PHOTOS: ERIC AEDER TOBY BROMWICH GERHARDT KELLERMANN TRACY KRAFT LEBOE FLORIAN PANTHER
TRUE
DESIGN: 3DELUXE
North kiteboarding 2014
N o r t h k i t e b oa r d i n g
2014
ALL DATA SUBJECT TO CHANGE©NORTH KITEBOARDING 2013 WWW.NORTHKITES.COM
ENGLISH
Intro
1
Intro
2
wa r r a n t y + 6 -
016–017
progression q -
018–023
technoforce d2 -
024–025
kites -
026–061
bars -
062–075
boards twintips -
076–097
f o ot pa ds / b i n d i n g s -
098–109
boards directionals -
110–127
CONTENT harnesses -
128–133
pac ks / b ag s a p pa r e l -
134–139
140–149
TECHN I CAL FEAT U RES O V ER V I EW TEA M -
152–153
156–157
p r o d u c t o v e r vi e w -
158–161
3
4
Intro
true freeride
5
6
Intro
true freestyle
7
8
Intro
t r u e wa k e s t y l e
9
10
Intro
t r u e wav e
11
12
Intro
true racing
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14
Intro
T R U E K I T E B o a r d in g North kiteboarding 2014
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Warranty +6
+6 WARRANTY EXTENDED WARRANTY
Since 2012 North Kiteboarding offers an extended warranty of six months on all North Kiteboarding kites, boards and bars of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 range! All NKB customers can register their North Kiteboarding products* on the NKB website using our unique product registration system!
LEGAL WARRANTY PERIOD (of your country)
Customers who register their North Kiteboarding product* within 60 days of purchase receive an extended warranty of six months beyond the legal warranty period of their country. (The extended warranty begins with the expiration of the legal warranty period of their country and includes the same scope of protection.)
GET 6 MONTHS EXTENDED WARRANTY
How does the extended warranty process work?
Warranty process / Necessary requirements:
After successful registration of a North Kiteboarding product, you receive a confirmation mail. If the product has been registered within 60 days of purchase, this confirmation mail and a valid receipt entitles you to a six months extended warranty. Warranty claims can only be claimed with the dealer who sold the registered North Kiteboarding product to you.
— Valid receipt — Confirmation mail — Registration of the North Kiteboarding product on the website (kite, board and / or bar up from 2012) within 60 days of purchase If these requirements are met, the usual complaints process can be applied, i.e. the damage is documented and all necessary documents (receipt, confirmation mail, documentation) are sent/ given to the shop where the product has been bought. The shop is sending the information to the warranty department.
* The following products can be registered:
register now!
kites, boards and bars of the 2012 range or later (older products cannot be registered).
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progression Q
Progression Q Specialized Hardware for Kite construction:
A PASSION FOR KITEBOARDING LINKED WITH ENGINEERING KNOWHOW Attention to detail is the key to the overall quality of any product. Kites are complex technical products, and the key to progression and evolution is to keep analysing and optimizing all aspects of the construction and production methods continuously. In industrial production a Total Quality Control approach is the method of choice to improve efficiency in production and material consumption to achieve a product that is both superior and economic at the same time – we applied this to our kites. After several years of installing this attitude in our R&D Team and production facility, the concept has
proven successful: our kites are a superior quality product down to every last detail, and you can feel this, when you fly them.
Lines by Teufelberger Teufelberger is a leading supplier for ropes, ranging from climbing, sailing and paragliding to specialized ropes for kitesurfing. North Kiteboarding uses Teufelberger products for lines and bridles.
Air Port Valve The valve is suitable for both, inflation and deflati on. The deflation option is integrated, which means no external deflation pin is required. Deflation is simply activated by turning the blue wheel on the inside of the valve completely to the right.
The result: The best Kites, Boards and Accessories for your True Kiteboarding experience. There are 3 aspects to this approach which complement each other and have to work together seamlessly: 1. Materials and Hardware 2. Employees and Production Techniques 3. Construction Details and Design
1. Materials and Hardware
Abrasion Reinforcements
We choose partners to supply our basic materials that we trust and we build longstanding relationships with them to benefit from their own development and improvements.
All areas exposed to scuffing are reinforced with STPU Reinforcements, renowned for its durability against abrasion.
Lazy Pump The Lazy Pump system enables the inflation of the kite from just one valve. Clips close off struts from leading edge to prevent unwanted airflow in case of damage or simply to only deflate the leading edge. Dacron and Technoforce D2 by Teijin Teijin is the world’s leading supplier for polyester fabrics and sail materials for all kinds of marine sports. We use the remarkably durable Teijin Dacron for our leading edge, struts, wingtips and the trailing edge and wherever high tension or an applied load is found. Technoforce D2 is used for our canopy. Technoforce D2 was an exclusive development for North Kiteboarding, which has proven its superiority in durability and dynamics over the past years.
Bladders of Polyurethane All bladders are produced of high quality Polyurethane. This material is known for its high elasticity in different temperatures and resistance to pressure. The modern welding technique ensures durable seams and binds the material together perfectly.
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2. Employees and Production Techniques People We expect a lot from the people who manufacture our kites. This is why we work with technically trained employees, who are motivated due to a longterm investment in their capabilities, controlled working conditions and a fair wage system. TQM Method – the quality check card
Progression Q
3. Construction Details and Design A number of construction details optimised in the Progression Q process resulted in features which are outright innovations made by North Kiteboarding and have become industry standard. North Kiteboarding stays at the cutting edge of R&D by working with two experienced kite designers and numerous product developers, who work closely with each other to ensure every improvement and development is transferred to each kite model in our range. Durability and functionality of our products are a direct result of their experience and workflow.
A detailed quality control system has been developed, controlling every step starting with the delivery of raw materials to the factory and ending with the final delivery of kites to our customers. In between, every single stage is optimized to the smallest detail. The quality check card is the key to keeping precise control over the process for every individual kite at every stage.
Load-Distribution-Panels
Fusion Strut
As kite geometry improves, the canopy must continue to resist increasing forces. To spread these forces, Load-Distribution Panels are used, holding the kite’s shape even under the most extreme loads. In practice this gives a smoother and more consistent performance from the kite in any riding situation.
This construction allows for a controlled distribution of forces between strut and leading edge. Struts are 100% connected to the leading edge with a flexible Dyneema line, which promotes higher canopy tension and a clean profile.
Glued Zig-Zag Stitches Computerised sewing and cutting All critical seams are done with computer supported sewing and cutting machines. This avoids human mistakes and inconsistencies, increases the productivity and reduces waste from offcut material; it is the only way to create a perfect and consistent result every time.
Every single seam is stitched with a zigzag sewing technique. They are first glued then stitched. The result is a clean, good-looking and highly durable stitch, which supports the overall stability of the kite.
Zipperless Strut A strut without zippers means less weight, and results in smoother flying characteristics and increased durability. These advantages outweigh the slightly more tedious process required when changing a strut bladder.
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Progression Q
Heavy Duty Leading Edge Closing Seam
Double-V Pigtails These pigtails distribute the load of the line connections to the kite, minimising the risk of fatigue, making the kite less prone to distortion and helps it to steer more smoothly.
The leading edges of all kites are extremely durable due to a special heavy-duty closing seam. The Dacron material at the leading edge is reinforced with a self sticky Insignia Tape and double stitched additionally. The Heavy Duty Leading Edge Closing Seam is resistant to very high tensions and diagonal forces.
Self Rescue Handles Kook Proof Connectors The kook proof line connection points prevent accidents by guaranteeing that you cannot accidentally connect your lines incorrectly when rigging your kite.
The self-rescue handles on the inside of the wingtips can be easily found in case of an offshore break down. They provide a good, comfortable grip while sailing back to the shore during a self-rescue manoeuvre.
Loaded 5th Line
Trailing Edge Force Control
The loaded 5th line is a “nose line� with constant tension. This tension is responsible for reactive steering, powered as well as depowered and a crisp and direct bar feel. Only the 5th line system can guarantee 100 % depower in less than one second when releasing the IRON HEART.
The Trailing Edge Force Control describes the smooth power distribution between the different materials of the kite, forcing the tensions in the right directions. Compared to 2013 the waves are higher and wider to eliminate stress points between the Dacron Trailing Edge and the D2 Canopy Material. This change in construction reduces flattering marks and ensures that the material is not wearing out.
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Technoforce D2
TECHNOFORCE D2
K E Y B E N E F I TS LESS BROKEN / TORN KITES
In order to further improve the fabric and optimising it for the kite specific requirements the development and evolution takes place in close collaboration with Teijin, the world market leader in Polyester fabrics.
Unique flying characteristics:
Double coating
— Higher diagonal stiffness than normal canopy materials. — Higher performance: the stiffer overall structure stabilizes the kite and makes it faster. — Crisp and very direct response on steering impulses. Due to the dynamic power working on kites, the stiffness of a kite is immensely important for the flying characteristics of a kite.
Due to the Double-Coating of D2, the material stays crisp for longer. The unique coating procedure is not just protecting the final canopy, but every single yarn is coated before the final weaving process and therefore every single yarn is protected additionally. Even if the coating comes off the first layer, the yarns itself stay coated! Not just protected from the sun, but also from salt crystals, sand, small stones and other sharp objects.
One of the main factors for ageing of kites is: UV light UV light strongly influences the ageing of the kite. Exposing your kite for too long to UV light can reduce the crisp steering and flying feeling – sometimes within days.
HIGHER DURABILITY DUE TO: 40 % HIGHER BREAKING STRENGTH 70 % HIGHER ELONGATION STRENGTH UV RESISTIBLE EVEN AFTER YEARS OF USE
For more than 5 years North Kiteboarding has been employing Technoforce D2 on all the kites in the range. Our team has been continuously testing several other fabrics but the bottom line was – there is no better choice of canopy material than the existing Teijin fabric. The dynamics and durability of D2 is simply exceptional.
STEP 1 Coating of the single yarn
STEP 2 Weaving of the coated single yarns to one fabric.
STEP 3 Coating of the whole canopy material. However, the kite canopy material stays a delicate fabric. Fins and sharp objects can cause small scratches when being used for securing the kite on the ground. These may appear harmless, but can destroy the kite during the next session when forces impact the canopy.
