At A Glance
The JN Da Vinci is an interesting concept. The biggest size in the range is only 10m! When you think that most brands make kitesurfing kites up to 14m and 16m you could be forgiven for asking where the larger Da Vinci sizes are? The answer comes in the form of the Da Vinci Bat. The basic concept is that the smaller sizes are designed with the sorts of conditions in mind you would expect for smaller kites; gusty, punchy, stronger winds. Whilst the larger Da Vinci Bat kites are made for lighter winds and early planing.
The Da Vinci has a flatter more hybrid style arc that JN say is very stable and offers a lot of depower. The kite still flies with the reliability of a 5th line safety system. The front lines use a very short Y connection point that could constitute as a bridle, but in reality, where the bar and lines are concerned, this is much more of a 5 line set up than it is a hybrid.
The kite also utilises the floating batten technology we saw last time round, on the JN Prima Donna, with the struts being attached to the canopy with an extra piece of material so that they hang beneath the kite rather than being stitched directly to it. This enables the designers to get a really solid foil shape from the canopy of the kite. It also allows for a more aerodynamic design and a lighter construction, which will help the kite to be lively in the air.
We used the kite with the Switchcraft Bar, which works really well. The bar has ends that twist so you can change its length depending on the size of kite you are intending to use. Just unscrew the bar ends, twist and the bar is instantly ‘shorter’. You’re then all set to use the bar on a smaller kite such as this 8m. The safety release is excellent and very well engineered, plus you are provided with a large and a small chicken loop so if you want to unhook you have all the tools right there!
In the Air
These days many of the brands seem to be supplying kites with a bar that can be used across a whole range of kite sizes. In theory this is excellent as it enables you to have one bar to control all your kites and also you become familiar with the safety system.
The downside is that the kites don’t always fly properly straight out of the bag. We found the 8m Da Vinci needed an extra knot on the front pigtail about 4 inches down from the last one on there. Effectively this shortened the front lines a bit and turned the kite from something that was over sheeting into the kite it was designed to be. It is worth mentioning because, if you didn’t know too much about kites and rigging them, you could end up with a kite that doesn’t fly the way it is intended to and you wouldn’t get the best out of it.
Once set up correctly the JN is quite a kite to behold. The first thing that will strike you is the stability of the foil shape. After a very gusty, windy session it wasn’t just the rider underneath who was commenting on this. The other testers at the beach could see this super solid shape in the sky hardly flutter at all in conditions that were extreme to say the least. In the hands it feels very stable indeed and just keeps on pulling through the gusts.
The bar set-up comes with a stopper which you can move up and down the depower rope. You need an allen key to adjust it, although the depower rope is fairly short and you could easily remove it altogether and have even more depower. Jumping with the Da Vinci is easy enough; the kite really pulls you off the water and gets some impressive height. Landing the jumps at first wasn’t as simple and we found ourselves crashing hard as the timing is a little different to some other kites. After twenty minutes of riding we had it dialled in and it was great fun to fly through the air with. The control through the bar is excellent and the responsiveness is second to none. This is no doubt helped by the 5th line C-kite style set up. When you engage the bar in a turn the kite responds instantly and positively driving power to the rider throughout, which makes it great fun in the waves! Kite loops aren’t super powerful so it’s a perfect kite for someone looking to learn these. In gusty windy conditions the Da Vinci really excels, and would be well suited to beginners and intermediates alike. If you are a very experienced rider looking for a kite for strong winds then the Da Vinci could be a good choice too.
Pros
In gusty, howling conditions the Da Vinci offers the rider a very stable platform, the responsiveness of the kite is second to none and the feel of control in the hands is very direct. Jumping is exciting and great fun and the kite is also perfectly suited to waves.
Cons
You need to trim the bar before you fly the kite, which is easy enough, but important to do. The bar may be a little over engineered for some riders, but JN offer a simpler bar if you want a more freestyle orientated system.
Overall
One of the most solid kite surfing kites we have flown in a while in really nasty conditions. If you are looking for a high wind, performance machine, that stands out from the crowd the Da Vinci will fit the bill. The responsiveness in the turn will put a smile on your face and the jumping will make that smile even bigger.
Monday 22 February 2010
Thursday 18 February 2010
Blade Trigger 10m Kite Review
At a Glance
We haven’t seen a Blade kite surfing kite for a couple of years and first up we must commend them on the latest kite surfing kites and the build quality they are now putting into their designs.
