Naish Helix (2010)

This 2010 Kite is probably as good if not better than most of the 2011 stuff, so much so I picked up a barely used one to replace my 9m rather than move to one of the new designs. Pop pace and power all under one canopy!

At first I didn't like this kite at all. I've been putting more and more sessions on it and it's really been growing on me. Here's a few things I see worth mentioning about it...I gave the bar a low review because I just don't like a single line going up the middle before the split, others are doubling the strenght of this area and Naish is cutting it in half, at least make that line way stronger...anyways here's the rest...

- Lot of depower

- Really on or off power...It has a nice smooth pull when you have the bar pulled all the way in, but hit a bump in the water and your arms move a little bit out and the powers gone quick for that split second. This is nice though when you are wiping out unhooked and let go of the bar, because you don't get punished nearly as much as with other kites, it just stops pulling you right away.

- Relaunch is extremely easy

- Very light bar pressure, although adjustable, still pretty light even on the heaviest setting, good or bad depending on what you like

- Awesome pop for unhooked moves

- Behaves awesome unhooked in general

- It does have small battens on the wingtips and it's kinda annoying to pack it up

- It's a 2010 model and there's still no stopper ball in the inflate valve


Haven't had it in too many quality wave sessions to give it a fair review for that...Hope this helps!

Rider: 85kg, IKO Level 2 Instructor
Style: Surf, Freestyle, some wakestyle
Weather: 15-24knots Small 1m waves with flatwater inside.
Disclosure: Loyalty to good service at a couple of shops, work for a Kite school but no loyalty to brand or kites. I fly what impresses me.
Kite Type: Hybrid, bridled no pulleys.

Other kites flewn: 2010 Gaastra Jekyll, 09 Switchblades all sizes, 09 Gaastra Jekyll 8m, 08 Vapour 10m, 08 Gasstra Jekyll 10m(main personal kite), 7m Ozone Sport 2(strong wind personal kite), 08 Vapour 14m(light wind personal kite), 10.5m Flexifoil Ion 2, numerous older style kites over the years.

First session was too light for the kite so was not jumping or holding ground at all either on unstrapped surfboard or twintip. First impressions were that it was a bit unstable and tended to be very on and off on the power. Tended to fly very fast forwards in the window and then loose all it's power due to overflying. You really had to keep working it in the middle of the window to keep the power on.

Second session was much better wind 18-24knots, relatively gusty. Again same thing with the power. Very on and off especially in the gusts. Once you got moving however it just kept powering up. Not so good because it was wavey and with large chop. Edge up over a wave and all the power was gone as it flew too far forward in the window.

Jumping was ok. Good up but a bit ploppy on the landing. It sort of dropped you just at the time you weren't expecting it. That said i was only out for about 45 minutes so not really long enough to get dialled in to the kite. I didn't unhook. Waves too small to bother unstrapped on the surfboard.

Althogh not my style of kite due to alot of crossover from surf to flatwater for different seasons I think it would make a great flatwater kite. Once you got going on a flat section it really powered up and held the power. I'd say it would be the same for unhooking. Turing was quick but not stupidly quick. Starts powered and then kicks into pivotal about 3/4 of the way through a kiteloop so it gets back up high quick.

Like i've said not very long sessions and probably not in the conditions the kite is suited for. Be interested to hear what others think on flatwater.