle, and is no slouch in the waves either, where it definitely steals DNA from the Drifter. It has markedly consistent power through the kite loops and during turning. There are no spikes in power delivery and in gusty wind it seems to smooth things out with an almost eerie precision; for those that like to feel gust feedback through the bar, look elsewhere! Much of the attributes of last year’s kite carry over, there’s not been a radical redesign. The Moto remains a highly versatile, nimble kite you can chuck around almost anywhere with that silky smooth Cabrinha bar feeling which is easy to become decidedly comfortable with and it has predictability and progression written all over it.

€1,449

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,79

Weight per m²

0,31

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

6

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

2

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest 22 Point Diameter When Inflated 14,01 Recommended Pressure

7 to 8

Battens

2 x hard and 4 x soft

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Cabrinha Nano Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line With Dacron At Wingtips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

High Tenacity Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

8

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airlock (Bayonet)

Nb

Lots Of Segments In Canopy

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

DUOTONE REBEL

€1,529

The Rebel has been many moons in existence now and has morphed slowly from a staple freeride kite under the previous brand moniker into the dedicated hooked-in boosting machine for Duotone. Its sheet, lift and grin qualities are a benchmark in the industry, so what have Duotone done to entertain us further this year? The main changes from a build perspective is more flat area in the center of the kite to expand that lifting surface even further. The leading edge diameter has been reduced to allow for increased forward flying efficiency, and allows some canopy twist to enhance the turning speed. Much like the improvements in the Dice for 2020, the Rebel feels lighter and faster to turn than last year, and that big rigid five strut airframe can now haul ass across the sky when you send it for a jump. This can catch you unaware initially, and coming from last year’s Rebel it was easy to over send the kite. Once tuned in, that extra turning speed provides more lift, transferring the obscene forward speed on offer into pure unadulterated and exceptionally smooth lift. Down looping the kite to soften your landing is a very regular procedure on the Rebel, as you go so high so often. On your helicopter loop, the kite produces a pronounced second lift which can make you ascend again, something normally only found on foil kites. We’ve never experienced floating downwind travel like it, and stabilising your body rotation throughout this required core strength like Arnold Schwarzenegger at the peak of his bodybuilding career. The turning speed is now fast enough to make loops very comfortable as an added bonus. When you sheet in, the Rebel has that magic spanning quality which is the mark of a well-designed modern booster.

The Rebel does also have a softer side in its underpowered state. The wind range is huge as ever, and the lighter build definitely gets going a bit earlier and this means you can potter around on it very comfortably and practically. This year, the Rebel is a more formidable booster than ever. It’s preposterously fun to ride even for the battle weary serial product tester. For hooked in dangling it’s a tough kite to equal for pure entertainment; it’s a kite that you are going to spend more time with above the water than riding in contact with it, and expect a thorough abdominal workout…

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,18

Weight per m²

0,27

Pulleys

1 x Plastic Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

12

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

6

Battens

None

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

14,01

Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Tinity Tx Ripstop ( 2 X 3 Core)

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

130G Ripstop With Markcloth And Dacron On Wingtips Tefleberger 1.8mm

Bar feedback (1 none 10 good)

Canopy Sewing

3 Steps

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airport Valve 2

Nb

Optional 5Th Line

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

35

TAKOON FURIA Takoon were one of the original kite brands, and the Furia has been the flagship performance freeride kite for Takoon for years, and is definitely a popular choice on the continent. This year the Furia receives a complete ground-up redesign. The kite is far more delta shaped than before and like most modern kites in this competitive sector, now drops from five struts to three to save weight.

The three struts it has left are also notably lower diameter and minimal. The leading edge is a thinner diameter in the center, has less taper out towards the tips to increase rigidity and improve steering reactivity, and the seaming has been improved to receive more pressure. The leading edge also includes a lot of sections and makes for a very smooth and round curve, minimizing drag. Triple core ripstop from Teijin is used on the canopy, vastly improving the rigidity and breaking strength from previous models. Some high quality low diameter Dyneema has been implemented on the bridle to really minimize parasitic drag.

The first thing to note is that the newfound lightness has extended the low end somewhat, and the top of the wind range still feels pleasantly solid. The Furia is leaner and meaner than ever before, and includes some well thought-out build details. It flies slightly further round, and far faster across the wind window. The two anodized sliders on the mini bridle push the pivot point of the kite quite far in and it will spin well on the spot; combined with the three strut platform which allows for a little more twist in the air frame, it’s the quickest turning Furia per size thus far. The front bridle hang points allow for some bar pressure tuning to your taste and this felt reasonably effective under testing. Tune it lighter for foiling and wave riding, or a little heavier for freestyle work. Our testers found the Furia very grunty, and a kite that definitely kept you on your toes. It’s maybe a grade up in power delivery than some of its counterparts and definitely has a bit of kick in jumping and through the loops, but once trust was built with the Furia it became very rewarding. Equally, once you learn not to push it too hard, it is a very rewarding freeride kite for general cruising around... Overall, the Furia is definitely at the higher end of performance freeride, and keeps you wide awake and engaged and ready to send you into orbit when you’re ready.

€829

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,91

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,32

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

20,5

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

None

13,05

Construction

Linear power development on sheet

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Teijin Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron At The Wingtips

Bar feedback (1 none 10 good)

Bridle Material

Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test

Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Edge Binding

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

9

Overall Buildscore

5

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Monvalve Quickflow Screw

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Poor

Loop radius (1 small 10 big)

Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

GIN EGOIST 2

€1,450 (10m)

Gin is a proudly Swiss kite brand, with an established snow kite and paraglider expertize that has naturally led them into LEI manufacture. The Egoist is now in its second variant, and serves as a performance all-rounder designed to be a vehicle you can throw into any aquatic situation. It’s a three strut affair, with a very short bridle. Rather than the standard pulley found on most kites, there’s a set of three low friction rings per side which carry over from the paragliding and sailing industry. The canopy is formed from a twin core Teijin ripstop, and there are four ‘flavors’ to choose from graphically which are all very striking, however they’ve minimized the screen printing on the kite to save weight and most of the pattern is cut in. The trailing edge design has also been modified to be lighter and tighter with the implementation of mark cloth and a kite line through the leech, which helps almost completely eliminate flutter.

Bar feedback is pretty solid and the predictable turning is definitely pivoting from the wingtip rather than the center of the kite and produces a decent amount of drive when it does so. Wind range is excellent, the low end being very friendly, with bar pressure increasing as the kite gets towards its top end lets you know when it’s time to change down a size. The Egoist copes well with gusty conditions and you can tell that some R&D has been carried out in alpine lake environments. Our testers noted a particularly favorable upwind ability and a respectable amount of lift. It’s not a twitchy or reactive kite, performing most tasks with a sedate nature, and if you like a bit of back line pressure and general grunt, and to feel the kite through your arms, it’s a win.

A genuine Swiss army knife of a kite, the Egoist spreads itself well over most disciplines. We feel it is suited best for a general freeride with a little more twintip leaning for hooked-in freestyle ability. It’s a great all-round kite and the type of rider that does a bit of everything will get plenty of mileage from it.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

8

Kite Weight (kg)

2,91

Weight per m²

0,36

Pulleys

3 x Ferrule

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

21,5

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

None

Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

13,69

Construction Canopy Material

Double Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Markcloth, Ripstop And Leech Line

Bridle Material

3mm Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Edge Binding

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Teijin Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

6

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Screw

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Linear power development on sheet

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

RRD PASSION V11 Y25

€1,384

A quarter of a century on, the RRD Passion hits its 11th version in Y25. From a shape perspective it’s a three strut minimally swept wingtip open C, with performance freeride written all over it. What results is an all-round powerhouse of a kite, providing a punchy power delivery with easy access. There’s an overwhelming feeling of quality from RRD this year. No shortcuts have been taken, from the plastics in the bar system to the sewn finishing on the kite. Very few generic parts are used on the kite; everything is bespoke, immaculate and very RRD. From an aesthetic perspective there is a continuation of the anti-shark livery block color graphic design, which is very unique to the brand and screams high Italian design. There’s a liberal application of Kevlar at all major wear points. The rear bungees are an interesting feature and carry over from last year, and they help take up the slack in the rear lines when depowered or under twist, helping perk up the steering pleasantly.

The Passion punches well above its weight from a power perspective and depowers effectively with easy handling. It’s got the ease of lift you could expect from a more boost-focused kite which surprised everyone that flew it. Much like its lift characteristics, looping it provides a lot more grunt and downwind travel than anticipated, so be careful! The wind range continues to be absolutely massive and the bar feedback pretty much keeps up when highly depowered. We think there’s a little more ground pull than last year, an attribute that translates well over to foiling and foot changes, cementing its status as a consummate all-rounder. In the waves, the Passion has decent drift characteristics and stability and is certainly up to the task, particularly for park and ride sideshore conditions. So the Passion is smooth, powerful and they’ve really gone to town on the design and build for the 25 year anniversary. It’s the well behaved all-rounder that could be handed to someone straight after lessons but has enough sting in its tail to keep someone interested as their level improves.

If you’re a dedicated hooked-in freerider, it’s a great choice with balance and poise like an alley cat.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,63

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,30

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

1 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

None

Linear power development on sheet

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

15,92

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Rrd Bayonet Quick Air Flow Valve

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

39

OCEAN RODEO PRODIGY The Prodigy has a long history as the Swiss army knife of the Ocean Rodeo range, and has a reputation as something that can be handed to a complete novice as well as traverse into most people’s intermediate freeride career. This is now the seventh version of the universal kite from the Canadian brand. It’s a mid-aspect three strut number with a hint of delta about it, particularly in the front tube. It sports a decent amount of sweep in the leading edge with quite tapered wing tips. An ultra-short two pulley bridle keeps things pleasantly simple for rigging. There’s the mixture of Teijin D2 cloth and Challenge Dacron with a focus on a stiff airframe. In the air it’s exceptionally stable, particularly above your head, and with regards to the handling it’s a no surprises, well-behaved affair. We felt that the power delivery has been smoothed out from last year with a more progressive result on bar sheet, and the sweet spot has been widened somewhat. The low end on the kite is excellent. It’s a very light build from Ocean Rodeo with decent materials and there’s certainly been some attention to detail made on weight saving. As the wind increases, rather than stick your edge in and push upwind, just sheet out a bit, and it does all the upwind work for you on autopilot with absolutely no fuss. In the gusts the shock absorbing nature of the kite seems to even out any holes in the wind, particularly noticeable when hydrofoiling. It’s powerful per size, and boosting is like being gently winched up by a crane, and gives you plenty of time in the air to get your bearings. You’re unlikely to break any height records with it, but you’re going to come down as light as a feather, and the descent speed is as consistent as the initial lift. The smaller sizes would definitely be suitable for wave riding (indeed Carla Herrera Oria has won her 2019 world title riding a Prodigy), with the innate stability and wide wind range of the Prodigy lending itself to harsh offshore conditions. The Prodigy is a rock solid and friendly freeride kite with some decent foiling crossover potential and gentle handling characteristics. It’s a casual affair all round, and makes kitesurfing exceptionally easy and fatigue free. It’s an example of moderation and the results are a smoothly flowing and wonderfully easy ride.

€1,449 (9.5m)

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

8

Kite Weight (kg)

2,58

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,32

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

1 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

6 x Soft

15,92

Construction

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Double Ripstop With Leech Line With Dacron At Wingtips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Challenger D2.9Rs Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

rider : Jerome Josserand / photo : TOAST Production / spot : Neuchâtel lake, Switzerland

SINGLE-SURFACE KITE FOR WATER USE FOIL | FREERIDE | LIGHT WIND | ALL-ROUND SIZES: 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 m2

APRICOT

BLUEBERRY

GINKITES.COM

STRAWBERRY

KIWI

FLYSURFER STOKE V2 The Stoke is now in its second variant and slots into the freestyle and wave crossover category. The German brand backed by Skywalk paragliders is world renowned for its excellently designed soft kites, so applying that knowledge to building inflatables is a natural progression for them. Flysurfer inflatables have always included some unique and innovative design touches which are specific to the brand, and always display some out of the box thinking. For instance the anti-snag points on the wingtips are foam filled and triangular, so there’s no chance of any line catch. There’s even a crafty self-launch quick release pin to enhance safety. The Stoke also includes some trim settings hidden on the leading edge to change the character and purpose of the kite between wave, freeride and freestyle modes. We had a decent fiddle around with these, and they made quite a bit of difference in how the kite sat in the wind window and performed depowered. On stock settings the Stoke has some medium bar pressure and the turning speed sits in the more sedate side of the crossover kite market. Power delivery is definitely a tad punchier than some of its peers, and seems to lean more towards freeride and boosting with a twintip. Kite loops with the Stoke are pretty epic, and the kite goes surprisingly low and level but catches reassuringly. The airframe is noticeably tight and structurally stiff on the Stoke, and this really helps in its stability at the top end of the wind range. There’s not a lot of twist in the airframe and it certainly pivots from its tips rather than its center.

In a wave situation with the complementing mode tuned in on the leading edge, it’s a stable and powerful machine and lends itself well to kite-led wave riding and riding with plenty of speed and power. The drift ability and leeward tendency is definitely there, and the kite seems balanced enough to run towards without any worry of overflying. The Stoke is far more versatile and refined than the previous model, and definitely spans the disciplines it aims for well. It’s capable of far more power and aggression than some kites in this sector and will suit the more ambitious rider who’s interested in developing good kite skills and doesn’t want to be patronized by something too soft and toned down.

€1,249

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,37

Weight per m²

0,37

Pulleys

1 x Ferrule

Leading Edge Hang Points

6

Steering Hang Points

3 (Under Flap)

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

4 x Hard

14,01

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

2 Core

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line With Dacron At Wingtips Kevlar Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

6

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

None

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Free Flow Sup

Nb

Has A Snag Pad And Some Of Stitching Seemed To Pucker Material Dupont Materials

A L L R O U N D F R EER I D E

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction Canopy Material

Poor

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

HARLEM GO V4

€1,099

Harlem is a seaside town nestling behind the dunes of Zandwort, east of Amsterdam, famous for tulip cultivation and windmills (of course), and can now lay claim to its very own kite brand. The Harlem Go is now in its fourth version and remains a firmly pitched all-round kite you can throw into any wind and water based situation with a focus on fun, confidence-inspiring riding. Out of the bag it’s immediately obvious that the brand founders have a history in repair work and have been very specific about materials used. This shines through in the finished product, and you can tell it’s had the design input of someone that’s seen a lot of failed kites. A stiff Teijin Dacron frame is complemented by three core ripstop and some cleverly implemented seaming throughout. There’s some well-placed darting on the trailing edge to minimize flutter. From a shape perspective we’re looking at a medium delta with scalloped trailing edge and a generous amount of sweep. Two bar systems are available. One has a slightly curved bar retracting rear line system, and one is a more traditional cleat. Both are clean and functional affairs, with different members of the team showing a preference for each system. Performance-wise you receive precisely what you would expect from a well-orchestrated freeride machine. Medium bar pressure complemented by fairly precise pivotal turning and that important ability to throw the kite almost anywhere with few serious consequences. It’s a confidence builder with bags of power dump on tap, and easy upwind progress, a genuine hero maker. As with any kite with decent power dump on bar stroke, this translates into some pleasant floaty boost ability when overpowered and enough bar feedback to know which side of the bar to pull in an emergency.

Looping produces a nice high and predictable loop with medium pull and no fuss. The Harlem Go is a proudly Dutch product, tested in hardcore North Sea conditions and nuking winter storms. They have achieved a very well finished kite in line with the more well-known manufacturers out there, and Harlem are certainly not to be overlooked, particularly in terms of build quality. So: a brilliant workhorse with universal appeal amongst our test team, and might worry the big boys.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,2

Weight per m²

0,36

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

2 x Hard

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

14,01

Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Markcloth And 130G Ripstop

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3Mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Teijin Marubini Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

Nb

Irritating Extra Dump Valves

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

43

SLINGSHOT RAPTOR V1 The out and out boosting model seems to be an essential addition to most major brands this season and we could certainly be seeing a King of the Air and WOO effect strongly influencing design from established brands. Slingshot join the party with the all new Raptor model. It sits on an open C five strut platform and has a very swept and open canopy design, meaning nearly all of it is projected in the wind and being useful. A pulley-less bridle keeps the feedback fairly sharp on the bar, but the kite is relatively docile in its turning speed; it’s certainly not twitchy and intentionally so. The low end is perfectly functional and pleasant-feeling as a freeride kite, maybe lagging a little with the extra weight of the two struts. Where the genius kicks in, and where the intended design focus clearly lies, is when you go out maxed and give it some beans… That docile turning speed lends itself really well to hucking some huge airs with bundles of glide and hang time where bar input errors can be extremely hazardous. It’s genuinely difficult to over-send the kite, which brings some pleasant consistency and predictability to your dangling. Looping the kite was rewarding – the initial lift is easy to access and smooth, so it’s easy to time your loop just before the peak of the jump and you can vary the amount of forward pull quite accurately, making it easy to gauge the kite’s response. You can choose how deep the loop is which is great at that critical moment. On the lower end of the kite we made some lovely low backloop kiteloops, with tonnes of power through the turning arc. Crossing over to surfboard use, there’s all that easy lift on sheeting accessible for strapless freestyle with a surfboard as it lets you down so gently. It’s got that magic ability to let you control your descent really accurately simply using the bar sheet. On a hydrofoil it was easy to tack and do your foot swaps with the lift on sheeting making you nice and weightless when you need to be. The Raptor now easily offers the most accessible lift on demand in the Slingshot range, ideal for busting out some old school foot outs, nicely controlled loops and clocking up some hefty (and, from our testing, very consistent) WOO scores. It’s all about being hooked-in, the massive top end and boosting ability, but there’s a casual consistency about the kite which helps you trust it and progress your air skills.

€1,409

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,41

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,38

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

24,5

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

2 x Hard

15,60

Construction

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

4 X 4 Canopy Tech (4Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Ripstop And Markcloth, Dacron And Markcloth In Wingtips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

15

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

CORE XR6

€1,459

The CORE XR series now reaches its 6th iteration, with the XR5 breaking an impressive number of jump height records over the last couple of years. It’s on the same fusion of a delta and bow platform with five struts and a pronounced concave in the trailing edge. The XR6 is unashamedly genre specific, which is a very good thing. The first thing we noticed is that the turning speed is improved.

The XR5 was a big rigid five strut affair and required a little persuasion to initiate the turns. Some revised bridle positioning and a more rigid strut design seem to have made that initial crank on the bar give a much more noticeable reaction without being over twitchy. The bridling has been made shorter and it runs the same double pulley system as previously. Bar pressure seems marginally higher than before giving less remote bar feedback. The XR6 seems far smoother throughout the entire depower range and seems to retain decent rear line tension even when fully cranked in on the sheeting system. When you power up the kite with vigour, you immediately notice it actively spanning out, presenting more canopy to the wind and increasing power. This is quite a party trick and clearly helps it achieve the trademark lofty performance. For the hooked freeriding which, let’s face it, is the vast majority of riders out there, the XR6 is up there with the crest of the marketplace, but quietly has the potential to unleash some serious boosting power. Think of it like the ‘Ludicrous’ mode on a Tesla, it’s there to unleash hell if you want it to. You can potter around as gently as you like with no surprises, or get high enough to give yourself a nose bleed. Overpowered boosting is where it’s at with the XR6 and compared to the previous incarnation there seems to be even more vertical lift and a lot less downwind travel. Looping it may be more dramatic on the CORE GTS, but the XR6 does a pretty good job and is very precise and smooth in the air. The catch ability is also predictable and reassuring. The XR6 continues to be a precision tool and definitely fits the performance freeride brief with Superman flight ability and precise power control. It’s a testament to how far the delta concept can be pushed and refined.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,46

Weight per m²

0,38

Pulleys

2 x Pulley And 1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

2 x Soft

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,64

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Core Tex Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Canopy Sewing

Double Ripstop And Markcloth To Dacron With Markcloth 2mm Sheethed Dyneema 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Exotex Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

None

Tuning Points

5

Valve Type

Speed Valve 2

Bridle Material

Poor

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

45

F-ONE BANDIT

€1,360

As you’re probably already aware by now, F-ONE’s flaghship kite, now spanning a massive thirteen years of refinement, has gone in two separate directions this year, like a married couple having a sabbatical. The Bandit S runs off to Cape Verde with all the wave boards, leaving the Bandit 2020 at home with the twintips to enhance its freeride abilities. Let’s talk about the technical differences.

The leading edge is thicker than the ‘S’ throughout, and the wing tips are far more squared off. Extra hang points in the center of the leading edge to make the airframe more rigid result in far less twist, which is the polar opposite and a key difference to the Bandit S, which bends much more. In the air, the first thing you will realize is that there’s a pretty sharp increase in bar pressure over the Bandit V12, particularly in the smaller sizes, translating into a pleasant volume increase in bar feedback. For the freerider doing some hooked-in boosting and general aerial work this is important, as F-ONE claim you subconsciously use your bar to stabilize your body in the air, and you want to avoid unnecessary bar inputs. The less pivotal nature of the turning, and wider arc, allow for a much larger kite loop radius, more constant power through the loop and a decent fast climb to get you down gently. Things are far more dramatic in the boost and loop department than ever before. The other change of note is an extension and improvement in the top end in terms of range and stability. That increased rigidity in the air frame has worked wonders when things get to the edge of what’s reasonable, and the Bandit feels rock solid. Whilst there’s some definite changes from last year, the Bandit 2020 remains a capable all-rounder, and it’s a kite range now separated by a difference in bar feeling, and not necessarily by discipline. If you like a bit more bar pressure, you choose the Bandit 2020. If you’re only going to do unhooked freestyle, then choose the WTF. Overall, the 2020 Bandit has far more punch and less compromise. It’s more focused and aggressive in its essence and from our experience is all the better for it if you like having a twintip strapped on your feet.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,83

Weight per m²

0,31

Pulleys

2 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22,5

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

None

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

14,32

Canopy Material

Technoforce Double Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Dacron To 130G Ripstop And Dacron 2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Canopy Sewing Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Teijin Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

17

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

7

Valve Type

Reactor Valve Sup

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Bridle Material

Poor

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

Photographer: Alex Schwarz

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NAISH PIVOT

€1,399

The Pivot is a well-established kite now at the very core of the Naish range.

The main change this year from an aerodynamic perspective is a slightly fuller wingtip. These help the kite feel a little more balanced than before, and its drift ability has improved. New canopy seaming has been added to even up the line tension towards the center of the kite. Bar feedback on the 2020 edition has been increased, but is still fairly light and extremely sprightly with two slider pulleys helping it whip left and right with extreme ease. The turning speed is still as rapid as ever and extremely rewarding to fly once you tune in. Pivot by name, Pivot by nature. Considering the kite is on a three strut platform and many of its equivalent models from other brands are on five struts, the top end stability of the kite is extremely impressive. This may well be down to the high inflate pressures achieved with the new valve and high tensile leading edge thread. Riding the Pivot is as fun and engaging as ever. That enormous amount of power you can develop with the bar sheet hasn’t changed, and neither has the infamous top end. It’s ridiculously easy to access very Big Air and the silken handling has been tuned to give you a little more feedback than before and helicopter loop your way down to a precise landing. As ever, looping the Pivot is very progressive and easy to control and it seems to climb exceptionally reliably.

Another party trick of the Pivot is the wave crossover ability providing constant drive in the turns when you want it and an impressive power dump on the bar.

Being such a fast turning lightweight kite, it’s no slouch with a hydrofoil either.

The Pivot is a rare and highly versatile beast, and with a kite that works so well in so many disciplines, it almost makes you question why you would choose some of the other models in the range. There’s a definite increase in the Pivot’s usability this year, letting a less skilled rider find it more accessible and stable but there’s no discernible compromise in the out-and-out performance as a booster. It’s a work of pure design genius packed with some tangible innovations and a beautifully refined example of a performance crossover kite.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,17

Weight per m²

0,35

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

10,5

Battens

None

14,64

Construction Canopy Material

Quadtex Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron In Wingtips

Bridle Material

4mm Dyneema With 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Boston

Nb

Octopus

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

NORTH ORBIT

€1,459

The name Orbit leaves little to the imagination on its intended use, and is the five strut booster of the bunch with freeride leanings, a common theme across most major brands at the moment. So, how does the new boy measure up? From a build perspective you’ve got materials from Teijin and D2 cloth forming the bulk on the canopy, with a Dacron frame around the extremities to keep things tight. This scallops in around the struts to stiffen the rear of the canopy nicely.

There’s a liberal application of Kevlar on the tip ends and strut joints and some PVC on wear areas on the wing tips. In the air, the bar feeling is relatively light and neutral with a healthy amount of feedback, but it’s certainly not going to turn your forearms into sausages when things get windy. In fact, the bar pressure stays more or less the same as the wind shifts up. There is some twist in the canopy compared to other kites in this sector, resulting in livelier handling compared to its stable mates. From a day to day performance perspective, the Orbit almost has two characters and uses. In its lower end it’s a very fine and smooth freeride kite, ideal for pottering about on, and I daresay it’s almost beginner friendly, due to a simplistic relaunch and easy sheet to power delivery. So it definitely ticks the ‘freeride’ box. When the wind steps up a notch and boosting is on the agenda the character of the Orbit changes, and that ease of use translates into a kite that’s incredibly simple and predictable to handle in the top of its wind range, which is exceptionally extended and very lofty. An experienced rider can handle the Orbit in a surprising amount of wind, with our 9m test kite heading out in 30 and 40 knots very comfortably with a mid-sized twintip. There’s no flapping at all on aggressive looping: those five struts and all that Dacron are not sitting idle. The Orbit manages to achieve a similar level of sheet and lift on demand as its contemporaries but without the need for pulleys on the bridle, which is a cunning feat of engineering in itself. Power when looping is very manageable and you can really feather the depth of the loop and how much forward pull you would like with simple bar sheeting. The Orbit achieves a level of control in its top end that is truly confidence inspiring, which is the name of the game in the world of Big Air, and a real success from a design perspective.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,42

Weight per m²

0,38

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

2 x Soft

Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,64

Construction Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Markcloth

Bridle Material

Tefleberger 1.8mm

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

49

CRAZYFLY HYPER The new CrazyFly kite range comes out of their Slovakian factory with the promise of a three-year warranty, even covering canopy repairs which is truly impressive. The Hyper is very specifically the high aspect five strut booster of the range. First of all let’s get build quality out of the way; how does it measure up against twenty years of Asian kite manufacture? The answer is: extremely well. The LE seam is beautifully tailored so that it sits underneath the canopy to improve aerodynamics in the center of the kite and allow a little more room on the valves. A Dacron load frame is placed on the upper half of the canopy leaving the load bearing underside very clean aerodynamically. Overall it’s a very impressive build, with plenty of reinforcement and unique green Kevlar-like patches. There’s a new three core rip stop for the 2020 model and having the factory on their doorstep is clearly giving them a lot of control over quality control.

With those five struts and stiff Dacron frame, the Hyper is extremely rigid for a kite with so much span, which translates into some excellent stability and a reassuring feel for such a high aspect beast. Five struts keep the canopy super tight with zero flapping going on at any angle of attack. You may need to make some adjustments to your flying technique if you come off a more mainstream all round model. The Hyper seems easier to generate your initial speed with than previously, and still absolutely trucks upwind. Turning speed remains moderate as you would expect for a kite with this much span. Once up to speed, sending the Hyper results in a high level of controllable lift and a gentle descent.

This lift is extremely easy to access, even going into a jump without commitment it was surprising how much height it would achieve and 10m+ WOO scores were easily achieved without a huge amount of power in the kite. It’s fantastic to see CrazyFly continue and improve on such an unashamedly extreme design in the market, with a lot of brands playing it relatively safe with their booster model. This skinny beast of a delta crossed with a bow kite has a serious amount of usability and has the potential to give anyone a knee trembling case of vertigo with a more refined feeling than the first incarnation.