With more reinforcements than you could ever care to need you should be expecting this kite to last you well. There are plenty of Kevlar patches at critical wear points and also heavily over stitched and webbed areas where the kite will usually experience stress points. The graphics and over all look impressed the test team too, as did the one pump system which has clearly had a considerable amount of thought put into it. The shape of the trigger at first glance looks fairly conventional; it is a higher aspect bridled design. The kite still uses a pulley bridle system for the rear connection points, but overall the bridle is fairly simple.
The Bar
We were equally impressed with the bar itself, there is a new chicken loop release mechanism which works very well and is also just about the most simple system to reconnect that we have seen. There is a front line safety system and the line runs through the chicken loop so you can do as many rotations as you like without getting twisted lines. There are O-Shit handles for added safety and the bar itself is comfortable in the hands and easy to grip, a pull-pull trim strap above the bar finish off the set up.
In the Air
The Trigger from Blade is a very easy kitesurfing kite to get on with. It is aimed at the freeride market and, as you would expect, it is an easy kite to fly. In the air it feels balanced and well mannered and with minimal bar pressure at the rider end it is the sort of kite you can fly for hours without getting tired.
What did impress us was the directness of the steering, which is very precise allowing you to move the kite around the window and put it exactly where you want it for your next trick. The depower though is quite long, meaning to fully ditch the power of the kite the bar needs to move a fair way from you. This can be useful when waveriding and you want to keep some power in the kite. Blade have tweaked the leading edge shape of this kite to enable it to produce smooth consistent kiteloops, and it certainly does that. Sending it through the window inspires confidence as each time the kite behaves as you would expect it too.
Jumping is good too, the precise steering allowing you to throw the kite back when you want to and control your jumps much more than some kites which have a looser feel. The wind range on the Trigger is fairly wide, getting going very early and having a massive top end will mean that for lighter riders they may have a kite that can cover a multitude of conditions, especially if they have a surfboard in their quiver.
Pros
A classic freeride kite that will excite the more experienced rider out there, the Trigger is as at home in the waves as it is throwing down freestyle on flat water.
Cons
The kite still holds a fair amount of power when you push the bar away from you and it needs a lot more input than some designs to spill the wind. This is a small niggle though and, once you are familiar with it, won’t affect your ride.
Overall
A very well finished product with lots of attention to detail and some well thought out attributes. In the air the Trigger is precise and stable offering the rider a great all round design that will handle anything you care to throw at it.
We haven’t seen a Blade kite surfing kite for a couple of years and first up we must commend them on the latest kite surfing kites and the build quality they are now putting into their designs.
With more reinforcements than you could ever care to need you should be expecting this kite to last you well. There are plenty of Kevlar patches at critical wear points and also heavily over stitched and webbed areas where the kite will usually experience stress points. The graphics and over all look impressed the test team too, as did the one pump system which has clearly had a considerable amount of thought put into it. The shape of the trigger at first glance looks fairly conventional; it is a higher aspect bridled design. The kite still uses a pulley bridle system for the rear connection points, but overall the bridle is fairly simple.
The Bar
We were equally impressed with the bar itself, there is a new chicken loop release mechanism which works very well and is also just about the most simple system to reconnect that we have seen. There is a front line safety system and the line runs through the chicken loop so you can do as many rotations as you like without getting twisted lines. There are O-Shit handles for added safety and the bar itself is comfortable in the hands and easy to grip, a pull-pull trim strap above the bar finish off the set up.
In the Air
The Trigger from Blade is a very easy kitesurfing kite to get on with. It is aimed at the freeride market and, as you would expect, it is an easy kite to fly. In the air it feels balanced and well mannered and with minimal bar pressure at the rider end it is the sort of kite you can fly for hours without getting tired.
What did impress us was the directness of the steering, which is very precise allowing you to move the kite around the window and put it exactly where you want it for your next trick. The depower though is quite long, meaning to fully ditch the power of the kite the bar needs to move a fair way from you. This can be useful when waveriding and you want to keep some power in the kite. Blade have tweaked the leading edge shape of this kite to enable it to produce smooth consistent kiteloops, and it certainly does that. Sending it through the window inspires confidence as each time the kite behaves as you would expect it too.
Jumping is good too, the precise steering allowing you to throw the kite back when you want to and control your jumps much more than some kites which have a looser feel. The wind range on the Trigger is fairly wide, getting going very early and having a massive top end will mean that for lighter riders they may have a kite that can cover a multitude of conditions, especially if they have a surfboard in their quiver.
Pros
A classic freeride kite that will excite the more experienced rider out there, the Trigger is as at home in the waves as it is throwing down freestyle on flat water.