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2014 kites
Kites
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Kites Technology
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2014 kitefinder
Vegas
Dice
Evo
Neo
Rebel
Dyno
WAKESTYLE / FREESTYLE
FREESTYLE / WAVE
FREERIDE / FREESTYLE
WAVE / FREERIDE
HIGH PERFORMANCE FREERIDE
FREERIDE / RACE
Freeride
Freeride
COMFORT
COMFORT
WINDRANGE DEPOWER ABILITY SHEET AND GO Freestyle STEERING PRECISION KITELOOPS LIFT HANGTIME Wakestyle POP UNHOOKED POWER RELEASE DELAY Wave TRAVEL ABILITY / DRIFT STEERING (DEPOWERED) REACTIVE STEERING Race LOW END UPWIND ABILITY
WINDRANGE DEPOWER ABILITY SHEET AND GO Freestyle STEERING PRECISION KITELOOPS LIFT HANGTIME Wakestyle POP UNHOOKED POWER RELEASE DELAY Wave TRAVEL ABILITY / DRIFT STEERING (DEPOWERED) REACTIVE STEERING Race LOW END UPWIND ABILITY
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Kites Technology
Kite Technology
Adaptive Tip settings For Rebel and Neo
For Dice
Switch Pigtail between attachment points to change settings.
Change attachment points to switch settings.
PIGTAIL POSITION
A
HARD SHEETING FORCE SETTING — — — — — —
Heavier bar load Precise steering More kite feedback Powerful, dynamic turning Better jumping Aggressive kite loops
For Vegas and evo
PIGTAIL POSITION
B
SOFT SHEETING FORCE SETTING — — — — —
Light bar load Kite reacts faster to turning impulse Kite turns tighter Smooth kite loops Softer power development
PIGTAIL POSITION
A
HARD SHEETING FORCE SETTING — — — — — —
Heavier bar load Precise steering More kite feedback Powerful, dynamic turning Better jumping Aggressive kite loops
- MEDIUM SETTING (recommended) THE GOLDEN MEAN
PIGTAIL POSITION
B
SOFT SHEETING FORCE SETTING — — — — —
Light bar load Kite reacts faster to turning impulse Kite turns tighter Smooth kite loops Softer power development
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Kites Technology
FREESTYLE / wakestyle SETTING FOr Vegas
The new Air Port Valve
A FREESTYLE SETTING
PIGTAIL POSITION
— — — —
Huge depower More lift Precise kiteloops Reactive steering
B WAKESTYLE SETTING
PIGTAIL POSITION
Switch Pigtail between attachment points to change settings.
Streamline Strut 3D Streamline Strut 3D
Canopy
— More power release delay — More pop unhooked — Less reactive steering In 2014, the following kites will be equipped with the brand new Air Port Valve: Dice, Rebel, Evo and Neo. The valves unique construction has several advantages, but first and foremost it saves time rigging. The valve works with any conventional pump or compressor as it can be connected directly to the bayonet insert of the hose. Additionally, the air passage of the new valve makes it possible to pass four times more air than before. The valve is suitable for both, inflation and deflation. The deflation option is integrated, which means no external deflation pin is required. Deflation is simply activated by turning the blue wheel on the
inside of the valve completely to the right. Hence loosing air when not wanted is not possible, as the valve is closed after inflation by turning the bayonet completely to the left before taking it off. A short sizzling noise of a very small amount of air escaping from the interspace when taking of the bayonet is normal. The new Air Port Valve can be easily operated with neoprene gloves thanks to the large diameter. Due to its very flat construction, it also prevents line snag. The valve enables fatigue-proof inflation due to the bigger air passage. Even bigger kites will be inflated within seconds!
Leading Edge
3D shaped segments avoid folding marks in strut
Conventional Strut
normal strut concepts cause wear + folding marks
Air passage
176 mm 2 instead of 44 mm 2
Inflation and Deflation
yes
No line snag
yes
Compressor compatible
yes
Connect to bayonet
yes
Any conventional pump
yes
External Deflation Pin
Not necessary
Handling with neoprene gloves
yes
Fatigue-proof inflation
yes
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Kites
VEGAS WAKESTYLE
FREESTYLE
35
Wakestyle
36
Freestyle
Sizes
5 › 6 › 7 › 8 › 9 › 10 › 11 › 12 › 13 › 14
— Loaded 5th line high depower c-kite — Most direct kite in the line up — Best unhooked performance — Aggressive lift — Responsive power delay
The Vegas is a kite that needs no introduction, for years it has sat at the pinnacle of freestyle riding, powering the world’s best riders to the top of their game. Over the years it has evolved, and it is now much more than just a freestyle kite. Different tuning options allow you to set the kite up for wakestyle and freeride options, as well of course, as freestyle. It has the best pop in the range, offering extreme height in jumps and powered tricks. The unique feature of the kite is the power delay, after the pop the kite has no power allowing the rider to perform his trick without the kite pulling. Kiteloops on the Vegas are precise and reliable, the kite
size
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
5
24 – 41
22
6
23 – 39
22
7
20 – 37
22
8
18 – 35
22
9
17 – 33
22
10
16 – 31
22
11
15 – 29
22 – 24
12
14 – 27
22 – 24
13
13 – 25
22 – 24
14
12 – 23
22 – 24
powers through the loop with plenty of speed. It’s probably the best kite on the market for the rider looking for the freestyle advantage and is used by the entire North Kiteboarding Freestyle Team on the PKRA and in other events around the world. Still, in addition to this, some riders choose the Vegas as their freeride kite, enjoying the lively nature and responsiveness offered. If you want the most uncompromising high performance and dynamic kite on the market, choose the Vegas.
Kites
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38
Kites
dice FREESTYLE
wav e
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40
Kites
DICE
DICE
FREESTYLE
WA V E
tom court
airton cozzolino
41
Freestyle
42
Wave
Sizes
4 › 5 › 6 › 7 › 8 › 9 › 10 › 11 › 12 › 13
— Direct and fast turning — Easy jumping ability — Surprising unhooked performance — Great drift abilities for wave riding — Massive depower
The Dice is a brand new kite for 2014, aimed at the rider wanting a do it all machine with C-Shape flying characteristics. Airton Cozzolino and Tom Court are using the Dice this year, showing you just how versatile it is. Happy performing wakestyle, freestyle or in the waves – the kite entertains on all levels. It is based around a C-Shape profile, using a lightweight three strut construction. The kite feels lively in your hands, very direct and predictable in
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
4
24 – 42
22 – 24
5
23 – 40
22 – 24
6
22 – 38
22 – 24
7
19 – 36
22 – 24
size
8
17 – 34
22 – 24
9
16 – 32
22 – 24
10
15 – 30
22 – 24
11
14 – 28
22 – 24
12
13 – 26
24
13
12 – 24
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the air. The bar feedback is instinctive and riders find the kite easy to fly right out of the bag. Kiteloops are really easy with the Dice, and it is great fun to ride in the waves or flat water. If you want a kite that will give you the maximum amount of fun in any conditions, choose the Dice, responsive, fast and great fun!
Kites
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Kites
EVO FREER I DE
FREESTYLE
45
Freeride
46
Freestyle
Sizes
6 › 7 › 8 › 9 › 10 › 11 › 12 › 13 › 14
— Direct & responsive steering — Easy unhooking abilities — Extremely stable — Good hangtime and powerful lift — Sheet & go power delivery
The Evo is the ultimate all round kite in the North Kiteboarding range and a completely new interpretation of a freestyle/freeride kite. The Evo is at home no matter what the conditions. Tom Hebert competes in wave and freestyle events, as well as freeriding all over the world on trips. He choses the Evo as his kite, knowing that no matter where he is, or what type of riding he is doing the Evo will deliver. The kite can be flown on 4 or 5 lines and feels like an easy to use C-Shaped kite in terms of its handling. It has a smooth predictable nature and direct and responsive turning characteristics. The hangtime and lift delivered when jumping is impressive, the kite really accelerates through the
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
6
21 – 39
22 – 24
7
18 – 37
22 – 24
8
16 – 35
22 – 24
9
15 – 33
22 – 24
10
14 – 31
22 – 24
11
13 – 29
22 – 24
size
12
12 – 27
22 – 24
13
11 – 25
24 – 27
14
10 – 23
24 – 27
window to generate huge amounts of power and lift, perfect for oldschoool manoeuvres. Kiteloops feel extremely smooth, the Evo catches the rider gently after the loop. It is exceedingly stable in the air, making it great for freestyle and waves too. Hooked or unhooked the Evo responds perfectly to rider input on the bar in a predictable manner. Due to the 5 struts, the Evo is stable even in biggest gusts or steering mistakes. If you don’t want to be tied down to a certain style of riding, you need a kite that can deliver on all levels, the Evo is that kite.
Kites
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48
Kites
NEO w a vE
freeride
49
Wave
50
freeride
Sizes
4 › 5 › 6 › 7 › 8 › 9 › 10 › 11 › 12
— Quick and easy turning — Responsive steering when depowered — Best drifting ability of the range — Massive depower — Soft power development
The Neo is the dedicated wave-freeride kite in the line up, aimed at the rider who values quality waves and needs a kite to perform. Airton Cozzolino chooses the Neo for his demanding style of competitive wave riding on the KSP World Tour. His influence was essential to improve the wave characteristic without loosing the good freeride abilities. This year the Neo comes with a floating strut and the structure of the kite is a little softer to enable the Neo to absorb gusts, giving a smoother power development and allowing the rider even more control on the wave. The struts have also been moved further towards the outside of the kite, this has shifted the centre of gravity
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
4
23 – 41
22–24
5
22 – 39
22–24
6
21 – 37
22–24
7
18 – 35
22–24
size
8
16 – 33
22–24
9
15 – 31
22–24
10
14 – 29
22–24
11
13 – 27
22–24
12
12 – 25
22–24
allowing the kite to sit further back in the window. This enables the kite to drift down the line incredibly well, allowing you to park the kite and ride the wave without having to worry about it stalling. Additionally it is responsible for an easy and fast relaunch. The Neo is extremely responsive to rider input on the bar, making it easy to manoeuvre on the wave. The lightweight construction makes the kite very lively in the air, but also means there is even less chance of the kite dropping back in the window as you race down the line. If you like riding waves, but don´t want to miss comfort freeriding, the Neo is the kite for you.