€1,399

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,6

Weight per m²

0,40

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23,5

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

None

14,96

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed

Construction Canopy Material

R3 Triple Ripstop

Trailing Edge Material

Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material

3mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Heavy Duty Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

2

Valve Type

Screw

Nb

Really Good Build Although Some Bits Of Bridle Didn’t Look Finished

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

DUOTONE DICE The Dice is a three strut hybridized C shape with a fixed mini bridle and fair amount of wingtip and shape to the arc. It may be our imagination, but there seems to be less forward sweep to the leading edge than last year. What is most definitely evident is a lighter build than the previous model with less Dacron on the trailing edge, and this is mainly confined to the tips. This is particularly noticeable in the big sizes which seem to have much better bottom ends, but all sizes fly earlier. The weight loss program transfers into a definite perk up in the handling department, and the Dice is more athletic and precise than ever, our testers really noting a marked improvement over last year’s model and the implementation of a fixed bridle, losing the two pulleys from the 2019 is a masterstroke. The Dice retains its constant and smooth nature, and its grunt is complimented with a predictable and linear power delivery, making it simple to get the clean take off you need for the big boosts without a massive amount of technique required. The loops are wide and complemented with a considerable amount of grunt, and exceptionally consistent. It’s a kite that pivots from its wingtip, not its center, so once the Dice completes a loop it climbs with a stately consistency. The Dice’s unhooked freestyle capabilities are in no way sacrificed

by Duotone’s versatile intentions. It creates a huge pop and great slack for the wakestyle tricks. Tuning the steering speed down on the rear hang points benefits the rider by lowering the chances of unintentional bar inputs. It definitely sits under the Vegas as an out and out unhooked machine but for the everyday freestyler, the Dice has all the attributes a rider needs to progress and shred hard. Then, tune the steering points to the fastest and lightest settings, and the Dice’s inherent stability does a sterling job in the waves particularly if you enjoy a kite that drives into the turns. The Dice is a great example of how much equipment in kiteboarding has progressed. To have one model of kite and to be able to partake in all the disciplines to a high level is a tall order, but the Dice genuinely pulls it off…

€1,439

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,12

Weight per m²

0,35

Pulleys

Fixed

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

6

Battens

4 x Hard

15,92

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Tinity Tx Ripstop ( 2 X 3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

130G Ripstop With Markcloth To Dacron On Wingtips Tefleberger 1.8mm

Canopy Sewing

3 Steps

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airport Valve 2

Nb

Optional 5Th Line

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

RRD ADDICTION Y25

€1,478

The Addiction is a complete fresh redesign this year, fitting into RRD’s Pro Line of discipline focused kites. It’s pegged as the all-out Big Air boosting King of the Air machine, with some performance freeride potential thrown in for good measure, and it looks every bit the part. So what are we presented with technically? It’s a five strut mid to high aspect design with a massive span which looks familiar if you’re into kites aimed specifically at Big Air specialists. There’s a fair amount of delta and sweep in the overall shape, so the kite flies forwards in the window obediently. The short bridle does a great job of spanning the whole kite out, and no part of the canopy is sat idle; all of its surface area is facing the wind and it’s visibly all geared for one thing: lift.

The initial standout from the kite when riding is how much forward speed it produces - a relatively lean leading edge and plenty of sheet and go potential gets you up to speed rapidly. Turning speed is fairly sedate as you would expect for a kite with this wingtip design and this helps prevent overcorrection when you are airborne. Bar pressure comes in fairly high, and increases in a linear fashion along with the wind speed. Armed with all that board speed, and with a firm send, the boosting is fairly high and extremely floaty. Loops can be initiated with confidence and they can be quite low and torquey affairs, resulting in dramatic downwind travel and high board speed on landing. Helicopter looping the Addiction on descent can make for some entertaining and sometimes unexpected second lifts. In its low end the Addiction remains relatively sedate and seems to have a real power band where the aerial potential kicks in.

The Addiction is designed with one purpose in mind: blasting around on a twintip and hucking huge jumps, and it makes a thorough job of it. The all new Addiction brings some Italian flair to Big Air.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,49

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,39

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

7 to 8

Battens

None

Linear power development on sheet

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,64

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Ripstop, Markcloth And Leech Line

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

RRD Bayonet Quick Air Flow Valve

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

53

CABRINHA FX

€1,449

The FX has sat at the top of the line for Cabrinha for the last few years as the flagship freestyle and performance boosting King of The Air machine. Most kites at this end of the spectrum now have to cross the disciplines of technical unhooked as well as being capable at the top of their wind range for perilous and precise Big Air work. How does the FX do in this balancing act? As with the previous model, it’s a three strut affair and has a fairly complete modern C shape with fairly square tips and a short pulley-less bridle which supports the leading edge very effectively. As with the rest of the Cabrinha range this year, there’s been an implementation of new Nano Ripstop in the canopy which looks and feels the business. It has better wear characteristics and is twice the strength, and as a bonus stiffens up the kite – this is important on a freestyle model that’s probably going to take a serious pasting in some 45 knot Big Bay sessions. In the air and straight away you feel the silken handling, much like the rest of the Cabrinha range, with in-built shock absorption even in this high-end machine. It’s definitely the fastest turning kite amongst the models this year, but the Moto isn’t far behind it. The FX screams ‘unhook’ as soon as you ride it.

When it comes to power delivery, particularly once tuned on the freestyle setting on the bridle, it is easy access explosive pop and release, with a respectable amount of slack and bags of downwind travel. You can feel the competition heritage embedded in there. From a Big Air perspective, lift wise you need to dial in a little to get the most out of it; it’s not a sheet and go affair as you find on the Switchblade. Once a little C kite technique is applied, the lift is explosive, and the kiteloops are as big and low as you want them to be. One important thing to note in an overpowered situation is that the FX is exceptionally stable for such a high performance kite, and it does perform like a five strut. The FX sits very comfortably amongst the rest of the Cabrinha range, and the only cost to the performance gain is a marginally compromised wind range. Overall the FX is a belter of a freestyle performer which still has a hint of accessibility about it, as a well-orchestrated future-C kite should.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,72

Weight per m²

0,31

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

6

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

2

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

6 To 7

Battens

4 x Hard

15,92

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Cabrinha Nano Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line With Dacron At Wingtips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

High Tenacity Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

8

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

5

Valve Type

Airlock (Bayonet)

Nb

Lots Of Segments In Canopy

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

There’s more to kiteboarding than beautiful beaches.

MADE IN ENGLAND, ENGINEERED TO RIDE.

ELEVEIGHT RS V3 The RS series is Eleveight’s answer to the strong market demand in the performance all-rounder category. Technically we’re looking at a three strut design that isn’t afraid to promote itself with a generous portion of delta swept into the leading edge. As with the rest of the range, the popular four core Teijin ripstop and Dacron are both implemented. A single pulley per side on the compact bridle allows the kite to pivot from the center. In the air it’s nice and nippy on the bar, and in the turn the power delivery is superbly smooth and not in any way spiky. The complementing bar pressure is mid to light, so you know which part of the clock it’s pointing at without needing to glance upwards. Predictability is the name of the game in this market sector, but the RS doesn’t rely on a muted steering experience to deliver this. You can really shift the kite around the sky rapidly at your whimsy, and all it provides is a really creamy power delivery. Upwind is more or less automatic, all that delta in the front tube means it climbs forward really well, and does the hard work for you and, unlike some delta designs, it flies in a straight line with no inner bar pressure required. Hooked twintipping is an elegant and controlled affair with a decent amount of floaty lift on demand. Load up for a jump, and the lift on the bar is far more than anticipated. What also surprised us with the RS was just how punchy a kite loop can be produced. You can really feather the turning speed and produce some absolute whoppers with some decent downwind travel and kite angles. Unhooked, the RS does an admirable job, but the slack you achieve with a more dedicated freestyle kite is lacking as you would expect. Pushing the RS into a wave situation, it continues to hold its poise very well. Its drift ability is up there with most crossover kites, and the ever rapid turning ability makes it applicable to more technical waves in tricky conditions. Much like Prince, the RS is a highly talented multi-instrumentalist with skills in all sectors; the kite is a smooth operator and is a reliable partner in pretty much all scenarios. Its enormous sweet spot and extended usable range speak legends for the designers behind it. True versatility doesn’t come in this pleasant and playful a package very often.

€1,169

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,75

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,31

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

4 x Hard

14,64

Construction

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

X4 Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Markcloth

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Dyneema 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Xt Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Quickflow (Bayonet)

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

NAISH DASH

€1,349

The Dash has been the liveliest of performers in the Naish stable for three years now, and its sporty performance freeride capabilities have now become set in legend as it is a ridiculously fun kite to fly. It’s a fairly extreme design with plenty of innovation thrown in that’s not really found across any other brands.

We’re presented with a three strut open C shape with a generous dosage of wingtip. The leading edge has a low diameter per size and the overall weight of the kite is very low. A super short fixed bridle makes a fantastic job of stabilizing the airframe, particularly in the high end.

The Dash is a fabulously lean and rapid turning machine in the air, with light bar feedback and a playful and precise nature. From a freeride perspective, it genuinely ticks quite a few boxes, as the light bar pressure and light handling characteristics mean very low fatigue. Being so lean and light, the Dash scuttles upwind easily as well, and can be worked very effectively in its low end with the rapid turning. Tune the turning speed down, and for unhooked work it’s a serious performer. It slacks out really well for a bridled kite and its inherent controllable forward speed makes a decent pop inevitable. For boosting, the Dash needs to be firmly in its top end, and may require a little more wind than other similar kites. Your timing and edging needs to be immaculate, and it can go very big with plenty of control. Loops are very engaging, and you can get very level with the kite.

The Dash remains a masterclass in how a kite should handle, and certainly leans towards unhooked work and low, powerful kite loops. Think of it as an evolved Torch on four lines with a tiny bridle, making it all the more accessible and practical. It suits a seasoned rider, who doesn’t want to be patronized by a dumbed down handling experience and has the technique to get the most out of a kite. It’s a shade or two more freestyle focused than comparably bridled C shapes, and has a seriously mean loop.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,97

Weight per m²

0,33

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

6

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

11,5

Battens

None

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,01

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Quadtex Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron In Wingtips

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Oversheet to backstall test

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Sup

Nb

External One Pump

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Stability at Zenith – front stall (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

57

SPLEENE SPX IV

€879

The SPX from German brand Spleene, has quietly been around since 2011 and is now in its fourth iteration as their out and out performance kite with a hint of crossover. Visually, the SPX has all the trappings of a bridled C kite about it. It has a full arc, short bridle and square extended wingtips. Each side of the bridle has two pulleys and one slider to perfectly balance the load between the leading edge hang points and adjust to gusts dynamically.

The SPX turns on a dime, and is very reactive and intuitive on the bar. Those nice full wingtips come into play immediately giving it a really satisfying surge of power through the turn. Jumping and looping is very engaging with rapid ascents and descents, so you need to be on your game with your bar inputs, but there’s enough feedback and precision there to make a good job of it, even if you tend to be clumsy with your bar input. The power through the loop is impressive, and catch is very reliable with the rapid nature of the turning allowing you to tuck in a cheeky downloop really easily if so required. We slowed the turning down on the steering adjusters for some unhooked work, which paid dividends.

The SPX then provides a really easy to initiate pop level and a level of slack that genuinely approaches that of a dedicated freestyle kite. The more purist of the test team were definitely impressed.

From a wave riding perspective that rapid turning is going to do wonders for kite driven and fast riding, but the purist may find the SPX a little too drivey in the turn. You need to keep the SPX moving to get the most from it, particularly if you start to outrun the kite. It’s certainly not a ‘park and forget’ kite. Riding the SPX certainly gives you the feeling of entering the water quite weaponized. You are equipped for more or less anything Poseidon is going to throw at you, and you’ve got the ammo onboard to deal with the situation. It’s pretty spicy for a performance all-rounder and put a big smile on our test teams’ faces, as they weren’t really sure what to expect. It’s a spirited and sportive ride. Well done Spleene.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

10,5

Kite Weight (kg)

3,94

Weight per m²

0,38

Pulleys

2 x Pulley, 1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

4

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

6 x Hard

14,64

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed

Construction Canopy Material

Double Ripsopt (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Doube Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Edge Binding

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Spleene Screw

Nb

Made In Germany Dacron

P ER FO R M A N C E F R EER I D E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

CABRINHA SWITCHBLADE The Switchblade has always been a performance benchmark for freeride. As with most five strut kites, the Switchblade is a little heavier than its three strut counterparts, so it has a definite leaning towards high wind range performance, with those extra struts keeping the air frame rock solid when things get loaded up and bouncy. It has an exceptionally large wind range, and we were able to hold onto the 9m comfortably when other members of the test team were struggling with 7s. Uniform across the Cabrinha range is a hyper-smooth power delivery feeling through the bar, physically aided by a large frictionless bar aperture and PU coating, which gives the user a reassuring predictability to the handling with nothing snagging.

From a handling perspective the Switchblade still has a purposefully wider steering arc and less pivoty turn than its counterparts and wants to be flown fairly assertively through the bar to get the most out of it. That legendary easy access boost potential is still there, and it gets you very high with very little effort. Get your timing and speed dialed and you’re in for an absolute treat. That turning circle aids a lofty and predictable aerial experience with little chance of overcorrection, adding to the creamy smoothness. Unhooked, those five struts hold things together very well when you load up the canopy, and the steering can be toned down further on the hang points to provide a solid cable-like feel with no surprises, and a minimum of back stalling when trimmed a touch. Over the entire 2020 range, Cabrinha have used a brand new material they have coined Nano Ripstop. This has a considerably smaller cell size than their previous cloth, doubling the number of ripstop cells, increasing strength and rigidity. A new UV coating has been implemented along with a new bonding process to give the material a longer lifespan. The canopy has plenty of segmentation running from the leading edge to the leech, and the kite is notably well-tailored and crinkle-free. It’s a refined product, with a long heritage and they’ve not messed with the established formula too much for 2020. The new canopy material has sharpened up the whole experience and should increase its long term performance and lifespan and the Switchblade seems genuinely more reactive, silky smooth and comfortable to ride than ever.

€1,549

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,39

Weight per m²

0,38

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22,5

Recommended Pressure

7 to 8

Battens

None

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

14,32

Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction Canopy Material

Cabrinha Nano Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line With Dacron At Wingtips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Single With Double Over Joins And Some Markcloth On Joins High Tenacity Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

10

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airlock (Bayonet)

Nb

Lots Of Segments In Canopy

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

59

CORE IMPACT 2 A full bore C shape kite in 2020 is a rare and wonderful thing. We all know the odd rider who searches out certain key models from the last generation of true C shapes and refuses to get on the hybrid band wagon. Any mention of the potential benefits of a bridle and swept wing tips just makes them aggressive. You ask them to explain why, and they’ll normally mumble on about the super raw feeling. Here’s how the Impact 2 measured up. We’re looking at a deep canopy, completely square elongated wingtips and fairly high aspect ratio. Of course there’s no bridle. That would be sacrilege. It runs on a 5th line to support its skinny low diameter leading edge. It’s paired with a tiny bar, and a massive chicken loop. A classic combo. The Impact takes you straight back to the hero days of the C kite from the second it’s airborne. The massive amounts of grunt, and requirement for a lot of board control really keeps you on your toes. It’s designed for one purpose, and once out of the chicken loop it provides a massive pull and pop followed by exceptional slack. The direct bar feeling of the Impact go hand in hand with any hard-core C kite rider. If you haven’t got the guns, you won’t get much out of it. With that all said, CORE have modernized this kite without compromising on the classic feel. The five line system is well trimmed and really aids the kite’s stability, and with its extreme grunt and exceptional slack any true wakestyle rider will be in their element. However, the deep C shape can come at a cost for comfort and the Impact is no exception. Every gust is felt in the wind and depower is minimal, meaning you’ll need a quiver with plenty of crossover. The Impact’s power delivery (of course) needs to be generated through speed which, without experience may prove difficult. It’s not meant to be easy to ride, but damn, it’s satisfying. The Impact is a lesser spotted creature, perhaps nearing extinction, but without a doubt still has an application in the market for a certain type of rider. If you miss the thrill that kiting on a full blown, no compromises (or apologies) C shape kite gave you, then you will love the CORE Impact. Sneaking a 9m into your quiver for those perfect days on a mirror flat lagoon may even prevent you from prematurely aging, and transport you back to 2009 when you were still rad.

€1,299

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,4

Weight per m²

0,38

Pulleys

None (5 Line Kite)

Leading Edge Hang Points

3 (2 x 5Th Line)

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

20

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

2 x Soft

12,73

Construction Canopy Material

Core Tex Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Canopy Sewing

Double Ripstop And Markcloth To Dacron With Markcloth 2mm Sheethed Dyneema On 5th And 3mm Braided Polyester On Hangpoints 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Exotex Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

None

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Speed Valve 2

Bridle Material

F R EES T Y L E

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

ELEVEIGHT FS

€1,319

The FS is now in its third generation and pops its head firmly above the parapet as a solid contender with some of the most respected modern C shape kites on the market. It’s a kite aimed for high end progressive freestyle, with a modicum of ease of use thrown into the pot. This apparently goes hand in hand with a Big Air and kite loop potential, so how does it measure up? It’s a fairly high aspect five strut kite, with a fair amount of sweep in the tips running on a minimal bridle on a dedicated four line platform. High end materials are used throughout, with Teijin four core ripstop and a fairly generous amount of Dacron scalloped into the trailing edge and behind the struts. It looks like the sort of kite that can, and probably will, take a good kicking. Handily for your serious freestyler, there’s a lot of size choice available, so you can really dial in that quiver. The FS also has quite a few trim options, allowing you to slow the kite down, and sit it back in the window a little for more technical freestyle, or make it punch forward more for Big Air and boosting. It’s all been well thought out with tangible crossover functionality between both disciplines. In the turns, the FS pivots from its wing tip providing a rewarding but progressive power surge as it whips round. What was very notable from all our testers’ comments was that the pop and slack the FS develops post unhooking is exceptionally controllable, and the kite remains stable when going for a pass. You rarely mistime your pop on the FS. When you’re out with boosting on the agenda, and considering its performance potential, the FS handles the gusts without getting even slightly flustered, and with the steering speed set to max makes some impressive height with bags of control and power through loops. Eleveight have done a great job of tuning a kite entirely aimed at the progressive twintip rider which works impressively in real world, potentially less than perfect conditions. The FS remains forgiving enough for the intermediate while still having the key attributes of a true C kite, with power on demand, predictable slack and responsive turning it allows you to feel connected and engaged with the kite. You can tell there are some very experienced designers behind the Eleveight products, when you feel something as instantly entertaining and familiar as the FS in your hands all it’s going to do is help you improve as a rider. It’s a flat water performer of the very highest caliber.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

4,17

Weight per m²

0,35

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23,5

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

2 x Hard

Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,96 Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Construction

Loop radius (1 small 10 big)

Canopy Material

X4 Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Markcloth

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Xt Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Quickflow (Bayonet)

Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

61

NAISH TORCH ESP The Torch has been a staple in the Naish range since dinosaurs roamed the earth, offering an uncompromising unhooked performance and some legendary boosting and looping potential. It’s a C shaped kite that definitely continues to have definite relevance in the marketplace. The designers haven’t been slacking off this year, and for 2020 we get a revised canopy layout which tightens the whole wing. An extra seam has been added to move the load initiated by back line tension into the middle of the canopy, shifting the balance point more centrally. In practise, this improves both power and stability. The internal Octopus inflation system has been retired, and a large gauge external silicone hose system is in its place, along with a high flow iSUP valve to make it as easy to get up to the colossal 11 PSI as possible. The Torch runs on a dedicated low V five line platform. This year, the ESP setting sits on the front line hang points and allows for a little more angle of attack change and extends the wind range. This also translates into a smidgen extra lift on sheet this year. It also allows you to trim where the kite sits in the window to your taste, which for the advanced rider that the kite is aimed for is a neat little feature. The Torch is very engaging and its range is both powerful and controlled. You’ll need a full quiver for freestyle and the sweet spot is fairly narrow compared to bridled performance freeride kites. If you’re in that magic power band, it’s pretty untouchable for pop and slack, without a horrific amount of downwind travel. Fully lit and powered up with your boosting face engaged, the innate predictability of a thoroughbred C shape like the Torch is very reassuring. There are no surprises, and steady and high flights can be achieved with exceptionally consistent catch from kite loops. The top end is extended further than you expect, and that robust C shape platform maintains its shape very well when things get gusty. Naish really know their craft, and the Torch has always been a benchmark for true C shape kites, and continues in this vein with some nice incremental changes and build improvements. They are never going to reinvent the wheel with the Torch, and the dedicated audience the kite has would probably be upset if they did. It still definitely has an application in the market place, and if you need something a little friendlier with a larger wind range, the Dash sits in the category perfectly. Long live the Torch.

€1,499

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

10

Kite Weight (kg)

3,39

Weight per m²

0,34

Pulleys

1x Slider Or None Depending On Option

Leading Edge Hang Points

6 (With 5th Line)

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

5

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

21

Recommended Pressure

11,5

Battens

None

13,37

Construction Canopy Material

Quadtex Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron In Wingtips

Bridle Material

4mm Dyneema With 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Sup

Nb

External One Pump

F R EES T Y L E

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

OCEAN RODEO RAZOR

€1,399

The Razor is in its eighth version now, and in the last couple of years it’s certainly developed a large gnashing set of teeth. Ocean Rodeo have never been a brand to follow the pack, and the Razor is a kite packed with innovation, and unique in the marketplace design aspects. It focuses its user target firmly on performance freestyle, Big Air and powerful kite loops. So technically we’re looking at a mid-aspect bridled C shape kite. One of the first things to make the Razor stand out is the inclusion of four struts, this isn’t common in the marketplace at the moment. It leaves a nice clean sail in the center of the kite, which is open to the wind and can generate a lot of power on sheet, which is an important attribute for a booster and looper. Innovation number two is the FST (Forward Swept Wingtips) which provides extra distance and thus leverage between the front and back lines, emphasizing your bar inputs. A kite definitely designed to take a bit of a pasting, the Razor is visibly built pretty tough. There’s Dimension Polyant Dacron throughout the whole air frame, and Teijin D2 cloth for the canopy, and the build is lighter than last year – as with a lot of kites this year, saving weight is a big focus. In the air, it’s certainly everything it’s claimed to be.

The turning is literally Razor sharp, and can be quite pivotal. The lack of center strut means the kite can twist in the middle more than others. The missing middle strut and relatively small leading edge results in the kite flying forwards in the wind window, perhaps a little too much which can catch you off guard a little to start with. This means it can take a little while to learn to trust it, but once you do there are some big rewards waiting. The power delivery is as frisky and entertaining as ever, and it is certainly very engaging. Lift is there in spades and if you are happy to ride it stacked then you can expect some very solid hangtime, and some very life-affirming loops await. If you’re looking for a more versatile and accessible freeride option in the Ocean Rodeo line up then you should probably turn your attention to the Prodigy, but if you want a kite that raises the heart rate then the Razor is a good option.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

10

Kite Weight (kg)

3.1

Weight per m²

0.34

Pulleys

2

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

Soft TE

Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

16.23

Construction Canopy Material

Teijin

Trailing Edge Material

Dimension Polyant kpe

Bridle Material

2mm sheathed

Canopy Sewing

3 step overlap

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single and 3 step

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dimension Polyant kpe

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

None

Line Attachment

Front knots, Steering loops

Maintenance

10

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Boston

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

63

HARLEM PRO

€1,099

Dutch North Sea conditions are revered for being among the most hardcore for wind kitesurfing on the planet. Harlem are lucky enough to be based super close to the action all autumn, and it would be a matter of national pride for them not to have a full power booster and loop machine dedicated for this task. The Harlem Pro aims for extreme Big Air, with some unhooked freestyle performance built in as a bonus. We’re presented with a dedicated four line open C shape with full wingtips and plenty of arc. A short twin pulley plus slider mini-bridle supports the leading edge well regardless of the angles you are pulling. It’s leaning towards a high aspect design. The build comes from people who clearly know their game, and features some three core rip stop and a brand new Challenger Dacron for the tubes for 2020, enabling the structure to be lighter and stiffer and with smaller leading edge diameters. As soon as you feel the Harlem in the air you are immediately inspired to find the nearest kicker and send it.

The double pulley set-up enables the kite to span a little on sheeting and gives the kite some extra lift. This is a party trick normally reserved for flatter arc boosters, but works equally well on this open C. The top end is particularly entertaining, and the 9m can hold wind comfortably up to 40 knots with a high skill level and robust pilot. Kite loops are very powerful, and at a nice low angle.

You can send the kite quite far across the window and hold it there to gain extra boost. Tune down the bridle in wake setting and slow down the steering speed, and unhooked you’ve got the magic formula required for some precise and technical moves. Edging against the kite really drives it forward in the window, and pop is really easy to initiate, and it rewards you with a respectable amount of slack. The power and performance is there in bucketfuls and with manageability and plenty of control. The tuning points are a clever addition and adapt the kite well to its intended usage, particularly flipping between boost and wake mode, as there’s a marked difference. The guys at Harlem have done Holland proud, the Pro is a kite that lives up to its name.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,25

Weight per m²

0,36

Pulleys

1 x Slider And 2 x Pulleys

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

3

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

4 x Hard

14,01

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Markcloth And 130G Ripstop

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3Mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Challenger "Double Diced" Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Bayonet

Nb

Irritating Extra Dump Valves

F R EES T Y L E

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

CORE X LITE

€1,349

With the popularity of hydrofoiling literally soaring, the mono strut concept continues to spread through the kite industry like wildfire, and the X Lite is a solid debut from CORE. You could initially be forgiven for mistaking this kite as a Nexus or Section from their product range, and the profile and span shape certainly look like a mixture between the two, however it’s clearly missing a couple of struts and weight reduction has been the clear design focus with the X Lite.

Where the kite has been on an obvious diet is evident in the Dacron used for the leading edge and struts. This is a special lightweight version of the ExoTex fabric used in their standard models, but still seems to remain extremely stiff.

The bridle system is also slimmed down a touch to minimize drag and weight.

The result is a well-built 8m kite weighing in at 2.12 kg on our scales, which compares favourably to other mono struts on the market. In the air the X Lite feels perky and nimble and the turning speed is predictable and not twitchy.

It flies very early and is exceptionally stable and it’s difficult to make it in any way flustered. The CIT modes allow for a bit of trimming on the leading edge and we tested mainly in ‘All-round’ and ‘Wave’ mode, the latter giving a little more turning speed and depower, but the differences were quite subtle. One of the highlights in the X Lite’s handling is how much lift you can achieve on such a short bar stroke. This is extremely helpful when tacking and jibing on the wing, giving you that all important weightless few seconds smoothly and progressively. The turning speed and power delivery in the turns matches well with the rhythm of turning a larger freeride foil wing. The radius of the kite and foil link seamlessly. For dedicated freeride foilers who also want to potentially take their foiling into waves the X Lite is a powerful tool. It could also be really good for lighter riders as it flies really early and doesn’t have a huge amount of ground pull, and also has some straight waveriding crossover potential due to its drift characteristics. Clearly a lot of thought and care has gone into the development of the X Lite by people who know their discipline and the result is something very special to fly.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

8

Kite Weight (kg)

2,45

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,31

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

2 x Pulley And 2 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

1

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

21,5

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

2 x Hard And 8 x Soft

13,69

Construction

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Core Tex Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Exotex Dacron Light

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

None

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Speed Valve 2

LIGHT WIND

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

HARLEM LIGHT V1

€1,399 (14m)

The Harlem light is based on the solid three strut delta, and seriously fun platform of the Harlem Go V4 and makes for a great continuation of the range into a 14m. It’s got a focus on playfulness in the larger size where some kites can still feel a little heavy and lackluster. To achieve this they’ve spent some time on weight reduction, including the use of a minimal Dacron in the overall construction to shave off the all-important grams. It’s got a fairly long bridle system allowing for plenty of controlled angle of attack change, and the Light reacts well to bar inputs for such a large canopy. It really seems to twist its wide span, and pivot turns in a really predictable and entertaining way much like its smaller sibling. It’s got a decent amount of swept delta shape, with the classic scalloped trailing edge further promoting forward flying and ease of relaunch, however it’s nicely balanced and flies in a straight line without the need for inside line pressure. It’s not horribly grunty, and generates power well on apparent wind as well as offering a decent power dump ability when required.