Cons
The kite still holds a fair amount of power when you push the bar away from you and it needs a lot more input than some designs to spill the wind. This is a small niggle though and, once you are familiar with it, won’t affect your ride.
Overall
A very well finished product with lots of attention to detail and some well thought out attributes. In the air the Trigger is precise and stable offering the rider a great all round design that will handle anything you care to throw at it.
Monday 15 February 2010
JN Mr Fantastic 10m Kite Review
At a GlanceJN have been around for a long time now and the Italian company has always come up with some innovative products. Concepts like floating battens and the Switchcraft bar have defined their forward thinking in terms of design.
The Mr Fantastic is a totally new kitesurfing kite in their range that utilises a sweptback wing tip design. It is aimed as a ‘one kite fits all’ machine that has a wide wind range and is happy flying in a variety of conditions with a variety of riders at the controls.
Before we tell you what the kite is like out of the bag, the bag itself is worth a mention. Easily one of the toughest and best-made bags on the market it also easily swallows your kite when you have finished with it!
The Mr Fantastic itself boasts some impressive build quality and the kite looks very well made, one pump comes as standard as well and the kite also sports a very simple bridle set up. There are reinforcements along the leading edge and there are plenty of segments and panels to ensure the load is spread evenly throughout the kite.
The Bar
We were supplied with the Switchcraft Bar from JN, there is now a Switchcraft II bar, which has been tweaked and slightly upgraded. The concept is simple, to provide one bar that can be used for a wide range of kites. JN achieve this by making the bar horns swivel, you need to loosen them with a screwdriver first but once this is done you just twist the horns to effectively make the bar longer or shorter by moving the leader lines as well you get 4 lengths of bar in one. In addition to this the entire system can be spun as the safety line runs through the centre of the chicken loop. There are O’Shit handles as well as an added safety feature and the best bit is the bar is supplied as standard with two different chicken loops, one large and one small. So if you want to unhook you can easily put the large loop on and not have to buy something extra. The chicken loop itself uses a very effective quick release, some riders may find it a little bulky, but it works and is easily reached in an emergency.
In the Air
Mr Fantastic is a pretty outrageous name for a kite surfing kite, by anyone’s standards! So we didn’t quite know what to expect when we first put the kite into the air. It certainly looks very different to anything JN have produced before.
Perhaps the most striking thing is the leading edge, which hardly tapers at all until it gets right to the wing tips; this gives the front of the kite a beefy chunky look. The extra volume of air on the corners of the wing tip really come in to their own when you crash the kite as it rolls over really easily and is up and back in the sky before you know it. But you won’t be crashing this kite much, it is really simple and easy to fly, very stable and very forgiving.
The bar pressure isn’t too heavy or too light, giving you a great amount of feedback as to where the kite is at any given moment. As we got to grips with it we realised it was one of the easiest kites we have flown in a while to get dialled into, each of the test team just jumped on and got instant enjoyment out of it. Unhooked it is very stable and delivers a good amount of pull. Hooked in freeriding the kite is quick with a good turn of speed and jumping was amazing. Sometimes when you jump on a new kite it is tricky to get the timing of the jumps right. You either send it back too far or don’t pull it far enough forwards to get your landing right. The JN just seems to fly itself overhead; slight movements on the bar bring the kite back under control and exactly where you want it. Definitely one of the easiest to jump kites we have ridden in a while.
In fact the more we thought about it the more we thought that while Mr Fantastic was a somewhat daring name, it is actually rather apt. The Mr Fantastic flies upwind, puts a smile on your face when you send it through the window and is very easy to fly indeed. Coupled with the easy relaunch JN have really hit the nail on the head with this all rounder. The name says it all.
Pros
Really easy to fly, excellent in the air and fantastic upwind, a perfect freeride kite surfing kite, the ease of relaunch make it well suited to beginners as well and we liked the simple bridle set up.
Cons
As far as the kite goes we couldn’t really find any fault at all, good build quality and great features. Being fans of the simple here at the magazine then bar is a little over engineered for our liking. But that is personal choice; riders out there who love the technical will be very impressed with it.
Overall
One of the best kites we have ever seen from the JN stable, the team behind it should be really pleased. The Mr Fantastic defines everything a freeride kite should be, easy to use with blistering performance.
Friday 12 February 2010
Liquid Force Recoil Comp 134 x 40
Liquid Force have been making boards for a long time, way before kitesurfing was invented they were getting a pretty hardcore name for themselves as manufacturers of wakeboards. It is no real surprise then that they have some pretty good kiteboards in their line up. In the past however they have often been overlooked but with the team they are repping at the moment and the movement towards wake style riding they seem to be enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Surely if you want to ride wake style, who better to make your board than the guys who have been making wakeboards since the beginning of time!