Kites
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52
Kites
R E B E L H I GH PERFOR M ANCE FREER I DE
53
High Performance Freeride
54
Sizes
5 › 6 › 7 › 8 › 9 › 10 › 11 › 12 › 13 › 14
REBEL — Loaded 5th line hybrid design — Best wind range in the line up — Best hangtime — Excellent upwind ability — Short, efficient depower stroke — Sheet & go power development
The Rebel was a game changer when it was first launched all those years ago. Since then it has remained the best selling kite in the North Kiteboarding range year on year. There are so many fans out there that fly the Rebel week in week out and love it. With good reason, the Rebel is one of the most stable kites on the market, making it perfect for beginners, intermediates and experts alike. The kite offers responsive steering, even when it is depowered. The upwind ability of the kite is also fantastic, making it great for freeride, waves and even a bit of racing. The Rebel gives the rider a good amount of bar feedback, offering total control in the roughest conditions. The hangtime and lift offered by the
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
5
22 – 42
22 – 24
6
21 – 40
22 – 24
size
7
18 – 38
22 – 24
8
16 – 36
22 – 24
9
15 – 34
22 – 24
10
14 – 32
22 – 24
11
13 – 30
22 – 24
12
12 – 28
22 – 24
13
11 – 26
24 – 27
14
10 – 24
24 – 27
kite is amazing, huge floaty jumps are delivered time and time again. This year the kite has a deeper profile, which allows it to drift a little more in the waves but also offers an improved low end. Sky Solbach, North Kiteboarding surfboard shaper, uses the Rebel when he is testing in Maui and Western Australia and relies on its dependable handling characteristics in all conditions to allow him to concentrate on the boards under his feet. The Rebel is the most popular kite on the market, it is stable, dependable and reliable with a huge wind range, offering unrivalled performance in a variety of situations.
Kites
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56
Kites
D Y N O FREER I DE
race
57
freeride
58
race
Sizes
7 › 9 › 11 › 13 › 15 › 17
— 5 Line kite — Optimized for racing and light wind — Best upwind performance — Best low-end of the range — Great light wind freeride kite — Massive hangtime Racing is all about handling and performance in light winds, the Dyno embodies that perfectly! This year we have gone a step further, stripping the kite down to just the essentials to deliver the most efficient kite on the market today. The most visual change is the move from 7 struts to just 5; this increases the flexibility of the kite and further reduces the weight. The tip strut is now closer to the wingtip to help support the thin leading edge; it also provides stability during hard turns. With just 5 struts the kite is more flexible and will dynamically twist when you initiate the turn, allowing it to turn faster and harder and generate more power. When riding fast downwind you’ll appreciate this improved agility and power stroke in the kite, giving you the edge over the competition. We have also increased the number of segments in the canopy, this allows us to have far greater control over the profile of the kite and get the exact shape we desire in order to give the Dyno optimum performance. Whilst we design the Dyno with racing in mind, all of these characteristics we build into the DNA of the kite make it perfect for freeriding too. The lighter weight, deeper profiles and new geometry
size
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
7
17 – 38
24
9
15 – 35
24
11
12 – 30
24 – 27
13
10 – 25
24 – 27
15
8 – 20
24 – 27
17
6 – 16
24, 27, 30
allow it to get going really early and boost huge floaty airs. It is just as happy above a twin tip as it is a race board. The new Dyno is simply the best kite on the market for light winds, and in the right hands the fastest kite round the racecourse. Give yourself the competitive advantage, and get racing on the new Dyno, lighter, faster and more powerful! We’ve given you the tools; the results are up to you. Olivier Dansin: The Dyno is the kite which makes the difference to be good – or to be really good and to be on the podium in races. Most impressive to me is the lowend and the easiness to go down the line in light speed. But even without my reaceboard, the Dyno is an exiting light wind kite to boost highest jumps.
Kites
59
trainerkite
60
Kites
Sizes Sizes
1.8 › 2.5
3.5 › 5.5 › 7.5
— Safe and fun way to get into kite flying
— School kite
— Maximum durability
— Extreme durability
— Maximum control
— Auto re-launch
— Super predictable
— Ease of use — Predictable characteristics The Buzz from North Kiteboarding has been in the line up for many years now, tried and tested by schools all over the world. The durability of the kite is unsurpassed, thousands of crashes, countless hours left on the beach in the sun, the schools keep ordering the kite they know it will last the season. The kite has a soft and steady power development, to make it easy to fly and enable students to learn faster. The re-launch is automatic, meaning new kiters spend more time flying kites than they
size
3.5
windrange
RECOMMENDED line length
(kn)
in m
25 – 45
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do trying to get them off the water. The Buzz is constructed using the highest quality and most indestructible materials available. The predictable nature of its flying characteristics makes the Buzz very intuitive to fly, students progress even quicker during their lessons. When you are learning to kitesurf, you need a kite that is stable, easy to fly and re-launches easily. The Buzz is the perfect kite for schools the world over.
The Lizard is a two-line Ram Air kite that is perfect for teaching the basics of kite flying. Available in two sizes it is great for young kids who want to follow in their dad’s footsteps, and also anyone else that wants to learn and improve their kite handling skills. The Lizard package includes a bar so you can get used to flying a kite in this way, making the transition to flying larger kites for kitesurfing really easy. Both Lizards are equipped with a hand leash, optional you can get the 1.8 without leash.
size
windrange
2 – 21 2 – 16
(kn)
5.5
21 – 40
19 – 22
1.8
7.5
18 – 35
19 – 22
2.5
We have made the Lizard extremely durable so it can cope with those inevitable crashes with first time fliers! The Lizard comes ready to fly, just pull it out of the bag and get it in the air for instant fun!
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2014 Bars
Bars
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64
Bars
2014 Trust Bar The North Trust Bar has made a name for itself in the kitesurfing industry and amongst the riders; it stands for unmatched safety and reliability. In 2014 the bar has been tweaked to perfection to achieve the best riding comfort possible; nonetheless it provides the rider with a unique control system that has safety rooted at its core.
TOP FEATURES — EVA cushioned winding post with flip-flop function for easy width adjustment — Integrated backline adjuster — Fully integrated EVA floater — Exchangeable plastic centre hole insert — New moulded EVA floater for safety leash
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Bars
66
5th Element
Quad Control
5TH ELEMENT BAR (19 / 22 / 24 / 27 / 30 m)
QUAD CONTROL BAR (19 / 22 / 24 / 27 / 30 m)
Safety is an essential topic in a sport where you are facing the power of the elements, and in some situations are totally on your own. The North patented 5th line system has provided the greatest combination of safety and performance for many years now. Year after year the 5th line concept proves its reliability and the 100% depower ability, no matter what the conditions. The system still has a commanding lead compared to other safety sys-
tems available on the market. This is why we at North Kiteboarding believe in the 5th line concept. What’s more, the 5th line makes water re-launch really easy and the loaded 5th line kite designs (Vegas and Rebel) offer a very short depower stroke, giving the rider ultimate control in gusty conditions. The benefits of this set-up are obvious and appreciated by riders all over the world.
The Quad Control bar is the safest 4-line bar on the market, offering unrivalled control and safety release options. The Iron Heart release is unparalleled in its efficiency and ease of use and forms the core of the bar through which the other safety systems flow. The safety line when activated is connected to the two front lines, allowing the kite to rest on the water or the beach with hardly any power. This allows the rider to get things back
under control quickly and easily. The Quad Control Bar is identical to the 5th Element Bar aside from the 4 lines and front line safety set up, ensuring it is the best on the market. However, 4-line systems can only offer limited safety functions. For ultimate safety and 100% depower, riders should chose the 5-line system.
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Bars
2014 line lengths 19 / 22 / 24 / 27 / 30 m — Choose exactly the right bar for your needs — Different bars with the perfect line length to suit your style — Get a different feeling and more range from your kite — Highest quality lines with the best performance — Exceptional durability
24m (50% handling/50% power) One bar fits all. The 24m lines are the best choice for an all round length, good turning speed combined with good power make 24m the perfect choice for a lot of riders. Great for freeride, waves and freestyle.
27m (40% handling/60% power) The extra length means extra power, you get a little more range out of your quiver by adding this bar with the longer lines. They are also great for jumping as you can really “load” the lines when you edge and send the kite back through the window.
In 2013 we introduced different line length ranging from 19 to 32 metres as the length of the flying lines can make a huge difference to the way the kite flies. Different styles of riding, different kite models or the kite size can be influencing factors that require different line length.
— The most versatile length — Great for all round freeriding — Good low end and a good turning speed — High jumps as you can “load” the lines — The recommended size for a one bar quiver!
— Enormous low end — Huge jumps — Lots of lift
The bar is the riders’ first point of contact with the kite. In order to achieve a maximum in comfort of riding it is essential to match the kite and the riders’ style of riding to the correct line length.
30m (25% handling/75% power)
In order to further increase this synergy effect the 19 and 22 m lines come now on a medium bar (49 / 42 cm) and the 24, 27 and 30 m lines on a large bar (53 / 46 cm).
The choice of the North Kiteboarding race team, longer lines mean even more power, but the kite turns at a slower rate. This suits racers looking for the ultimate in pull in the often gusty and light conditions they are faced with.
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
— THE SHORTER THE LINES, THE MORE DIRECT AND FASTER THE KITE TURNS — THE LONGER THE LINES, THE MORE POWER YOU CAN GENERATE OUT OF THEM
— Perfect for light winds! — Extra power — North Kiteboarding race team approved
reactivity
LINE LENGTH ADVISOR 19m (70% handling / 30% power)
Super fast and reactive turning speeds, shorter lines are best for extreme freestyle and crazy kiteloops. They are also excellent for wave riding, where kite turning speed is important. Wakestyle riders enjoy the close connection to the kite too. The disadvantage is you lose some of the lowend power. — Fast and reactive turning — For extreme Freestyle, Wakestyle and Waves — Tight, super fast and hard kite loops — Narrower bar width
22m (60% handling / 40% power) The favourite length of our freestyle and wave team riders. The 22 m lines are still great for getting lots of speed from the kite, perfect for wave riding and freestyle. Not as extreme as the 19m lines, they still lose a bit of low-end power.
— Reactive turning — Fast kite loops — Favourite set up of our freestyle riders — Best choice for waveriding — Narrower bar width
Length (M)
power
19 22 24 27 30
Wakestyle
Freestyle
Freeride
Wave
Race
kitesize (sM)
4–10 4–12 5–17 9–17 12–17
turning speed / direct barfeel
hang time / low end
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Bars
bar features WINDING POSTS The Winding Posts are made of a fully moulded fibreglass reinforced Polyamide construction, which offers an incredibly lightweight solution with increased stiffness. In addition to this, there is a moulded EVA cushioning to ensure maximum comfort for the rider.
The Winding Posts feature an integrated backline adjustment, which allows the rider to trim the rear lines when needed.
PLASTIC FITTED CENTRE HOLE Our new exchangeable insert for the centre hole is made of plastic, to reduce wear on the depower line. The material we use is resistant to abrasion, and will cause much less damage, if sand is present, to the line itself.
ATTENTION Never ride without the cover. It prevents the knot of the leader line from slipping out of its housing.