The aspect ratio is noticeably increased from the Go V4, which helps the kite push to the edge of the window and achieve some respectable angles upwind.

Boosting it is a lofty and pleasant experience, and we generally found throwing out some old school maneuvers on twintips was its most appealing usage whilst testing. Importantly, the playful bar feedback also carries over from the Go, and is quite firm but fair for a high aspect and relatively flat airframe, and doesn’t leave you in the dark with regards to kite position. It’s even responsive enough for some no surprises unhooked work. As an entertaining light airs solution, the Harlem Light worked wonders, and feels like a kite that’s had some real thought put into it with regards to specific light wind use, and it’s certainly not just a scaled up model that pulls like a truck. As larger kites go, the word most used by our testers was ‘perky’. The Harlem Light leaves you with the opportunity to do far more than mow the proverbial lawn, and provided grins all round. It’s a sportive cruiser.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

14

Kite Weight (kg)

4,21

Weight per m²

0,30

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

12

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

2 x Hard

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch

15,92

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction Canopy Material

Poor

Cabrinha Triple Ripstop (3 Core) Ripstop (2 Core) Double Ripstop To Dacron With Markcloth

Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Teijin Marubini Lightweight Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

Nb

Irritating Extra Dump Valves

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

67

CABRINHA CONTRA The Contra has been a model firmly wedged in the Cabrinha range for an exceptionally long time, we can even remember an enormous 17m full C shape with a crossover bridle circa 2006. Things have come a long way since then, and the latest offering is a spaceship in comparison! Their practical and fun freeride solution for lighter air now comes in four sizes of 13m through to 19m in 2m increments. From last year, technically, there’s been quite a rework. As with the rest of the 2020 range, the Nano Ripstop is implemented, stiffening the canopy as well as promising improved durability (twice the strength for the same weight material) and allowing weight savings in other areas of the kite. This is always a balancing act with a large three strut kite, with the aim to keep the weight as low as possible without compromising the stability of the airframe, and they’ve done a great job. It’s been the classic platform three-strut swept hybrid from the last few years, but there’s some big improvements in the handling department.

The whole kite feels lighter and more responsive, and if you’ve flown one before, there’s that infamous Cabrinha smooth handling you’ll know and potentially love. The wind range is definitely extended a few knots at both ends of the wind range from the previous models. Upwind has always been an easy gig with the Contra, without having to edge like a demon to push it forward, it just performs the task obediently with no fuss. In a sensible wind range, it still maintains the ability to unhook without wrenching your arms out of your sockets, and provides a sturdy platform for any maneuvers you see fit.

The Contra provides a practical and pragmatic approach to light wind riding, and the huge range of sizes means you can really dovetail a Contra in well with your existing quiver, matching your bodyweight and riding aspirations precisely. It feels more direct and alive than ever before, and it’s clearly where Cabrinha may have aimed a lot of R&D time this year. It makes marginal conditions very pleasant indeed, without having to grab a hydrofoil. It feels very much like a ‘normal’ kite, without any need for adjusting your riding style, or with the slow motion feeling that you can sometimes associate with light wind equipment.

€1,699 (13m)

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability

Physical Attributes

Bar feedback when depowered

Size tested

15

Kite Weight (kg)

3,87

Weight per m²

0,26

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

6

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

2

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

28

Recommended Pressure

5 To 6

Battens

None

17,83

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Cabrinha Nano Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Leech Line

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

High Tenacity Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

12

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airlock (Bayonet)

Nb

Lots Of Segments In Canopy

LIGHT WIND

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

CORE NEXUS LW

€1,799

The CORE Nexus was a brand new kite in 2019, and it is unsurprising that it’s proved so popular. It made a great job of slotting into the performance freeride sector, with snappy handling and all the positive characteristics of a kite aimed as an all-round fun machine. A creator of heroes. The LW version appears in the single 15m size aiming to top off your quiver for light wind use. CORE hints at some practical wave ability as well, bold claims for so much canopy. As soon as you fly the Nexus LW, it’s immediately apparent that other than the classic CORE colorway, it bears almost no resemblance to the model of which it bears the same name. The shape has been changed dramatically from the original Nexus and all optimized for light wind. The kite is far more spanned out, and apparently the Nexus inherited a modified canopy shape from the GTS. The struts are very stiff with a small diameter minimizing drag. What does remain is a nice full wingtip, which has a minimum of Dacron implemented. The canopy is made from the same Core-Tex Light material as the foiling specific X Lite, so weight saving, as ever these days, has been the name of the game. What we’re left with is a 15m three strut kite that weighs in at a smidgen under 4kg, which is impressive stuff.

Flying the Nexus LW, and its mid aspect sits fairly deep in the window, so some edge control is required to shuffle that large canopy upwind, but it’s certainly no slouch. What it’s inherited from the rest of the Nexus range is the lovely smooth steering and whilst there’s a little delay, which is inevitable with the physics from a 15m, once it winds up it makes for some lovely power delivery in the turn – just like its little brother. It will actually drift with some serious poise as well, and has a favorable leeward tendency for such a big unit, so maybe that wave ability claim isn’t as outlandish as first thought. Park it, ignore it, and make your turns and the behemoth sits there as good as gold. The Nexus LW is an exhibition in how to make a fun lightwind kite, yet still to feel connected to the smaller sizes in the range from a handling perspective.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

15

Kite Weight (kg)

3,99

Weight per m²

0,27

Pulleys

2 x Pulley And 1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25,5

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

2 x Hard And 2 x Soft

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

16,23

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Core Tex Light Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Canopy Sewing

Double Ripstop And Markcloth To Dacron At Tips 2mm Sheethed Dyneema 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Exotex Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

None

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Speed Valve 2

Bridle Material

Poor

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

69

€1,599 (9m)

The Soul fell from space a couple of years ago, and overnight it more or less redefined the genre of closed cell foil kites and their practical usage. Olly Bridge has used it to jump over, on, and up various things and currently tops the UK WOO leaderboard on a soft kite. The world has flipped on its head. The manufacturing involved in the Soul is very impressive and looks mind bogglingly intricate. The fact that the price tag is pretty much comparable to a large kite from one of the top brands might leave you wondering where the rest of their margin goes on an inflatable kite! The Soul has plenty of cells across the arc of the wing, and once inflated forms an exceptionally dependable rigid wing. Materials-wise, Flysurfer have implemented a highly hydrophobic coating on the super lightweight ripstop which makes it almost airtight. The front of the SOUL has some mini battens to profile the leading edge perfectly, and this wear area is also reinforced with some slightly heavier ripstop. Internally, there’s plenty of cross bracing visible between the cells which connect across the entire span of the kite. The performance of the Soul isn’t really comparable to an inflatable kite. The background pull it provides is constant and the kite has a huge wind range. The wing is so flat you get a sensational amount of lift on sheet on the bar, which is the party trick particularly in the smaller sizes. You’re instantly aware you're riding something that’s half paraglider and half kite. A phenomenal amount of smooth and progressive lift is available with hang time that an inflatable kite will never be able to

touch. Your descent can be controlled even more by down looping it which often produces a generous second lift. The bar feedback is well balanced and not remote. Relaunch is always a sticky subject with foil kites, but the SOUL holds its air in so effectively that in a decent breeze you can literally just pull one steering line and it flips over automatically, much like an inflatable. The Soul is cutting edge manufacturing and design made extremely simple and usable.

There’s probably never been a friendlier and more performant soft kite on the market, particularly when it comes to pure lift and float as well as wind range.

It presents a whole new approach to kiting and continues to change perceptions about what a foil kite is capable of.

F-ONE HALO

GIN MARABOU

€1,099 (9m)

The Marabou is not technically a foil kite, nor is it a single skin kite, it is a combination of the two: a single-surface kite with a closed-cell leading edge construction. The efficiency of single skin kites is clear but there is a problem: they sink.

GIN’s solution is to have a double skinned ‘leading edge’, so the Marabou has chambers on the front of the kite and a water release system on the wingtips. We tested the Marabou in sizes 4, 6 and 9m so were able to give it a good workout.

The first thing to note is that these kites pack down super small. You know those rain coats that pack down into a small bag? We’re talking that kind of small…

So for traveling you could take the whole quiver and it wouldn’t take up much more space than your wetsuit. In the air and the Marabou is insanely stable at the Zenith. Even the most extreme changes in wind direction or strength and the Marabou will give a reassuring flutter and reassert itself at 12 o’clock. You can see obvious benefits here for schools and for anywhere with a particularly sketchy offshore launch. On the water and the Marabou is a completely different experience if you are used to tube kites as the power literally ‘turns on’ in an instant, but without the feeling like you are fully committed – you can ease the bar out and the power is gone as quickly. So for foiling when you need the oomph to get up, but then want to switch off, it is perfect. Turning is more like a tube kite than a foil kite and it snaps around on its axis quickly – particularly the 4m!

At the top of their wind range the Marabous do flutter which is to be expected, but the power delivery remains consistent. It’s important to note that there is more power per square foot than with an inflatable kite – so the 4m is more like a 6m in terms of the amount of power available, but you can ride it comfortably at ‘half power’ in a way that you simply can’t with other kites, so the usable range is very impressive. Overall it is always great to see completely ‘different’ kites on the water and to see brands going out on a limb in terms of R&D, and the Marabou offers much, much more than just novelty value.

LIGHT WIND

€1,699 (10m)

F-ONE kite designer, Robert Graham is no stranger to soft kite design with a lengthy experience in the paraglider industry and sail design. The Halo slides neatly into the performance all-rounder market, aiming for a user friendly multi-function soft kite to work capably on both water and snow. Its more aggressive cousin, the Diablo, is widely used in hydrofoil competition, so there was a natural progression towards a kite that had a wider application and was more user friendly. The Halo is made from exceptionally light 36g canopy with mark cloth reinforcing every hang point. The bridle is relatively simple and makes a good job of supporting the wide high aspect span. Aspect ratios are quite tailored per size, and drops in the smaller variants. In the air and the Halo definitely feels like a foil kite rather than trying to ape the performance on an LEI, the fairly high aspect span allows you to stall turn the kite if required. It turns fast for a foil and can pretty much pivot on the spot if required.

Sheet out after initiating the turn and it provides that lovely pop of power a foil kite can provide. The soft background pull and sheet on lift that the Halo provides gives the ability to perform large arcing jibes and tacks with plenty of support from the kite at all times. It makes life on a hydrofoil very easy indeed.

In the gusts, the kite continues its well behaved nature and pushes forward in the window immaculately. To keep the control tight and as responsive as possible, the Halo runs on a wide bar, a 60cm was provided with the 12m test kite we tried and general bar pressure as well as initiating the turn was really light, reducing fatigue in the arms. Running downwind was also remarkably easy.

The Halo holds its shape well and you don’t need to watch it too much. There’s a reassuring air of balance built about the kite. Like the majority of products from F-One, the Halo feels minimal, light and focused for the job in hand. The Halo will prove a powerful ally for anyone that wants to push their hydrofoil game, or even raw low end with a twintip. It’s a very friendly useable soft kite with an extended wind range and predictable performance.

D U E TO THE COMPLE X AND VARIED NAT U RE OF FO IL KITES IT IS IMPOSSIB LE TO OFFER A ME ANIN G FU L COMPARISON – PLE ASE RE AD THE RE VIE WS TO G E T THE LOWD OWN .

FLYSURFER SOUL

ELEVEIGHT OS V1

€1,169 (10m)

The OS is a brand new mono strut design, aimed at the foil and light wind freeride market. It’s a mid-aspect hybrid design, which looks visually like it borrows quite a bit of DNA from the popular Eleveight RS excluding a couple of struts. It’s had a two year product development period, so we were eager to see how it measured up in this rapidly growing market sector.

There’s a minimum of Dacron implemented which is scalloped into the canopy along the trailing edge. The vast majority of the kite comprises of a four core canopy ripstop from Teijin enhancing the weight saving and maximizing stiffness. There’s five sizes from 6m to 14m in 2m increments, and a single gray and red color scheme which has more than a hint of naval battleship about it.

Even as mono struts go it’s an early flier, and with super easy relaunch due to the swept leading edge design; it rolls over much easier than some and reverse launch is a cinch. Our 8m test kite was taken out in its super low end and we tested this to the max. The turning is beautifully balanced and provides a responsive and fun performance. The mid aspect nature of the kite allows the kite to sit in a comfortable spot in the window, and increases its drift ability. It has a bit more wingtip and the bridle seems to sit more in the center of the kite, allowing for pivotal turns with exceptionally smooth power delivery. The most regular question we hear from most people about mono strut kites is, of course: ‘Does it flap?’ In this case, in the top of its wind range you get some flutter, but that four core material, coupled with a few hard battens in the trailing edge definitely keeps it to a minimum.

Due to the early flying, and decent turning speed, the OS has a decent application for light wind wave riding, particularly in the 10m size, where you don’t necessarily need the extra airframe rigidity you gain from the extra struts. The OS is a very balanced mono strut, and spans freeride, foil and wave better than some, so if you’re looking for a genre spanning, multi-purpose Swiss army knife of a single strut then it could well be for you.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

8

Kite Weight (kg)

2,34

Weight per m²

0,29

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

1

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

20

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

4 x Hard

Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

12,73 Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Construction

Loop radius (1 small 10 big)

Canopy Material

X4 Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Markcloth

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Xt Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Quickflow (Bayonet)

Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

71

SLINGSHOT GHOST Slingshot take foiling seriously, and produce one of the largest range of multisport hydrofoils on the market. The Ghost is their first hydrofoil specific lightweight mono strut kite. It fills a definite space in the Slingshot range, meeting some enthusiastic customer demand for freeride foiling. Build-wise, Slingshot have stuck with 4x4 canopy and split strut technology utilized in the rest of the range. In an age old trade off, this adds a few grams, but improves overall durability, structural rigidity and really minimizes flutter compared to some mono struts. The IRS bungees are present, along with heavily segmented wingtips to really solidify leverage in the turning. The first thing you notice with the Ghost is how incredibly low aspect it is. It makes sense, of course, that a kite designed specifically for foiling doesn’t need to point upwind so well, as the foil does that for you. The Ghost is clearly designed to sit further into the wind window downwind of you, particularly on the 20m line set provided with the 8m. On initial power stroke, it gives you some positive initial grunt to get you flying, and then provides a constant pull for freeride foiling. The power dump ability is very effective which is essential for comfortable foiling in changeable conditions. The low aspect nature of the kite provides a background ground pull making foot transitions on the wing relatively easy, in an almost foil kite way.We found the turning speed to be fairly moderate compared with most mono strut kites, and this leant itself to big carving transitions and tacks where you can really hang under the kite. It also runs downwind exceptionally well. Slingshot are going to release a massive range of sizes from 2.5m to 17m. We’ve tested the 8m on pre-release, but we’re intrigued as to how the smaller ones will work as there’s potential for some serious high wind reverse loop fun from a product that’s been developed in the Gorge and with the exceptionally talented Fred Hope helping guide development. The Ghost takes some adjustment to fly initially, much like a foil kite, but once you adjust your flying style to it, the performance differences over something more generic make sense, and it’s very rewarding. When using the Ghost, you have to remember it’s very hydrofoil focused, and it’s not trying to be a compromise crossover kite in any way, shape, or form! It’s gone in a strong design direction and it fits that remit like a glove…

€1,209 (8m)

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

8

Kite Weight (kg)

2,31

Weight per m²

0,29

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

1

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

26

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

4 x Hard

Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

16,55

Construction Canopy Material

4 X 4 Canopy Tech (4Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Ripstop And Markcloth

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema With Irs Bungee

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

LIGHT WIND

Linear power development on sheet

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

OCEAN RODEO FLITE

€1,699

Now in its seventh generation, the Flite is aimed for freeriding in lighter airs, and it claims to be as light as a mono strut kite but with the stability of three struts. This year the smaller sizes have been omitted, and the range is more focused on three larger sizes consisting of a 12m, 14.5m and 17m. We’re presented with a high aspect three strut hybrid design with angular swept tips and a huge projected area. Pretty much the whole of the kite is in the wind, and a mid-sized bridle does a great job of keeping that large arc steady and open, gleaning out as much power from the canopy as possible. They’ve blended two types on Dacron into the airframe, from both Dimension Polyant and Challenge; this transitions in the tips. Twin pulleys on a short bridle keep the turning speed as crisp as possible for a relatively large spanned out canopy. There’s also a notable amount of taper in the wingtip diameters, so an eye is being kept on airflow. On flying, the low weight of the Flite allows you to get going early, and there’s an immediate air of efficiency about the kite. Another notable trait carried over from last year is a large amount of power dump available in a short depower throw, and decent control when you’ve got some depower winched in. It’s not a truck of a light wind kite and it’s clearly doing its level best to feel as small and nimble as possible.

This carries over into the handling where the bar pressure is fairly light, and the feedback seems improved on last year’s model. This generally nimble nature for a large kite carries over well to various disciplines. The 12m would be a great contender for the largest kite required by most people for light wind hydrofoil use. It’s a reasonably fast kite in a straight line, so it will be your foil holding up your top speed rather than the kite, and the predictable power on sheeting makes foiling transitions simple to accomplish. General free riding with a twintip is probably where the kite shines the most. The playful nature of the turning, and decent lift make for a textbook hooked-in platform for lofty jumps, transitions and rotations. Stick your edge in, and it climbs upwind with relative ease even in the larger sizes. The Flite is intelligently built, and is a playful kite to fly.

Guaranteed to add a little spice to a potentially tedious light wind day.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

14,5

Kite Weight (kg)

3,27

Weight per m²

0,23

Pulleys

1 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

24

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

6 x Soft

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

15,28

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Leech Line

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And Teflberger 1.8mm 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

Dimension Polyant K-Pe Dacron And Challenger D2.9Rs Dacron 3

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

73

GIN ANGEL

€1,219

The Angel is a mono strut from our alpine friends in Switzerland. They are no strangers to light wind and gusty mountain conditions, so we were intrigued as to what they would produce for their lightwind-dedicated inflatable as they produce some very interesting light wind options with the Marabou hybrid single skin kite. We tested the 12m, and visually it has all the trappings of a well put together mono strut. Build has obviously been tailored with leaning towards light weight and comes in at 3.25kg on our scales, not bad for such a lot of canopy, which is entirely comprised from Teijin D2 cloth. The wingtips are relatively extended and it has a fair amount of C shape built into the arc of the kite. The center strut is slightly extended and has a little batwing across the trailing edge.

The kite is available in five different flavors, or colorways.

As with most mono struts, the Angel gets going very early, and most definitely the focus of this size is freeride twintip use in light wind and perhaps some very low end foiling. It will haul itself up into the sky in sub ten knots, and has the robust stability of a good single strut kite to sit there admirably through the lulls and not want to drop out continuously. Lift with the 12m was quite shallow and floaty, and the lack of struts creating drag and its corresponding low weight definitely pushes you upwind rapidly. The turning speed isn’t lightning-quick for a 12m, but it’s maneuverable enough for you not to find it too sluggish. The wing tips do a good job of twisting to initiate turns, so there’s a slight delay as the kite does this before it starts to shift across the window. Wind range wise, the Angel is exceptionally powerful and thrives in its low end ability. When things pick up a bit, the power really builds direct pressure through the back lines and lets you know assertively when to swap down. The good news is there’s almost no flapping, in fact it’s one of the most flap-free mono struts we’ve tested in the last three years. The Angel is a capable mono in the larger sizes, and we look forward to testing the smaller sizes 7m and below as they are a markedly different design.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

12

Kite Weight (kg)

3,3

Weight per m²

0,28

Pulleys

1 x Ferrule

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

1

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

24

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

None

15,28

Construction

Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Double Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material Bridle Material

Dacron, Ripstop And Markcloth To Dacron And Markcloth At Wingtip 2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Edge Binding

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Teijin Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

6

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Screw

LIGHT WIND

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

NAISH BOXER

€1,149

Naish were onto the current design trend of weight saving very early, and were not afraid to shave the struts off a kite and put it straight out into production with the Trip; then they did some two strut kites with the Ride. The Boxer made a reappearance a couple of years ago as the mono strut, and has sold exceptionally well, particularly with the upsurge in freeride foiling on the home turf in Maui where the tiny 3.5m is a local favorite. For 2020 the build has been further refined and lightened and everything feels tighter. They’ve worked hard on the canopy seaming and made everything as flat as possible. The sail tension in the wingtips has been increased and this firms up the handling response and decreases turbulence. According to Naish, up to 280g has been saved per size on average from last year’s range. The all-important luff strut also carries over from last year, allowing the canopy to breathe its way through the gust and absorbing some of the shock from turbulent air. The increased canopy depth achieved in the center of the kite also improves low end grunt to get up and going quickly. To say the Boxer is an early starter would be an understatement. It’s an easy and comfortable experience to fly – power dump available on the bar is huge, and amplified by the fact you’re most likely out in not much wind and very underpowered compared to usual. Lift on sheet is an important factor for a hydrofoil-focused kite, and there’s a brilliant level of weightlessness available to complete your transitions with ease. Turning speed, as with most of the Naish range, is extremely perky and light with the correct level of feedback, so there’s no watching the kite or relying on timing. The ubiquitous mono strut flap phenomena is almost non-existent with the Boxer and is even further reduced from last year, and only really manifests itself at the very top end of the wind range under aggressive turning. Everything about the Boxer is light: the weight, the handling and the wind speeds it works in. For marginal conditions and offshore winds the stability is legendary. You can tell it’s a kite crafted in Maui with variable conditions. The smaller sizes of Boxers are best served with large hydrofoil front wings, and have no race ambition whatsoever. Freeride foiling or just riding underpowered is the name of the game, and the Boxer does an exquisite job.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

10

Kite Weight (kg)

2,79

Weight per m²

0,28

Pulleys

1 xSlider

Leading Edge Hang Points

12

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

25

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

None

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

15,92

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Quadtex Ripstop (4 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop With Dacron In Wingtips

Bridle Material

4mm Dyneema With 2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step And Single And Some Just 3 Step

Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Oversheet to backstall test

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

9

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Boston

Nb

Octopus

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Stability at Zenith – front stall (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

75

F-ONE BREEZE V2

€1150

The Breeze has been around for a couple of years now as F-ONE’s foil-specific mono strut kite. It has definitely taken some design inspiration from the Bandit, which is no bad thing, and losing those two struts shaves around eight hundred grams off its three strut big brother in an equivalent size. The result of this is a 13m inflatable which is eager to get itself off the ground in six to eight knots; the quoted low end is definitely not exaggerated. This is exceptionally early for an LEI. As most hydrofoil users have now worked out, if the kite flies reliably then chances are it’s going to pull you along and you’ll get a session. In the extreme low end, which is where you will most likely use it, the Breeze has a sense of balance and poise at zenith that gives you real confidence. Once up and riding, the clear upwind ability is very apparent, particularly on a hydrofoil. Much like the Bandit, the Breeze seems to find the edge of the window and makes itself very comfortable there, with no hint of overflying, producing some epic upwind angles.

The Breeze has the same SUP valve which lets you achieve high inflation pressure which is important for a mono strut to keep its shape. The large central strut makes for a reliable reverse launch and the swept leading edge means there’s minimum of suction on the water. The elongated strut also supports a bat tail in the canopy, which aids stability. Like nearly all the mono struts we’ve tested, the Breeze does eventually get a little flappy in the top of its wind range, particularly in the bigger sizes, but it’s a good indicator of when to change down. Unlike some mono struts with more leeward tendency, if you do get caught overpowered you can edge it out fairly easily. When in the comfortable range it’s a smooth flowing experience from bar input to kite movement, and it’s very quick on the bar for its size. The Breeze is ideal for someone that wants much of the benefits of a foil kite, but doesn’t fancy the faffing around with bridles or riding style adjustment.

Hydrofoils aside, the Breeze definitely gives a marked advantage over a three strut kite for general freeriding in lower wind speeds. Capable and stable in light winds and a great addition to any quiver.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

15

Kite Weight (kg)

3,37

Weight per m²

0,22

Pulleys

2 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

28,5

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

None

18,14

Construction Canopy Material

Technoforce Double Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Dacron

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Canopy Sewing Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

13

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

2

Valve Type

Reactor Valve Sup

LIGHT WIND

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

We’ve m ade thes e in different co Also, ch lours. eck our boards an d bars.

e we’v om, !

M k d Loo de an a ma

Yes, this is another kitesurfing ad. With perfect kite pictures.

But we are not just another kite company. We started in

“The Harlem Go… is a brilliant workhorse with universal appeal amongst our test team and might worry the big boys.”

- The KiteMag

repairs, building our own kites and selling them to friends.

That family is growing fast, and now you are reading this.

You do the math.

HARLEMKITESURFING.COM Haarlem, The Netherlands surf@harlemkitesurfing.com

Alex man Our t this (no me in so hand life) real

F-ONE BANDIT S 9M As you’re already aware by in now, F-ONE’s flaghship nowSspanning From 2020probably the Bandit has been split two…

Here we have thekite, Bandit (for surf edition). this years has enabled F-ONE tohas do gone fromin a design perspective is go all a massiveWhat thirteen of refinement, two separate directions this out forlike a wave specificcouple kite with no compromises, and they’ve excellent year, a married having a sabbatical. The Bandit Sdone runsanoff to Cape job. Raphaël Salles openly admits there’s no set budget on the R&D process and Verde with all the wave boards, leaving the Bandit 2020 at home with the twinthis is very evident in the new kite’s performance. tips to enhance its freeride abilities. Let’s talk about the technical differences.

The leading edge is thicker how thandoes the the ‘S’ throughout, and the the wing tips First are far So from a build perspective, Bandit S differ from 2020? more off.hang Extra hang allowing points inthe thewhole center of to thetwist leading to make of all, squared it’s got less points, kite moreedge enabling more pivotal steering.

The leading edge a lower diameter overall, whichand is a the airframe more rigid result in far lesshas twist, which is the polar opposite particularly visible inBandit the wingtips, enabling moremore. forward flying thefirst window key difference to the S, which bends much In the air,inthe thing and tip twist. Whilst the graphics and colors cross over, it’s a completely you will realize is that there’s a pretty sharp increase in bar pressure over the different profile and shape to the Bandit 2020. For the sailcloth enthusiasts out BanditaV12, the cloth smaller intothe a pleasant there, new particularly intermediatein130g hassizes, beentranslating used to bridge gap in volume increaseweights in bar feedback.

For standard the freerider doing hooked-in boosting material between the Dacron andsome ripstop, promoting less and general work this is important, as F-ONE claim you subconsciously use wear on aerial the material joints and an overall weight saving. your bar to stabilize your body in the air, and you want to avoid unnecessary bar The smaller werenature a bit ofofanthe Ultimate Test favorite last year weawere inputs.

The Bandits less pivotal turning, and wider arc, allowsofor much eager to feel the tangible changes. In the air the kite feels similarly snappy in larger kite loop radius, more constant power through the loop and a decent the turn, light on the bar and well-trimmed with regards to its bar geometry. fast wind climbrange to getonyou Things are far more dramatic the boost The thedown Banditgently.