The Recoil Comp is a new board for 2008 and is their top of the line board using the latest technologies available. It differs in construction from a lot of the boards in the test, using their own tried and tested technologies instead of the snowboard style construction used by so many brands today. It isn’t the lightest of boards out there, but it is very strong and super durable. There are quite a few sizes in the range and also some extra wide ones for those light wind days or heavier riders.
On the Water
The board has quite a square outline to it, with wide tips that have a swallowtail shape to them. The rails are pretty sharp and thin allowing the kiteboard to really bite at the water and hold down a lot of power.
The board is all about freestyle really and there are certain characteristics that really lend it to that. The outline and wide tips allow you to not only hold down lots of resistance ready for popping really huge, they also allow the rider a huge platform to come down and land from the trick. There is a deep concave bottom that helps smooth out the landing even more and gives the rider a little more control. The concave also aids control at speed, which is a good thing as this board is fast, very fast. The rocker line is continuous but fairly flat which allows the board to get up some good speed. And as the old saying goes, if you going fast you are going to go high! This is very true with the Recoil Comp; this board goes big every time! The flex is pretty stiff in the middle with a little more in the tips, but not a great deal.
What was surprising though, was that even though this kite board screams performance it is also pretty comfortable to ride in the chop. All too often boards go all out and forget that most of us aren’t blessed with perfect butter flat water. The Recoil Comp cuts through the rough stuff well and is a pretty comfortable ride. The sharp rails aren’t the most forgiving out there, so you need a bit of skill to get the most out of it but if you want freestyle performance then the Comp has it in spades.
Fixtures and Fittings
What can we say? I think there will be a change in the way footpads and straps are made over the coming seasons. Liquid Force pads are hands down the best out there. There is a reason Aaron Hadlow uses these pads, they are amazing. The pads are super soft and comfy, with extra soft bits and grip in all the right places. We had the Comp Lace Straps, which are fitted with a binding style adjustment system, which allows you to really crank the strap down on your foot. The fins are 5cm but quite long, and interestingly have a good amount of give in them so when you come down a little sideways you can get away with it as opposed to tripping the board over.
Overall
If you want an uncompromising freestyle board that is fast and goes high then the Recoil Comp fits that bill. Coupled with the best pads on the market what more could you ask for.
The Recoil Comp is a new board for 2008 and is their top of the line board using the latest technologies available. It differs in construction from a lot of the boards in the test, using their own tried and tested technologies instead of the snowboard style construction used by so many brands today. It isn’t the lightest of boards out there, but it is very strong and super durable. There are quite a few sizes in the range and also some extra wide ones for those light wind days or heavier riders.
On the Water
The board has quite a square outline to it, with wide tips that have a swallowtail shape to them. The rails are pretty sharp and thin allowing the kiteboard to really bite at the water and hold down a lot of power.
The board is all about freestyle really and there are certain characteristics that really lend it to that. The outline and wide tips allow you to not only hold down lots of resistance ready for popping really huge, they also allow the rider a huge platform to come down and land from the trick. There is a deep concave bottom that helps smooth out the landing even more and gives the rider a little more control. The concave also aids control at speed, which is a good thing as this board is fast, very fast. The rocker line is continuous but fairly flat which allows the board to get up some good speed. And as the old saying goes, if you going fast you are going to go high! This is very true with the Recoil Comp; this board goes big every time! The flex is pretty stiff in the middle with a little more in the tips, but not a great deal.
What was surprising though, was that even though this kite board screams performance it is also pretty comfortable to ride in the chop. All too often boards go all out and forget that most of us aren’t blessed with perfect butter flat water. The Recoil Comp cuts through the rough stuff well and is a pretty comfortable ride. The sharp rails aren’t the most forgiving out there, so you need a bit of skill to get the most out of it but if you want freestyle performance then the Comp has it in spades.
Fixtures and Fittings
What can we say? I think there will be a change in the way footpads and straps are made over the coming seasons. Liquid Force pads are hands down the best out there. There is a reason Aaron Hadlow uses these pads, they are amazing. The pads are super soft and comfy, with extra soft bits and grip in all the right places. We had the Comp Lace Straps, which are fitted with a binding style adjustment system, which allows you to really crank the strap down on your foot. The fins are 5cm but quite long, and interestingly have a good amount of give in them so when you come down a little sideways you can get away with it as opposed to tripping the board over.
Overall
If you want an uncompromising freestyle board that is fast and goes high then the Recoil Comp fits that bill. Coupled with the best pads on the market what more could you ask for.
