Reviews written by IKSURFMAG

AT A GLANCE

The Octane is an all new kite from Slingshot for 2010, based on the Rev, one of their best selling kites of 2008 and 2009. Essentially they have taken the Rev, which was originally designed to be used as a user-friendly wave/freestyle kite, and opened up the trailing edge to allow it to fly faster through the sky. This gives a little extra spike to its power and turning ability. They have pretty much kept the simple bridle system and the bombproof kite canopy layout. Finally no Slingshot kite would be complete without Slingshot’s pioneering one pump system.

THE BAR

Slingshot have really stepped it up for 2010 with the all new Comp Stick bar. They have pretty much ticked every box; with a whole new chicken loop using a friendly push away QR. A locking pin on top of the chicken loop locks out straight when unhooked to make hooking back in as easy as possible. There is an all-new centre line swivel that removes any twist left in the centre lines after spinning the bar after rotations and kiteloops. The de-power cleat and cleat line have been slimmed down for easy use, furthermore the bar features a removable chicken loop dick and a attachment for a suicide leash as well as the usual o’shit handles on both sides of the bar.

IN THE AIR

After a fast responsive Rev2 for 2009 we didn’t think the Octane could be improved by much, but by opening up the trailing edge and a new stiffer shape from the new strut lay out and tweaked bridal they have managed to squeeze a bigger wind range from a kite that travels through the sky quicker than ever. After moving the rear lines up a knot or two closer to the kite to tighten the steering tines up, the kite becomes very responsive enabling it to turn on a sixpence allowing the rider to be able to throw impressive kiteloops without any drastic consequence. Boosting with the Octane has been fun with the kite turning and moving faster, however the kite demands extra kite piloting skills to use its full jumping and hang time potential. This kite seems to demand input and likes to keep a nice forward speed. Without a good amount of board speed and keeping the rear lines tort, the kite will fly further around the wind window then desired. Any inexperienced riders will want to use the most inner pigtail attachment point on the wingtips. Riding waves with the Octane is more fun than ever, being able to stick the kite where you want it and have confidence the kite will keep up with board speed on lighter wind days. It parks realty well and just hangs in the sky allowing you to ride down the line.

FOR
Wave riding and freestyle on this kite is a dream. The all-new bar is a pleasure to use leaving only the riders to hold themselves back.

AGAINST
Any riders looking for a kite they can lock down and load a rail for wake style tricks should stick to the RMP or Fuel.

OVERALL
The Octane is a quick responsive kite with a huge wind range and great up wind potential to make ground up after ripping up a huge wave down wind or some big lofty jumps. The build quality is as ever second to none!

AT A GLANCE

With a pretty good year in 2009 Blade are able to hold their heads up high knowing that they are on a similar level with the larger kite brands producing quality hard wearing kites. In 2010 this doesn’t change. The Trigger has come through with a real feeling for quality and the kite as a whole has been made to take a beating, if it hasn’t got a tough bumper pad or a piece of kevlar on it it would have been reinforced with double stitching. Blade have now split the bridle attachment points getting rid of the pulleys between them, which seems to be the general trend now with performance freeride kites. The Kite has a nice simple one pump system with a clever clip holder to keep everything tucked out the way of any bridles or loose lines if you end up in the washing machine of any waves.

THE BAR

The bar has a clean functional design that drew a few positive comments on the beach. The grip is 3D moulded and extremely comfy to hold. There are o’shit handles for added safety and a stopper ball should you wish to use them. The trim strap is made up of a pull-pull webbing affair, which is situated above the bar, whilst the chicken loop is very impressive too, an update to last year’s swivel and ropes to ensure maximum durability. The entire system also swivels so you are able to untwist your lines if you choose to spin one way with your rotations.