S has been heavily extended, and wheninclawing in and loop on department thanbar ever before.and Theoverall other change of of note an extension depower the cleat, the pressure handling theiskite remain very uniform and consistent; eveninwhen atof maximum there’s zero and improvement in the top end terms range anddepower stability.

That increased flutter. can air feelframe this element of the wonders Bandit S has been perfected gusty rigidityYou in the has worked when things get tointhe edge of European conditions in the Montpellier.

Without a design focussome has targeted what’s reasonable, and Bandit feels rock doubt, solid. Whilst there’s definite low end as well, with the perky handling allowing you to work the kite changes from last year, the Bandit 2020 remains a capable all-rounder, and it’s efficiently using the smallest size possible. From a strapless freestyle a kite range now separated byisa simple difference in bar feeling, and notthat necessarily perspective, the load and pop to initiate, and following the powerby discipline.

If you like bit more bar pressure, you choose the Bandit 2020. If dump is immediate anda smooth. you’re only going to do unhooked freestyle, then choose the WTF.Overall, the The Bandit S allows to be very opportunistic with yourIt’s wave riding, and to 2020 Bandit has faryou more punch and less compromise. more focused and put in a turninoritsmaneuver which youour might think twice about on a more aggressive essence and from experience is all the better for it if you park-and-ride style wave kite, with extreme confidence. The level of depower like having a twintip strapped on your feet. available on the bar stroke, and innate stability allow you to sit deep in the pocket of the wave undisturbed. The bar feeling is wonderfully light and subtle which nods its head to a product with a lot of personality.

€1,360

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Overall stability Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,73

Weight per m²

0,30

Pulleys

2 x Pulley

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Hangtime

Steering Hang Points

2

Ease of relaunch

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

22,5

Recommended Pressure

8

Battens

None

14,32

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting

Technoforce Double Ripstop (2 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Double Ripstop And Dacron To 130G Ripstop And Dacron 2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Teijin Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

17

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Knot

Maintenance

7

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

2

Valve Type

Reactor Valve Sup

WAV E

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Turning speed

Canopy Material

Canopy Sewing

Good

Static Handling Attributes

Construction

Bridle Material

Poor

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

NORTH CARVE

€1,379

The Carve pitches up from North as the wave kite, with a focus on ease of use, and obligatory crossover potential for strapless freestyle. From a build perspective, things are looking well-considered, fuss free and tidy. We’re presented with a Teijin D2 canopy and a generous Dacron frame surrounding the entirety of the trailing edge, including some large panels behind the struts, making for a midweight build. There’s some interesting use of Kevlar on the junctions between the struts and the leading edge as well as covering the wingtips to prevent any accidental scuffage. The bridle is pulley-less, and constructed from low diameter flying line to minimize parasitic drag. Interestingly, the rear pigtails have only one tension setting on the rear lines, so there’s confidence the kite is trimmed correctly straight out of the bag and no way to rig it up unevenly. Bigger than usual silicone hoses link the leading edge and struts and make deflation fast and easy. The leading edge has a noticeably high diameter and the canopy profile is deep and it is certainly a kite that offers a lot of power per square meter. On the wave, that deep canopy profile and chubby leading edge make the kite sit sedately well lodged in the wind window, and it’s genuinely difficult to make it falter when riding down the line. The Carve is very impressive in the low end. Its static pull increases in a linear fashion as the wind increases. The turning speed is snappy enough to get you where you need to be position-wise without fuss, but not waspy, so there are no unwelcome yanks from overcorrection. Within its sweet spot the power on turning is smooth and predictable. Considering there are no pulleys or bridle mischief going on, the power dump is excellent and is effective on a very short throw. You can sheet in and power through a nice fast bottom turn and then turn off immediately to stall on the lip and complete a decent top turn with ease. The pull and go ease of use with the Carve is very impressive and has a definite crossover for beginners on twintips. It’s the kind of kite that likes to be ridden upwind with the bar sheeted in. So the Carve excels in its low end and in gusty conditions that normally make for an anxious wave session, where it literally fills in the gaps for you as you engage your fins. For strapless freestyle, the easy access to lift on sheet and all that smooth grunt makes for some entertaining punting and easy descents. Be conscious not to go out oversized, and it’s a well-conceived product that will make for a very rewarding session in the surf.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability Low end ability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,15

Weight per m²

0,35

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23

Recommended Pressure

9

Battens

4 x Hard

Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,64

Construction Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Markcloth

Bridle Material

Tefleberger 1.8mm

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Knot And Front Loop

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Hyperflow Bayonet

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light) Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

79

DUOTONE NEO The Neo has been the Duotone wave-specific model for a while now and has more competition results under its belt than anyone can actually remember.

With the competition scene now essentially doing double disciplines with the strapless freestyle as well as pure wave, this is no mean feat, so does the Neo pull it off? Technically we’re looking at a familiar three strut mid aspect platform.

There’s tuneable wingtips between a blue knot for hard bar pressure and slower tuning, and a yellow knot for a more rapid turn and lighter bar pressure. Often these tuning features can have minimal impact on a kite’s handling, but in this case it’s night and day. If you prefer a more park and drift style, then go with the blue, and if you need quicker feedback for more technical onshore work, then hit the yellow. The kite’s character really changes, and the performance benefits are very tangible. There’s another tuning point hidden in the front bridle to vary the amount of depower on offer to increase the jumping ability versus the stability drifting. This could be Airton’s GKA secret switch. As with most of the 2020 Duotone range, weight saving has been a real feature this year, and it’s as if the Neo has been off to an executive alpine health clinic for a couple of weeks and has come back with a lot less mass, and it’s all the better for it. The 9m weighed in at a smidgen over 3kgs, which is good for a three strut kite. The low end wind range has certainly been extended per size, and this is where the kite thrives for pure wave riding. Of course, it ticks all the boxes in drift and stability, and is really hard to backstall in any circumstance. In its higher wind range, the success in strapless freestyle all makes perfect sense. The ability the kite has is to dump power in its low end, then transfer this into pure lift on sheeting in its top end. And it’s a big floaty controllable affair with plenty of pop on tap.

It definitely pairs best with the Click Bar, as the lengthy throw allows you to really take advantage of all that precise angle of attack change. The Neo is an exceptionally well rounded wave kite that relies equally on drift and stability and on just a rapid turning agility. The tuning ability is something that sets it apart from the pack, and you can effectively tailor the nature of the kite to the task in hand. It’s a competitive kite for good reason.

€1,439

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes

Top end ability

Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

3,04

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,34

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

1 x Plastic Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

2

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

24,5

Recommended Pressure

7

Battens

4 x Hard

15,60

Construction

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Tinity Tx Ripstop ( 2 X 3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

130G Ripstop With Markcloth

Bridle Material

Tefleberger 1.8mm

Canopy Sewing

3 Steps

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins In The Center

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Airport Valve 2

Nb

Optional 5Th Line

WAV E

Linear power development on sheet

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

HARLEM WAVE V2

€1,169 (10m)

Harlem are now presenting the second version of their Wave model and it’s a matter of personal pride. Alex from Harlem is an avid foiler and wave rider, and this is a model they like to get right for their own self enjoyment. So how does it measure up? It’s a three strut delta design, with the signature sewn-in Harlem wave design in the canopy to differentiate easily between the other kites of the range. As with all the Harlem kites this season, there’s intelligent implementation of materials from people who’ve worked in the kite repair industry and have seen the good and bad designs over the years. A good example is the use of an intermediate layer of mid weight cloth on the trailing edge to enable a smooter transition and avoid the classic wear point between the canopy and Dacron which is normally utilized. This a level of attention to detail we’ve only just seen from the big boys. Stiffer Challenge Dacron is used on the inflatable sections of the kite, enabling a smaller diameter leading edge. A short bridle with a single slider on each side keeps the steering extra perky. Size-wise, due to a nice wide wind range, the bases are covered for practical wave and foil use, with a 6, 8 and 10m on the agenda. From a performance perspective, it’s a playful little delta design with razor sharp turning and massive power dump on tap. You can really get yourself in position, dump the power and concentrate on surfing the wave.

It also manages to maintain rear line tension to enable you to steer the kite effectively when depowered, an important attribute. Upwind ability is good. All these attributes translate well into freeride hydrofoil use, enabling you to whip round your tacks and transitions with ease, and matches well with a larger front wing. It’s from the school of fast and nimble wave kites, rather than the park and leave there, but maintains a decent amount of drift. You can tell it’s a wave kite designed and built by enthusiasts and tested in real world European conditions in Holland, where it’s definitely not always perfect side shore, and the winds are strong and punchy, which gives the Wave V2 an inherent ability to perform in all situations. The Harlem Wave V2 is everything an obedient wave kite should be, particularly if you like a kite you can throw around. Harlem are a brand to watch, producing a competitive product from both a shape and build perspective.

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered

Physical Attributes Size tested

10

Kite Weight (kg)

3,28

Weight per m²

0,33

Pulleys

1 x Slider

Leading Edge Hang Points

8

Steering Hang Points

3

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

23,5

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

2 x Hard

Top end ability Linear power development on sheet Usable range Lift on sheeting Hangtime Ease of relaunch Poor

Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes

14,96

Turning speed

Construction

Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Triple Ripstop (3 Core)

Trailing Edge Material

Markcloth And 130G Ripstop

Bridle Material Canopy Sewing

2mm Sheethed Dyneema And 3mm Braided Polyester 3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam

Single With Double Over Joins

Strut / Leading Edge Material

Teijin Marubini Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

7

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

9

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

None

Valve Type

Bayonet

Nb

Irritating Extra Dump Valves

Loop radius (1 small 10 big) Bar feedback (1 none 10 good) Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

81

RRD RELIGION Y25 For all their Y25 products, the Religion included, the build has been really stepped up, and the Religion looks like an absolute stealth bomber of a kite with absolutely no compromises on attention to detail. Kevlar wraps around every leading edge segment, and the hang points have a neat little PU reinforcement which is of course embossed with the RRD logo. There’s an unmistakable touch of Italian craftsmanship visible here. Technically, this year the Religion is packing a short bridle system not dissimilar to the MK9, with a little more sweep to the wingtips and sports a relatively high aspect ratio for a wave kite. The front bridle has some trim options to transfer between pure waves or strapless freestyle modes, no doubt to cater for the current cross discipline GKA events. The kite is relatively light compared to some previous models, and the super heavy Dacron load frame is long gone and replaced with something far more elegant improving its application for hydrofoil use. Those massive swept wingtips convince the canopy to twist very effectively, and provides a sportive pivotal turning ability as you would expect from any wave kite focused on its discipline.

The Religion is definitely on the powerful side and performs most elegantly in its low end, which is the hallmark of a good wave kite, as you don’t want to be lugging extra canopy with you. There’s a relatively high background pull, which takes some adjustment as you still have some residual support through the harness to balance against on your bottom turn. The top end of the Religion is improved on previous incarnations but it’s definitely a model you are better changing down a size on rather than clinging onto past its comfortable top end, particularly if riding strapless. Drift is excellent as you would expect, and the extended wingtips seem to have a balancing effect, making it tricky to overfly the kite in most situations. It claws back upwind noticeably well with very little effort required and low fatigue. The Religion has well balanced performance attributes. It provides the grunt, turning speed and the drift in relatively equal measure, whereas other brands have gone in one direction or the other, or just concentrated on straight downwind drift. It’s a kite that adds a bit of power to your riding style and makes for a rewarding experience. And the design and build is both impressive and spectacular.

€1,442

SUBJECTIVE TE AM FEEDBACK Dynamic Handling Attributes Upwind ability Downwind drift / leeward ability Pop / slack test Kiteloop power test Downloop catch from sent jump test Forward board speed Overall stability

T EC H N I C A L D ATA

Low end ability Bar feedback when depowered Top end ability

Physical Attributes Size tested

9

Kite Weight (kg)

2,98

Usable range

Weight per m²

0,33

Lift on sheeting

Pulleys

None

Leading Edge Hang Points

10

Steering Hang Points

1

Struts

3

Flat Leading Edge Diameter at Widest Point Diameter When Inflated

20,5

Recommended Pressure

–

Battens

None

Linear power development on sheet

Hangtime Ease of relaunch Good

Excellent

Poor

Good

Excellent

Static Handling Attributes 13,05

Construction

Turning speed Bar pressure (1 strong 10 light)

Canopy Material

Technoforce D2 (2Core)

Loop radius (1 small 10 big)

Trailing Edge Material

Dacron And Leech Line

Bar feedback (1 none 10 good)

Bridle Material

2mm Sheethed Dyneema

Canopy Sewing

3 Step

Leading Edge Closing Seam Strut / Leading Edge Material

Double Sewing On Outer Stitch Line And Single On Inner Dacron

Leading Edge Segment Bump Stops

All

Overall Buildscore

8

Line Deflectors

Yes

Self Rescue Handles

Yes

Line Attachment

Rear Loop And Front Knot

Maintenance

8

Valve Protection

Yes

Tuning Points

3

Valve Type

Rrd Bayonet Quick Air Flow Valve

WAV E

Poor

Lateral stability – 12 o’clock test Stability at Zenith – front stall Oversheet to backstall test (10 hard to stall)

Practicality Pumping / deflation and valve system Rigging simplicity Self land Bag size Travel friendly

K I T E S

ALL RO U ND FREERIDE WINNER – NAISH TRIAD Cleverly built and a delicately balanced set of performance attributes make the Triad an exceptionally smooth operator.

STAND OUT – DUOTONE REBEL The ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing. Comfortable enough to mow the lawn when underpowered, but can unleash utter boosting fury if required.

C A T E G O R Y

W I N N E R S :

STAND OUT – HARLEM GO

Naish Triad

A very cleverly constructed kite with nicely blended materials and an eye for product longevity, the Go has a flawless and consistent freeride appeal.

PERFORMANCE FREERIDE WINNER – DUOTONE DICE Vastly improved from last year, far more perky in the handling department and equally capable in waves and with a twintip, Duotone have added a sprinkling of spice to the Dice.

STAND OUT – NORTH ORBIT The consistency in the kite loops is mind blowing, you can pull any angle and height you require and recover well with it.

STAND OUT – CORE XR6

Duotone Dice

Potentially the kite with the most lift on demand we tested. Its top end ability is incredible, where it performs exceptionally comfortably way out of a normal kite’s intended wind range.

FREEST YLE WINNER – ELEVEIGHT FS A real dark horse from Eleveight, it appears quite innocuous in appearance, but is an absolute freestyle weapon. The balance of pop, slack and stability wowed our test team. It’s a banger.

STAND OUT – NAISH TORCH

Eleveight FS

If you’re a freestyle purist who likes your kites as they were in yesteryear, but would still like a smidge of modern day depower, then the Torch is that kite – more slack than the entire freeride kite category combined.

LW AND FOILING WINNER – CABRINHA CONTRA The Contra ticks all the boxes and a massive powerhouse for twintip riding, the new material makes a marked difference and only hones it further.

Cabrinha Contra

C AT EG O RY W I N N ER S : K I T ES

The X Lite is a freeride hydrofoiler’s dream in the smaller sizes and its ghost-like lack of presence when required is potentially its most appealing attribute.

STAND OUT – GIN MARABOU Half foil, half single skin, this is also potentially the most innovative kite in the test, but it is not just a gimmick. The Marabou provides power on/off kiting perfection and adds a new dimension to your foil game.

F-ONE Bandit S

WAVE WINNER – F- ONE BANDIT S All that wave pedigree from the previous generations shines through into a really focused product which has telepathic bar feedback and insane performance levels.

C A T E G O R Y

STAND OUT – CORE X LITE

STAND OUT – DUOTONE NEO

STAND OUT – NORTH CARVE Its wide leading edge and skinny fixed bridling make for an interesting mixture of pure grunt and drift, coupled with that ultra clean bar system which deserves an innovation award all of its own.

CrazyFly Hyper

S PEC I A L AWA R D S To keep things a little simpler we have reduced the size of this slightly this time round, as a result there are some obvious kite qualities that we haven’t recognized. So here are some special awards.

B O O ST I N G WINNER – CRAZYFLY HYPER Once again the Hyper proved to be the kite of choice to send you to the moon. It is very well constructed and has an insanely stiff airframe which translates into pure vertical efficiency.

Flysurfer Soul

K I T E S

FO I LI N G EFFI C I EN CY WINNER – FLYSURFER SOUL The SOUL is the kite that redefined what a foil kite could be. It flies and responds more like an inflatable kite, but for foiling it’s simply better… Faster and smoother and ready to be enjoyed by anyone: it’s a special thing.

S I N G LE ST R U T KI T E WINNER – NAISH BOXER We were very impressed again with the Boxer. It is incredibly light, incredibly stable and - most importantly - incredibly fun to fly.

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

W I N N E R S :

The Neo is the benchmark, particularly from a pure drift perspective, and its crossover into strapless freestyle in the top end gives it a bonus point as well.

Naish Boxer

85

WW W.ROBE RTORICC IDE SIGN S.COM

Rider: SHAWN RICHMAN Ph: SWETLANA ROMANTSOVA

IT'S ALL RIDE

PASSION Y25

PROG RA M : F R E E R I D E / F R E E S T Y L E

• Gritty yet smooth power delivery • Reliable and predictable flying behavior • Performance freeride leader trough a huge wind range

5.7.9.10,5.12.13,5.15.17 LIGHTWIND

BOARD TEST CRITERIA CARVING ABILIT Y

How well the board carves through heel to toe and toe to heel transitions. Judgements are made on the smoothness of rail to rail transfer, tightness of the turning radius and the grip achieved in the carve, awarding a strong performance with a high score.

SPRAY

A judgement of how much spray is being deflected towards the rider from the tips of the board.

A board which causes lots of spray, particularly towards the face, will score low.

DIRECTIONAL STABILIT Y

The board’s ability to track inline with the riders intended direction of travel when disturbed by factors such as oncoming chop or a trick landing. For a high score, the board should have little disruption/pivot off course and should quickly re-track. A board which is overly loose and pivotal would receive a low score.

RAIL GRIP

The efficiency and effectiveness of the board's grip on the surface of the water. A strong rail grip enables lateral drive for upwind perfor-

mance and the ability to drive against the kite to load and pop. The more effective the rail grip, the higher the score. A board that slips its rail easily will receive a low score.

which is progressive in its load and explosive in its pop will score high. Inefficiencies in the load and pop will receive a lower score.

PLANING SPEED/LIGHT WIND ABILIT Y

How well the board reduces the impact and shock of a heavy landing. If a board displaces water well and facilitates a controlled landing it will score high. A board which gives a heavy landing with less control will receive a lower score.

A judgement of the planing efficiency of the board based upon light wind capability and ability to accelerate with power. A board that planes early and accelerates well will receive a high score. A board which is heavily dependent on technique and power to maximize performance will score low.

UPWIND ABILIT Y

The ease of upwind travel in powered and low powered conditions. A board that drives upwind easily will receive a high score. A board which is heavily dependent on advanced technique and power to maximize performance will receive a low score.

SMOOTHNESS OF LANDINGS

CUT TING THROUGH CHOP

The control and comfort perceived by the rider when riding through increasing amounts of chop. A board which smooths the feel of the ride over choppy water will score higher than a board which gives a bumpy or jarring feel to the ride.

POP

A judgement of the board’s capacity to build and store energy throughout the load phase of a trick before expelling the energy in the pop. A board

TESTER’S NOTE: We tested all boards against all of these criteria. Clearly some boards will get low scores in some categories as this is not what they are designed for (a board targeted at beginners will not be designed to have good pop for example).

Please consider this when checking data. When assessing the ‘Standouts’ and ‘Winners’ for each category, we looked very specifically at the criteria that you would expect from a kite in that category.

B OA R D T ES T C R I T ER I A

INOBO WAVIO / WOODIO / NEVIO MODULAR TWINTIP

€799-899

Inobo are bringing something different to the market. A unique concept board using a modular system whereby the rider can choose the style of board they ride by switching the decks they mount beneath the boards skeleton. The decks sent for test – the Wavio, Woodio and Nevio – transition the board’s capabilities from freeride, to freestyle, to lightwind. Additionally, Inobo also produce a carbon wakestyle deck, the Evio, though this was not tested.

The Wavio is Inobo's freeride deck. What is especially unusual about this deck is that it is transparent; a very nice feature for holiday kiters riding at destinations with white sand, clear waters and the opportunity to spot some sea-life. It's somewhat like combining snorkeling with kitesurfing. This is a polycarbonate deck which when left standing alone unsupported by the Inobo frame is entirely limp and flexible. Mounting it to the skeleton gives it strength and structure, turning it into a rideable board. On the water, the softness of the Wavio is instantly felt and the ride is very comfortable and cruisy. The flexibility of the Wavio deck is very absorbent and completely eats up any chop. Its thin rail bites well into the water, giving plenty of rail grip though the polycarbonate deck has no channels or concave underneath, so it is very dependent on the 45mm fins for stability and drive.

The foundation of the Inobo board, a sleek and beautifully finished pre-preg carbon frame, provides the strength, rocker and all of the connection points that hold each variation of the board together. To appreciate the buyer’s experience, we disassembled and rebuilt the board to change decks between the Wavio and Woodio. The Inobo skeleton is sandwiched between the deck, fins pads and straps with the mountings of each holding the board together. Fins aside, each fastening comes up through the base of the deck to cinch the board together, the notable downside to the current design is that there are no options to adjust stance width when mounting the straps. The process of stripping the board down to replace with a new deck takes around 20 minutes to complete.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA Wavio Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

0

2.5

5

7.5

10

0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Woodio Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability

The Woodio, Inobo's freestyle deck is a wood deck that offers more stiffness than the Wavio freeride deck. It uses a classic squared-off freestyle outline and as such delivers a typical freestyle feel to its ride. The base of the deck has slight channeling underneath, this provides more directional stability and traction than the Wavio and performs better under load. The improvement in grip and stronger reflex of the wooden deck upon the carbon frame feels more uniform and the pop is much improved. Overall, there is little difference to discern between the ride of the Woodio and any common construction board. The only behavior of note is a slight knocking of wood against carbon when landing flat and hard.

Sizing up from the Woodio to meet lightwind demands, Inobo offer a larger deck, the Nevio. At 148x45cm there's a lot of board underfoot to get you planing early. The oversized wooden deck is mounted with an offset upon the carbon frame. This keeps the strength in the heelside edge of the board to prevent the edge from warping underfoot.

As the frame stays the same size and the mounting is dependent on the straps and fins, the layout of the fins are inset from the outline of the board. The result is a quite playful ride as the narrow fin position increases maneuverability but loses out on some of the grip and edging ability that comes with a wide fin placement.

F R EER I D E

Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop

Nevio Modular Twintip Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Board

Inobo Wavio

Blank Weight (kg)

Did not test

Woodio

Nevio modular twintip

Rocker

Determined by skeleton

Rail Channels Tip channels

Y

N

N

Y

N

Concave

N

N

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

Did not test

Construction

Wood, glass laminate

Polycarbonate

Wood, glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts. Single stance width option.

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

There's definitely bonus points for innovation in Inobo's modular platform, and there's value to the quality of the construction. While there is some weight to the frame, this is offset by the light decks so it's convenient for travel purposes and offers incredible versatility if you want a three-board quiver without actually buying three boards.

GOOD BOARDS SNAKE 137 Good Boards produce snow boards, skis and wakeboards, and have for the past few years been transferring their skills to the production of kiteboards. Successfully, we might add.

Each board we have had on test has had undoubtable good build quality and the visible wood core through quad-axial glass fiber laminate is as aesthetically pleasing as it is strong and durable. For 2020, Good Boards have released the Snake – a freeride board that has thrown away the traditional outline in favor of innovation. When we first laid our eyes on the Snake, we were intrigued. As far as first impressions go, it is eye catching. A wavy side cut ripples up the rails of the board.

This design, which Good Boards refer to as “anti-chop technology,” is intended to negate the effect of chop on the board making it a smoother, more comfortable ride. And – true enough – on the water there is a noticeable difference in the way the Snake cuts through. Underfoot, the feeling is distorted from what we are used to feeling with a regular railed twintip. The wavy side cuts feel like they buffer the chop, and the effect can be seen in the low offset of spray and felt in the

€699

mild directional instability that comes with variation in rail contact. Despite feeling unusual, it is true to its purpose as the Snake slides its way through chop with ease. The Snake is a comfort oriented board designed to take a beginner rider through to intermediate level. Its low continuous rocker and wide outline that tapers at the tips provides a generous surface area underfoot. This gets the Snake planing early with strong upwind reach and plenty of drive. While this broad outline is great for early planing, it does slightly increase the carve radius compared to other freeride shapes. The soft-medium flex of the Snake is easy to load. By creating a wavy rail, Good Boards have effectively extended the rail length creating a greater point of contact. Sinking the rail creates more resistance with less exertion making it easier for a beginner to build line tension going into a jump. For the rider learning to send and sheet, the pop is easy to initiate and respectable for a freeride board. So overall it takes a bit of getting used to but then is the kind of board that really does put a smile on your face.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.4

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous with “snake” outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

Y

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

91

GOOD BOARDS FAPHITO 131 The Good Boards Faphito is a freeride board designed for small riders. It features a low continuous rocker with a slim outline that tapers at the tips in a classic freeride shape. Its construction uses fiberglass with a wood core which tapers towards the tips. This maintains strength at the core of the board for a medium flex while allowing more tip flex for ample contact and grip over rough water and through carving turns.

The Faphito would be an apt choice for the progressing grom.

There’s enough shaping applied to this board that allows it to meet the needs of an intermediate freerider so a novice rider should not outgrow it too soon. The low rocker gives the Faphito plenty of speed. Additionally, there’s ample rail grip and it’s easy to access and load going into jumps. In the air, the board feels very light. For a smaller rider, this low swing weight will be beneficial as they will have easier con-

€539

trol over rotations and inertia. On landings, the Faphito was a little slappy due to the low rocker. However it was remarkably stable considering its small surface area. The soft flex of the Faphito is very forgiving to the smaller rider; it absorbs chop for a comfortable ride. This downsized board with narrow stance makes it easier for smaller riders to control their edging of the board for better upwind drive and control when riding powered. The slim outline allows smaller footed and lighter riders easier leverage upon the board and makes rail to rail transfer easier to initiate. The Faphito carves around with a tight turn radius and an easy rail to rail transfer due to the tapered tips. Overall this is a fun and forgiving ride that is comfortable to ride in a variety of conditions and has plenty to offer smaller riders or big groms.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.22

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

N

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

Y

NORTH PRIME 141

€499

Boasting the ethos of simplicity and function towards their product line up, North have created the Prime true to specification and directed it at the freeride market. The Prime features a classic freeride outline with pulled in tips, low rocker and a single concave. There are plenty of features that would suit a rider looking for their first board, combined with a positive enough flex pattern that it is great fun on the feet of a seasoned rider. For anyone looking for an all-round progressive board that will serve them for a long time, it’s an ideal shape.

There’s ample width through the midline and the tips draw in late enough that there’s plenty of surface area underfoot to get planing early. Additionally, the low rocker allows the board to drive upwind easily. Carving around on the Prime is very satisfying. The pulled in tips and curved outline make initiating a carve effortless and the stepped rail bites perfectly into the

water giving you confidence to keep up the pace throughout.