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Starkites ExA 11m 2009 Kite Review
At a Glance
Starkites have been around for a few years now; born in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean you cannot argue they have one of the best testing grounds for developing equipment.
Previously they have concentrated on one kite, the Sbow, which was aimed as an all round freeride kite surfing kite that was well suited to beginners and intermediates alike. This year they launch the ExA, which is their first foray into the world of kites designed with freestyle performance in mind.
The first thing you notice about the ExA when it is on the ground is the super flat mid section to the kite. The middle strut bends in the opposite direction you would expect it to. Starkites call this the A.M.P. or Auto Morphing Profile. In layman’s terms the idea is that it will make the kite more stable when it is at the edge of the window. And when you sheet the kite out it changes not only the angle of attack but allows the centre profile shape to flatten out which increases the kites depower range from a smaller movement on the bar. The leading edge also has an inner curve, which leads to a minimal contact point on the water to avoid the kite getting stuck. It also comes with one pump inflation as standard, which is a neat addition to the package.
The construction this year looks amazing and it is hard to pick fault with the kite as it sits on the ground. It really seems like the new brands have picked up their game in terms of construction this year.
The Bar
The bar looks very well made and it is certainly well thought out; there is an excellent spinning safety system that can either be used as it is supplied, or you can adjust it to a handle pass leash style set up. The depower is an above bar pull webbing system, but it is easy to reach and works really well. The chicken loop is moulded so it fits into the bar, which makes hooking in and out easy and the whole set up looks very well made. Our bar was straight from the factory and hadn’t been sent for final testing; we noticed a short pigtail was attached to the release pin on the release mechanism. This pigtail actually held the pin at 90 degrees when the release was activated, which caused it to not release. Starkites are looking at the issue and by the time you get your bar the offending pig tail should have been removed, but if it isn’t make sure you take it off!
In the Air
The ExA immediately feels stable once it is in the sky; riding along behind it the kite seems to sit like a rock in the window and no matter what you do underneath it the ExA sits there patiently waiting for you to finish your move before it does anything untoward. It was designed with freestyle in mind and this super stability seems to be something that all freestyle kites are featuring these days. The thinking being, of course, that while you do your handle passes you don’t want those inputs into the bar to send the kite spiralling out of control. In order to get the kite to engage in a turn you really have to put some pressure on the bar. Once the turn is engaged the kite is very quick round the window and you can pull some impressive kite loops with the ExA.
Jumping takes a while to get used to on the kite. It needs a lot more input into the bar than some of the free ride kites that are around today, so at first you’ll find yourself dropping like a stone having sent the kite way to far back in the window and not being able to get it back across your head in time. Once you have the timing dialled though it has some impressive hangtime and float to it. Upwind is good too with the kite really attacking the edge of the window. The bottom end for the 11m is impressive too and the kite delivers a lot of low-end power. The relaunch is excellent with the inner curved leading edge allowing the kite to release from the water really quickly and get airborne again.
Pros
A super stable kitesurfing kite that is perfect for riders looking for something which won’t move too much when they are upside down hanging on by one arm. Good build quality and a sweet bar set up.
Cons
Make sure you check your chicken loop release before you fly the kite. It should be fixed, but test it just in case.
Overall
Star kites have upped their game this year, one pump, good construction and great freestyle characteristics make the ExA a good choice for the rider looking for a freestyle orientated flat kite.
Starkites have been around for a few years now; born in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean you cannot argue they have one of the best testing grounds for developing equipment.
Previously they have concentrated on one kite, the Sbow, which was aimed as an all round freeride kite surfing kite that was well suited to beginners and intermediates alike. This year they launch the ExA, which is their first foray into the world of kites designed with freestyle performance in mind.
The first thing you notice about the ExA when it is on the ground is the super flat mid section to the kite. The middle strut bends in the opposite direction you would expect it to. Starkites call this the A.M.P. or Auto Morphing Profile. In layman’s terms the idea is that it will make the kite more stable when it is at the edge of the window. And when you sheet the kite out it changes not only the angle of attack but allows the centre profile shape to flatten out which increases the kites depower range from a smaller movement on the bar. The leading edge also has an inner curve, which leads to a minimal contact point on the water to avoid the kite getting stuck. It also comes with one pump inflation as standard, which is a neat addition to the package.
The construction this year looks amazing and it is hard to pick fault with the kite as it sits on the ground. It really seems like the new brands have picked up their game in terms of construction this year.