NEW STICKY & ERGONOMIC BAR GRIP
INTEGRATED EVA FLOATER FLIP FLOP FUNCTION The moulded EVA floater is fully integrated into the winding posts to offer a seamless connection, which gives better protection to the lines and the rider. The integration of the EVA floater also avoids line tangling and gives better overall stiffness between the bar and lines. NEW We have a reworked Flip-Flop function, which is a lot easier to operate now. It allows you to switch between a 53cm and 46cm bar width (M/L bar) and 49 cm and 42cm bar width (S/M bar) with just one click. This makes the procedure of changing the bar set up far simpler.
For 2014 we have reduced the diameter of the bar in order to increase the thickness of the EVA bar grip. The result is a bar that has the same overall diameter but offers a lot more comfort to the rider.
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Bars
BAR FEATURES IRON HEART
STANDARD / SUICIDE MODE With every 2014 North Kiteboarding Bar, there is a choice between the standard safety mode and an easy to mount ‘SUICIDE’ MODE. Only very experienced riders with special requirements should use the suicide mode.
ATTENTION Only the standard safety mode offers 100% safety. We recommend to always use the standard safety mode. Riders who use the suicide mode should be aware and responsible for the possible consequences!
The Iron Heart from North Kiteboarding has long been the benchmark for all safety systems and we are continuously aiming to further improve this essential piece of safety equipment. It is renowned for a fast, safe and easy release, coupled with the ability to quickly reassemble the unit and continue flying.
NEW MOULDED CHICKEN LOOP & CHICKEN DICK The Chicken Loop and Chicken Dick have been refined for 2014, the moulded construction, is softer to offer more comfort and easy reassembling. This new construction is warp resistant and di-
mensionally stable. This makes it very easy to hook back in after unhooked tricks, as the loop stays in shape.
THE REVERSE RELEASE PIN The heart of the Iron Heart IV is the reverse release pin and one of the keys of the intelligent release mechanism. Unlike other safety systems, it hinges
to the inside to protect your hands. The incredibly low release forces are a direct result of the reverse release pin.
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Bars
ROTO HEAD The Roto Head permits you to untangle the lines after a rotational jump or a kiteloop while you are riding. The new Roto Head utilises a plastic construction, the plastic is extremely durable and there is no corrosion possible.
NEW SAFETY LEASH The Safety Leash has been completely redesigned to offer more floatation, guaranteed protection and ease of handling. The moulded EVA construction covering the hook is softer and prevents lines from tangling; the hook itself can still be bent in two directions. The EVA cover can be pulled back
for easy hooking in and out to the suicide ring at the chicken loop. Of course the end of the leash still offers a safety release where it is attached to the harness. Consequently you are still able to release the kite completely at any time.
The new Roto Head comes with two grub screws making it easy and fast to change the depower line. Simply use an FCS fin key to remove the screws and change the depower line.
VARIO CLEAT AND SLIDING STOPPER We have completely redesigned the Vario Cleat last year to make it even more effective and efficient. We have introduced a 5th line channel for the 5th line to run through, this reduces the risk of the 5th line getting tangled considerably. You can easily adjust the height of the Vario Cleat too, plus we have reduced it’s size to increase the depower area. The sliding stopper can be adjusted to suit personal preferences. Combined with the smaller Vario Cleat this accounts for 12% more depower area!
french norm The following release systems integrated in the North Trust bar continue to fulfill all requirements of the French Norm: — The quick release system of the bar (Iron Heart IV) — The quick release that separates the rider completely from the kite (safety leash) Both safety systems are tested in various media and the release force must not exceed 100 N (9.8 Kg). The actual release process of both systems must not exceed 0.5 sec. The transition from riding position to release (reaching for the Iron Heart or safety leash from riding position
with both hands on the bar) must not exceed 2 sec. OTHE R REQUIREMEN TS The grips of the release system must be red and the direction of release must be indicated. The release grips must be easy to reach. Furthermore, the Iron Heart must resist a load of 360 kg without deformation and without losing functionality. The same applies to the safety leash with a load of 180 kg. The system is tested in the worst sandy and salty conditions. Sadly, many available systems on the market are unable to fulfill the requirements of this norm!
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2014 twintips
Boards Twin Tips
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Boards Twin Tips
2014 twintip finder
Team Series Freeride Speed Early Planing Comfort Upwind
Freestyle Edge Grip Smooth Landing
Wakestyle Pop Unhooked Stable Landing
Wave Carving Ability
Gambler
Jaime
Soleil
Select
X-Ride
Gonzales
Spike
Spike Textreme
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Boards Twin Tips
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twintip technology North Kiteboarding twin tip boards are produced in a high-tech snowboard and kiteboard factory in Austria. Premium products are our aim, therefore only the best materials and cutting edge technology are applied to our twin tips. All twin tip cores are made from farm-grown Paulownia wood. To get light and durable boards, they are milled exactly to within 0.1 mm to the mould, to minimise and control the amount of glue used in each board.
Key Construction Features — 3D Contour Deck: Precisely dictates and controls the flex behaviour over the entire length of the board — Soft tip area combined with stiff torsional flex: Responsible for aggressive edging and early planing — Super Stiff Centre: Ensures massive, aggressive pop for powered tricks & jumps — The Centre Responsive Flex: Stiffness of centre part is reduced to dampen slaps and hits caused by choppy water
2014 High Performance Carbon Technology — Spread tow technology Spread Tow Fabrics (STF) — The Carbon spread tow of the Formula 1 Champions!
Key Benefits — Unique carbon fibre technology noticeable improves your boards’ performance — 20 % lighter than conventional carbon rein forcements — Unprecedented mechanical performance — Superior surface finish The patented TeXtreme® spread tow STF structure makes the composite 20% lighter, with an unprecedented increase in overall performance. This is based on the fact that the fibres are straighter in TeXtreme® than in any standard conventional carbon reinforcements. As a result of the optimized fibre structure, the end product will hold a larger amount of carbon fibres, at a minimum size and weight.
The outcome of this unique technology when applied to kiteboarding: A board with high fibre volume content, low weight and enhanced strength!
How does it affect your riding experience — The upwind ability is recognisably improved. — The handling and feel of the board is definitely unique! TeXtreme boards feel much smoother than traditional boards. — The pop is also improved and it is easier to release the board for loaded jumps. Getting the timing right for jumping will feel intuitional. — TeXtreme® boards are just like your own magic carpet; the board does all the work for you! The Select and the Spike Textreme are the high performance boards in which this amazing technology is used at the moment. Whenever you get the chance to strap one of these to your feet: feel the difference yourself! The North Kiteboarding Twintip range can be divided into three different groups of twintip boards due to the applied construction technology — Standard Construction — Premium Constuction — High Performance Construction Find more details on the next page.
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Premium Construction
construction High Performance Construction The Select, TeamSeries and Spike Textreme are made of a Full Carbon construction, which showcases all the North Kiteboarding experience in twintip construction. To achieve the best possible performance each line has an individual Carbon layup. The Select is constructed with a special focus on lightweight and liveliness. To achieve the maximum weight decrease the top deck uses the patented Textreme Spread Tow STF. On the bottom a 45-degree diagonal Biax Carbon is employed to guarantee maximum pop and grip.
Boards Twin Tips
The Spike Textreme has the construction of the Select + Carbon Belt at the bottom to get extra stiffness for early planing. On the new Teamseries the focus was on maximum pop, grip and durability. To absorb the hardest landings we use twill woven Carbon on the top deck of the boards. On the bottom we use a 45-degree diagonal Biax Carbon and additional Carbon XString to get best possible pop and edge hold.
The premium boards Jaime and Gambler feature the Carbon Beam Construction. In the Carbon Beam Construction 30% of the longitudinal fibre is replaced with Carbon. This results in a faster more progressive flex for better pop and reduced weight.
TOP SHEET GLASSFIBRE LAYER
WOOD CORE
45째 GLASS LAYER
THE TRACK ABS SIDEWALLS
CARBON BEAM LAYER
TOP SHEET THE TRACK REINFORCEMENTS
BASE SHEET
TEXTREME-CARBON LAYER
Standard Construction
WOOD CORE
This group comprises the North Kiteboarding freeride boards X-Ride, Soleil, Spike and Gonzales. These boards are produced with Biax Fibre for the best dampening and comfort.
BASE SHEET
TOP SHEET GLASSFIBre LAYER
WOOD CORE 45째 GLASS LAYER ABS SIDEWALLS
THE TRACK THE TRACK
ABS SIDEWALLS
45째 BI-CARBON LAYER BASE SHEET
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Boards Twin Tips
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bottom concepts Mono Concave Bottom Select, Xride, Soleil, Gonzales, Spike, Spike Textreme All of these pure freeride boards are produced with Biax Fibre for the best dampening and comfort. The new, rounder outline makes it fun in chop, the wider tip area helps to get going early. The straight outline is the reason for good pop and sharp edge grip. All of these boards are quite narrow which makes them fast and ensures best upwind abilities.
Double V bottom Jaime The Jaime features the Double V bottom with progressive round rocker and a 4° canted fin set up. This results in a faster, more progressive flex for better pop. A carbon beam helps to reduce weight.
This year, even four different bottom concepts are offered due to the different needs and expectations of different riders with different levels. Due to the experience and the technological capacities of North Kiteboarding, four very different bottom concepts could be created over the past 3 years.
Advantages: — Fastest concept — Early planning — Smooth flex — Good carving abilities
Quattro V
Advantages: — Good edge grip — Comfortable landings — Great flex — Easy to control
Wake Bottom Concept
Teamseries The full carbon board Teamseries showcases all the North Kiteboarding experience! To achieve the best possible performance it has a completely new individual carbon layup. The massive keels of the V bottom generate a lot of grip, even without the 4° degree canted fin set up. A progressive round rocker delivers the performance you expect.
Gambler The Gambler comes with a unique wake bottom concept with even more grip and durability than the Teamseries. Perfect control even without fins, hard bottom layer to resist harder impacts of obstacles and sliding on rails.
From beginner over experienced freerider to kick ass wakestyler, everyone will be able to find the right board with the for him perfect bottom concept. Have a look at the different concepts and find out easily what fits best to your personal expectations and style.
Advantages: — Durable and light — Massive grip even without fins — Aggressive flex — Easy to control and comfortable
Advantages: — Durable bottom layup — Most durable construction of the range — Especially designed for boots — Aggressive grip even without fins
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Boards Twin Tips
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the track system A system that allows a wide range of adjustments as well as quick and easy mounting of the footpads without having a negative influence on the board’s flex and weight. This is THE TRACK. The Track system features two ultrasonic welded tracks made of fibreglass reinforced plastic that are laminated into our boards in the production process. The Tracks are then CNC milled out of the finished board. The Track Nuts provide the connection to the Footpad. The Track Nuts are made of non-corrosive brass and can be freely moved along the track to both sides. This system offers a whole range of possibilities to mount our footpads. One particular advantage is that the flexible tracks do not interfere with the fine-tuned flex of our boards.