The taper in thickness from midline to tips is well tuned giving flex pattern that is very positive, so much so that we dialed into the Prime especially quickly. Whether you’re cruising around or doing jumps and rotations, there’s a reassuring delivery of grip, drive and response from the stepped rail and single concave. Edging into jumps returns a positive reflex and a decent pop off the water and the medium flex of the board handles heavy landings well. The Prime rides comfortably in a broad power range and its responsive flex paulownia wood core and fiber glass laminate swallow up choppy waters resulting in an effortless ride across a variety of conditions. This is a board that does exactly what it says on its label, and it does it so well that riders of all levels can enjoy it.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EER I D E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.63

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

TAKOON SOURCE 136 The Source is Takoon’s entry twintip. For an all-round entry to intermediate freeride board, the Source turned up as a very well-priced gem amongst our small mountain of boards on test. The Source features a low rocker, parallel outline, pulled in tips and a nicely refined, smooth flex pattern. All of these features lend themselves brilliantly to a progressing rider and Takoon have tapped into needs the Source’s target rider perfectly. The Source is very efficient upwind. This is in part due to its parallel outline and low rocker but also due to its slight concave through the deck which allows the Source great lateral drive. This single concave, paired with a stepped rail, bites comfortably into the water for a reassuring rail grip which is easy to load into when holding down power or going into a jump. While there’s plenty of rail grip,

€360 it is far from overdeveloped. There’s a butteriness to the way the Source unlocks from its rail and slides around adding a playful quality to the ride. A person progressing their basic riding to add toeside riding would benefit from its ability to flatten and slide around without catching. For a low-medium rockered board, it does this especially well. The tapered core thickness from midline to tip gives a smooth flex which is light loading yet effective enough in its reflex to give a decent pop for sent jumps. This is an especially rewarding factor for someone learning to jump as the flex is intuitive in feel and easy enough to load that it builds awareness of technique.

Seasoned riders with greater aspirations for height would want to look up Takoon’s product line towards to Lux to get a bit more bang for their buck in this aspect of their riding.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

SLINGSHOT MISFIT 143 The Slingshot Misfit has been bred through so many generations that you could say it has pedigree, yet for 2020 the Misfit’s design has turned heels on aspects of it former performance and we’d say that it is much improved for it. If this were Crufts, the Misfit would be proudly wagging its tail while Slingshot takes home a trophy. It is Slingshot’s all-round entry freeride board boasting a new outline and tip and tail profile to its order generations. While it has kept the NACA channels, its tips are now pulled in further for a narrower outline and domes of Koroyd material at the centerline protrude past its corners. Consequently the Misfit is now more agile in its carves and sprays less than ever before, and the curved outline to the Misfit cuts through uneven water easily so you can charge through chop without needing to drop the pace as the softer flex eats it up. The low rocker, mild concave and stepped rail of the Misfit ensure it charges upwind with plenty of grip

€619 and drive. With a softer flex than its previous years, there is a bit of dynamic rocker change spilling some of its efficiency, but this is a small compromise for the improvement that has come with a slightly softer flex. The Misfit’s load and release has improved, becoming smoother and less forceful to achieve, giving decent height to a pop unaided by sending the kite. The new softer flex takes any bounce out of landings but there is a bit of a slap on touchdown. Anyone on the water around you will be sure to know that you’ve come into land as there’s some heavy resonance. Its bark is worse than its bite though as the flex eats up the impact of hard landings. Overall, the Misfit is more attuned to lighter riders than ever before requiring less effort to throw it around and the new outline has made it more enjoyable to slash and tear into chop and waves with big rooster-tail-forming carves.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.75

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood and Koroyd core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

93

HARLEM WOOD 138

€549

The Wood is Dutch brand Harlem’s freeride board, designed to suit riders from beginner to intermediate level. Wood is quite a fitting name since the vertically laminated paulownia wood core is a key part of the board’s aesthetic and overall performance. The core has been shaped with stepped rail, single concave, flexible tips and a low-medium three stage rocker, perfect for handling choppy Dutch riding conditions.

The flat midsection of the Wood’s three stage rocker is combined with a wide outline ensuring you have a generous surface area underfoot for early planing, strong upwind reach and plenty of drive. The outline tapers at the tips to reduce spray as you ride through choppy waters and the thin flexible tips slice cleanly through rough water for a comfortable shock-free ride. Despite being quite low weight, the broad outline of the Wood makes it feel large underfoot. There is a skatey quality to its ride and it is easy to loosen the edge and

slide the board around. This buttery feel can crop up from time to time especially if the rider under commits to a carve, in part due to the extended broad outline and late taper of the tips. So long as the rider commits to a more forceful heel to toe transfer, the rail bites in well and it comes around perfectly.

The stepped rail of the Wood gives lots of grip to edge against.

A rider learning to jump would have an easy time as the strong rail grip and easy flex loads smoothly. The output from loading the board is not so aggressive with the soft flex spilling some of the energy from the load. A rider wanting more pop to launch them off the water should turn their gaze to Harlem’s higher performance board, the Rocker. The single concave then does a decent job of keeping landings controlled but if you come in a bit hot you can expect to skip out. The Wood’s soft flex reduces the impact of landings and confirms the board’s placement as a very likeable freeride machine.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

NOBILE T5 137

€599

The T5 sits in Nobile’s extensive twintip lineup as an intermediate freeride board. Built around a pre-stressed wood and honeycomb core, the T5 is shaped with low continuous rocker, triple asymmetrical concave and super skinny rails. As a result the predominant sensation when riding the T5 is rigidity, speed and grip. The T5 is early to plane and quick to accelerate.

Its skinny rail and rigidity slice through chop and allow you to hold pace with little disturbance beyond the odd judder if you hit an especially large chunk of chop hard. The medium-stiff flex holds energy, wasting little, and the response is powerful for a freeride board. Spotting a ramp and hitting it hard gives an impressive pop but it requires a strong stomp of the back foot to get the most out of it. The T5 does not reward those who under-commit to their pop, instead it starts to feel overly grip-

py and difficult to release. Despite its rigidity and low rocker, landings on the T5 are remarkably smooth and the wavy channelled base provides heaps of directional stability. The asymmetric outline of the T5 is unnoticeable through landings as there is plenty of surface area throughout the board to create stability. The asymmetric shape comes into its own throughout carves, allowing a biting grip without demanding heaps of toeside pressure to achieve it. You can really fire your kite across the window knowing that you’ll hold down every bit of power you generate. While marketed as an intermediate board, to make room for Nobile’s beginner-focused offering, the NBL, it’s worth noting that the T5 is well within reach of a beginner rider’s grasp. Early on they won’t appreciate its capacity but they could certainly harness it and grow their skills with it.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EER I D E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.77

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Triple asymmetric

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood & honey comb core, glass laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

DUOTONE TEAM SERIES 142 The Duotone Team Series is probably the most widely acclaimed twintip board on the market. Over the years, the Team Series has without a doubt always come up as one of the strongest candidates amongst the huge range of freestyle boards available on the market. For 2020 Duotone has certainly upheld this reputation, recently bagging a plethora of podium spots and two world titles. The Team Series’ construction has undergone some changes for 2020. The most notable is that it has adopted the single diffusor base contouring that started on the Jaime. One of the most notable changes we found during testing was the clear increased control throughout landings, especially in choppy conditions. This is due to the new Suspensions Flex cap top shape which reduces the reverse flex, in turn allowing for a more solid frame throughout the board on hard impact landings. Coupled with

€799

the single base diffusor which spreads the water on impact you would struggle to find a board that makes stomping new tricks quite as enjoyable. It goes without saying that the pop from this board is remarkable and so simple to initiate. The Team Series is able to plane early and ride with speed. The stepped rail and diffusor base allow it to grip the water like it’s on rails. Its broad outline ensures that a lot of the rail is in contact with the water which gives plenty of grip so you can work a strong edge against the kite for maximum height in your pop. The pop is better than ever as the diffusor controls and transitions the board’s grip and contact through all phases of the load, and the release is amazingly smooth. With Duotones’ vast range of twintips, the Team Series only points its finger at one assembly of riders: the ones who want to push their powered tricks to the limit!

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.35

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single Diffusor

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon & glass laminates

Mounting system

Straight M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

Y

F-ONE WTF!? 136

€590

F-ONE's WTF!?isisa afreestyle freestyle board with forgivingness F-One’s WTF!? board with thethe forgivingness to to anyone a hero.

WTF!?’s playful perlet let anyone rideride andand be abe hero.

The The WTF!?’s playful sonality lends its its hand to to most riders butbut it it still the personality lends hand most riders stilloffers offers performance characteristics demanded by the top riders the performance characteristics demanding but the top on the F-ONE team.

It provides grip, incredible riders on the F-ONE team. Itclenching provides clenching grip, speed and an explosive WTF!?’s pop.

HRDThe railsWTF!?’s combined with incredible speed pop. and The an explosive HRD the center section help the boardsection with quick railsflat combined with the flat centre helpacceleration the board and and, coupled the tip channels withearly quickplaning acceleration and earlywith planning and, coupledand double concave, the WTF!?’s ride isconcave, insanelythe smooth andride you with the tip channels and double WTF!?’s can lock in carves fear slipping.

The WTF!?'s rockis insanely smoothwith andno you canoflock in carves with no fear er is staged The and WTF’s the elevated rockerand helps of slipping. rocker tip is staged theconsiderably elevated tip with cushioning the landings. transition rocker helps considerably withThe cushioning thebetween landings.stages oftransition the rockerbetween is smooth, giving positive off the water, The stages of athe rockerpop is sm, giving a

and the double disperses water and softens the positive pop offconcave the water, and thethe double concave touch down from even thesoftens most slammed Riding the disperses the water and the touchlanding. down from even WTF!? you can really feel the stiffness of theyou board this the most slammed landing.

Riding the WTF canbut really does notstiffness compromise the smoothness its riding and it genfeel the of the board but thisof does not compromise erates a sharp and release offitthe water. a sharp and the smoothness ofearly its riding and generates early release off the water.

The WTF!? really is the ultimate freestyle machine and its to adapt to your competency it the Theability WTF really is the ultimate freestylemakes machine andperfect its board aspiring rider.makes The capabilities of this abilityfor to any adapt to yourfreestyle competency it the perfect board faraspiring as you can push it,rider. and with its ability toofgenboard go foras any freestyle The capabilities erate a lot ofgospeed an aggressive pop your will this board as farand as such you can push it, and with itsskills ability soon advance Double await. to generate a too. lot of speedpasses and such an aggressive pop your skills will soon advance too. Double passes await.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EES T Y L E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.96 1.73

Rocker

Medium / High Low/Med

Rail Channels

Y N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double Double

Rail shape

Stepped Inverted continuous bevel underfoot, with tapered midstance

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8 7

Construction

core,&glass laminate & carbon stringers Wood core carbon laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 M6 inserts inserts Angled

Boots Compatible

Y N

Slider Proof Base

N

NAISH MONARCH 138 Kevin Langeree’s KOTA title-winning board is back on test and for 2020 we’re pleased to be taking it down a size and testing the 135 model. The Monarch is Naish’s pro performance freestyle twintip; an incredibly stiff, mid-rockered board with more aggressive base shaping than you’ll find across any board on the market. Naish haven’t skimped on the construction on the Monarch and it shows: this is a board built without any compromises. On the water, it has an entirely different feel to many boards we have tested. Few boards offer as much speed on demand and absolute grip to those who can control it. The Monarch grips like it’s on rails and has speed to match a Japanese Bullet Train. It’s important to note the value of choosing the correct size in the Monarch as it is so heavily tuned for speed that on the feet of a lighter rider it could quickly become a challenge to control the rail at speed. Like any performance board, the Monarch takes a little adapting

€699 to and you need to take the time to fine tune your stance to feel truly comfortable. This is time well spent though, because as soon as you dial it in you’ll discover how wonderfully playful this board can be. Suddenly all of that rail grip becomes a joy as you carve it aggressively into a wave face and shoot out with speed. Even with the heavy use of base channeling you can still easily release the grip and playfully slide the board around 180. All of that speed on tap and biting grip make the Monarch a great boosting board. The ability to spot a kicker and accelerate at it feels superb. It doesn’t take us to tell you that though: you’ve seen Kevin take off. The Monarch is definitely a high performance board demanding a certain level of rider. Less experienced riders and smaller riders will prefer the leg-muscle-forgiving ride of the Drive. But if you’re after a board where you can part the ocean when you pop, this board is for you.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.35

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Quad concave

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

Wood core, carbon & basalt laminates

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

NAISH STOMP 142

€649

The Naish Stomp is a board that can hold its own in any of our categories and adapts to pretty much anything you throw at it. Its composition makes it perfect for any freestyle maneuvers and its sintered base means you can smash it and trash it up any beach or slider with no fear of breaking it. Naish created the Stomp to cross over to wakestyle and park riding and this is evident in the design. The high rocker and ‘trapezoidal skid plates’ create a flat center which allows you to sit flush with your sliders, compliments with Naish’s new Flex Tips allows you to press even harder into your rail for much needed steeze. When a board evolves more towards a certain discipline, its ability excel in others can be compromised, yet the Naish Stomp offers surprising versatility. The Stomp’s channeling creates substantial drive and grip before loading

up, and the board’s release is explosive. The pop this board can make with very little effort is nothing short of amazing.

The high tensile laminates and Flex Torsion Control make the stomp so predictable and the stiff flex is what makes it so springy. The Stomp’s landings are extremely grippy due to its deep channels and its new Flex Tips have cushioned the landings compared to last year. Overall the Stomp’s performance is dictated by its design as a wakestyle and park board but its ability to adapt to different disciplines makes it perfect for any rider who has the luxury of a large variety of conditions.

Naish’s build quality also facilitates this board to be ridden nonstop without the worry of any missed sessions. From sessions in the park, powered up sessions in the flat or the big boosty days, the Stomp has it covered.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.69

Rocker

High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped Continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon tape and glass laminate

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

Y

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

97

CORE BOLT III 139

€999

The CORE Bolt III is aimed at the dedicated wakestyler and this kite-to-cable crossover screams aggression with its ride backing it up. The Bolt’s rocker is much more dominant in the center of the board, which flattens off at the tips and the layering method used in CORE’s manufacturing remove any negative rocker when landing hot. CORE’s carbon layering with the 3D paulownia core in the Bolt create an explosive pop with very little effort to initiate it, this make the Bolt a brilliant board for powered wakestyle tricks and its beefed up channels really help the board grip and track, perfecting take offs and locking in the harshest of landings. The Bolt’s tips have a V-shaped keel which cuts through the chop and takes the pressure off the knees. This is exactly what every wakestyle rider needs. Its flat section underfoot makes the Bolt playful when flat but when you edge in hard the channels and

tips lock into the water. It’s important to recognize that the test teams subjective scores reflect the boards butteriness that is perfect for its purpose. The Bolt is best dressed with a pair of boots to reach its full potential because foot straps just won’t cut it with this bad boy. The Bolt needs to be paired with boots to make use of its characteristics that make it what it is: a wakestyle board. And it will remind you of that if you try to rebel against its cause. CORE’s use of the Pro Fix grind base make this perfect for obstacles at the beach or cable and without the worry of any damage to your board. CORE’s principles have always revolved around quality equipment, and the Bolt’s manufacturing materials and finish will ensure it will last until the end of time – probably a lot longer than your handle pass days anyway.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.32

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Straight with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon laminate

Mounting system

Straight

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

Y

€549

CRAZYFLY BULLDOZER 140 The Bulldozer is Crazyfly’s board. It It The Bulldozer is CrazyFly's freestyle/wakestyle freestyle/wakestyle board. features a centre concave and triple concaved tips.

The features a center concave and triple concaved tips. The center centre concave adds to the and stability and smoothness of concave adds to the stability smoothness of the Bulldozthe Bulldozer’s ride and creates more control on heavy er’s ride and creates more control on heavy or misbalanced or misbalanced landings, while the triple tips landings, while the triple concaved tips help concaved with the speed help with the speed and the grip that the Bulldozer and the grip that the Bulldozer produces which is perfect for produces whichbefore is perfect theishard edgingby before a the hard edging a pop.for This also helped the Bullpop.

This is also helped by the Bulldozer’s Edge Control dozer’s Edge Control Track which is a stepped channel on the Track of which is a stepped channel on upwind the centre the center the board, aiding the Bulldozer andof tracking board, aidingeffort. the Bulldozer upwind andcore tracking with with minimal The Bulldozer CNC’d and Multiaxminimal effort. The Bulldozer CNC’d core with and Multiaxial ial Glass composition create a strong torsion the forgivGlass composition create a pop strong with therocker. ing flex, creating an explosive and torsion limited negative forgiving creating an explosive pop and limited With use offlex, cutting edge materials and production in Europe, negative rocker.

CrazyFly have shown that quality is of upmost importance.

Europe, have CrazyFly have shown that quality is of upmost Crazyfly reinforced the Bulldozer throughout with importance.

Crazyfly have reinforced the Bulldozer Uni-directional Kevlar, a lightweight material with extreme throughout with Uni-directional Kevlar, a lightweight tensile strength which in turn creates a board that will last material with extreme tensile strength which in turn the test of time. creates a board that will last the test of time.

The Bulldozer’s best paired with boot to maximize the full The Bulldozer’s best Its paired with boot maximize the potential of the board. aggression and to grip that the Bullfull potential of the board.

Its aggression and grip that dozer creates needs the support of boots to keep the board unthe Bulldozer needs the support of the boots to keep derfoot and edge creates hard for the huge amount of pop Bulldozer thecreate. board Overall underfoot and edge for the the Bulldozer huge amount can CrazyFly havehard created for of dedicated pop the Bulldozer can wakestyle create. Overall Crazyfly the freestyle and rider and, in thehave slicks, created the Bulldozer for the dedicated the Bulldozer will blast along at high speeds freestyle and createand an exwakestyle rider and, the slicks,ofthe Bulldozer plosive pop to add to thein extremities your riding. will

blast along at high speeds and create an explosive pop to add to the extremities of your riding.

With use of cutting edge materials and production in

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EES T Y L E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

1.73 3.1

Rocker

Low / Medium Low/Med

Rail Channels

N Y

Tip channels

YY

Concave

Single Double

Rail shape

Stepped Steppedcontinuous with delayed tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

87

Construction

Wood & glass carbonlaminate laminates& kevlar stringers Woodcore core,

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N Y

Slider Proof Base

N N

NORTH FOCUS HYBRID 139 & NORTH FOCUS CARBON 139

€649/999

North may be in their first year of production but their products are not first generation standard. It is clear to see that years of experience and skill has been applied to the design of the Focus freestyle board. The Focus has been built to two specifications, Hybrid and Carbon; the difference is in their lamination and the characteristics each layup brings. The Focus is built upon a Paulownia wood core that has a high rocker, channeled and tapered tips, and a quad concave which adds stiffness to the board. To tune the performance for Hybrid and Carbon models, different layups are used to differentiate their flex and weight. The Hybrid takes on carbon stringers and eglass layup giving it a more forgiving flex, whereas the Carbon takes on carbon stringers and biaxial carbon laminates for higher tensile strength, lower weight and a performance focused ride. The Focus Carbon and the Hybrid have a very similar feel but the carbon is distinctly stiffer and more finely tuned. Its full carbon layers opposed to the hybrid nudge this boards capabilities to another level without forfeiting the smoothness that makes the Focus so great. The Carbon requires more loading for a maximum result. It needs to be ridden hard but returns fully on your input with an explosive pop. On the water and

the Focus’s high continuous rocker and quad concave work harmoniously to create aggressive pop for your powered freestyle moves. Its channeled tips really help on the powered landings to disperse the water while gripping hard for a soft and controlled landing at speed. The Focus is a thoroughbred Freestyle board with all its characteristics driven with this in mind. Every attribute the Focus possesses are essential for a board you can trust in every step through your powered tricks. Loading up on the Focus takes a strong push on the back foot but in turn you’re rewarded with an effortless release and an astounding pop. In terms of the main performance differences between the boards, the Hybrid is easier loading, but still with impressive pop, whereas the Carbon has more torsional stiffness allowing you to further maximize the load you put through it. The North design team have really crafted something exceptional here. With a board with is aimed at the top end of freestyle it excels here, but also performs in the worst of conditions. For a board of this caliber, it’s forgivingness and simplicity of its riding make it stand out, and the option of different constructions opens it up to a much bigger category of riders.

North Focus Hybrid

North Focus Carbon

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability

Carving ability

Spray

Spray

Directional Stability

Directional Stability

Rail grip

Rail grip

Planing speed/light wind ability

Planing speed/light wind ability

Upwind ability

Upwind ability

Pop

Pop

Smoothness of landings

Smoothness of landings

Cutting through chop

Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

10

0

2.5

5

7.5

10

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Blank Weight (kg)

3.26

Blank Weight (kg)

2.18

Rocker

High

Rocker

High

Rail Channels

Y

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Quad

Concave

Quad

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

Wood core, carbon tape and glass laminate

Construction

Wood core, carbon tape and carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

99

TAKOON BONK 142

€390

From your first look at the Takoon Bonk it becomes clear that its fundamental purpose is wakestyle and park riding. Out of all the boards we’ve tested this year, the Bonk had the most rocker, so it needs boots to reach its full potential and the deep channels mean that riding with fins isn’t necessary. The single concave with loads of rocker show that the Bonk is happy to look down the barrel of a slider while still being pleased to ride behind a kite. The characteristics of this board really dictate the way you need to ride it, with its high rocker dramatically decreasing the speed and its upwind ability. That being said if you’re looking to buy this board, it won’t be for its cruising ability but its ability to excel in the park or the flat water. You won’t care that it’s power hungry once you unhook

and pop. The quality of the Bonk’s production is impressive and means this board can take a beating off obstacles and keep coming back for more. The torsion controlling top shape keeps the Bonk resistant through the heel-to-toe flex so that your presses stay sharp and you can dismount cleanly, and the paulownia wood core thins just enough at the tips to get an even tip press. For robustness, the tips’ thickness is maintained by more lamination. The Bonk is an all in one board, meaning more money in your pocket and more time on the water. Its slower speeds will make it great for a cable-to-kite crossover board and – providing you’re nice and powered – it won’t let you down on the open water and see you evolving your wakestyle repertoire with ease.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability

Blank Weight (kg)

3.31

Rocker

High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Straight mid to tip taper on core. Laminate thickens at tips for continuous thickness rail with mild tip taper

Pop

and parabolic outline

Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff) 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

7

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

NY

BRUNOTTI YOURI PRO 140 The Youri Pro is Brunotti’s performance freestyle board.

This flagship freestyle twintip undoubtedly has the identity of the 2x world champion, Youri Zoon, ingrained into all the fundamental characteristics of it. The Youri Pro’s CNC’d wood core and biaxial carbon fiber weave is designed to deliver everything a rider needs to push their freestyle moves. The Youri Pro’s design is well established and Brunotti’s development in multiple technologies allows all their boards to be specific to their purpose. The Youri Pro’s torsional stiffness and flex is predictable and snappy due to its use of a Hyperbolic Chassis and Torque Equalizer. This makes the pop on the board huge along with an abrupt release off the water. Brunotti’s use of a double concave and channels work harmoniously

€649

to make the board track and anchor down on the water which is essential when loading for those huge powered tricks.

The Youri Pro’s landings are also unmistakably smooth every time. The Active Backbone and Displacement Hull spill the water from underneath the board, cushioning even the hardest of descents and the use of carbon weave limits the negative flex when you land hard. It only takes a few minutes to get dialed into this board and the confidence it provides to push your riding is what makes it so special. Sometimes a push in technology can ruin the soul of a board but the Youri Pro, with all its gadgets and gismos, has personality you can’t help but like.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EES T Y L E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.07

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

N

Rail shape

Chamfered with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood & core, glass laminate, carbon stringers

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

ELEVEIGHT COMMANDER 137 The Eleveight Commander’s aggressive looks from its heavily channeled bottoms to its medium multi stage rocker are the reason it excels at freestyle riding. The thick 3D box rails and heavy channeling facilitate a strong tracking and speed before loading up for a big pop. The Commanders pop is gracious and predictable all thanks to its carbon stringer and flex points but it is not to be underestimated by how quick it wants to release.

The Commander’s ability to adapt to the heavier conditions has to be commended. Its channeling tanks you upwind so tacking back after a huge maneuver isn’t a killer on the legs

€619

and the flex points work effortlessly to soften the landings.

Eleveight’s fundamental development of this board really compliments the versatility of their FS kite. Instead of aiming this board at one specific discipline, Eleveight have taken a realistic approach to what a rider wants so they can capitalize on all the conditions available.

The Commander is the ideal board for the rider who want to be out shredding no matter what. With a pair of boots, the commander will push your freestyle while still going huge on the windy days with no sacrifice in either discipline.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

OCEAN RODEO TUMBLER 138 The Tumbler isisOcean OceanRodeo’s Rodeo’swakestyle wakestyle board. shape The Tumbler board.

ItsIts shape and design differs differs greatly from other other boards boards on on test test mostly mostly and design greatly from due the large large anhedral anhedral concave concave which which scoops scoops through through its its due to to the base giving giving the the board board aa character base character which which stands stands out outamongst amongst the rest rest of of the thetwin twintip lineup. up.The TheAnhedral anhedralconcave concave and the tip line and slightly channeled channeled tips tipsdrive drivethe theTumbler Tumbleronontoto water slightly thethe water and create an an insane insane amount amount of of grip gripand anddirectional directional stabiland create ity whenwhen edging.

OceanOcean Rodeo's use use of the paulownia wood stability edging.

Rodeo of the Paulownia core torsion controlcontrol in the Tumbler have in have turn in created woodand core and Torsion in the Tumbler turn acreated very stiff board and this is further by the deep a very stiff board and this isexaggerated further exaggerated by concave runs through board.the It isboard. no cruiser, nor is the deepwhich concave which runsthe through It is no it a board that as the base shape it very cruiser, nor is can it a slide boardaround can slide around as thekeeps base shape lockeditinvery in the water. itsThat mainaside, focusits is main freestyle keeps locked in That in theaside, water.

€979

and allisits attributes that. The grip created byThe the anfocus freestyle andsupport all its attributes support that. hedral concave the board forward and its stiffness grip created by drives the anhedral concaves drives the board produces a snappy with aproduces hard press on the back forward and itspop stiffness a snappy pop foot. with Ocean a hard Rodeoon has also added park base to the adding press the back foot.a Ocean Rodeo has Tumbler, also added a parkto the durability of the board of mind if you’re base to the tumbler, addingtotoadd thepeace durability of the boardhitto ting peace obstacles. add of mind if you’re hitting obstacles.

The bebe helpful when The drive drive that thatthe theTumbler’s Tumbler’sgrip gripcreates createswill will helpful choosing your B-line for anyfor sliders and obstacles.

Considerwhen choosing your B-line any sliders and obstacles. ing the beating puts through when pushing Considering thea rider beating a their rider board puts their board through freestyle, the peace of mind board will give knowing when pushing freestyle, thethis peace of mind this you board will it canyou handle the abuse, givethe you the confidence to push give knowing it can will handle abuse, will give you the your riding more. confidence to push your riding more.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.09 1.73

Rocker

Medium Low/Med

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single Double

Rail shape

Stepped Steppedcontinuous with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

core&&carbon glass laminate Wood core laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 M6 inserts inserts Angled

Boots Compatible

Y N

Slider Proof Base

Y N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

101

STRYDER HALO IX

€349

Some of the most iconic twintips on the market have been conceived from the UK, from Collin McCulloch’s Lost Cause boards to the legend Mark Shinn. With this great inspiration of British board making, Stryder have created a lineup of beautiful boards ready to tackle the grizzly conditions the UK and Europe has to offer. The Stryder Halo is cultivated for the rider who wants to push their freestyle riding, even in the worst conditions. It features a medium progressive rocker and 4mm channel throughout. The channels really benefit the Halo’s grip and tracking, making the board stable when loading up for a big pop. The Halo’s made from a wood and foam core and creates an impressively unanticipated amount of pop for a multi core

board, helped by its stiff flex. Showing its versatility, the Halo is agile through a carve thanks to its narrow tips, and its channeling provides optimum grip throughout. The Halo certainly stands out in this category for the smoothness of its ride and the Halo’s rocker allows it to cut through chop with no slapping.

