In 2005, Blade Kiteboarding started with a clear vision: to make our mark in the kiting community by creating the gear we want to ride - top quality and clean effective design to yield the highest performance at unmatched value. Over the last ďŹ ve years, we are very proud to have delivered top rated kite gear that out rides the competition, at great prices and with an unbeatable dedication to our customers. This vision is now synonymous with our international reputation. Blade’s passion is product development. Our R&D headquarters are on the beach, and our designers, testers, and team riders work at the best spots around the world to make sure that every single day Blade prototypes are being developed. We continuously study all the design trends in the industry, and develop our own innovation to ensure that we deliver the best ride on the market. Blade is equally founded on excellence in design and commitment to the kiteboarding and the kiting community. It's our lifestyle and we are proud to be in a position to develop the sport and support the kiting community. Our objective is that every Blade rider feels they are a part of Blade, and we scale our global operations so that you can feel our support. The entire Blade team - the management, designers, testers, team riders, and distributors - is our family, brought together by passion and commitment for windy days on the water, and we extend that feeling to riders around the world who choose to ride Blade. Join the Blade family, visit us online at www.bladekites.com
Yaron Bar Lev, CEO
Yaron Bar Lev
Ofri Argov
Jose Glaube
Ohad Lempert
Yotam Levi
From its debut in 2009, the Trigger has been recognized for its Pump-and-Go style, delivering a perfect balance of power and control with minimal effort and bar movement. For 2010, the Trigger is designed to provide more depower, and the larger sized kites have been developed to deliver quicker turns. Keeping its great all around qualities, the result is a best of breed freeride kite. All around kiters will love this kite for the simplicity of one kite that does it all and does it well - great pop, incredible stability, tremendous low wind ability, and effortless relaunch. When you're riding waves, you will appreciate the Triggers quick, direct turns. With the 2010 Trigger, you'll get the most of windy days by riding in most conditions, while other riders will find themselves ending sessions early. The Blade 2010 Trigger is such a competent kite that its all around ability can be enjoyed by new riders, while it's sophisticated characteristics deliver a seriously good ride for even the most skilled kiters. + + + + + +
Direct turns Tremendous low end wind abilities Incredibly stable Power-up from the start Great pop Blade’s Reflex Relaunch System
RIDER>YOTAM LEVI///KITE>TRIGGER///BOARD>SCALPER///PHOTO>SAMMY BEN-AMI
More refined than its predecessor, this year’s model was designed for riders who need a rush of extreme during their sessions – tons of power, big air with greater control so you can use it all. The 2010 Prime is a finely tuned C kite hybrid for hardcore freestylers as well as skilled riders who seek an extreme ride. The Prime is a revolutionary four line freestyle kite with a great pop, powerful turns, and direct feel. The aggressively shaped leading edge delivers unparalleled speed and responsiveness, and the 5th line is replaced by an efficient minimal bridal system giving leading edge support. We’ve developed all aspects of the Prime to deliver the strong characteristics you want in a C kite, while expanding the kite’s performance sweet spot to suit the range of demands of advanced riders. Whether you’ve got your eye on the podium or having fun throwing down your moves, Blade’s 2010 Prime gives you the ultimate tool to develop your skills. + + + + + + + +
Increased power and speed Smooth and balanced power Refined control Direct response feel Sustained post-maneuver power Optimal bar pressure for power moves Quick and direct turns Huge lift and hang time
Blade’s 2010 kite line begins with the combined knowledge and experience of years of kite design and technology, but the real development is on the beach, at our design headquarters and around the world where hundreds of prototypes are tested every year, every day. While we can’t fit a year’s worth of R&D here, we can share a few of the techniques that contribute to the impressive ride characteristics of the 2010 Trigger, Vertigo, and Prime.
Reflex Relaunch The name of this exciting new development in kiting technology says it all. The innovative kite shape, forces the tips of the kite out of the water, so there is virtually no work to be done by the rider to get the kite back up in the air. Found in both the Trigger and the Vertigo, the Reflex Relaunch system activates an instinctive response in the kite to relaunch the second it hits the water.
KiteWith REFLEX RELAUNCH
Isolated Bridle System
Turn Axis
Power
The Isolated Bridle System (IBS) found in the Blade 2010 kite line, separates the back lines from the front lines and efficiently distributes forces along the length of the leading edge. This highly efficient system is kept simple and fast, providing the rider with a very direct feeling, typical of a C Kite design.
Turning is one of the key performance characteristics which differentiate each of our kites. Being directly connected with the kite’s power characteristics, turn handling is ultimately the reason why each kite fits certain types of riders and riding styles. For experienced riders looking to reach their potential, we firmly believe it is irrelevant to think in the “one kite fits all” philosophy. Each of Blade’s kites are designed with unique turn handling characteristics.
Always looking for ways to increase power without sacrificing the usable performance of the kite, the 2010 kite line is stronger than ever before. In addition to each kite employing a different turning axis, the kites are designed with unique profiles, each delivering specific performance traits complementing the kite’s other design characteristics.