THE TRACK FEATURES — Featuring Customised X6 — Stepless stance (foot distance) adjustment of the pads
THE TRACK NUTS The Track Nuts are used to secure the Entity Combo. The nuts can be moved laterally in the tracks. This permits adjusting the distance between the pads. The nuts are supplied with all series boards with the The Track system.
THE TRACK PLUG The Track Plug is made of TPE plastic and prevents The Track Nuts from falling out of the tracks. The plugs also make sure that the system is mounted correctly!
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Wakestyle
length
width
rider weight
136 41.5 55–70 139 42 65–85 142 42.5 >80
fin set
S-BEND WK 3.5
Wakestyle
— Designed for boots — Large rocker
— Best pop in the range — Massive grip
— Slick base construction — Carbon beam construction with Wake Bottom
— Smooth landings — Flex carbon construction
The Gambler has been in the line up for a few years now, every year the design team and our riders work together to improve the way the Gambler rides. Demanding riders like Tom Court and Craig Cunningham use the Gambler on rails both with a kite and at the cable. It’s the perfect board for wakestyle riding, smooth, easy to use and the rocker and flex work in harmony with the outline in the tips to offer easy landings no matter how hard you ride. The deep rails combine with the Wake bottom to offer unsurpassed grip, allowing you to ride the Gambler without the 3.5 cm fins provided, if you choose to. We built the Gambler to be tough, so it can handle the abuse demanding wakestyle riders throw at it. Featuring our Slick Base construction, kickers and sliders are what the Gambler lives for. Don’t gamble on performance, ride the Gambler and be the best…
The TeamSeries is our flagship board for the most demanding freestyle and wakestyle riders out there. Used by Mario, Stefan and Reno on the PKRA World Tour it is the ultimate board for the best riders on the planet. This year the board has been made even more robust to meet the demanding needs of the best riders. The TeamSeries is now stiffer offering unrivalled pop; the torsional stiffness of the board has also been increased to offer even more control and response. The soft tips have been stiffened up a little more than in previous years. They still offer comfortable landings, but even more control at the critical point of impact, increasing the chances of you landing the trick. The Quattro V bottom shape ensures you have plenty of grip in the water and helps to break surface tension when landing powered and fast. Of course the TeamSeries is also light, ensuring you can concentrate on your moves and not worry about the board on your feet. If you want to be the best rider in the world, you need the best board under your feet. The TeamSeries is that board.
Freestyle
length
width
Boards Twin Tips
rider weight
134 40 55–70 137 41 65–85 140 42 >80
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fin set
S-BEND FS 4.6
90
Freestyle
Freeride
— Great pop – smooth ride — Most versatile board — Light construction — Carbon beam
The Jaime is in a class of its own, it’s been the pro model for Jaime Herraiz for 9 years! Over that time the board has been tweaked and developed, but has always retained the core focus, to be one of the best boards for Jaime, himself, to ride. The board uses the same Sandwich Construction that revolutionised the kiteboarding industry all those years ago and now features a Carbon Beam to improve the torsional stiffness and flex. All of our construction knowledge is put into ensuring the Jaime is one of the best-manufactured boards around. Freestyle, freeride, carving, the Jaime excels at it all whilst still retaining a comfortable ride that will surprise many kiters. The team at North have refined the test-winning concept from 2013 to create the best Jaime yet. The harder you ride the board, the faster and higher it goes. The Jaime has a progressive flex and Double V bottom that makes jumping easy and for a board with so much performance it is very forgiving. Take it out for a chilled cruise, or fire it up for some high wind mega loops it won’t disappoint. If it is good enough for Jaime, it is good enough for you!
length
130 133 136 139
width
39 40 41 42
rider weight
50–65 60–75 70–85 >80
fin set
S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND
Freeride
4.6 4.6 4.6 5.0
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— Exclusively designed for girls by girls — Perfect control — Smooth ride — Specific flex and outline for girls The Soleil utilises a completely new construction and design for this year. The board echoes the trend among riders looking for boards with more length. The longer length offers more rocker, making the board more comfortable through chop yet still offering early planing. The Soleil is very responsive with a smooth flex characteristic that has been developed especially for girls. It has plenty of grip and rides upwind fantastically and carves from rail to rail really well. There are a growing number of girls getting into kitesurfing and the Soleil offers them the perfect freeride machine. It was one of the first boards for girls on the market and something that North Kiteboarding has been championing for some time. It comes with the NTT footstrap and pad system in a small/medium size for girls with smaller feet. Don’t ride a board designed for men, ride the Soleil and enjoy a board designed by girls for girls …
length
FS FS FS FS
Boards Twin Tips
width
rider weight
128 37 <60 132 38 55–70 136 39 65–80
fin set
S-BEND FS 4.6
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Freeride
length
width
rider weight
132 39 55–75 135 40 70–85 138 41 75–90 141 42 >85
fin set
S-BEND FS 5.0
Freeride
— Fastest board in the range — Very comfortable control
— Most comfortable board — Best carving abilities
— Early planing — Textreme Carbon
— Massive fin and edge grip — Very versatile
The Select has a completely new design concept and construction for this year. The outline has been straightened the tips have been made wider, this gives the board a much larger surface area, which improves it’s early planing and makes the board faster. The larger sizes of the Select are perfect for heavier riders and allow them to get up and riding in light winds. While the tips have been made wider, they have also been rounded to ensure a smooth ride through chop and aid the carving characteristics. The flex has been tuned to give the board an even more comfortable feeling through chop and give the board fantastic pop. It has a lively crisp feel underfoot and is very responsive to rider input. Jumping on the Select is fantastic; the flex works with the rider to ensure you get good pop every time. The board offers excellent grip and rides extremely fast when powered, but is still forgiving allowing you to improve as a rider. This is the 5th generation of Textreme Carbon boards and we have managed to create the lightest, most responsive Select to date. The Select is the most technologically advanced kiteboard out there, ride it and feel the difference you have been missing!
The X-Ride has been the best selling board in the range for some time now, and with good reason. It is the most versatile board in our range, offering the perfect ride for what-ever you want to do on the water. This year it has been completely redesigned and uses a totally new construction. In recent years boards have been getting longer and longer, the new X-Ride can be ridden 3cm longer than you would normally chose. The extra length results in more rocker and a straighter outline which gives the rider vastly improved ride quality and early planing characteristics. They also have more grip in the water and better control in choppy conditions. This new shape and length combine with the specially designed freeride fins to give you unsurpassed upwind performance and grip. Whether you are into freeriding, big air, freestyle or smashing waves the X-Ride will deliver. Being so good at carving makes it especially fun in the waves and lots of riders enjoy playing in the surf on the X-Ride. The X-Ride is the ultimate all round kiteboard, happy doing whatever you decide to do. Waves, freestyle, freeride, choose the X-Ride and ride the way you want, when you want.
Wave
length
132 135 138 141
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Boards Twin Tips
width
39 40 41 42
rider weight
55–75 70–85 75–95 >85
fin set
S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND
FR FR FR FR
4.9 5.3 5.3 5.3
Freeride
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Boards Twin Tips
— Easiest board in the range to ride — Comfortable — Great upwind performance — Super forgiving
The Gonzales is designed for those riders who want an easy ride. If you want a freeride board that works for you and makes you look good on the water the Gonzales is it. There are 5 sizes in the range to suit every riders needs, whether you are just starting out after some lessons, or more experienced riders enjoying their first jumps and tricks. The Gonzales carves like a dream, the outline has been designed to make it easy to switch from rail to rail, perfect for toeside and heelside carves. The Gonzales is the ultimate easy to use freeride machine and is very smooth and comfortable through choppy water. Get on board the Gonzales and boost your kitesurfing skills!
length
130 134 138 142 151
width
38 40 41.5 42 42
rider weight
50–65 60–75 70–85 >75 >75
fin set
S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND S-BEND
FR FR FR FR FR
4.9 4.9 5.3 5.3 5.3
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Freeride
length
141 153 163
width
rider weight
44.5 >65 46.5 >70 46.5 >75
Lightwind
fin set
S-BEND FS 5.0
High Performance Freeride
Lightwind
Boards Twin Tips
Textreme
— Light wind weapon — Super early planing
— Ultimate light wind weapon — Earliest planing in the range
— Fantastic upwind performance
— Fantastic upwind performance — Textreme Carbon construction
The Spike is perfect for those days when you arrive at the beach and wind isn’t quite playing ball. Using a unique shape concept the Spike combines a large surface area, and flat rocker, with an asymmetrical concave and straight centre section. This gives the board unbelievable upwind abilities and gets it up and going in light winds while others are left on the beach. The 163 offers the best upwind and low end performance in the range, it is also very easy to ride. The 153 has slightly less low end, but still gets going very early. Underfoot it feels much smaller than it is, so it is perfect for light wind freestyle and freeride tricks. The smallest board in the range, the 141, is tuned to be more of a light wind freestyle machine, it works really well in gusty conditions and is popular among riders who ride inland on lakes. If you want to make every session count, no matter how light the wind is, you need the Spike in your collection.
The Spike Textreme is the ultimate weapon for the kiter looking for the ultimate light wind performance. The board takes all the characteristics of the Spike and uses the Textreme Carbon construction techniques that North Kiteboarding have perfected over the last 5 years to make the most responsive and agile light wind board on the market. Ride the Spike Textreme and close your eyes and you will think you are on a normal sized twin tip. The board is 20% lighter than the standard version and feels infinitely more agile under your feet, giving the rider plenty of feedback. The Spike Textreme has some unique flex characteristics that allow it to plane early, but also to deliver an impressive amount of pop, making it very fun to ride. Upwind the board will amaze you and it will always be the first board on the water. The Spike Textreme utilises the most advanced construction techniques combined with our design expertise to create the most technologically superior light wind twin tip on the market.
length
153
width
46.5
rider weight
>70
fin set
S-BEND FS 5.0
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2014 Footpads and bindings
Boards Twin Tips
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Boards Twin Tips
the revolution of individual fit
NTT Anti Slip Inlays
Contact Frame
NTT Contact Pad
NTT Strapbuckles
NTT Splitstrap
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The Revolution of Individual Fit
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NTT / entity Every foot is different. Taking this into consideration the Entity, an ergonomically shaped footpad sets new standards in the evolution of kite sports. The Entity offers a
variety of settings to perfectly fit on each foot, in addition it is quick and easy to mount and even looks damn good on your feet!