Its convex profile makes planing at lower speeds possible and the speed of this board is pretty ridiculous... The Stryder Halo will be your best friend if you want to push your freestyling in your less than perfect home spot. Stryder’s design and testing has allowed the Halo to perform everything you ask of it in the freestyle department, and to be able to do this in real-world conditions and not just the butter flat lagoons of Brazil.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.08

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

None

Rail shape

Straight continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood and foam core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

TAKOON SPIDER 138

€490

Takoon have designed designed the the Spider Spider as as aa lightweight lightweight board board for for Takoon have riders perform both both hooked hooked and and unhooked unhooked freeriders wanting wanting to to perform style.

ThisThis is a medium-high rockered boardboard with rail freestyle. is a medium-high rockered withand railtip channeling and a stepped and tapered rail andrail carbon and tip channeling and a stepped and tapered and laminate.

First impressions are that it isare extremely carbon laminate.

First impressions that it iscomfortable extremely through chop, something we wouldn’t normally say so comfortable through chop,that something that we wouldn’t boldly about board.a The Spider runs The a gradual normally say asofreestyle boldly about freestyle board.

Spidertaper thickness and reduces towards the tips. The tips runsinaits gradual taper inthis its thickness and this reduces have increased as a result and flexibility absorb theaslumps towards the tips.flexibility The tips have increased a very youlumps to hold pace resultwell andallowing absorb the very wellthrough allowingchoppy you to water. hold For rockeredchoppy board it has aFor verya respectable upwind reach pacea through water. rockered board it has a which can be attributed a combination rail to and very respectable upwindtoreach which canofbestepped attributed a rail channeling a good doserail of grip and drive.

Additioncombination of giving stepped rail and channeling giving a ally, is quite welland paced for the rider who wants to dabble gooditdose of grip drive.

Additionally, it is quite well in both hooked unhooked freestyle.

A rider whohooked rides solepaced for theand rider who wants to dabble in both and ly in bootsfreestyle. only doing unhooked freestyle might prefer the unhooked A rider who rides solely in boots only

slower pace of thefreestyle Takoon Bonk, thisthe is purely doing unhooked mightbut prefer slowera matter pace of of preference.

Spider can be ridden awith straps boots and the Takoon The Bonk, but this is purely matter of or preference. pops well forcan unhooked freestyle.

The Spider be ridden with straps or boots and pops well for unhooked freestyle.

The high rocker of the Spider scoops well into the pop giving a very clean,rocker yet quite reactive, withwell goodinto height.

The high of the Spiderpop scoops the An popadded benefit the use of carbon laminates thatwith the swing giving atovery clean, yet quite reactive,ispop good weight of the Spider is very low making easy maneuver in theis air. height.

An added benefit to the ituse of to carbon laminates Landings are well cushioned by the isgenerous taking that the swing weight of the Spider very lowrocker making it away a lot of the impact thatLandings can be expected from carbon easy to maneuver in the air. are well cushioned boards.

The Spider’s railtaking is easyaway to engage and disengage and by the generous rocker a lot of the impact that the rocker isfrom noncarbon catching making it Spider’s very easyrail to is slide can high be expected boards.

The around.

Overall, thedisengage ride is quite a generously easy to engage and and playful the highwith rocker is non springy and easy landings make for an easy and catchingpop making it very easy towhich slide around.

Overall, the rewarding ride. ride is quite playful with a generously springy pop and easy landings which make for an easy and rewarding ride.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

F R EES T Y L E

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.74 1.73

Rocker

Medium / High Low/Med

Rail Channels

Y N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single Double

Rail shape

Stepped Steppedcontinuous with slight mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8 7

Construction

core&&carbon carbonlaminates laminate Wood core

Mounting system

Angled M6 M6 inserts inserts Angled

Boots Compatible

Y N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

103

DUOTONE ULTRASPIKE TEXTREME 165 New into the 2020 lineup, Duotone have created the Ultraspike. Adopting an increasingly popular parabolic outline, the Ultraspike is able to ride lower in the water. This is paired with a heel side bias footpad setup for improved rail contact meaning better edge control for upwind drive. Additionally, the Ultraspike utilizes an offset fin placement with bias towards the heel side edge. By placing fins on the heels and center line and leaving no fins on the toeside, the Ultraspike benefits from extra grip to support traction and directional stability. A single concave and broad outline ensure that the Ultraspike is early to plane and a medium flex ensures the board is suitably efficient in light winds while still being easy enough to perform a respectable load and pop.

At 165 x 47.5 the Ultraspike was one of the largest boards on test, yet it sat comfortably midrange on weight alongside boards 15cm shorter than it. Some of this weight reduction

€1,099

can be attributed to the use of extreme carbon along with 45º biax glass. Switching up some of the Ultraspike’s laminate for Textreme carbon creates a lighter board weight with greater flex response. The combination of medium flex and carbon/ glass laminate makes the Ultraspike relatively easy to load considering its length with enough response to enable simple pop maneuvers. Duotone’s Space Flex Technology has been applied to the Ultraspike’s tips. The flexible tips ensure optimum fin contact and make it easier to initiate and maintain grip throughout transitions and powered riding. This is an added bonus as the softer tip flex improves the board’s handling as wind strength increases and the rider becomes more powered. The soft flexing tips increase the dynamic rocker line of the Ultraspike allowing the rider to spill some power.

This increases the usable wind range of the Ultraspike and enables the rider to control power for longer as they prepare to move onto their strong wind weapon of choice.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.18

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Straight with mid to tip taper + parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core, glass & carbon laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

GOOD BOARDS AMMERDOOR 145 True to its name, the Ammerdoor is Good Boards light wind door board offering early planing and more opportunity to get out on the water for beginner to intermediate riders. A particular feature of note on the Ammerdoor is its clean aesthetic and lightweight yet hard wearing construction. Despite being one of the lighter door boards on test, it was also one of the more robust due to its sintered slider base bottom sheet and, while this board certainly doesn’t belong near any features, it is good to know that it can handle some heelside wear in the shallows. And Good Boards haven’t stopped with the sintered base, they have also added carbon stringers to boost its stiffness and response. This has made it particularly playful for a lightwind board as it loads and releases well

enough to throw it around a bit. Typical of its door like stature, the Ammerdoor has a low continuous rocker and broad outline. Combined with a single concave and slim, stepped rails this is a standard recipe for a light wind board, providing early planing and solid upwind performance. With such an efficient shape, this board excels in low wind, flat water conditions. As the wind picks up and chop starts to form, the thin rails cut quite well for such a large board and spray is deflected quite lightly for a board of its size, primarily due to the slight taper at the tips. Then, despite its width, the Ammerdoor is quite controllable at high speeds with enough tail flex that a high amount of back foot pressure can be used to reign it in before it races off.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

LIGHT WIND

€599

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.8

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

N

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core, carbon stringers, glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

Y

SPLEENE CARBON PRO SESSION 145

€849

is instantly in the responsiveness and low you’ve ever wondered if it possible were possible to have If you’veIfever wondered if it were to have funfun in in lightlow fect swing weight ofrecognizable the board. Overall this means little light wind andand throw shapes youwould wouldonon a energy loss, which rider translates into alittle rapidenergy load swing weight of for the the board.

Overall this means wind throw shapessimilar similarto to how how you a regular regular powered takeaa look lookupon uponthe theSpleene SpleeneCarbon Proand loss, pop from output is powerful withload height whichwhich for thethe rider translates into a rapid andto pop powered session, session, take Carbon Pro Session 145x46.

As smallest the smallest offering on perform an is array of tricks.

With atobroad from which the output powerful with height comfortably Session 145x46.

As the offering on Spleene’s lightcomfortably Spleene’swind lightline wind up, the Session Carbon Pro Session is playfuloutline and double board is extremely stable perform an arrayconcave, of tricks.the With a broad outline and double up,line the Carbon 45 is Pro agile45and agile and playful enough to keep you enthusiastically and comfortable on landings. concave, the board is extremely stable and comfortable on enough to keep you enthusiastically heading to the beach on heading to the beach on even the most marginal of landings. An especially enjoyable of Pro the Carbon even most marginal of forecasts.

The Carbon Pro SessionAn especially forecasts.

Thethe Carbon Pro Session 45 makes use of what enjoyable aspect of theaspect Carbon SessionPro design is the low of thethis board, this means use ofJet what they call anshape Advanced Jet Bottom they call45 anmakes Advanced Bottom base to improve the base45’s Session design 45’s is the low weight of weight the board, means that that little inertia and the rider can easily control their shape toof improve the hydrodynamics the board and quick-there hydrodynamics the board and quicken it of across the water. is there little is inertia and the rider can easily control their speed of rotation position theboard. board.This Thismakes makesthe the en it acrossathe water. This is essentially prominent doublespeed This is essentially prominent double concavea running of rotation andand position ofof the from tip concave to tip between fins combined a feelfeel much smaller underfoot. reliablelow board much smaller underfoot.Along Alongwith with a reliable runningthe from tipwhich, to tip between the with fins which, com-board slim rail bined whichwith bites intorail thewhich water, ensures great drive andgreatlow wind windperformance, performance,it it also reassuring to know is is also reassuring to know that that the Cara slim bites into the water, ensures upwind ability.

Spleene’s primary focus inprimary the Carbon Session 45a has huge useable wind range bon Pro Pro Session 45 has hugeauseable wind range and superb drive and upwind ability.

Spleene’s focusPro in the Car-the Carbon Session has to buildhas a board is aboth lightweight superb edgewhen control the wind picks up.

The slim control the when wind picks up. The slim rail cuts easibonbeen Pro Session been tothat build board that is both light-and edge and responsive, a combination that is not so frequently rail cuts easily through chop keeping the ride smooth and ly through, chop keeping the ride smooth and the rider with weight and responsive, a combination that is not so frequentachieved on light wind boards. Weight has been reduced the rider with full control as the board picks up pace. This full control as the board picks up pace. a board you can on lightlaminate wind boards.

Weight haslayered been reducedis a board through ly theachieved use of carbon which is multi you can trust upon when the This windisis marginal to trustaupon when thewhile wind is marginal provide a fun through thecarbon use of carbon is multi layered onprovide on the board.

This latticelaminate offers anwhich improved reflex fun session not feelingto pressured to session while not pressured downsize moment a bit of the board. This carbon lattice offers an improved reflex anddownsize and stiffness-to-weight ratio over glass epoxy layups, and the feeling moment a bit of to chop starts the to form. ratio over epoxy layups, and the ef- chop starts to form. the effectstiffness-to-weight is instantly recogniable in glass the responsiveness and SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.41 1.73

Rocker

Low Low/Med

Rail Channels

N N

Tip channels

N Y

Concave

Double Double

Rail shape

Taperedcontinuous with tiny parabolic outline Stepped

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

87

Construction

Woodcore core&&carbon carbon laminate Wood laminates

Mounting system

AngledM6 M6inserts inserts Angled

Boots Compatible

N N

Slider Proof Base

N N

F-ONE BIG ONE 160

€500

F-ONE have released the Big One into its 2020 line up. True to its name, the Big One is a dedicated lightwind board and F-ONE have packed it full of features to maximize its low end performance. Using a combination of parabolic outline, double concave and center and heel side fins on the Big One’s broad outline, F-ONE have created a board that is especially early to plane. The parabolic outline provides excellent rail grip as the Big One sits lower in the water allowing the rider easier leverage upon the board. Combined with the double concave through the base you get a feeling for a very predictable rail grip throughout the length of the board with access to tons of upwind drive. By placing fins on the center line and heels, leaving no fins on the toeside, the Big One has plenty of

extra grip to support traction and directional stability. As one of the heaviest, and the largest, boards on test, it is a testament to the board’s flex that it does not feel overly cumbersome underfoot. The board was manageable through chop and fairly easy to reign in when tested close to being overpowered, and the overriding sensation from the Big One is the feeling of traction. For the beginner rider, or a rider pushing to ride in the lightest wind they can, this is very useful as the rider can focus upon their kite while trusting that the board is doing its job. This is a board suited quite strongly to heavier riders in light wind or beginner riders wanting to improve their upwind performance when the conditions are marginal and in these departments it is very well thought out and engineered.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

4.05

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Flat continuous rail with parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Angled M6 inserts

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

10 5

NAISH ORBIT 152

€649

The Naish Orbit is a truly dedicated light wind board for riders wanting to get out and ride in the most marginal of conditions. Following suit with the majority of Naish’s board line up, the Orbit has taken a slight redesign on the 2020 model. On first glance, you notice that the outline has become squarer than its predecessors as a result of shaping the tips to a broad corner. There is clear focus upon maximizing the low end capability of the board. The very boxy outline gives more rail contact with the water for great upwind drive in less wind. Combined with an offset concave and slim rail, the Orbit grips the water producing heaps of lateral drive and upwind ability. With a longer rail section biting into the water, the board feels more locked in. However, as a tradeoff, it feels a little more challenging to release in the pop than the pre-

vious generations. Additionally, this shape gives more spray than the previous year’s model with inset shaped tips. Naish’s focus on stiffness and strength pays off brilliantly with its low end ability. The stiffness, which is very noticeable as you crossover from flat to choppy water, gets it planing early but requires well applied force to initiate pop without input from the kite. The board feels heavy in hand yet this feeling is less apparent underfoot thanks to an offset stance which allows the rider to apply heel side pressure easily. This is certainly a board better suited to heavier, more powerful riders who can demand more performance from the abundance of features CNC’d into its core and high tensile laminates, but if that’s you then the Orbit will deliver a surprising amount of freestyle performance for such a big guy…

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.97

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Double with heel bias

Rail shape

Continuous with step either side of mid stance

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon stringers, glass laminate

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts - Heel edge bias

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

CARVED IMPERATOR LW 157 Carved take a line of no compromise in the development of their boards as they market their boards as a premium product with premium materials and a premium price point. The Imperator LW is no exception to this rule and Carved have taken many of the features of their smaller Imperator models and applied it successfully into door form, making it quick, responsive and surprisingly agile. At 157x45 the Imperator LW is a whopper, yet underfoot it feels much smaller. This is mostly due to its lightweight construction and relatively easy to initiate pop. The paulownia wood core of the Imperator LW is wrapped in a 30º biaxial carbon weave which optimizes the board’s flex and response. While better suited to larger riders due to its size, even the sub 70kg riders could quite comfort-

€1,299

ably throw the board around rotations. The shaping of the Imperator LW is well designed to maximize its efficiency and its overall range of use. A keel like spine forming into a double concave quickens the board allowing it to plane especially early and have great speed. Additionally, the transition from concave to slim rail provides immense grip for lateral drive and huge upwind reach. With a focus on increasing comfort in the ride, Carved have narrowed the tips of the Imperator LW to reduce spray. Even riding into chop, this has been effective, with the Imperator deflecting a low amount of spray for a wide board. For the heavier rider after a fun, agile and responsive light wind board, the Imperator LW is a definite box ticker.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

LIGHT WIND

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.78

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Top bevel with slight taper to tips

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

BRUNOTTI EARLY BIRD 150 The Early Bird is Brunotti’s efficient and spritely light wind dedicated board. Packing many more features than the average light wind door, this board offers a playful and fun ride in less wind than you might imagine is possible. The Early Bird cuts a sleek figure; its CNC’d core trims away any unwanted weight, leaving only the key features that keep this board energetic enough to throw around and light enough to feel confident while doing it. The control of torsional stiffness and flex through the use of a hyperbolic chassis and active backbone keep the ride smooth as you transfer from rail-to-rail throughout a carve and responsive as you load the board into a trick. This is a board capable of doing much more than cruising in a straight line. The Early Bird’s outline has been well

€549

shaped to minimize spray whilst maintaining a strong rail grip and lateral drive. The Diamond Shape Rail tech implemented by Brunotti drastically tapers in at the tips preventing a salty shower as you ride, and a slight parabolic curve of the toe and heel side rails allows the board to sit a little deeper in the water for better edge control. The overall effect of this shaping is a board which planes early and drives upwind easily whilst keeping a large usable wind range which won’t top out too early and become uncontrollable as the wind starts to pick up. For the rider wanting to extend their wind range with little compromise in performance, the Brunotti Early Bird is a strong solution.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

NOBILE NBL 155

€479

While certainly not a door, Nobile’s largest size offering of the NBL comes into the light wind category as it is by no means small at 150x45. This is truly a board to get you out on the water having fun in less wind.

Using a typical freeride outline combined with elliptical concave, the NBL is early to plane and stable for beginner riders to use as their first board or to retain as their light wind weapon. The slim rail of the NBL slices through chop, making it smooth to ride and efficient upwind with plenty of lateral drive. With a medium flex the board cruises through chop with little disturbance. The combination of a slim rail and

single concave provides ample grip and the medium flex offers a respectable flex and release going into jumps. Landings are very smooth with ample surface area to create a stable platform and enough flex to ensure contact with the water is shock free. Benefitting from its freeride shape, the NBL is easier to carve than many light wind boards on test, cutting a tighter radius with comfortable speed on the way out. The NBL would be a great option for the progressing rider wanting a stable starting platform they can keep as their light wind toy for future enjoyment. Heavier riders needing ultimate light wind performance would be better suited to Nobile’s largest board, the Flying Carpet.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.18

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

107

FLYSURFER RUSH 137 The Rush is now in its second generation as Flysurfer’s freestyle and Big Air oriented twintip. This generation comes with cleaner graphics allowing the vertically laminated paulownia wood core to catch your eye through a UV and scratch resistant top sheet and translucent base. The outline of the Rush tapers quite early from a wide center stance to narrower tips. Flysurfer have combined this with a medium-high rocker, easy loading flex and a mild double concave which steps into pair of deep rail channels. The top shape of the board holds its thickness late towards the tips, thinning for flex midway between the outer stance and the fins. Its rail is stepped to keep a sharp rail contact which it does especially well thanks to its pairing with the rail channels, giving lots of grip for upwind drive and to load against when going for pop. On the water, grip is the first noteworthy characteristic of the Rush. The board sits low in the water and you’re secure in the ride, yet there is little drag. Despite its channeling and rocker line, the Rush has some very accessible speed, enough

€779 that it felt quick paced for the freestyle aspect of its ride and well attuned to Big Air. Upwind performance of the Rush was respectable. As with any board with a higher rocker line, some upwind performance is lost. Riding though chop was easy while riding at a steady pace with the thinned tips dicing and devouring every lump. At a quicker pace, there’s a lively reflex which requires a little taming. The medium flex of the Rush makes it exceptionally easy to load and the reflex from the board is springy. Going into freestyle maneuvers doesn’t require much effort from the rider, it gives back a lot of what you put into it and really comes alive if ridden aggressively.

This liveliness can catch riders out on landings, however, as the Rush rebounds very energetically and can bounce out if you’re not sure to stomp the landing hard through the rear leg.

Particularly heavy landings suffered the negative flex typical of a medium flex board and would remind you with a tell-tale slap. For the rider who hasn’t committed fully to either Big Air or freestyle, the Rush steps in providing a very sporty ride.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.69

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Double angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

F-ONE TRAX HRD LITE TECH 137 The Trax HRD comes in LT version and Carbon version with the latter being better suited to riders who ride more aggressively or ride in especially flat water conditions. Its construction is founded upon the same CNC shaped wood core with Helical Rail Design, single stepped concave and flexible tips.

It differs through the lack of TPU material through its core and the exchange of laminates from being entirely glass fiber to a layering of glass and carbon fiber for a stiffer ride, a more powerful flex response and a significantly lighter weight board. The Helical Rail Design differs entirely from any other board on test, with the tapered rails meaning that the board most effective on its edge, but flatten it off and you’ll appreciate the additional playfulness it delivers compared to other boards in this sector. The stepped concave running through the base of the board keeps it directionally stable through

€540

general riding, but if you want to release the edge and slide it around, this can be achieved easily. Going into jumps or tricks the Trax HRD Carbon has an amazingly smooth pop. The graduation from thick mid stance to flexible tips is tapered well to control the flex of the board. The load is very progressive and the board releases off the water with ease and with lots of energy. Since the Trax has quite a flat midsection, it relies on the chamfering underfoot to deflect water away and soften landings which it does very well. In the Trax HRD Carbon, F-ONE have balanced a strong blend of freeride comfort and freestyle performance. Deciding which Trax you want to buy can be determined through which element of your riding you want to prioritize. The Trax HRD Carbon’s stiff ride and explosive pop offers excellent freeride fun but also a healthy dose of freestyle performance.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

F R EER I D E / F R EES T Y L E C R O S S OV ER

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.24

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Center line channel

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

HRD

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, Lite Tech & glass laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

NAISH MOTION 138

€549

It is clear, even upon casual first observation, that Naish have been busy making changes to their twintip line up for 2020.

This is very apparent in the Motion, Naish’s premium freeride twintip which has undergone a lot of changes since we tested its predecessor and has taken strides towards creating a more comfortable and forgiving vibe for a rider who wants to develop their skills. Visually, you’ll notice the translucent, chevron-esque cut-outs in the Motion’s tips. These replace the stiffer wood core to create a more isolated, dynamic flex in the tips for a smoother ride though choppy water and more forgiving landings, and the effect is instantly apparent. The Motion has kept its freeride rocker with triple exponential concave from its previous years and continues to have great acceleration, and a reactive flex. The 2020 model has a broader outline in the corners keeping more contact surface in the tips to load off. The angled fin platform and reinforcement ensures the fins are engaged and gives you a plenty of grip. The Motion is a

medium flex board with great ability to dampen the effects of choppy water making it a very cruisy ride. This is a board very much built for comfort. The lighter rider will benefit greatly from its easy loading and plentiful rail grip as it carves cleanly upwind into a takeoff. Heavier riders may be better off looking instead at the Drive, as its stiffer flex will provide a more lively performance when relying on the board’s pop, not the kite’s, to initiate a trick. The playful and fun ride of the Motion is surely confidence inspiring for a progressing intermediate rider. The ride is smooth and the new flex tips eat up choppy water, and make it easier to rescue a bad landing. As a bonus it feels easier than ever to form tight carves. The flex tips combined with beveled edging keeps you feeling locked in and confident to power through carves with speed. Overall, this very aesthetically pleasing design provides lots of versatility for the lighter rider advancing from freeride to freestyle with the added bonus of offering great carve-ability for riding in waves.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.24

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Triple

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

NORTH ATMOS HYBRID 144 The Atmos Hybrid takes its place in the North range as an intermediate freeride and Big Air focused board. It makes use of a parallel outline more typical of a freestyle board but adapts a slight taper at the tips to keep it more free moving, quicker to carve and less likely to throw up spray. A medium rocker runs through the base of the board giving the Atmos an easy riding blend of low end ability and an effective load and release. A gentle single concave adds to the boards rail grip and lateral drive and runs into the tips which are quad channeled providing a locked in feel as you load them through the pop. Rail contact feels sharp and the board cuts through the water well on its edge and drives its way upwind efficiently.

The Atmos Hybrid is a combination of a regular Eglass layup with the addition of unidirectional carbon tape to reinforce the boards longitudinal flex characteristics. The Atmos Hy-

€649

brid holds a strong load through the center of the board while keeping the tips flexible. As a result it is very direct and positive in its response to being loaded. Off its edge there’s a playfulness to the Atmos Hybrid and it loosens off easily when you want to slide around. While this is great when it’s intentional, it can demand more focus on positioning when coming down from a jump or trick. The Atmos requires a well-directed landing downwind with back foot pressure to keep it riding out cleanly. The Atmos’s dependency on speed leading into the pop marks it well within its range of freeride, Big Air and hooked-in freestyle riding. Anyone after lower speed unhooked pop should look to the broader, more channeled Focus for full freestyle performance. The Atmos Hybrid is an excellent choice as a board for second season riders and for riders with Big Air aspirations.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.83

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon tape and glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

10 9

TAKOON LUX 136

€390

For a rider who wants to do a bit of everything, the Lux offers a playful and responsive ride keeping up with every move you pull and even saving you on a few with its amazingly cushioned and secure landings. As far as the price to performance ratio is concerned, the Lux is generously shaped with ample features contributing to its ‘luxurious’ ride. Takoon have added a distinguished double concave with a prominent center spine that runs the length of the board acting like a hull. At the tips this forms into additional channeling for added grip and control.

The hybrid construction using both fiberglass and carbon fiber laminates keeps the Lux responsive without being overly stiff. The Lux is a well-paced board with very accessible speed and control throughout. The three stage rocker keeps the base flat for great efficiency and the high V’d double concave doles

out a great amount of drive and stability throughout acceleration. The high V’s advantages reach far through the Lux’s use making it more comfortable to ride. Riding though chop, it felt different to many boards on test giving a sensation of float rather than slice as it passed over choppy water. To describe the sensation, it feels more similar to riding powder than piste; you feel the rise and fall of the surface beneath you, but it feels far less taxing on your edge. For this same reason, landings on the Lux were sensational as it would cut the surface tension and displace water extremely well to cushion even the hardest landings we gave it. Takoon have made a board that is forgiving, and therefore quite accessible to a broad range of riders with a strong enough performance to take a rider through their progression from freeride into freestyle.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.64

Rocker

Low/Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core, carbon & glass laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

BRUNOTTI DIMENSION 139 The Dimension is Brunotti’s freeride/freestyle crossover board tuned to suit intermediate riders and beyond. It’s a very accessible board capable of suiting a large range of riders due to a strong balance of shaping characteristics which keep it comfortable and forgiving without hindering its broad performance range. Using the same Active Backbone and Torque Control as the more advanced boards in the Brunotti range in its CNC shaped wood core, the Dimension is a fun and lively board with an impressive amount of pop and stable landings.

Ideal for progressing riders, the Dimension offers a do-it-all ride. The medium rocker with double concave and chamfered rails make the board easy to play on and off its rail. While on its rail, you get an impressive edge control with which you can easily control the pace of the board and its upwind reach.

Once you choose to flatten off, the medium rocker allows a catch-free switch into toeside. The smooth engage and disengage action from the Dimension’s rail works wonderfully

€599

in the pop. In combination with the double concave, responsive flex and tip channeling, the board loads well, holding a great rail bite against strong load and breaks away cleanly off the water with good height. Taking a more freestyle outline has given the Dimension a broad, stable platform to land on.

Landings are smooth, with the channels and flex tips cushioning impacts and providing plenty of stability. The carbon stringers through this year’s board enhance the landings by reducing some of the negative flex. It’s possible that there has been a reduction in torsional flex as the board feels quicker to re-engage its heel side edge after landing when returning to a sharp drive upwind. This is a genuinely confidence-inspiring board with a forgiving yet well performing ride. The Dimension covers a wide user range and would not be outgrown as rider skills develop to some top-end maneuvers. A board guaranteed to let you leave the water happy and will have you improving your riding game in no time.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

F R EER I D E / F R EES T Y L E C R O S S OV ER

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3.01

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Chamfered with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate, carbon stringers

Mounting system

Angled

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

ELEVEIGHT MASTER 139 Eleveight have created the Master for riders who enjoy crossing over their riding style between freeride and freestyle.

Now in its second generation, the Master has taken the positive aspects of the previous model and added a carbon stringer to get more performance out of the flex pattern. This is paired with a biaxial glass laminate which gives the board a medium flex with some torsional resistance to keep it responsive through transitions from heel to toe. The Master’s outline is broad and curves in elliptically towards the tips. This width supports the freestyle focus of the ride and the pulled-in tips reduce spray and improves the carve radius. The board’s rocker is staged, rather than continuous. As a result, it benefits from the flatter base profile for its planing speed and accessibility upwind. The rocker beyond the central flatter section scoops

€589 quite high and the Master earns a decent pop from it especially if you drive it off a piece of chop or a wave. Worthy of note is just how easy it was to access this pop. The edge holds brilliantly into the pop and initiates well off a swift stomp of the back foot.