The Bar
The bar looks very well made and it is certainly well thought out; there is an excellent spinning safety system that can either be used as it is supplied, or you can adjust it to a handle pass leash style set up. The depower is an above bar pull webbing system, but it is easy to reach and works really well. The chicken loop is moulded so it fits into the bar, which makes hooking in and out easy and the whole set up looks very well made. Our bar was straight from the factory and hadn’t been sent for final testing; we noticed a short pigtail was attached to the release pin on the release mechanism. This pigtail actually held the pin at 90 degrees when the release was activated, which caused it to not release. Starkites are looking at the issue and by the time you get your bar the offending pig tail should have been removed, but if it isn’t make sure you take it off!
In the AirThe ExA immediately feels stable once it is in the sky; riding along behind it the kite seems to sit like a rock in the window and no matter what you do underneath it the ExA sits there patiently waiting for you to finish your move before it does anything untoward. It was designed with freestyle in mind and this super stability seems to be something that all freestyle kites are featuring these days. The thinking being, of course, that while you do your handle passes you don’t want those inputs into the bar to send the kite spiralling out of control. In order to get the kite to engage in a turn you really have to put some pressure on the bar. Once the turn is engaged the kite is very quick round the window and you can pull some impressive kite loops with the ExA.
Jumping takes a while to get used to on the kite. It needs a lot more input into the bar than some of the free ride kites that are around today, so at first you’ll find yourself dropping like a stone having sent the kite way to far back in the window and not being able to get it back across your head in time. Once you have the timing dialled though it has some impressive hangtime and float to it. Upwind is good too with the kite really attacking the edge of the window. The bottom end for the 11m is impressive too and the kite delivers a lot of low-end power. The relaunch is excellent with the inner curved leading edge allowing the kite to release from the water really quickly and get airborne again.
Pros
A super stable kitesurfing kite that is perfect for riders looking for something which won’t move too much when they are upside down hanging on by one arm. Good build quality and a sweet bar set up.
Cons
Make sure you check your chicken loop release before you fly the kite. It should be fixed, but test it just in case.
Overall
Star kites have upped their game this year, one pump, good construction and great freestyle characteristics make the ExA a good choice for the rider looking for a freestyle orientated flat kite.
Thursday 4 February 2010
Ocean Rodeo Rise 2009 10m Kite Review
At a Glance
Ocean Rodeo have been pumping innovative products out of Canada for pretty much as long as we can remember. Always a brand to come up with something different in the design and developments stakes; they are most recently famed for the invention of the Go Joe, a device to help riders get their boards back after a wipeout. Love it or hate it the idea has proved popular with many and it is these out of the box ideas that set Ocean Rodeo apart from the rest.
The Rise is no different and whilst it looks like a normal kitesurfing kite to the untrained eye closer inspection reveals the incorporation of the Venturi Technology. In layman’s terms this is a flap that spans the main arc of the kite and it allows air to spill through from the inside to the outside of the canopy when the kite is over sheeted. When a kite is over sheeted it produces turbulence on the outside of the canopy and laminar flow ceases and the kite can stall. The most noticeable effect of this on the kite is it dropping backwards out of the sky. The Venturi Technology allows air to spill through and fill the gap and help encourage laminar flow to prevent this. The Rise also features a very neat and tidy bridle system and one pump as standard. The build quality is as ever “Canadian Tough” and the whole kite is excellently put together.
The Bar
The bar set up on the Ocean Rodeo is a very simple affair, one of the cleanest bar set ups we have seen for a while. There is a below the bar depower, along with an effective stopper. Perhaps the bar is dominated by the chicken loop release, which we found a little bulky and rubbed on your hands while unhooking. It is a small grumble though for an otherwise excellent set up.
In The Air
The Rise is aimed at being the ultimate free ride kite surfing kite, and to be perfectly honest it isn’t far off. Instantly the kite feels at home in your hands, the bar pressure isn’t too hard or too soft, it feels comfortable, allowing you to know where the kite is at all times just from the feedback in the bar. Ocean Rodeo say that the Rise is the easiest kite in their range to fly, and they aren’t wrong on that either. It is one of the best jump on and ride kites we have ridden in a while. There is nothing surprising or untoward about the way it flies, it just feels natural. There is plenty of depower at your finger tips and the relaunch on the Rise is excellent. One thing that did impress though was the jumping capabilities of this kite. Hands down it is the most aggressive yank off the water we have had for a while.
In flight the kite is easy to control and it seems to keep pulling you up. We hit some of the biggest airs of the session on the Rise and for the kiter who enjoys going big this is definitely a weapon they should consider. The kite is also very fast through the air, we noticed a marked difference in board speed whenever this was used as the engine. The kite is keen and eager to seek out the edge of the window and just flies along at an impressive pace. Kite loops were fairly exciting although the speed of the kite made it easy to get the Rise round the full loop before your hit the deck at speed.