THE TRACK + NTT The NTT has been designed and tested for use with the The Track system. “The Track” is an innovative mounting system on North twintips in its third generation. Together with The Track, the NTT unfolds its full potential of individual settings. The NTT can be mounted on any board with standard inserts from the product generation 2011 onwards, however, the range of individual settings is then limited.
NTT SPLITSTRAPS
RECOMMENDED STANCE
Together with the NTT ContactPad, the NTT SplitStrap forms probably the most functional footpad system on the market. The revolutionary split function offers the choice between maximum grip and optimum mobility:
The central triangles on the NTT ContactPad and inside The Track system indicate the entity Combo’s basic setting, also known as the recommended stance. The recommended stance has been individually determined for each North Kiteboarding board. Some riders may prefer a different position. The section Customize X6 explains the various possibilities for individual tuning.
Bombproof grip & more Control By moving the StrapBuckles backwards or forward, the split opens or closes. The further you open the split, the greater the contact surface that wraps around your foot. Bombproof grip and more control over your board are a direct result. Optimum mobility The more you close the split, the more range of motion you get. The SplitStrap comes with all-over padding and the width adjustment makes sure that the NTT SplitStrap wraps tightly around any shape of foot. Achieving a great fit with neoprene booties, is no longer a problem neither. The procedure is dead easy and only takes a few seconds.
NTT CONTACTPAD The NTT ContactPad consists of the time-tested EVA footpad and the NTT ContactFrame. The Footbed is ergonomically shaped and perfectly combines fit, control and comfort. The Footpad is enveloped by the ContactFrame, which reliably transfers the forces directly to the board. The direct contact between Contactpad and board enhances the board feeling.
Boards Twin Tips
ENTITY COMBO SCOPE OF DELIVERY NTT ContactPad (pair) and NTT SplitStrap (pair), North Grab Handle, NTT StrapBuckles, washers and screws!
NTT HEELCUSHIONS The pad is supplied with three NTT heel cushions of varying hardness. The cushions permit adjusting the NTT ContactPads to your personal preferences. — soft (yellow) for more comfort — hard (blue) for better control — medium (red) for the golden mean
NTT CONTACT FRAME The ContactFrame is the intelligent basis of the entire footpad. The construction perfectly adapts to the shape of our boards and does not interfere with the flex characteristics. NEW
NTT CONTACTPAD — The ContactPad has been enhanced for 7mm in the heel area. This modification reduces pressure in sensitive areas of the foot by increasing the cushioning effect. The foot stands also in a different angle in the binding, which improves the foothold. — In 2014 we employed a new anti-slip surface, which considerably increases the grip, keeping the foot in firm contact with the NTT. However the surface of the inlays permits easy entry, yet prevents the foot slipping out. Maximum comfort & bombproof grip!
HOW TO MOUNT THE NTT The The Track Nuts secure the Pad/Strap combination and mount to the NTT Combo within seconds. The Nuts can be moved laterally in The Tracks to adjust the distance between the pads. The Nuts are supplied with all series boards with The Track system.
THE TRACK PLUGS The Track Plugs are made of TPE plastic and prevent The Track Nuts from falling out of the tracks. The plugs also make sure that the system is mounted correctly.
NTT – Size Table Recommendation Entitiy Combo S / M US (M) 5–10 Entity Combo L / XL US (M) 8–13
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Boards Twin Tips
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CUSTOMIZE x6 with X1
PAD DISTANCE The pad distance depends on your size, your riding style and, of course, your personal preferences. A narrow distance is usually more comfortable because it makes the board feel softer. Furthermore, a narrow distance saves strength and is therefore preferred by freeriders. Freestylers usually chose a wider distance. This provides a lot of pop and permits more aggressive edging. The wide distance gives the rider more control in tricks and landings, however, it also makes riding more strenuous.
X2
PAD POSITION RELATIVE TO THE EDGES The position of the pad on the board in relation to the heel and toe edge greatly influences the board’s riding characteristics. With very wide boards or very small feet it is recommended to move the binding towards the heel edge. This increases pressure on the heel edge and facilitates upwind riding. A central position of the foot between the two edges provides better stability in landings. Narrow boards and large feet also benefit from a central position.
and X4
ADJUSTING THE STRAP CONTACT SURFACE Adjusting the NTT SplitStrap allows you to find the right balance between personal comfort and optimum grip. The more you open the split, the better the grip in your NTT! The narrower you set the split, the greater your mobility within the straps.
X5
FOOT LENGTH ADJUSTMENT The entire NTT SplitStrap can be moved back and forth on the NTT ContactPad. The right position depends on your foot length. We recommend adjusting the NTT SplitStrap so that your toes reach over the toe edge.
X3
X6
In the basic setting the angle is 10°. The pad angle depends strongly on the rider’s personal preferences. Some riders prefer a position with the front foot rotated far to the outside. We recommend a greater angle for these riders.
You can vary the NTT SplitStrap’s width independently of the Velcro adjustment on the NTT ContactPad. This helps optimize the NTT’s fit according to your foot width. In addition you can change the width if you wear neoprene booties!
PAD ANGLE
FOOT WIDTH ADJUSTMENT
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Boards Twin Tips
Vario Combo The tried and tested Vario Combo is once again an integral part of our collection. The Vario Combo has been completely reworked and is now easier to mount, more compatible and more comfortable. The new design of the Vario Buckles features modified strap insertions that substantially simplify mounting. The ergonomically shaped Vario Pad still convinces with its high comfort and the proven anti-slip structure guarantees a firm grip in all situations. Mounted on a board with The Track system, both the Vario Strap’s and the Vario Pad’s width can be steplessly adjusted. Compared to last year’s model, the new Vario Strap offers increased size adjustment through the optimized Velcro closure. Adjusting the size is now much quicker and easier. This is particularly important if you have to use neoprene booties in cold conditions or if different riders use the same board. The Vario Combo is compatible with all North Kiteboarding boards of any product generation.
Vario Combo Features
Anti Slip structure guarantees a firm griP in all situations
Easy size adjustment with velcro closure
THE VARIO STRAPS WIDTH AND THE VARIO PADS DISTANCE CAN BE ADJUSTED STEPLESSLY WHEN MOUNTED ON THE TRACK BOARDS
— — — —
Ergonomic footpad Simple mounting Increased size adjustment of the Vario Straps Stepless width adjustment of the strap wh mounted on The Track boards — Stepless stance adjustment (pad distance) when mounted on The Track boards — Anti-slip structure
Ergonomic Footpad
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Boards Twin Tips
THE Banana Boot For the extreme needs and expectations of wakestylers, again a special boot was built to fulfil these wishes – the Banana Boot. The material at especially stressed points has been reinforced, the inside of the boot shows a triple sew to ensure the material is not delaminating. A medium soft density liner offers both, flexibility and support. Built in J-bars improve the heel hold significantly. An articulating cuff allows the boot to flex with the rider without boot distortion.
us uk europe japan
A brand new double X lacing improves wear resistance and tensile strength. This Banana Boot is a boot that helps you to step up your riding to the next level! — Medium soft density liner for both flexibility and support — Built in J-bars improve heel hold — Articulating cuff – boot flexes with rider — Low friction eyelets — New double X lacing
6–7 8–9 10 5–6 7–8 9 38–39 41–42 43 24–25 26–27 28
11 10 45 29
12 11 46 30
13–14 12–13 47–48 31–32
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2014 directionals
Boards Directionals
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Boards Directionals
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2014 directional finder
PRO SERIES Freeride
kontact
wam
woohoo
Whip
nugget Freeride
early planing
early planing
stable in chop
stable in chop
upwind ability
upwind ability
small waves tight bottom turns snappy top turn POP for airs creating speed
big Waves drive grip / hold high speed control
small waves tight bottom turns snappy top turn POP for airs creating speed
big Waves drive grip / hold high speed control
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Boards Directionals
directional technology top sheet
Innegra Carbon is a blended fabric composed of Innegra and Carbon. Carbon makes the board light and lively whereas Inegra provides the necessary elasticity.
full surface bamboo layer
45° diagonal glass layer
Bamboo is a sustainable material and comes with amazing technical characteristics. Our Bamboo Tech waveboards feature a high strength to weight ratio with great resistance to dents and perforations. The resulting boards are very durable and provide high performance riding characteristics.
cork shock absorber
Cork offers excellent absorption characteristics and reforms entirely without leaving any visible dents in contrast to PVC. Therefore it is applied as a damper in the heel area of the surfboards. rail reinforcements
90° bi-axial glass layer
90° bi-axial glass layer
eps core
Using our Bamboo Tech construction, we take full advantage of the dynamic qualities of natural bamboo. Optimized layers and the mix with composite materials help us to construct powerful, agile and versatile directionals that come with a unique flex – Responsive Flex!
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Boards Directionals
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x-surf concept All boards marked with the "X-Surf" stamp are ideal shapes for both kitesurfing AND surfing. We originally introduced the X-Surf concept last year with the Whip and got great feedback from riders who loved being able to travel with a single board to cover their kiting and surfing needs. In 2014, through ongoing development and feedback, we have expanded the X-Surf family. Boards marked with the "X-Surf" stamp have more volume than the kitesurf-specific boards (better padd-
ling ability) and also operate well when relying purely on wave energy to generate speed. The Nugget doubles as a light wind kitesurf board and a small-wave-slaying surfboard. The two biggest Whips are performance hybrids perfectly suited to bridging the gap between kiting and paddling in small to medium surf. The Pro Series is the go-to board for team riders and advanced surfers in nearly all conditions.
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WAVE
WAVE
— High performance competition board — Tri fin — Thumb tail
The Pro Series is the ultimate board in the range, designed by the pro riders for the pro riders. The board offers state-of-the-art performance with its dedicated thruster set up, huge rocker line and thumb tail shape. It can handle a variety of conditions, from small to medium sized waves and is great for reverse tricks with the generous tail rocker. If you are the kind of rider who demands the best, then look no further than the Pro Series, it is the most dynamic and advanced board in the line up.
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Boards Directionals
— Big wave slayer — Tri fin — Rounded pin tail — Maximum control in all conditions If you ride in big, fast powerful waves you need a board that won’t let you down. The Kontact has been designed to offer maximum grip in the turns, ride exceedingly fast down the line and handle the biggest swells the planet has to offer. The thruster set-up and rounded pin tail give it the best carving ability at high speeds, so you know that bottom turn is going to stick when the wave gets critical. If you want to ride big waves with the big guns you need the Kontact under your feet to back you up. Sky Solbach:
Sky Solbach:
“Patri, Airton and I collaborated a lot on the Pro Series design. General feedback from the team was that they wanted something a bit more controloriented that would handle different types of conditions when competing. Our efforts resulted in a thumb-tail design with a slightly fuller nose, which effectively straightens up the outline and allows for smoother, less ‘flicky’ turns. The Pro Series can be pushed hard and really drives and carries speed off the bottom turn, but is still easy to find the release point to snap tight and blow the tail out.