At its base, the Master is double concaved with channels.

There’s a lot of grip available yet it’s not overbearing. You never feel too locked in when you want to release either on the pop or when sliding around. It’s also very effective through the landings, giving ample stability, seemingly no matter how hard you come down. For anyone wanting a board that will keep them entertained without scaring them, but still has a remarkable pop tucked away under the hood – this is that board.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.62

Rocker

Medium/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Straight with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core, glass laminate, carbon stringer

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

HARLEM ROCKER 138 Harlem have built the Rocker as a go-to board for anyone enamored with the game of Big Air and a fondness for freestyle. Whether you like straps and board offs, or boots and unhooked freestyle, the Rocker’s performance ranges far enough to keep you entertained through each style. The Rocker’s paulownia wood core is styled with a large rocker, single concave and aggressive tip channels. The top shaping of the board has a stepped continuous rail and cuts in at the centerline to allow the board some torsional flex. This combination makes a board that grips well through its rail as it adapts well to choppy waters. The rail continues to bite and drive through the lumps, and trucks upwind especially well considering its rockerline. The medium flex of the Rocker is easy to load and very progressive, arcing far upwind when taking off into rotations. With a low swing weight, rotations are easy to control and you can effortlessly roll into a double.

€749 When required, there’s a buttery, playful ride that’s accessible and controllable. The Rocker’s sharp gripping rail is easy to engage and breaks free on demand, allowing you to slide around as wanted. Through carves, the Rocker requires a strong toeside pressure to keep the rail biting for the tightest carve. Popping the Rocker is very smooth. The load is progressive and there’s plenty of shape to load against in the single concave and channeled tips. The release is very clean off the water and you get a decent height in the pop. The Rocker was most impressive in the landings. The high rocker and medium flex combination cushion the landings for a very comfortable touchdown and the tip channeling and torsional flex add plenty of grip and platform stability to see that you won’t bounce or skip out. Overall the Rocker offers a very enjoyable ride that will handle pretty much all of the conditions you can throw at it.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

111

NOBILE NHP 139

€699

The NHP has been in the Nobile twintip line up for quite some time, getting tweaked here and there to make improvements year-on-year. These days its feel is so specific that you’re hard pushed to find a board that you could say rides like it. Starting with a slim railed asymmetric outline, Nobile have added a hydrodynamic rocker and elliptical double concave. The result is an exceptionally quick and early planing board that fires its way around a tight radius carve; it’s an exhilarating feel that we guarantee you’ll want to play on repeat. ‘Speed’ and ‘control’ are the key feelings on the NHP. The double concave is relentless in its grip and you’ll be sure to never skip out. The board is packed with features including Complete Anti Vibration (CAV) Technology. You can ride this board hard through chop and barely feel a judder. Better still, the NHP keeps spray low and away from your face. If we were to pass any comment on the spray, it would be that although it deflects low it does deflect

quite hard. If anything, that’s just a sign of how quick the NHP rides; so quick that you’re aware of the pressure of the flow hitting your ankles.

Nobile use Pre-Stress Technology in the NHP giving it a lot of energy in its core. For a glass fiber board, the NHP has an impressive reflex that can be firmly attributed to the responsive pre-stressed core which tapers into flex tips. When loading the board into tricks, the combination of high tracking and energetic reflex takes a little getting used to as it drives far upwind before releasing off the water. The construction of the NHP doesn’t just lend itself to carving and loading far into rotations, the double concave and hydrodynamic rocker also do an excellent job of softening landings, breaking surface tension and providing plenty of directional stability and drive so that you can ride out with pace.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings

Blank Weight (kg)

2.77

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood & honey comb core, Kevlar, carbon & glass

Cutting through chop

laminates 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

LIEUWE SHOTGUN 136 Lieuwe created the Shotgun to be an all-rounder capable of meeting the needs of riders wanting to mix freeride and Big Air with a dose of freestyle. The Shotgun’s 3D shaped paulownia wood core uses deep channels in the tips and a single concave for an excellent balance of grip and speed. In addition to the base concave, Lieuwe have given the Shotgun a slim stepped rail allowing it to bite hard into the water for lots of rail grip. This step down is used to a greater extent in the tips to increase the tips flex keeping the fins perfectly engaged and the ride effortless in all water conditions. The Shotgun’s medium rocker and responsive flex make it playful and encouraging to ride. It loads easily and produces a rewarding pop that will keep you coming back for more. Keeping it on the water can be just as fun as the Shotgun’s rail is easy to re-

€689 lease and engage and the medium rocker makes it playful to slide around. True to its name, the Shotgun is quick. Its tips, both flexible and narrow in outline cut well though the chop making it easy to charge at a worthy ramp amongst the chop.

Loading up for takeoff, it has plenty of grip so you can work a strong edge against the kite for maximum height. The load is progressive and the release powerful as it fires you up. Feeling light underfoot, it is very comfortable in the air and on landing the medium rocker lessens the impact. Despite being tagged as an all-rounder, it’s worth noting that the Shotgun would go under appreciated at the feet of a beginner rider. Its ability to extend its use into freestyle and continue to reward makes it the ideal choice for intermediate riders pushing their boundaries.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

F R EER I D E / F R EES T Y L E C R O S S OV ER

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.44

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Double angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

STRYDER HAVOK III 136 It’s refreshing to see a lesser known brand turning up and producing a contender for our attention. Coming out of southeast England, Stryder kiteboards’ Havok III has been created to perform in the rough water and strong wind conditions frequently found at Stryder’s local beaches. The Havok III is a dedicated Big Air board promoted with an intention to crossover into freestyle. The primary feature of note on the Havok III is the heavy use of channeling throughout the rails and tips. The 4mm deep channels produce an astounding amount of traction which enable the rider to drive against the kite with tons of grip. Combined with a medium three stage rocker, the board is able to cut upwind brilliantly in both its upwind drive and at the firm press of the back foot going into sent jumps. The carbon layup and wood/foam core then give

€449 the Havok III a light swing weight which feels below size underfoot. Overall, the Havok III gives a sensation of being very locked into everything you do on the water. From tight carves which seemingly cling to the water like you’re on railroad tracks to an extremely quick-to-engage rail coming down from jumps, especially when coming in fast. This sensation is quite difficult to shake as the Havok III does not disengage its grip particularly easily, a factor which inhibits its release off the water when performing any unsent tricks relying solely upon the board’s pop. Riders choosing this board should desire unshakeable grip and a true focus on Big Air. Anyone looking for more play and skate to slide their board around, and an easier release for freestyle tricks, would be better suited to the Halo IX.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.71

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Straight continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood and foam core, carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

RRD BLISS LTE

€599

Roberto Ricci Designs have held the Bliss in their line up for many years. Now onto its 7th generation the board has been well tuned to find the balance between comfort and all-round performance. This is instantly apparent in its broad outline which has a late taper towards the tips, which provides a stable platform for freestyle landings yet kicks up little spray as the tips rarely glance the chop badly. Adding further to the comfort and performance crossover aim, the Bliss steps down drastically from its core width into a skinny ABS rail which slices cleanly through the water giving the Bliss an easy upwind drive and smooth ride. The build of the Bliss is sturdy.

There’s a bit of weight in the thick core of the board but it’s not a hinderance. The swing weight it quite comfortable and the board doesn’t feel difficult to maneuver at all. The Bliss has

short and narrow rail channels on each rail which bite nicely into the water for an easy to apply rail grip. These lead back into a flat centerline keeping the board more playful when flattened off. At the tips there is further channeling to add a bit more grip when loading and landing. These features combined with a medium flex and medium rocker make for a very accessible ride for a freerider stepping into freestyle riding.

Loading the Bliss is a smooth and relatively effortless experience and the pop you receive from it is plenty to take you into most tricks. Overall the Bliss is a very accessible board, one which can take an early rider far into kiting progression. The broad outline gives it a stable platform for both lightwind performance and supporting landings and the flex is forgiving of most conditions and hard landings you might challenge it with.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.97

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

N

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core, glass laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

113

CORE FUSION 137

€949

Four generations in, the CORE Fusion continues to impress.

This time taking many of the successful improvements of the previous model and making fine adjustments to improve upon the board’s strength and weight to extend its all-round performance. The Fusion consists of a paulownia wood core which is laminated with 30º biaxial carbon. Between the footstraps, the thickness of the wood core has been reduced and replaced with, yup, more carbon. This not only reinforces the board for a stiffer mid stance, it also reduces the weight of the board making it feel more agile underfoot. From tip to tip, a double concave runs through the length of the board. This is separated by a keel like center spine which adds stiffness to the midline of the board as well as breaking surface tension for a smoother ride through chop and extremely cushioned landings. The

double concave then runs into a series of channels. The medial channels follow the double concave, extending to the tips, adding extended grip for more control when loading to pop.

Outer channels run three quarter length of the rail providing all of the grip and edge control required to support the thick, straight rail running between the footstraps. The Fusion’s vee rocker shape provides an exaggerated rocker underfoot to increase pop while the tail flattens out for better grip and acceleration of the board. The board is easy to load and the improved tip grip has refined the pop, keeping it more consistent for a cleaner release. This extends the range of this very accessible board which will support early riders by providing directional stability and lateral drive while still providing plenty of performance and fun for seasoned riders pushing their hooked in freestyle.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

An F-ONE twintip getting its time under the microscope.

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.52

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Straight with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

"Lightest board in the test" MADE IN SWEDEN

c6boards.com

DUOTONE JAIME TEXTREME 139 Excellent pop, super smooth landings and an ability to effortlessly crank upwind. All good reasons to not go about changing too much in the Jaime Textreme; so Duotone didn’t. Aside from a graphics change, the 2020 Jaime Textreme stays true to self, which the test team were very pleased to see as there’s little we’d change at the risk of hindering its stellar performance. The Jaime Textreme is built upon a wooden core CNC shaped to feature a slim stepped rail, channeling in rails and tips, torsion control and a double diffusor which parts the water so well Duotone might just have to rename the Jaime the Moses. With soft tips but a medium-stiff center, the Jaime Textreme is dynamic in its response to choppy water. For the rider who rides aggressively, the Jaime Textreme can charge through the chop and its absorption tips and skinny rail slice through rough waters. A less aggressive or lighter rider who is less firm in their front foot pressure will receive a small kick

€1,099

back or skip as the Jaime Textreme glances the chop and may prefer the softer, more comfort-focused ride of the standard Jaime model. There’s a lot of energy in the Jaime Textreme.

The double diffusor adds strength to the center line of the board and wrapping it in Textreme carbon and 45º biaxial carbon laminates add to this strength, making its reflex snappy and powerful. Carbon boards can be somewhat stiff on landings but the double diffusor base combats this excellently, parting the water and breaking the surface tension for a cushioned landing that is also very stable. The Jaime Textreme does well when ridden with power and speed, it transfers energy well into the pop with a very dynamic release that explodes you off the water. Whether your aim is Big Air or freestyle, the Jaime is certainly capable of performing, and for the rider who wants to do both it’s a pretty flawless option.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.4

Rocker

Low/Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double Diffusor

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

DUOTONE SELECT TEXTREME 135 The Select Textreme is Duotone’s mid range performance freeride twintip. Dressed in Textreme and 45º biaxial carbon laminates, it is lighter, stiffer and quicker than the Select standard model. The Select Textreme is shaped with stepped mono concave and thin biting rails which create superb rail grip and drive. It thrives on being ridden fast and eats up chop due to its rounded freeride outline, flex tips and medium flex. For anyone into Big Air and board offs, the speed carries well into take off with the rail grip holding down power leading into well delivered release off the water for consistent initiation of tricks. For landings, the board relies more on flex than shape. It’s low-medium rocker and shallow concave based so if you come down especially quick you need to stick it cleanly downwind. Anyone riding more technically and landing harder will want a bit more channel and rocker to smooth out fast and harsh landings from their tricks. The

Textreme version has kept all of the comfort of the standard Select but increased the performance. It’s rare to achieve this as the standard compromise for adopting carbon is a harder ride. The Select Textreme, however, has a flex that makes it very forgiving and accessible while it offers more speed, grip and direct feedback to make you more in tune with the board.

This flex optimizes the board's contact with the water making carving a dream. If you enjoy taking your twintip into waves, you’ll love the sensation that the Select Textreme gives as, with just the right amount of flex, it torsionally and longitudinally molds to the water for a controlled and intuitive ride.

This board could suit the majority of kiters, it’s that accessible and has such an all round range of performance. For the other 10%, riding more aggressively and specializing further into freestyle, attention should shift to a more dedicated freestyle board.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

P R EM I U M C R O S S OV ER

€1,099

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.21

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

F-ONE TRAX HRD CARBON SERIES 136 The Trax HRD comes in LT version and Carbon version with the latter being better suited to riders who ride more aggressively or ride in especially flat water conditions. Its construction is founded upon the same CNC shaped wood core with Helical Rail Design, single stepped concave and flexible tips.

It differs through the lack of TPU material through its core and the exchange of laminates from being entirely glass fiber to a layering of glass and carbon fiber for a stiffer ride, a more powerful flex response and a significantly lighter weight board. The Helical Rail Design differs entirely from any other board on test. Named helical for the pattern of its tapering and chamfering throughout the length of the rail, this is done in symmetry from the mid stance to the tips and leads into a thinner flexible tip which provides lots of grip behind your rear foot and allows for a progressive flex. The tapering and chamfering that occurs underfoot and at the mid stance point

€710

of the board makes the edge development incremental rather than being sudden, and as a result the board is very adaptive to changing water conditions or increases in power. This is a board most effective on its edge, but flatten it off and you’ll appreciate the playfulness it delivers. The stepped concave running through the base of the board keeps it directionally stable through general riding, but if you want to release the edge and slide it around, this can be achieved easily. Going into jumps or tricks the Trax HRD Carbon has an amazingly smooth pop. The graduation from thick mid stance to flexible tips is tapered well to control the flex of the board. The load is very progressive and the board releases off the water with ease and with lots of energy. Since the Trax has quite a flat midsection, it relies on the chamfering underfoot to deflect water away and soften landings which it does very well. In the Trax HRD Carbon, F-ONE have balanced a strong blend

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.71

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Center line channel

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

HRD

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

Wood core, carbon & glass laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

NAISH DRIVE 142

€849

Taking inspiration from the Motion, the Drive uses the same outline, channeling and torsion control but finishes it off with layers of 3K carbon for a stiffer, high-performance ride.

Adopting the same outline change for 2020, the Drive now has a broader tip outline to load off as you pop. Where the Motion opted for softer flex tips, the Drive remains unchanged maintaining the same springy reflex we loved last year and the 4° angled fin platform continues to keep the Drive engaged throughout the pop. Through its base the board uses a continuous rocker with triple concave and a stepped rail which offers grip, acceleration and responsive flex. There's a small channel between the mid stance on both heel and toe side rails biting into the water which contributes to the insane amount of grip. The deep rail channel counters the beveled

edges of the drive so that the rider can enjoy optimum edging performance and softened landings as the beveled edges deflect water outwards on touchdown. Loading the Drive up to pop is a treat; it stores energy well as it scoops upwind and releases it in an explosive pop off the water, ideal for anyone pushing their freestyle or Big Air. The board is lively and playful, feeling small underfoot. It’s agile and great fun – especially when throwing snappy turns – with every action getting a direct response. Despite being stiff, the Drive handled chop very well, though the lighter riders on the test team preferred the softer flex of the Motion for this aspect alone. For the heavier or more aggressive rider, this is a non-issue and, when branching into freestyle, the Drive will perform as you demand, returning every bit of energy you give into your tricks.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.76

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Tip Concave Y

Concave

Quad Concave

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, glass & carbon laminates

Mounting system

Straight M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

117

CORE FUSION4 137

€1.099

Four generations in, the CORE Fusion continues to impress.

This time taking many of the successful improvements of the previous model and making fine adjustments to improve upon the board’s strength and weight to extend its all-round performance. The Fusion consists of a paulownia wood core which is laminated with 30º biaxial carbon. Between the footstraps, the thickness of the wood core has been reduced and replaced with, yup, more carbon. This not only reinforces the board for a stiffer mid stance, it also reduces the weight of the board making it feel more agile underfoot. From tip to tip, a double concave runs through the length of the board. This is separated by a keel like center spine which adds stiffness to the midline of the board as well as breaking surface tension for a smoother ride through chop and extremely cushioned landings. The double concave then runs into a series of chan-

nels. The medial channels follow the double concave, extending to the tips, adding extended grip for more control when loading to pop. Outer channels run three quarter length of the rail providing all of the grip and edge control required to support the thick, straight rail running between the footstraps. The Fusion’s vee rocker shape provides an exaggerated rocker underfoot to increase pop while the tail flattens out for better grip and acceleration of the board. The board is easy to load and the improved tip grip has refined the pop, keeping it more consistent for a cleaner release. This extends the range of this very accessible board which will support early riders by providing directional stability and lateral drive while still providing plenty of performance and fun for seasoned riders pushing their hooked in freestyle.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.4

Rocker

Low/Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double Diffusor

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

CRAZYFLY ELITE II 136 From concept up, the Elite was designed to be a high end freeride board that would exude quality both on and off the water.

Originally billed as the most expensive and lightest kiteboard on the market, the CrazyFly Elite II follows the same course, upgrading itself only to bare the latest and greatest in carbon technology upon its ultra-light, double concaved, paulownia and air core foundation. The Elite II is served to its new owner built and ready to ride and neatly packaged in a custom board bag in which the foam is CNC’d to perfectly fit the board and fins. Nice touch. The Elite II delivers exhilarating speed and an impressively comfortable, yet energetic ride. Commonly, carbon boards are regarded as being a hard ride as a compromise to receiving higher performance. The Elite II proves this compromise does not need to be made. By using their patent pending Air Core Technology to hollow hexagonal sections out of the paulownia wood core, CrazyFly have not only made

€1,649 the Elite II lighter, they’ve also affected the longitudinal and torsional flex making it a more forgiving ride. Taking the Elite from country road cruiser to Formula 1 racer is done through the premium application of carbon. Two layers of carbon are applied to the top and base of the board. The first layer, a 45º angled CompFlex 4T5 stiffens the torsional flex keeping it sharp through heel to toe transitions. The second layer uses ultra-thin and very high tensile strength HMX-CF2 carbon for longitudinal strength and reflex. This combination of premium carbon laminates are applied pre-preg to ensure that only the optimum amount of resin is used to keep weight low and performance high. The result is a board that is bullet train fast, agile, and extremely responsive in its load and pop. It feels small underfoot against its size making it a dream to invert with and its well-tuned sporty feel provides an energy that will have you charging around, carving and boosting all day.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

P R EM I U M C R O S S OV ER

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

1.93

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Flat with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

6

Construction

Wood & air core, carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

CRAZYFLY RAPTOR EXTREME 138 For their 2020 line up, CrazyFly have extended the Raptor range again to now include the Raptor Extreme. It takes its place as their Big Air and freestyle crossover board capable of being ridden in straps or boots. The Raptor Extreme’s design is based upon the design of the 2019 Raptor but upgrading it to a carbon layup to increase the responsiveness of the board.

The use of quadraxial carbon laminates has shed weight off the Raptor Extreme and stiffened the torsional flex of the board making it firmer from heel to toe, while allowing it to remain flexible throughout its length for a comfortable ride at speed through rough waters. The board’s shape combines a broad outline with only a slight pull in at the tips to reduce spray. The more freestyle-oriented tip width keeps a greater tip surface to load against and pop. These tips have a center V

€899

which splits off into tip channeling providing masses of grip and drive. It is most distinguishable at the tips but continues to run the length of the board supporting directional stability and control though chop along with breaking the impact of hard landings. Throughout its length, the Raptor Extreme has a stepped rail which bites cleanly into the water for superb edge control. This is paired with a rail channel which extends a three quarter length of the board adding further grip.

The Raptor Extreme boasts great acceleration. Combined with its impressive grip it forms the ideal recipe for Big Air. Its pop is rapid and fires you into the air with a bang. Overall, the excellent build quality of the Raptor Extreme shines through and intermediate-plus riders will reap the benefits of its strong freestyle and Big Air performance.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

NORTH ATMOS CARBON 144 The Atmos Carbon is North’s premium intermediate freeride and Big Air focused board. The Atmos uses a parallel outline more typical of a freestyle board but tapers slightly at the tips to allow it some freeride performance making it easier to carve and less likely to generate spray. The Atmos’s stepped and tapered rail bites into the water for a strong grip and efficient upwind reach with plenty of lateral drive. A medium rocker runs through the base of the board giving the Atmos an easy riding blend of low end ability and effective pop. The Atmos’s single concave adds to the rail grip and lateral drive. This runs into quad channeled tips for a locked in feel as you load against them. The Carbon version of the Atmos offers a more premium construction and upgrades from the Hybrid by replacing Eglass with biaxial carbon fiber and introduces unidirectional carbon reinforcements, which stiffens the board both torsionally and longitudinally for a more responsive and energetic

€999

ride. The Atmos Carbon can hold down lots of power and is very direct and positive in its response with a very abrupt and powerful pop. With the aggressive shaping features in the tips and only a slight concave in the base, the Atmos Carbon has a buttery feel to its ride which is easily accessible but can be a hindrance if a landing is not stuck cleanly as the board can glance and skip out. An intentional stomp downwind with some rear foot pressure to engage the tip channeling soon corrects this. The Atmos’s performance range is dedicated to hooked-in freestyle and Big Air riding. Riders after channel controlled unhooked pop should look to the broader, more contoured Focus for full freestyle performance. The Atmos Carbon lends itself well to riders who want to jump and grow their skillset as well as riders with a more powerful style who will love the reflex of the more responsive Atmos Carbon and have their local (or the world) WOO record in their sights.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.84

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Stepped with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood core, carbon tape and carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

119

BRUNOTTI FUSION 140 Brunotti provide an all-round freestyle board for the intermediate and advanced riders out there in the form of their carbon Fusion board. Lightweight yet strong, with a Compression Core construction and Torque Equalizer for extra torsional stiffness, the board is well suited for both unhooked freestyle and big air maneuvers. The Fusion utilizes a broad outline which rounds slightly at the tips. The broad outline allows the board to plane early and the concaves set onto each rail funnel the flow of water along the rail for very accessible planing speed and lateral drive. This speedy and secure rail carves around with smooth rail-to-rail transfers with consistent rail transfer thanks to the Fusion’s hyperbolic outline.

As the board’s outline is broad, the Fusion’s carve radius is larger than other boards in the Brunotti lineup such as the Dimension, which has more focus on freeride performance.

The Fusion’s double concave along each rail with a flat center

€899 section provides plenty of grip and lends itself well to upwind riding. Impressive and explosive pop when loading up hard comes from the Torque Control rail edge, which results in the Brunotti Fusion becoming a playful and lively board which is sharp in its response. The pop is more sudden than it is progressive but with a firm press into the back foot there’s a good return on the load you press into it. The broad outline and responsive flex create a platform on which it’s easy to perform all your favorite freestyle tricks. As important as the tricks, landings on the Fusion feel reasonably cushioned.

The flat center of the Fusion can spill out but the rail concaves are quick to re-engage after landing and allow you to ride out with control and speed. Overall, the Fusion is a great option for those riders wanting to do everything, with accessible performance through both intermediate and advanced abilities.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.69

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Double (Rails)

Rail shape

Chamfered with mid to tip taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood & PVC foam core, glass & carbon laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

NOBILE NHP CARBON 139 The NHP Carbon is Nobile’s premium asymmetric freeride/ freestyle crossover board. It makes use of a hybrid concave shape which utilizes a tip-to-tip double concave in conjunction with elliptical concave at the boards center. In combination with Nobile’s hydrodynamic rocker this gives the NHP Carbon exceptional drive and upwind reach. Adopting the same outline as the standard construction NHP, the NHP Carbon has slim stepped continuous rails which wrap around an asymmetric board shape with heavily tapered tips on the toeside. This allows the board to roll from heel to toeside effortlessly and with an immense amount of grip. The carbon layup stiffens the torsional flex of the NHP Carbon and holding toeside is even easier on the premium construction board. Carving is rapid and gripping, both physically and in the sense of thrill as you whip the kite across the window and

€999

charge around a tight radius after it. It’s about as close as you can get to the surfboard feeling from a twintip. The NHP feels very light in the air, though it’s only slightly lighter than the standard construction and, while it is a nice perk to have a lighter board, Nobile’s use of carbon in the premium NHP is very much focused on the reflex benefits that come from the higher tensile strength material. When loading the NHP you get a feel for just how much power it can hold down. Almost feeling like it could hold indefinitely without a swift stomp from the back foot to initiate release. The result is explosive and the NHP carbon shoots you off the water. For riders after exhilarating pace, aggressive carves and a strong freestyle performance, the NHP has a lot to offer. For optimum performance choose the NHP Carbon, or for a more comfort-focused ride, choose the standard construction.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

P R EM I U M C R O S S OV ER

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.61

Rocker

Med/High

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Stepped Continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

7

Construction

Wood & Airlite core, & carbon laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

C6 TEXTREME 137 “The lightest kiteboard in the world.” This is the claim of C6, a company new to the market producing boards straight out of Sweden. There’s only one true way to reduce weight in a board, less wood, so the C6 has a super thin core of which all shaping for performance can be seen visibly through both the top and base of the board. Not even a gram of timber has been allowed if the C6 designers deemed it unnecessary for strength or performance. So why, after a 10 day test across seven riders ranging from 65kg to 95kg riding the C6 hard, have we not broken this board? The answer seems to be: Textreme carbon. The layup of ultra-thin Textreme carbon layers, combined with biaxial carbon layup, add heaps of rigidity and strength to the low weight, thin core of the C6. From the start you should note that this board is responsive and springy. No energy is wasted on any action initiated with this board. With a prom-

inent double concave separated by an aggressive center spine, the key feeling to this board is rail grip and plenty of speed.

The C6 is quick. Pressure the front foot, put your kite low and you soon appreciate the amount of speed it has on tap and how instantaneously you can access it. All of the speed and rail grip, coupled with an energetic flex response, make this a truly fun boosting board. In the air, the low weight of the C6 is delightful. Anyone fond of board offs will enjoy how incredibly light and nimble it feels in hand. On landings there is enough flex and rocker to soften the landing. Additionally, the protrusive center spine which separates the C6’s double concave does a great job of breaking surface tension and ensuring directional stability, especially when landing fast. If you want to ride up beaches or hit features then look elsewhere, but if you love speed and Big Air then look no further.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

€1.049

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

1.73

Rocker

Low/Med

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

Y

Concave

Double

Rail shape

Stepped continuous

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

Wood core & carbon laminates

Mounting system

Angled M6 inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

LIEUWE SHOTGUN CARBONARA 136 Lieuwe’s carbon coated freeride allrounder is in its second year of production. The responsive and agile Shotgun CARBONara is the stiffer alternative to the standard glass fibre layup of the ever popular Shotgun. Taking the approach, that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ the CARBONara remains unchanged in its build gaining only some pretty rad looking base graphics which we certainly appreciate. Despite being ticketed as a big air board, the CARBONara holds true to its Shotgun roots and remains a true allrounder. It’s amazingly comfortable to ride around and holds a carve like it’s on rails.