The last time we flew an Ocean Rodeo kite was way back in 2005 for a test for another magazine, to say the brand has moved on in those years would be an understatement. Unhooked the kite works well, we did find it back stalled on a couple of occasions, so the Venturi Tech hasn’t completely eliminated the problem, but a quick trim on the depower rope and the kite was flying unhooked perfectly.
Pros
A really impressive freeride kite that will blow you away when you send it back through the window. It is easy to fly and will appeal to a broad spectrum of riders.
Cons
We’d like to see a smaller chicken loop safety, we found the standard one a little tough on the hands when unhooking, it also released accidentally on one occasion, but there is a modification to correct this on the Ocean Rodeo site.
Overall
A very impressive kite from Ocean Rodeo, with One Pump and top construction it really does sit alongside the major industry players. When you get it in the air you’ll realise it truly is one of the kites of 2009 in terms of performance in the free ride arena. If you don’t try one, you are missing out!
Ocean Rodeo have been pumping innovative products out of Canada for pretty much as long as we can remember. Always a brand to come up with something different in the design and developments stakes; they are most recently famed for the invention of the Go Joe, a device to help riders get their boards back after a wipeout. Love it or hate it the idea has proved popular with many and it is these out of the box ideas that set Ocean Rodeo apart from the rest.
The Rise is no different and whilst it looks like a normal kitesurfing kite to the untrained eye closer inspection reveals the incorporation of the Venturi Technology. In layman’s terms this is a flap that spans the main arc of the kite and it allows air to spill through from the inside to the outside of the canopy when the kite is over sheeted. When a kite is over sheeted it produces turbulence on the outside of the canopy and laminar flow ceases and the kite can stall. The most noticeable effect of this on the kite is it dropping backwards out of the sky. The Venturi Technology allows air to spill through and fill the gap and help encourage laminar flow to prevent this. The Rise also features a very neat and tidy bridle system and one pump as standard. The build quality is as ever “Canadian Tough” and the whole kite is excellently put together.
The Bar
The bar set up on the Ocean Rodeo is a very simple affair, one of the cleanest bar set ups we have seen for a while. There is a below the bar depower, along with an effective stopper. Perhaps the bar is dominated by the chicken loop release, which we found a little bulky and rubbed on your hands while unhooking. It is a small grumble though for an otherwise excellent set up.
In The AirThe Rise is aimed at being the ultimate free ride kite surfing kite, and to be perfectly honest it isn’t far off. Instantly the kite feels at home in your hands, the bar pressure isn’t too hard or too soft, it feels comfortable, allowing you to know where the kite is at all times just from the feedback in the bar. Ocean Rodeo say that the Rise is the easiest kite in their range to fly, and they aren’t wrong on that either. It is one of the best jump on and ride kites we have ridden in a while. There is nothing surprising or untoward about the way it flies, it just feels natural. There is plenty of depower at your finger tips and the relaunch on the Rise is excellent. One thing that did impress though was the jumping capabilities of this kite. Hands down it is the most aggressive yank off the water we have had for a while.
In flight the kite is easy to control and it seems to keep pulling you up. We hit some of the biggest airs of the session on the Rise and for the kiter who enjoys going big this is definitely a weapon they should consider. The kite is also very fast through the air, we noticed a marked difference in board speed whenever this was used as the engine. The kite is keen and eager to seek out the edge of the window and just flies along at an impressive pace. Kite loops were fairly exciting although the speed of the kite made it easy to get the Rise round the full loop before your hit the deck at speed.
The last time we flew an Ocean Rodeo kite was way back in 2005 for a test for another magazine, to say the brand has moved on in those years would be an understatement. Unhooked the kite works well, we did find it back stalled on a couple of occasions, so the Venturi Tech hasn’t completely eliminated the problem, but a quick trim on the depower rope and the kite was flying unhooked perfectly.
Pros
A really impressive freeride kite that will blow you away when you send it back through the window. It is easy to fly and will appeal to a broad spectrum of riders.
Cons
We’d like to see a smaller chicken loop safety, we found the standard one a little tough on the hands when unhooking, it also released accidentally on one occasion, but there is a modification to correct this on the Ocean Rodeo site.
Overall
A very impressive kite from Ocean Rodeo, with One Pump and top construction it really does sit alongside the major industry players. When you get it in the air you’ll realise it truly is one of the kites of 2009 in terms of performance in the free ride arena. If you don’t try one, you are missing out!