SIZE
VOLUME
5'8" x 17 7/8" x 2 1/16" 21.3L 5'11" x 18 3/16" x 2 3/16" 24.2L 6'2" x 18 1/2" x 2 5/16" 27.2L
rider weight
55–75 70–90 >85
fin set
TS-S TS-M TS-M
“The Kontact is the go-to board for big waves and really windy and choppy conditions. I think of it as the Cadillac of the range because it’s such an easy ride and really irons out the bumps. Its got low volume, thinned out rails and a rocker that can handle lots of speed. The full nose and rounded pin-tail create a long rail line you can rely on when pushing hard through high-speed carves. If you’re into going fast and carving hard, get a Kontact.”
SIZE
VOLUME
5'9" x 17" x 1 7/8" 19.3L 5'11" x 17 1/4" x 2" 21.1L 6'1" x 17 1/2" x 2 1/8" 23.2L
rider weight
55–75 70–90 >85
fin set
TS-S TS-S TS-M
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WAVE
WAVE
— Performance all rounder — Tri/quad fin — Squash tail
The Wam has been our most popular surfboard for some time now, the most versatile board in the range it is ready to handle whatever you can throw at it. Supplied with both Quad and Tri fin options you can set the board up to be loose and slashy or for more drive through the turns. The board offers plenty of grip in the water and is really easy to ride, making it an excellent choice for newcomers to the surf and experts alike. Whatever the conditions, you can decide how to ride them and the Wam can handle it!
Boards Directionals
— Performance all-rounder for women — Tri / quad fin option — Squash tail
Whilst there is no doubt that the girls can rip just as hard as the guys, they do need a board that is designed for them. Smaller stances, lighter weight and better looking were just some of the aspects that were considered when the Woohoo was designed! The board is based around the exceedingly popular Wam, but has been scaled down to make it easier for smaller riders to control in a variety of conditions. The Woohoo is a fantastic all round wave machine, with a feminine touch of class. Sky Solbach:
Sky Solbach:
“The Wam got a major overhaul this year. I wanted to add more snap and liveliness to improve performance in small waves without sacrificing too much control and drive in bigger surf. In order to achieve this, I pushed more width into the tail and increased the overall rocker to loosen it up and tighten the turning radius. Then, to compensate and keep it all under control, I flattened out the curve in the rocker between the zero point and the tail. The result is a board that is fast and loose, yet very positive and predictable.”
SIZE
VOLUME
5'8" x 17 3/4" x 2 1/8" 21.8L 5'10" x 18" x 2 3/16" 23.6L 6'0" x 18 1/4" x 2 1/4" 25.4L fin set
TS-S+QUAD SET TS-M+QUAD SET TS-M+QUAD SET
“So many girls have trouble finding a board that really suits them. They often end up riding guys boards that are too big for them, have a wide stance and simply don’t fit them. I developed the Woohoo especially for female riders. The Woohoo is essentially a scaled down version of the Wam, but with slightly more curve in the tail to loosen it up for lighter riders.”
rider weight
55–75 70–90 >85
5'6" x 17 1/2" x 1 15/16" 19.4L rider weight 40–65 fin set TS-S+QUAD SET SIZE
VOLUME
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WAVE
WAVE
SIZE
5'5" x 18 3/4" x 2 1/8" 5'7" x 19" x 2 1/4" 5'9" x 19 1/4" x 2 3/8" 5'11" x 19 1/2" x 2 1/2"
VOLUME
22.4L 24.5L 27.4L 30.1L
— High performance small wave ripper — Tri fin
— Light wind and small wave stoke machine — Quad fin
— Double winger diamond tail
— Diamond tail
The Whip is our high volume euro wave shredder, designed for those days when the waves aren’t packing much punch and you still want to have a good session. It is also the new school wave freestyle board of choice among the NKB pro team too. A thruster set up with a wider double winger diamond tail combine with more volume to get this board up and going really early. The Whip is fast, lively and a whole heap of fun to ride no matter what the waves are doing.
Sometimes you just want to go out and have fun, even when the wind doesn’t quite deliver, or the waves aren’t as big as predicted the Nugget is the answer! It’s a playful board with a wide outline and plenty of volume to get you going early. A quad fin set up helps to keep the board loose and allow you to really throw it about in small waves. Great for strapless freestyle the short length makes rotations and spins really easy. Don’t get bummed by the conditions, get a Nugget and have fun all the time!
Sky Solbach:
Sky Solbach:
“The 2014 model is actually based on a 5'8" I made for NKB legend Jaime Herraiz last winter. He was looking for a short, wide board he could use to kite and surf at home in small waves in Tarifa, Spain. Using the 2013 Whip as a base model, I bumped up the overall width by 1/4'' and added a big single winger to pull in the tail for added maneuverability. Jaime was really pumped on the board and ended up liking it a lot as a thruster. It’s much looser and livelier than the 2013 Whip and is aimed at generating speed and performing well in small, gutless waves. This thing absolutely flies and is great for doing strapless airs.”
“I ride the Nugget more than any other board in my quiver because it just makes crappy conditions so much fun. It not only gets you up and going when other boards won’t, it also rips in small waves. It’s a stoke machine! The obvious step for myself was to improve the overall surfing ability of the 2013 model without losing the light wind ability. I added 2" of length, pulled in the tail and integrated rail shape similar to other high performance models in the range. It retains the light wind ability of the previous Nugget, but puts an entirely new spin on its surfing ability. We even added a 5'5" XL model for heavy riders.”
rider weight
50–70 60–80 70–90 >85
SIZE
TS-S TS-M TS-M TS-M
VOLUME rider weight
5'2" x 21" x 2 3/8" 28.9L 5'5" x 21" x 2 7/16" 32L fin set
fin set
Boards Directionals
TS-M+NQ SET
60–85 >80
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RACE
race
— Super fast — Amazing upwind abilities — Easy to control — Comfortable — Super early planing
SIZE
VOLUME
190 cm x 69.9 cm x 9.6 cm 89.7L
fin sets
Racefin Tuttle Box green (one piece) 40 Racefin Tuttle green – 3 degrees left side (one piece) 42 Racefin Tuttle green – 3 degrees right side (one piece) 42
The Race Limited 69 is made utilising a full carbon sandwich construction with an automatic pressure release valve. This means you can spend more time riding and less time worrying about your board, no matter where you take it! We have also changed the dimensions of the board slightly compared to the 2012 model; it is now 190 cm long and 69.9 cm wide, pushing the IKA box rule to the absolute limit. We also increased the volume to 90 litres; this makes the board perform even better in light winds. We didn’t just make these changes for the sake of it though; we have redesigned the shape to create a more competitive board in every aspect. One of the first things we wanted to do was improve the quality of the ride, making the board handling superior in rough and choppy conditions. By changing the shape of the tail and the hull we have made it easier to ride and more comfortable at high speeds. In addition to this we have also improved its performance upwind with tweaks to the rail shape and rocker line. The Race LTD 69 is built and registered to the IKA Box Rule and legal to race March 23, 2013. The board is delivered without fins. FIN RECOMMENDATION: — Two 3 degree canted 42cm Racefins (front) — One straight 40cm Racefin (back) If you want to win races, medals and glory, the Race LTD 69 is the board you need under your feet, accept no substitutes.
Boards Directionals
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Boards Directionals
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2014 HARNESSES
Harnesses
Styler SizeS
POP
46/XS - 48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL - 56/XXL
SOUL
The Styler is the tried and tested classic among waist harnesses. The Styler comes with a double hook attachment, a complete EVA padding and the Friction Fit construction that keeps the harness firmly in the right place. The Full Protection hook Mounting System protects you from bruises and rib injuries. Just like the Air Styler, the Styler is extraordinarily comfortable and you can quickly and easily stow excess straps in the Belt Pockets.
Special Features
— Friction Fit in moulded EVA design — Flexible neoprene belt for more comfort — Soft covered hook plate with Push down Strap to avoid injuries and bruises
— Short harness hook for better bar feeling and control
— Two colour combinations: Pop and Soul
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Harnesses
Airstyler SizeS
PERFORMER
46/XS - 48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL - 56/XXL
POP
SizeS
46/XS - 48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL - 56/XXL
SOUL
Special Features The Performer seat harness permits using a lower hook position compared to waist harnesses. The generously employed back paddings support the lower back muscles and the freely adjustable back position enables to adapt the harness to ones own requirements. The soft cover and the low position of the hook and hook plate help protect you from bruises and rib injuries. The Performer is available in the colour combination Soul.
— Full-blooded seat harness with maximum comfort and low hook position
— Flex Zones for more mobility and comfort — Soft covered hook plate to avoid injuries and bruises
— Comfortable neoprene leg straps — Short harness hook for better bar feeling and control
Transformer Seat The Air Styler is the flagship of the NKB harness range, offering perfect fit and comfort. Featuring an Air Cushion back padding that allows adjusting the harness to your personal comfort zone. The twister fit construction, a high-grade neoprene lining on the inside of the harness makes the harness comfortable to slip onto any material you are wearing or onto the naked skin. This means more freedom of movement, in particular when twisting the body like in wave riding, the harness will traverse around your body without constraining your natural motion sequence. The Air Styler can be easily converted into a seat harness by using the Transformer Seat, which is available as a spare part. Simply attach the seat to the velcro at the bottom of the harness.
Special Features
— Inflatable Air Bladder
SizeS
46/XS - 48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL - 56/XXL
— Flexible neoprene belt construction for highest comfort — Soft covered hook plate with Push Down Strap to avoid injuries and bruises — Short harness hook for better bar feeling and control — Two colour combinations: Pop and Soul — Attachable Transformer Seat available
The transformer Seat is now available separately. It can be attached quick and easy to the AIRSTYLER harness, transforming the waist harness into a seat harness.
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Harnesses
KITE VEST WAIST SizeS
48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL
KITE VEST SEAT SizeS
48/S - 50/M - 52/L - 54/XL
CAN BE ALSO WORN INSIDE OUT (SIGNAL COLOUR)
The Kite Vest Waist offers snug body fit and cushioning only in the upper part of the vest, so that a waist harness can be comfortably worn above, still offering maximum freedom of movement. The side zipper allows for quick and easy putting on and taking off the kite vest. The new zipper flaps ensure durability of the zipper and protect your skin from scratches.
The Kite Vest Seat is designed to be worn with a seat harness, featuring padding on the full length of the upper body. This ensures a very comfortable fit and maximum protection. To keep the vest firmly in place it can be secured with straps directly to the harness. In 2014 the Kite Vest Seat can also be worn inside out, featuring a signal colour on the inside, which is perfect for schools and rookies to be seen from afar.