Its 3D shaped paulownia wood core uses a blend of single concave and a stepped rail which leads into flex tips and serves up an abundance of drive and plenty of grip, flex and pop. Being stiffer than its counterpart, the Shotgun, the CARBONara

€899

is definitely livelier underfoot but its pulled in tips cut easily through chop making it easy for you to keep up its quick pace. The grip and pop are generous enough that, while faster than most dedicated freestyle boards, you get a super smooth release than any budding freestyler could enjoy as they cross over into unhooked manoeuvres. When it comes to doing what the CARBONara really wants to do – boost – the impressive grip allows you to lock in your edge as you load against the kite and the release is sublime. The low swing weight of the CARBONara gives you confidence to make any rotations and adjustments while airborne and coming in to land is rewarding as the landings are slap free with little negative flex leaving you in full control as you ride out with pace.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

3,36

Rocker

Low

Rail Channels

N

Tip channels

N

Concave

Single

Rail shape

Beveled with mild tip taper and parabolic outline

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

5

Construction

Wood core & glass laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 Inserts

Boots Compatible

N

Slider Proof Base

N

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

121

RRD POISON LTD 137 The year 2020 sees Roberto Ricci Designs into its 25th year of producing windsports equipment. To celebrate their quarter century RRD have gone about cleaning the slate on their flagship freestyle board, the Poison LTD. Its new shape sees it through a complete redesign of outline, base contours and top shaping. It adopts a squarer outline with only a slight taper inwards towards the tips. This allows it to hold more rail contact; the reasoning being: more rail contact = more load resistance = more height. For this purpose, it works very well.

Purely with the aim for reaching lofty heights with a good vertical takeoff, the strong yet slim tapered rail cuts well into the water allowing you to really lever against the kite. Its staged medium rocker cuts a decent reach upwind allowing you to really force your kite to the edge of the window on takeoff. It is then an impressively vertical pop, relying purely on edge resistance and a strong send of the kite rather than an overly technical pop off the water. For freestylers who want more unhooked performance, the Juice is the board for them. Beyond the thin tapered rails, the Poison LTD thickens inwards

throughout its core. It is CNC shaped to thin longitudinally towards the tips where the core recedes to allow increased flex to support landings and absorb some chop. The base of the Poison LTD has adopted a triple stepped channel through the central section of the board on each rail. This runs into a zero concave platform throughout the rest of the board. The triple channels combined with flat midsection of the board create a tracky feel. Throughout a carve it drives a wide radius and when landing from a jump it bites instantly into the water.

While the directional stability is great for not skipping out, it does require a very accurate landing downwind to prevent too much feedback on touchdown. The winning quality to the triple channel is its astounding grip which allows you to lock down heaps of power so you can ride it pretty lit. For 2020 RRD seem to have increased performance but narrowed the user range for the Poison LTD. If riding heavily powered and boosting is your sole intent and you’re confident in your landings, you will get on with the Poison LTD. If you desire more versatility and comfort, opt for the Bliss.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

â‚Ź889

OBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Carving ability Spray Directional Stability Rail grip Planing speed/light wind ability Upwind ability Pop Smoothness of landings Cutting through chop 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

Blank Weight (kg)

2.41

Rocker

Medium

Rail Channels

Y

Tip channels

N

Concave

N

Rail shape

Light step with taper

Flex score (1 soft, 10 stiff)

8

Construction

Wood core, carbon stringers, carbon laminate

Mounting system

Angled M6 tracks

Boots Compatible

Y

Slider Proof Base

N

Taking a moment to compare on the sand bar.

Heading back to Dakhla Spirit base camp for lunch…

Is it possible to have too much testing time?! Nah….

Jimmy’s not just about that stats…

W I N N E R S :

B O A R D S

FREERIDE WINNER – NORTH PRIME The Prime was loved for its all-round performance and accessibility, providing a very easy ride that can satisfy riders of all levels with its responsive flex and rewarding pop.

STAND OUT – NOBILE T5 The T5 was a favorite for its biting rail grip and speedy upwind drive which would lead into sharp pops with clean pops for any rider mastering their jumps.

STAND OUT – SLINGSHOT MISFIT The Misfit’s new design impressed us with its improved carving and easy to achieve pop with better height and easier release than previous generations. Guaranteed to please any progressing rider.

CROSSOVER WINNER – TAKOON LUX The test team loved the Lux’s high performance and forgiving ride. Its supremely cruisy ride through chop, snappy pop and super smooth landings make it a top contender for freeride and freestyle riders.

STAND OUT – NAISH MOTION We were very fond of the Motion for its smooth chop handling and playful ride. The updated flex tips have added to the performance of the Motion, improving its carves, and giving an easy loading pop for lighter riders and smoothing out landings.

STAND OUT – HARLEM ROCKER The Rocker impressed upon us a brilliantly playful ride that was fun to switch around. Combined with its rewarding pop and well supported and stable landing, the Rocker is a very versatile board.

PREMIU M CROSSOVER

C A T E G O R Y

North Prime

Takoon Lux

WINNER – C6 TEXTREME We loved the C6’s low weight and impressive reflex. The C6 is quick off the mark with phenomenal acceleration and an incredibly lively feel. All of that energy transfers well into an impressive pop and well stabilized landings thanks to some deep concaves and a center spine parting the water.

STAND OUT – DUOTONE JAIME TEXTREME The test team enjoyed the Jaime’s energetic ride with lots of energy in the pop along with its beautifully smooth and stable landings as the double diffusor base breaks surface tension and keeps the board tracking exactly where it needs to be to control the landing. Despite its high performance capabilities, the Jaime is accessible to all riders.

STAND OUT – LIEUWE SHOTGUN CARBONARA The Carbonara was most liked for its lively flex response and outstanding pop. The stepped rail and channeled tips lock and load to fire you skywards. The pop is superb and the landings comfortable and secure due to some well applied tip channeling.

C AT EG O RY W I N N ER S : B OA R D S

C6 TEXTREME

S PEC I A L AWA R D S

I N N OVAT I O N WINNER – INOBO The test team had thought that this would have been a gimmick but were actually very impressed with how it performed on the water. And it is certainly a talking point on

B EST PR ES EN T ED WINNER – CRAZYFLY ELITE II The CrazyFly Elite II board is a thing of beauty, but it was also easily the most beautifully packaged board – think Apple packaging. It missed out on a podium finish in the Premium Crossover category by a tiny margin but won this category by a mile.

FR EEST Y LE

CrazyFly Elite II

C A T E G O R Y

Here are the stand out boards that didn't easily slot into a category.

WINNER – ELEVEIGHT COMMANDER

STAND OUT – DUOTONE TEAM SERIES The adaptation of the double diffusor base upgraded the Team Series’ already stellar performance to give it superb landings. The Team Series tracks well and its immense grip transfers into the pop as it loads up brilliantly and explodes in the pop.

STAND OUT – F- ONE W TF!?

The extremely playful WTF!? impressed the test team by making performance freestyle comfortable in all conditions. We enjoyed its excellent control at speed, easy ride through chop and excellent pop, followed by easy to stick landings.

Eleveight Commander

LI G H T W I N D WINNER – SPLEENE CARBON PRO SESSION

STAND OUT – BRUNOT TI EARLY BIRD The Early Bird's low wind capabilities weren't the only positive aspect to its ride. Brunotti have packed the Early Bird with tech that they apply to their premium boards, making it a responsive and playful ride in low winds.

STAND OUT – GOOD BOARDS AMMERDOOR The Ammerdoor’s broad outline and easy planing gets you riding early, making the most of low winds. This was a favorite not only for its early planing and upwind drive, but also its bombproof construction and clean aesthetic.

Spleene Carbon Pro Session

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

B O A R D S

The Carbon Pro Session’s agility, low weight and excellent pop made it a favorite amongst the light wind boards. With a performance on par with many regular sized boards, this twintip will see you enjoying yourself even in light winds.

W I N N E R S :

The Commander stood out for its aggressive base shaping and exceptional pop which was consistent and generous. The heavy channeling makes landings super stable as it aligns well as you stomp the landing downwind.

125

FOIL TEST CRITERIA USABLE SPEED RANGE

CARVING

We used GPS to measure our speeds riding each board. The speed reflects the speeds at which the board was comfortable to the rider, so not necessarily the absolute top or bottom speed a foil is capable of.

This score shows a foil that is comfortable moving into turns at slower speeds. So for switching from heel to toeside riding or for riding rolling swell.

TOP SPEED

An overall judgement of how balanced and stable you feel riding the foil. A low score does not necessarily mean a bad foil (a race winning foil would probably get a 1), but a high score will be a better option if you are just starting out.

Does the foil want to go fast and does it feel comfortable traveling at higher speeds? Obviously not all foils are designed for speed, but if they are then they should get a high score here.

PITCH STABILIT Y

How comfortable is the foil on its ‘forward and backwards’ axis? The higher the score here, the more stable it is when it lifts and the easier it is to keep perfectly on track when you are riding.

YAW STABILIT Y

How comfortable is the foil on its ‘side to side’ axis? The higher the score here, the more stable the foil is when riding at an angle or when moving through transitions.

FO I L T ES T C R I T ER I A

OVERALL STABILIT Y

LOW SPEED TACK STABILIT Y

For foiling tacks, can you slow down to make the tack easier, or do you need to go into the tack at speed? A high score shows a foil that is more forgiving and lets you tack at slower speeds.

UPWIND

How good are the upwind angles on the foil?

Clearly all foils will out-perform your twintip, but this score shows how tight the foil was happy to go to the wind while still maintaining speed.

TRACKING

An assessment of how easy and comfortable the foil was to set in a straight line and to hold that angle and increase speed. A high score shows a foil that you could comfortably lock in and put the pedal down.

NOISE/ WHISTLE

Was there any whistling or humming in the foil set up or was it completely silent? A score of 10 indicates that there was no noise at all from the foil.

EASE OF ASSEMBLY

How easy was it to assemble the foil and attach it to the board? A high score shows that minimal tools were required and assembly was quick, easy and relatively obvious without referring closely to instructions…

No, not Dakhla, but the foil guys were going to fast for us to bag a great shot, so here's one from a little further afield.

CRAZYFLY UP + F-LITE The Slovakian brand present a beautiful high end, light weight, and proudly European produced foil from pre-preg carbon on a full length 91cm mast.

Although the front wing is on the smaller and racier looking side compared to many freeride setups (it’s just under 600cm2), we found it got flying fairly early and once in it quickly stabilized and had a very wide sweet spot and useable range, particularly as you push it faster. On tacks and jibes, there’s a hint of gullwing in there so considering its dimensions felt very trustworthy, although foot placement needed to be quite delicate. You can scream around your transitions rapidly and still feel comfortable you will make it. In its range, the pitch stability is sublime. Fixings and fittings are very simple and the whole thing breaks down completely with seven screws and bolts

meaning transport is a synch. The F-Lite board is a super lightweight twintip construction which has the familiar build from the CrazyFly twintip line up, and it matches really well with the lightweight Up foil setup. It’s a micro board with a great EVA pad, and although it has little volume, it planes nice and quickly and lets the foil do the work. Once flying it feels very connected to the foil and allows the subtle weight transfer through immaculately with no flex whatsoever.

Although marketed as accessible, which it definitely is, this combo has limitless potential, particularly if you’re looking for something lightweight, portable and robust.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

Usable speed range

10

DUOTONE SPIRIT CARVE 950 + FREE 4’6 The Carve 950 is the freeride foil in the Duotone range. Stiff, lightweight carbon wings bolt into an aluminum fuselage which slots neatly into the mast system. All fixings and surfaces bolt on well with an elegant simplicity, and nothing seemed to loosen off under usage. The way the front of the fuselage blends into the front wing is slick and looks hydrodynamic.

Duotone have really extended their their foil range this year and under the feet the Carve 950 wind felt extreme maneuverable and has a really playful nature. It’s easy to get on with, and doesn’t drop you or throw you off for no reason during turns. You can slice around wherever you want and link wonderfully fluid turns with a forgiving nature. It’s a freeride foil of excellent proportions, but is no slouch in the speed department either. Doing some

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

distance runs on the Carve 950 made for some comfortable and simple riding.

The Duotone Free 4’6 has a low price and low volume construction aimed at the learner and freeride segment. Although there’s no adjustable track, the inserts are in a sensible position and will be compatible with most foils on the market. The deck has a unique finish with a sand textured cork deck, so you get a little shock absorption and plenty of grip without the need for an EVA pad. It’s an intelligent and maybe environmentally conscious approach.

For a low volume board, there’s barely any flex in the deck and the precise body weight inputs required for foiling are not dulled. It’s a brilliant setup that feels a lot like a skateboard underfoot, and definitely pairs with the Carve 950 foil well. Think of it as a water-based skateboard in powder, and you are somewhere close…

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

TheKiteMag.com

2.5

5

7.5

10

Usable speed range

DUOTONE SPIRIT GT 565 + PACE 4’6 The Spirit GT 565 is the new high aspect foil from Duotone. It’s quite a rework from last year and claims a five knot increase in the top end. You have the now common combination of a carbon wing set with an aluminum mast and fuselage. Three bolts hold the front wing in place very solidly, the mast slots into the top of the fuselage tightly and there’s absolutely no movement in the entire arrangement. The stabilizer comes with four shims to adjust the rear angle to trim the foil to your preferences of speed and maneuverability.

The Spirit GT has a hint of gullwing in the front wing, helping stabilize the relatively small and high aspect foil and makes it all the more usable. Even under really hard turning it’s really resistant to ventilation, allowing the foil to be very maneuverable considering its size. One of the most noticeable aspects of riding the GT is how composed it remains when you push it hard. We were clocking GPS speeds much higher than we thought with it as it’s so smooth. It’s

an ideal setup for an experienced rider looking for a foil to get even faster on, and would definitely hold its own in an amateur race environment. The Pace board is a brand new board from Duotone this year aiming for smooth and easy riding. The mid-size 4’6 we tried makes foiling as simple and as comfortable as it gets. There’s plenty of volume there to get going early, the track box allows for plenty of adjustment to find your comfortable body position. If you come off the foil to do your turns, it provides a wonderfully stable platform to switch feet and progress. Its shape means it doesn’t want to nose dive, and if you are unfortunate enough to run out of wind during your session, there’s plenty of volume to limp back with. It’s nicely constructed without being too heavy with plenty of foot strap insert options. Duotone have really upped their foil game this year and it’s great to see such a comprehensive and well-designed range of equipment, particularly in this ‘racier’ segment of the market…

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

Usable speed range

10

F-ONE ESCAPE 510 AND FOILBOARD CARBON The Escape 510 is the high-performance wing in the F-ONE range and has a definite free race application. It’s unashamedly fast and uncompromising.

It’s a beautifully crafted pre preg carbon boomerang, coupled with the matching stabilizer, it bolts onto the same modular system as the IC6 V2. Although this wing is very rapid, once up to operating speed the Escape has a stability which is surprising, particularly when tacking and jibing. It’s a performance machine, no doubt, but has an element of ease of use to it. Mere mortals can get on with it with relative comfort. It feels larger than it is and has a lot of poise, without the scary moments you would expect. It makes the speed very manageable which is a testament to its sound design. A fantastic example of how speed, of course, is worth nothing without control.

The F-ONE Foilboard Carbon series stems from shapes of the bamboo collection, but is leaner and meaner in rails and dimensions, and of course the carbon construction shaves quite bit of weight off. It really feels feather light both in the hands and underfoot. The whole board is designed for out and out speed and the rocker line has been adjusted for as early release as possible.

The 4’10 we tested coupled with the Escape is a seriously fast bit of kit, with barely any windage. The light weight means your inputs can be exceptionally accurate, and get you round more technical and fast jibes and tacks. It’s a beautiful board to behold and should definitely scare the competition at any start line. You could happily apply this board to advanced freeriding and exploration work as well as a full race scenario.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

Usable speed range

129

SLINGSHOT SPACE SKATE 65CM / APOLLO 60CM + DWARFCRAFT 4’6 The Apollo 60 carbon front wing is a classic Tony Logosz shape, which carries a lot of its design features over from the popular full carbon Ghost Whisper 633 from last year but is now compatible with the widely used modular Hover Glide platform which utilizes stiff and robust aluminum masts, fuselages and top plates. It’s a special aftermarket front wing, which is exceptionally well balanced and has that renowned pitch stability meaning your transitions and foot changes are reassuringly effortless and easily maneuverable. For a wing of this size you can really push its top end further than anticipated, and you shouldn’t be afraid to take it out in waves as it glides through white water without so much as a wobble. The Space Skate 65cm is the wing that comes as standard on the F-Kite package and is the entry level foil from Slingshot this year on the Hover Glide platform.

As a learner platform it’s pretty sublime, with excellent stability in all directions. It has a gentle carving nature which feels like you are wafting slowly through a field of fresh power. The Space Skate excels in its low speed, and

is very difficult to stall. There’s an air of versatility about it, and you could definitely use it behind a boat to aid your learning curve or even in small surf. Complement this setup with a longer mast and the bolt on Apollo wing and you are not going to outgrow it in a hurry. The Dwaftcraft 4’6 has a change in materials and now has a brushed matt finish. The reassuring concave deck remains with the addition of a luxurious corduroy deckpad, adding a little comfort for the feet and more than enough grip. It’s a great board for beginners through to intermediates as it has the correct mixture of volume and size. The foot strap inserts are intelligently placed and are adjustable enough to suit the majority of different sized riders. It’s a versatile and friendly platform that can help propel your foiling career from zero to hero. It’s clear Tony Logosz is obsessed with foiling in all its forms and Slingshot now have a truly comprehensive foiling range with the Hover Glide system allowing you to bolt on whatever you fancy for any situation…

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

Slingshot Apollo wing 29 27 Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

Usable speed range

10

Slingshot Space Skate wing

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

TheKiteMag.com

2.5

5

7.5

10

Usable speed range

ALPINE RAVE CARBON French foil connoisseurs Alpine have a relentlessly evolving foil program and last year’s foil proved to be one of the standouts. For this test they provided us with their new Rave Carbon. This is geared towards the freeride/freestyle market but borrows features from their more rve focused foils as well. The most notable feature is the S-Shape mast which is designed to minimalize ventilation to provide you with wobble free acceleration when you turn on the speed before sending the kite and the Rave Carbon really does seem to like to spend its time out of the water. It is a very light foil and you can really get some nice hangtime without feeling like your legs are an inch longer when you land. Once again we were very impressed with the build quality of the foil – it really does feel premium (and the price point reflects this). But when you hear that the mast is made of “pre-impregnated carbon baked at 200 bar

pressure from a high modulus fiber” you can see where your $ goes… We had a range of wings on test: the Lift 800, Wave 700 + Wave 1200. What is fantastic about this line up was the consistent feeling across the different wing sizes. Of course the 1200 lifted earlier and topped out earlier, but the ‘sweet spot’ across the range of wings was impressive and the ‘cruise’ potential excellent. Even the Wave 700 had a relaxed and very carve-able character. The quality of the production results in perhaps the quietest foil that we had on test – there is absolutely zero movement between wings, fuselage and mast which gives a very pedigree feeling to the ride. Alpine are some of the most passionate and innovative foil builders in the game and the Rave Carbon is further proof of this.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

Usable speed range

10

NORTH SONAR FREERIDE EDITION 850 + SENSE BOARD North’s all new range of all things kite related features a fairly complete freeride foil selection. We tested the Sonar 850 which is one of the smaller freeride wings on an 85cm mast and it didn’t disappoint. We’re looking at a well manufactured carbon front wing blended into an aluminium mast and fuselage with a composite stabiliser. The fixings all have a dab of thread lock on them to stop them working their way out, which is a nice touch with this construction method as things can loosen. In this wing size, the Sonar would definitely suit a beginner, as it doesn’t jump out of the water too quickly and lets you build speed and direction gently before take-off. It’s a relatively sensitive foil with regards to pitch and definitely has a speed range it’s comfortable with. The anhedeal wing design makes a good job of controlling your roll stability when carving, and once you’ve got this dialled in it is a super fun foil to carve around on. The Sense would also suit some long trips up the coast as

well, as it’s fast enough to cover some distance if required. The Sense board is a beautifully crafted piece of kit with a simple graphic design and unfussy feeling. The Paulownia wood core makes it super stiff and responsive to the foil underneath, and there’s no dullness in your body inputs. It’s low volume and has a just enough volume to stay on the surface with the foil attached, so tilting it over to make your water starts is very simple. A low volume boards like this is great as you’re not worries about damaging it, it’s as bombproof as a twin tip and you can chuck in the back of your vehicle with similar gusto, which also makes it an ideal board for travelling.

Overall this is a very versatile and intelligently engineered foil package that will meet the needs of all but the most speed-obsessed of foilers.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

10

T H E U LT I M AT E T ES T

Usable speed range

131

F-ONE IC6 850 V2 + POCKET 130 TS The IC6 foil was a benchmark in entry level foiling last year and the V2 improves on the original formula. A robust, but light injection molded front wing attaches to a sleek aluminum fuselage with one long, elegant bolt that runs all the way through the channel in the front wing, locking it into a box section.

This not only provides a rock solid connection, but is also extremely hydrodynamic, with no drag surfaces. The system is of course modular, and you can bolt on different kite wings with the Mirage and Escape 510, and even the surf wing system or their carbon system with the Titan adapter. Everything crosses over which will please the multi-sport user. On the water the IC6 850 gives you really controlled lift fairly early and a lot of pitch control. A little front foot pressure eases you into the wide sweet spot and it’s really easy to stay there. It tracks well, but maintains a playful nature and it’s perfect for

learning your tacks and jibes without having to go in too fast. It’s a reliable partner. The Pocket 130 TS is a harder wearing (and much cheaper) version of the Pocket 130 Bamboo which has been a popular compact board for F-ONE for a year or so now. It shares more or less the same shape as it’s pricier cousin, but is far less fragile and provides the same super fun micro board feeling that any self-respecting freeride foiler will love. There’s just enough volume to get going in all but the lightest winds, particularly with a large front wing.

The setup is perhaps not for the complete beginner, but will definitely suit the intermediate and above for learning more advanced maneuvers when they want to minimize swing weight. The combo of the pocket TS board with the IC6 is one of the lightest and most fun setups available, and represents incredible value at the price point.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

2.5

5

7.5

Usable speed range

10

NAISH JETFOIL 1050 + HOVER 127CM The Jetfoil 1050 replaces the Surf M wing from last year and improves on the Thrust setup in several respects. The unique Abracadabra plate system is pure convenience, and means you can slide the foil off the track mount without fumbling track nuts in the beach carpark. The wings are far lighter and have had their trailing edges cleaned up and adjusted to more or less eliminate whistle. The 1050 is a great size for kiting for a mid-weight human looking to freeride, and retains the surf foil nature of the rest of the range. It’s early to get up on the foil, very easy and loose to carve around on and retains a lot of poise and stability at low speeds meaning you can swap those feet around with little issue. However it’s not a dumbed down experience, and it can be pushed to relatively high speeds. Eventually the Jetfoil does reach a threshold of front foot pressure, much like a small surf foil, but the usable range is large considering its friendly attributes. If you’re lucky enough to be foiling

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

anywhere with a small swell, picking up a wave on it is a glorious experience, and you can really dump the kite and use the foil and wave power. The Hover 127 is a pocket board with a little volume and a luxurious but hard wearing gloss finish, reminding us of a 1950’s hot rod. It’s aimed for intermediates and above, and has a lightweight construction and very low swing weight. A reassuringly grippy deck pad is installed over its entire length, even covering a good portion of the nose. Foot strap inserts are installed for all preferences, including two parallel. It’s a perfect board for the foiler that’s now mastered their craft, and now want’s a light and minimal setup. It coupled really well with the mid-sized wings from the Naish range as a freeride board and proved a comfortable and precise ride, translating your body inputs well to the foil.

It’s obvious Naish have put a lot of time and effort into their foiling range this year and obviously see freeride foiling as a growth sector, and this has paid off.

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5 0

TheKiteMag.com

2.5

5

7.5

10

Usable speed range

Oliver Meer

Bishoy Bushra (Bibo)

Kitehouse 7Bft Somabay

The anti-chop technology makes the SNAKE a particularly comfort-oriented kiteboard.

The wavy sidecut easily cuts through troubled water, making it noticeably gentle on the knee and the joints. This unusual shape extends the effective edge, the smoothness is increased, while the SNAKE turns easier and generates less water. With the highest quality materials and a sophisticated construction, all kiteboards from our collection are very durable and powerful.

Less stress on the knee load Longer kite sessions Easier turning and upwind Less splashing water Lightweight 137 cm 2,5 kg, 141 cm 2,6 kg Unique look 699 â‚Ź

SNAKE freeride 137/41.4 cm 141/42.6 cm

goodboards | Schulstr. 18 | D-86938 Schondorf am Ammersee | Tel. +49 8192 9968616 | info@goodboards.eu | www.goodboards.eu

2019-07_goodboards_KITE_EN_210x275-01.indd 1

15.07.19 16:5

RRD UNIVERSAL ALU KSH + DOLPHIN RRD present this innovative foil platform, which can crossover between kite, surf and SUP foiling with one setup. It’s a large orange hybrid carbon front wing spanning 82cm, which bolts seamlessly into an aluminum stabilizer and mast system, which is set at 75cm for all round use. For such a large span, it’s very stiff and there’s hardly any roll flex. Construction looks well considered and is light for its dimensions. The stabilizer is also large, at 52cm wide, to enhance the pumping ability of the setup. In the water it planes exceptionally early (we were clocking it at three or four knots) and the size makes the pitch stability absolutely bombproof. The KSH provides an excellent platform to learn your flying transitions on, as you can thump your feet around all over it and it supports you in a forgiving manner. If you have experience of large surf or SUP wings already you would expect it to top out speed-wise earlier than it does, but what’s impressive is how the top end remains respectable for

its generous dimensions, and it trucks upwind with ease. For truly universal use, there are some optional parts to adapt the foil system for windsurfing tuttle boxes. The Dolphin’s cross discipline design is quite high volume for a kite foil board, and it can be a little challenging to grab the rail and tilt to align your board start on if you are more used to a smaller setup. Once you’ve got this dialed in though, it’s all roses and it provides a large comfortable platform suitable for long range coastal safaris, and all that extra volume allows for the earliest of board starts in the lightest of winds. Overall, we haven’t come across anything that lifts quite as early and as a cross discipline tool (as it’s proudly designed) it’s quite brilliant. You could easily see yourself paddling in to a wave with it or even towing behind a boat as well as kiting obviously, so it would also make a very sensible travel option for the crossover sportsman.

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA

29 27

Top speed

25

Pitch Stability

23

Roll Stability

21

Yaw Stability

19

Carving

17

Overall Stability

15

Low speed tack Stability

13

Upwind

11

Tracking

9

Noise / Whistle

7

Ease of assembly

5

C A T E G O R Y

W I N N E R S :

F O I L S

0

2.5

5

7.5

10

FREER ACE WINNER – CRAZYFLY UP For pure putting-your-foot-down fun, the Up was top of the pack.

It wasn’t (quite) the fastest foil on test, but it had the largest sweet spot and the kind of racier foil that regular riders can really hold down and enjoy.

STANDOUT – DUOTONE GT An easy to ride fast foil that sits at the top of the Duotone line up.

You can pick and mix the Duotone wings and if it is a GT day it’s worth setting your GPS device of choice. It’s a quick one…

FREERIDE WINNER – RRD UNIVERSAL As easy and fun as foiling gets. Not a fast foil by any stretch of the imagination, but fast enough not to be frustrating and the carvability of the set up was mind blowing. Perfectly tuned.

STANDOUT – SLINGSHOT APOLLO We have always enjoyed the Hover Glide platform. The Apollo wing really seems to bring things right up to speed for an accessible and very rewarding freeride vibe.

C AT EG O RY W I N N ER S : FO I L S

Usable speed range

C OMING 20 2 0

CLINICS THE BEST PRO RIDERS THE BEST DESTINATIONS

THE BEST WAY TO TAKE YOUR RIDING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.