IN THE AIR

In the sky, the Trigger has quite a high aspect shape and with the new bridal layout you will have yourself believing you are in for an aggressive ride. However, the kite is like a pussycat compared to its high-end performance Prime in the Blades range. I would describe the bar pressure as moderate and not to heavy, similarly there is a sense of connection in the middle, which enables you to throw the kite around when you really want to give it some, giving you time to not have to concentrate when trying something new. When you do amp things up and give the bar some real heavy handed input you can get this machine to kiteloop really well, even sending the Trigger out in front of you without the consequences you receive from the Prime. With help from the kites AR (aspect ratio), the kite surges forwards searching for any extra board speed you might want to carry. Unhooking disables you a little from being able to throw the kite around as well as you can when hooked in, its performance has enough grunt for the majority of riders, but as you would expect from a high aspect design, it lacks that real Low down power, that said the top end is fantastic. The Trigger works well in some swell and is responsive enough to ride waves of all sizes.

FOR
The trigger is great for getting stuck in, with plenty of performance for most to try everything you dare to but without the sting you get from a dedicated freestyle kite.

AGAINST
Think of the Trigger as a freeride kite with some real performance, but if you want a dedicated freestyle kite look to the Prime.

OVERALL
A well built strong kite, perfect all rounder, allows you to try new things enabling you to feel like you can take your kiting to the next level without being punished for any mistakes.

AT A GLANCE

It has been a while since North have released a totally new kite onto the market. This year sees the end of the Rhino from the line up and the Fuse is there to make up the numbers. It is totally unrelated to the Rhino however, sharing features more akin to the Rebel than any of the other kites in the range. As usual the build quality and attention to detail is right up there, the one-pump is excellent and there are plenty of reinforcements in the right areas. Unlike some new kites though it isn’t made up of tons of dacron, instead it uses a new D2 material from Techno Force, which is far more durable than traditional material The kite is also one of the first dedicated 4 line kites from North, yes the Evo can be flown on 4 or 5 lines and arguably you can add a 5th line for added safety to the Fuse. But the Attack Force bridle has been specifically developed for this kite to ensure it flies at its best on 4 lines.

THE BAR

Named the Trust Bar the Fuse is shipped with the quad control 4 line version as opposed to the now infamous 5th element bar. The iron heart has been reworked to make it lighter, slimmer and more efficient at releasing when you need to. It uses a reverse pin release mechanism, which is the first of its kind on the market. There is also a false 5th Line, which you can attach your leash to so the kite wilt flag out onto the front line of the kite and sit in the launch position awaiting your input. The bar floats slide up to allow you to trim the lines and the warrior cleat enables you to trim the kite to your desired style. The rear lines can be adjusted so you get two bar lengths in one and when you unhook the chicken loop sits perfectly waiting for you to hook back in again.

IN THE AIR

The Fuse is aimed at the freeride/wave market but like the Rebel it can also be used for racing. In the air the kite feels really solid, the new AC bridle helps to maintain the kites shape and form as well as the stiff framework. Even in gusty conditions the kite is solid and this helps it to give a smooth power delivery. The kite gives the rider plenty of feedback at the bar, yet the bar pressure isn’t too hard on the arms. Upwind is where the Fuse really flies, possibly slightly better than the Rebel, we found that pointing ability was really great with this kite. This means that getting back upwind after wave rides and big airs will be really easy. The low end of the 10m is realty impressive too, coupled with a surfboard you’ll be up and riding when most people are on 12m kites. Yet the top end is still there, with plenty of depower available when you need it. The 10m really could be a one kite quiver for people who don’t often have crazy winds. Jumping is great fun, the canopy is fast and responsive and when you send it back through the window it really lifts you off the water with some vigour. It is an easy kite to fly and one we enjoyed riding especially with the simple 4-line set up. Beginners may well be better suited to the Evo, but you could easily learn with this kite. In the waves the performance was effortless, the kite really flies itself with very little input needed from the rider.

FOR
The Fuse is a fantastic new offering from North, very similar to the Rebel but in a 4 line guise. Great upwind, jumping and wave riding characteristics.

AGAINST
The canopy layout is very simple, and compared to some of North’s kites. A little plain perhaps, if you like white, you’ll Like this.

OVERALL
We have been waiting for a pure 4-line kite from North for a white, and here it is at last. It rides superbly and offers excellent performance across the board. If you love 5-lines stick with the Rebel, but if you want something a little different light up a Fuse.