Tuesday 2 February 2010
JN Chit Chat 134 x 40.5 Kiteboard Review
At a Glance
Wow, what else can you say, when this kiteboard arrived in the office we jumped around like kids and argued who was going to ride it first. It looks good enough to eat! OK so the crazy “Chit Chat” style graphics may not appeal to everyone, but reading the phrases on the base of the board entertained us and on the water it looks stunning. The board has a honeycomb core with a fibre glass lay up and is then finished using carbon which the team at JN layer to give the flex characteristics they want. The straps and pads are excellent and finish off what is a very good looking board. If the wind doesn’t blow at the beach you can always get entertained by reading some of the “chit chat” on the bottom too!
Aimed at the performance freestyle market the Chit Chat sports a very square outline with wide tips, there is a small concave in the underside and the rocker line is fairly flat.
On the Water
The Chit Chat is aimed squarely at the freestyle market and it’s shaping gives away some of its potential. Once you put the board on the water though you really start to understand what it is all about.
The flat rocker line combined with the very stiff mid section makes this board lightning-quick. On flat water it just bombs along at Mach 10 and literally flies upwind too. In the chop the stiff section makes for a more uncomfortable ride, it’s the sort of board where you need to bend your knees rather than let the board do all the work for you. Of course you can’t have everything so whilst the board isn’t the comfiest of rides in the rough stuff it does dazzle elsewhere.
The pop on the Chit Chat is insane, power it up and load the edge and it really whips you off the water. The stiff mid-section comes into its own and allows you to really load up the edge. The slightly more flexi tips help to smooth out the landings, but with a board that is 40.5cm wide those landings are going to be pretty easy anyway. If you are the sort of rider that wants a board to propel you into the stratosphere and allow you enough air time to perform the most technical tricks then the Chit Chat will perform the task very well. Equally, if you just want to scare yourself a bit with its straight line speed and pop for big air then apply here!
Pros
Fast, stiff, great upwind and awesome pop the Chit Chat rides as good as it looks, oh and did we mention the looks, simply stunning…
Cons
Not the comfiest of rides in the chop due to the stiff flex characteristics, but then it more than makes up for that with top end performance.
Overall
We were excited when we first saw the Chit Chat, and then when we got it on the water we got even more excited. This kite board performs at a very high level and looks fantastic. Well done JN.
Wow, what else can you say, when this kiteboard arrived in the office we jumped around like kids and argued who was going to ride it first. It looks good enough to eat! OK so the crazy “Chit Chat” style graphics may not appeal to everyone, but reading the phrases on the base of the board entertained us and on the water it looks stunning. The board has a honeycomb core with a fibre glass lay up and is then finished using carbon which the team at JN layer to give the flex characteristics they want. The straps and pads are excellent and finish off what is a very good looking board. If the wind doesn’t blow at the beach you can always get entertained by reading some of the “chit chat” on the bottom too!
Aimed at the performance freestyle market the Chit Chat sports a very square outline with wide tips, there is a small concave in the underside and the rocker line is fairly flat.
On the Water
The Chit Chat is aimed squarely at the freestyle market and it’s shaping gives away some of its potential. Once you put the board on the water though you really start to understand what it is all about.The flat rocker line combined with the very stiff mid section makes this board lightning-quick. On flat water it just bombs along at Mach 10 and literally flies upwind too. In the chop the stiff section makes for a more uncomfortable ride, it’s the sort of board where you need to bend your knees rather than let the board do all the work for you. Of course you can’t have everything so whilst the board isn’t the comfiest of rides in the rough stuff it does dazzle elsewhere.
The pop on the Chit Chat is insane, power it up and load the edge and it really whips you off the water. The stiff mid-section comes into its own and allows you to really load up the edge. The slightly more flexi tips help to smooth out the landings, but with a board that is 40.5cm wide those landings are going to be pretty easy anyway. If you are the sort of rider that wants a board to propel you into the stratosphere and allow you enough air time to perform the most technical tricks then the Chit Chat will perform the task very well. Equally, if you just want to scare yourself a bit with its straight line speed and pop for big air then apply here!
Pros
Fast, stiff, great upwind and awesome pop the Chit Chat rides as good as it looks, oh and did we mention the looks, simply stunning…
Cons
Not the comfiest of rides in the chop due to the stiff flex characteristics, but then it more than makes up for that with top end performance.
Overall
We were excited when we first saw the Chit Chat, and then when we got it on the water we got even more excited. This kite board performs at a very high level and looks fantastic. Well done JN.
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