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2014 packs & Bags
Packs / bags
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Travel with style and show your passion for the sport with the North Kiteboarding travel bags. To avoid any bad surprises at the check in all our packs and bags are designed making sureâ&#x20AC;¨we utilise lightweight construction and the most durable materials. The entire luggage range features our
Packs / bags
diligent attention to detail giving you many advantages, such as, combinable bag systems, intelligent buckles and clever storage systems. They may be just packs and bags but take the time to explore how much more they have to offer!
Combibag Available in 135 / 150 / 160 cm
POP
DAYPACK
SOUL
Quiverbag TRAVELBAG LARGE
POP
Available in 135 / 160 cm
POP
Quiverbag Surf XL Available in 190cm
Quiverbag Race Available in 200cm
SOUL
SOUL
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Packs / bags
Single Board Bag
Single Board Bag Surf
Available in 140 / 160cm
Available in 5’8” / 6’3”
POP
POP
SOUL
SOUL
Single Board Bag Race Available in 200cm
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Men
2014 apparel men
As a kiteboarder you’re not average, you’re a part of a small group of individualists – and you might want to show this, not just at the beach but also in any situation of your daily life. Therefore the North Kiteboarding Promo-Collection has the perfect clothes for you.
Some cool and different looks and colour ways to make a statement and show the world you’re a true kiteboarder! There may be no wind or time for kitesurfing, but you’ll always carry a piece of your love to kiteboarding with you!
Apparel
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Men
Apparel
Tee SS Team Series
Tee SS North
Color
Color
Lime Punch
Blue Danube
Fit
Fit
Slim Fit
Regular Fit
Material
Material
100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
Sizes
Sizes
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL
Tee SS Banana
Tee SS Logo
Color
Color
White
Black
Fit
Fit
Slim Fit
Regular Fit
Material
Material
100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
Sizes
Sizes
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL
Morrocan Blue
Tee SS Enjoy The Ride
Zip Hoody Jibe Color
Morrocan Blue
Gunmetal Morrocan Blue
Fit
Material
Regular Fit
80 % Cotton 20 % PES 320 – 340gr
Color
Material
100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr Sizes
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL
Sizes
48/S, 50/M, 52/L, 54/XL, 56/XXL Gunmetal
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Men
Apparel
New Era Cap 59Fifty Logo Color
coming soon!
New Era Cap 59Fifty TS Color
coming soon!
New Era Cap 9Fifty Retro Color
coming soon!
Sizes
Sizes
Sizes
7 1/8 (57cm), 7 1/4 (58cm), 7 3/8 (59cm), 7 1/2 (60cm), 7 5/8 (61cm)
7 1/8 (57cm), 7 1/4 (58cm), 7 3/8 (59cm), 7 1/2 (60cm), 7 5/8 (61cm)
S/M – M/L
Boardies Split Lime Punch/Blue Danube 86 % PES/14 % EL 29/XS-S, 30/S, 31/S-M, 32/M, 33/M-L, 34/L, 36/XL 38/XXL
Color
Material Sizes
Lime Punch
NKB Logo Beanie Color
Mazarine Blue Dark Shadow Sizes
One Size
Blue Danube
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2014 apparel women
WoMen
Apparel
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WoMen
Apparel
Tee SS NKB
Tee SS Woohoo
White Fit Regular Fit Material 100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
Color
Sizes
Sizes
34/XS, 36/S, 38/M, 40/L, 42/XL
34/XS, 36/S, 38/M, 40/L, 42/XL
Tee SS Soleil
Zip Hoody Air Time
Teaberry Fit Casual Fit Material 100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr
Color
Sizes
Sizes
34/XS, 36/S, 38/M, 40/L, 42/XL
34/XS, 36/S, 38/M, 40/L, 42/XL
Color
Color
Blue Danube Loose Fit Material 100 % Cotton Single Jersey 150 – 160gr Fit
Teaberry Casual Fit Material 80 % Cotton 20 % PES 320 – 340gr Fit
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technical icon overview
2014 icon overview Technical Features kites NKB Cam Battens are made of flexible nylon and improve the stability of the canopy and reduce the drag of the kite. The Cam Battens allow to achieve a deeper profile and make the kites more powerful. They also give the kite much better upwind abilities and very good stability in the sky.
One valve for inflating, one valve for deflating the whole kite. Easy and efficient.
Soft, medium or hard flex, every board offers the right flex for the right conditions and expectations of the rider. Additionally it’s also an indicator for comfort!
The loaded 5th line is a “nose line” with constant tension. It is responsible for reactive steering, powered as well as depowered and a crisp and direct bar feel. Only the 5th line system can guarantee 100 % depower in less than one second when releasing the IRON HEART! In order to make the relaunch easier and to avoid any possible line tangling, we’ve added Relaunch Bungees at the kite tip. The bungees keep the lines lying slick against the inside of the leading edge, preventing any line from going over the top of the kite during the relaunch.
Shows the ability if a kite can be transformed from a 4-line kite into a 5th line kite.
Textreme Carbon Spread-Tow-Fabrics from OXEON. Having the perfect mix of lightweight, durability, flex and excellent rebound abilities, Textreme is the secret ingredient to our high performance kiteboards!
The diagonal 45° mesh in the tension boom provides the board a higher torsional rigidity for maximum pop. The biaxial twill woven carbon gives the board the necessary elasticity to withstand hard landings.
The Team Series boards feature the Quattro-V bottom technology. 4 keels on each tip of the board are responsible for maximum edge grip, ready for hardest freestyle manoeuvres. The Quattro-V bottom provides advanced riding characteristics and great stability for hard and fast landings.
These loops attached to the inside of the wingtips make it easier to hold the kite for bodydrag rescue.
The unique Double-V bottom shape provides more comfort, smoother landing abilities and quicker edge grip. Using a 4° canted fin setup, the Double-V bottom provides the same edge grip as the other boards with smaller fins. In addition, the keels enlarge the fin area for maximum grip.
These connectors prevent one cause of kite accidents by ensuring that front lines cannot be attached to the back of theto kite back lines be attached the front. modes, wakestyle and freestyle. In addition theand adaptive tips,cannot the Vegas features to two different Wakestlye offers more delay, the kite is less direct. Freestyle offers less depower, more pop and being unhooked, less pull. It’s your choice: decide for faster or slower turning, harder or softer steering forces. It’s just one simple pigtail adjustment away!
This season only the Gambler comes with a unique wake bottom construction, with even more grip and even more durability than the Teamseries. Perfect control, especially without fins and a hard bottom layer to resist harder impacts of obstacles and sliding on rails. Especially designed for the needs of Wakestlyers, behind a kite or cable.
Trailing Edge Force Control ensures the smooth power distribution between the different materials and sections of the kite, forcing the tension in the right directions. Compared to 2013 the waves are higher and wider to eliminate stress points between the Dacron Trailing Edge and the D2 Canopy Material. This change in construction reduces fluttering marks and ensures that the material will not wear out.
The special form of the 3D cap allows a torsional flex along the axe of the board. The result is more grip on the heel, safe and smooth landings, and an amazing upwind ability.
Two sliders made out of reinforced plastic are laminated into the boards during the production process. Unveil the various possibilities to customize your footpads for an individual fit. Check out the North Kiteboarding NTT footpads for more details!
A streamlined strut for better aerodynamics and less wear. Technical Features directionals The valve is suitable for both, inflation and deflation. The air passage makes it possible to pass four times more air.
Technical Features twintips
Bamboo is a sustainable material and comes with amazing technical characteristics. Our Bamboo Tech waveboards feature a high strength to weight ratio with great resistance to dents and perforations. The resulting boards are very durable and provide high performance riding characteristics. Using our Bamboo Tech construction, we take full advantage of the dynamic qualities of natural bamboo. Optimized layers and the mix with composite materials help us to construct powerful, agile and versatile directionals that come with a unique flex – Responsive Flex!
Based on a unique construction of the board in the tip area, the scoop rocker line ensures better response to changing situations. In underpowered riding, the board remains flat for fast planing. In overpowered riding, the scoop bends and provides for an increased level of control and stability. The flex tips absorb shocks and enable soft landings.
Innegra Carbon is a blended fabric composed of Innegra and Carbon. Carbon makes the board light and lively whereas Innegra provides the necessary elasticity.
Early planing, comfortable, and smooth on one side but scary fast and dynamic on the other side are key features of the boards with our Mono Concave construction! Try it, you´ll love it!
Cork offers excellent absorption characteristics and reforms entirely without leaving any visible dents in contrast to PVC. Therefore it is applied as a damper in the heel area of the surfboards.
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154
outro
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156
team 2014
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2014 north kiteboarding
Gabi Steindl
Craig Cunningham
Dirk Hanel
Tom Hebert
Jaime Herraiz
Reno Romeu
Stefan Spiessberger
olivier dansin
Steph Bridge
the team Airton Cozzolino Lopes
L
Matchu lopes almeida
Tom Court
JĂŠrĂŠmy Eloy
Patri Mc Laughlin
Angela Peral
Tom Bridge
Colleen CarrolL
Maxime Nocher
Kirsty Jones
Mario Rodwald
Cesar Portas
Sky Solbach
Blazej Ozog
Gianni Aragno
Ninja Bichler
OLLy BRIDGE
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Product Overview
2014 Product Overview
Vegas
Dice
Evo
Neo
REBEL
Dyno
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— Page 52–55
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Gambler
TeamSeries
Jaime
Soleil
Select
X-Ride
Gonzales
Spike
Spike Textreme
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PRO SERIES
kontact
wam
woohoo
Whip
nugget
Race Limited 69
— Page 118
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Product Overview
TRUST BAR 5TH ELEMENT
TRUST BAR QUAD CONTROL
— Page 66
— Page 67
Styler
Airstyler
KITE VEST WAIST
— Page 129
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— Page 132
PERFORMER
Transformer Seat
KITE VEST SEAT
— Page 131
— Page 131
— Page 133
Daypack
Travelbag Large
Quiverbag
Combibag
— Page 136
— Page 136
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— Page 137
Single Board Bag
Single Board Bag Surf
— Page 138
— Page 139
quiverbag race
Single Board Bag race
— Page 137
— Page 139
PHOTOS: TOBY BROMWICH MARIO ENTERO GERHARDT KELLERMANN TRACY KRAFT LEBOE FLORIAN PANTHER DESIGN: 3DELUXE
ALL DATA SUBJECT TO CHANGE©NORTH KITEBOARDING 2013 WWW.NORTHKITES.COM
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