AT A GLANCE

For 2010 the Wainman range hasn’t undergone any radical changes. The Boss is now available in white or black with a gold print that is very striking. The main difference on the Boss this year will be the new bridle that has been tweaked to create a lower bar pressure and give the kite less tendency to want to tip forwards and fall in lighter winds. The leading edge on this kite is nearly twice as wide as some kites that are produced today. With such a thick leading edge the whole frame of the kite is super solid and rigid. The kite stilt features a 3-strut design, which have to be pumped up individually, however, although the Boss has a minimal strut design it does not affect the kites rigidity in the air. The whole feel of the kite is very heavy duty and the kite feels tough. The dacron material on the leading edge and struts is very thick and for added strength the trailing edge has been given a single layer of the same dacron material that runs from tip to tip. Every bridal attachment point as well as the tips and other areas, has had a large area of heavy duty, scuff proof material sewn on top to prevent the raised connection points wearing through. To finish the kite off, there are bumper pads all around and 6cm of Dacron between the leading edge and canopy. The Boss has been built to last, and to take a serious beating, if any kite can take being dropped into a big size wave and have any chance of surviving, this is the kite.

THE BAR

The Wainman bar, just like the kite, shows little change, but still compliments the kite with its well-built construction. By keeping it simple it limits the chances of something going wrong to a minimum. The chicken loop has a clean, simple push away quick release system, whilst the centre line has a rubber tube around it to ensure it never wears out. The bar has a very effortless, easy to replace cleat and rope system to adjust the power of the kite on the go. Above this there is a centre line swivel to remove any twists in the centre lines that are caused by spinning the bar after rotations or kiteloops. The bar does however lack a sensible place to attach a kite leash, the chicken loop has a small ring on the webbing to attach a suicide leash, but to ride on a re-ride set up you need to attach your leash on top of the depower system, which then means you do not have the ability to spin the bar after kiteloops or rotations. The bar comes with a set of 17m lines for some serious kiteloops and wave riding and for the rest of us mere mortals there are 7m extensions to give a total of 24m’s.

IN THE AIR

In the sky the Boss has a very fat, dumpy design. With 3 struts and a leading edge of this diameter, you may have yourself fooled that you are using a big slow beginner kite that you might have learnt on 8 years ago. Nevertheless, despite its appearance the kite moves and responds like you have no lines between it and yourself. With this much response and light bar pressure you can throw the kite around as if it’s a couple of metres smatter than the size printed on the side. With a big deep canopy like this one, it leaves no material wasted on big long wing tips, so most of the kites surface area is exposed to the wind. Keeping some tension on the rear lines has the kite collecting plenty of power. Using the kites pure truck-like power you will find yourself locking the rail of your kiteboard to force the kite forwards in the window to really screw yourself up wind. Unlike many lower aspect kites of this design, the Boss has a good depower range, so with all the balls the kite carries you can ride out in some strong gusty conditions with a mixture of pushing the bar away and locking a good rail in the water. Chucking the Boss around and forcing it around the wind window is where this kite excels for a large 12m. It moves very well during kiteloops and downloops making for a reliable power surge that smoothly pulls and goes where you want it. Boosting sky high is not the kites massive strong point, but it has plenty of lift on the 24m lines that will have most riders grinning and exited. However, boosting is not what this kite is about, it is a reliable stable power source to create board pop with the ability for twisting and turning on its axis when riding waves which is what the Wainman range is made to do. Water relaunch is automatic, it’s hard not to relaunch the Boss, as the large, round like kite just simply rolls over and takes off.

FOR
Early light wind grunt and power for wake style riders to use as a cable and wave riders will appreciate its turning ability to get out and ride waves when most kites do not have the power and turning speed to keep up with large surf and tight winds.

AGAINST
The bar would be complete with a 5th line system or something similar that worked on a 360 spinning system. The kite could have been finished off nicely with a one-pump system as is standard on other kites in its price range.

OVERALL
Not much has changed for 2010; if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. The Boss is still a strong, well-built reliable kite that offers plenty of light wind power that will keep wake style riders going in the lightest of winds. For wave riders it offers a powerful agile kite they can throw around chasing down and out large surf. Design features kept to a minimum, but every stitch, patch and canopy remains well thought out and built to last.

AT A GLANCE

For 2010, Best have given the Nemesis a fresh new took with all the kites coming in an almost complete white colour. The older HP Nemesis was a high aspect SLE, pretty much designed with boosting in mind, whilst the new NXG has been given a deep more C-shape like design canopy for extra grunt and low end power. The reason behind this is to give the kite better wake style performance, quicker turning speed and better board loading ability. The Nemesis has a very skinny, aerodynamic leading edge that still features Twister Tech design which allows more of the kite to be used to steer as opposed to just the tips. The VP3 bridal gives maximum depower for a small amount of bar travel up the depower line. All five struts which inflate through a one-pump system, have been given a kevlar wrap style joint to attach them to the leading edge ensuring a strong rigid construction. The LE bridal attachment reinforcement points have been hidden out of the way on the inside of the leading edge to avoid any raised points that might be prone to wear. The leading edge has been triple stitched from tip to tip to give bombproof strength. Overall they have taken their performance SLE and made it more C-shaped to aid in its low end wake style performance as well as re-stitching, triple stitching and making everything as strong as possible.

THE BAR

Best have finally finished their new kite bar that can work across the whole kite range. The new bar comes as standard on 20m lines, but for a better low end from your kite and improved hang time Best are producing an upgraded extension line set. The bar still features a double pull down depower strap for adjusting kite trim on the go, and the chicken loop line is made up of two centre lines with a slide down stopper to adjust and set bar travel on the fly. Best have scrapped the line swivel on top of the depower strap and stuck a swivel within their all-new chicken loop. The new loop has a locking pin situated on top to lock the loop out straight for easy entry and exit when riding unhooked. The quick release is very sensitive and can release with ease under any amount of pressure. The leash system works on a false fifth line that travels through the middle of the chicken loop and up on to the two front lines, for complete safety and depower the new bar still has re-ride rings on both outside lines with grab handles.

IN THE AIR

Grabbing hold of the Nemesis had me prepared for a punchy, quick and aggressive session that I was used to from the old HP. Instead I had a reasonably well-mannered machine that wasn't trying to run away with me every time I picked up some extra board speed. The NXG was slower travelling through the wind window than its predecessor but with this steady, lower, more controllable kite speed came some extra grunt you could edge against to create extra power and drive. The extra grunt has the kite flying closer to the water using the rail of the board to control the power like you would on a C-shape, but when push comes to shove leaning forwards to add some extra bar throw tilts the kite forward enough to kill any unwanted low down raw power. Even though the kites forward travelling speed has been slowed down, the turning speed has been turned up and the kite spins quicker on a smaller circumference making the rider able to point the kite where they want, when they want. Be careful when really cranking the bar not to hang on too hard on the rear lines in light winds or you will find the kite wanting to stall. With a little front line pressure and enough wind travelling over the canopy the kite will keep turning and climbing through the wind like you wish it to. With less bar pressure from the new bridal layout and a faster responding kite the Nemesis still can, and does, boost very well. However, with this boosting ability comes a kite you can lock down low and use its grunt to create pop from your board. Water re-launch is pretty much automatic, so recovering from any bad crashes we normally associate from a performance machine, is made just that little bit easier.

FOR
An advanced rider who wants a kite that can depower but also boost when the wind is pumping as well as being able to perform technical freestyle tricks when they want to really mix it up. For a rider who goes everywhere, and does everything on a performance competition kite.

AGAINST
The Nemesis isn't for the less experienced rider who needs a kite to fly itself. The Nemesis likes a nice amount of input on the rear, and front line tensions need to be in tune to be able to use this kites full potential.

OVERALL
A durable, well-built performance kite with plenty of added grunt compared to last years Nemesis. This kite will keep the best of riders exited with heaps of boosting and popping potential. Plenty of leading edge pressure is recommended to keep the kite flying at its full capability, but once tuned in to its turning and flying characteristics, the kites aptitude is endless. A real kite flyers kite.