IBS
KiteWithout REFLEX RELAUNCH
TURN AXIS
Normally, designers do not use the strongest profiles available because they have to allow the kite adequate depower abilities. With the refined IBS feature of this year’s kite line providing plenty of depower, we were able to employ significantly stronger profiles in all the kites across the line. The 2010 Blades harness even more controllable power than our previous designs, now it’s in your hands to take it to the next level.
In 2010 we’ve refined the IBS by designing bridal connections almost to the center of the kite. This new system enhances more leverage in the angle of attack resulting in substantially increased depower of the kite.
Three Struts When steering a kite, the force continues effectively through the canopy until hitting a strut, at which point it is weakened. The strut placement in a three strut kite design allows the force to affect a larger portion of the kite than a five strut design – resulting in faster turns, a more direct feel, and enhanced relaunch abilities. For mid and low aspect ratio kites, the performance benefits inherent in a three strut kite have always been recognized, but their inefficiency in maintaining kite shape made them undesirable. Blade has been working three years to innovate this design, and for 2010 the Trigger and Vertigo utilize three strut designs which maintain the shape of the kite and give outstanding performance including improved Reflex Relaunch, a more direct feel, and fast turning.
The Prime’s turn axis is designed all the way at the tip of the kite, which generates a maximum power turn and doesn’t release any power throughout the movement. This is ideal for stable full power freestyle maneuvers and those looking for an extreme ride. The Vertigo’s low aspect ratio and central turning axis allows it to perform tight pivot turns which can release power as needed. This is one of the key reasons why it is considered one of the most well mannered wave riding kites.
Increased leverage for depower tilt
The Trigger’s turn axis is positioned in between the two, giving a mid-pivot turn that is a balanced blend of both characteristics. This is ideal for those who want a kite that can do it all with a great all around ride.
The 2010 Blade Bar features dramatically improved durability through a complete redesign, utilizing high end plastics and flexible materials which resist impact and deformation in harsh elements and won't corrode or breakdown. The 2010 Blade Bar features the Blade Swivel Dome G2, the second generation of the innovative Blade Swivel Dome. This proven and refined design combines the features and functionality of a chicken loop, swivel, and a 100% effective safety release into one fast, efficient mechanism. With one simple gesture, the Blade Swivel Dome G2 instantly releases forces ranging from 5KG to 400KG with minimal effort. Once the quick release is activated, Blade’s Absolute Depower System immediately causes the kite to lose all power while remaining secured to you by one of the depower lines, ensuring the safety of both you and your equipment. Most importantly, the Swivel Dome has been designed to be put back together easily and quickly while still in the water. The entire release device remains intact once activated, so there are no parts on the Blade Bar to lose. The new Blade Bar is a refined system which inspires confidence by combining comfort and safety with speed and ease of use, so you can focus on riding. + + + + +
High end materials for durable precision Second generation Blade Swivel Dome G2 mechanism Fast and simple quick release Blade ADS guarantees 100% depower immediately on release activation Comfortable grip and direct bar feel
The finest in board technology and a refined shape is the key to the 2010 Scalper's great performance. Countless hours of research and development resulted in our Easy Edge geometry, which combines a medium rocker and variable flex pattern - stiffer through the core and more giving around the edges and tips - to strike the balance between strong upwind ability and an even ride. The result is a forgiving ride with aggressive performance. With the redesigned geometry in mind, we reexamined all the technology and put the best into the Scalper. 1-Graphic 1-Graphic Shield Shield Directly Directly protecting protecting the the board from board the from elements the elements is an is impenetrable an impenetrable layer layer of of scratch-proof, scratch-proof, high high density density graphic graphic foil foil with with specially specially bonded bonded sems seemswhich whichincreases the increases lifespan the oflifespan the board. of the board.
22- Monster Monster Mesh Mesh Several Several fiberglass fiberglass technologies technologies create create the the Monster Monster Mesh, Mesh, which which enhances enhances the the flexibility flexibility pattern pattern and and maintains maintains durability. durability. The The center center of of the the board board features features a a stiffer stiffer biaxial biaxial net net system, system, and and the the perimeter perimeter areas areas are are more more flexible flexible with with a a single single axial axial net. net.
44- Stainless Stainless Steel Steel Inserts Inserts & & Screws Screws Top Top quality quality through through every every part, part, Blade’s Blade’s inserts inserts and and screws screws are are 100% 100% stainless stainless steel. steel.
55- ABS ABS Rails Rails Providing Providing a a resilient resilient layer layer of of protection protection in in the the board’s board’s most most exposed exposed areas, areas, the the edge edge of of the the board board isis surrounded surrounded by by a a thick thick ABS ABS rail. rail.
CONCAVE
D - FLEX
EASY EDGE
POWER POP
G10 FINS
33- Wood Wood Core Core At At the the heart heart of of the the Scalper Scalper board, board, lies lies the the tough tough and and lightweight lightweight Paulownia Paulownia Wood Wood Core, Core, which which isis the the secret secret behind behind its its indestructible indestructible build build and and great great ride ride characteristics. characteristics.
The The Scalper Scalper isis designed designed at at the the sweet sweet spot spot of of usable usable performance performance for for the the experienced experienced rider. rider. The The easy easy edge edge geometry geometry allows allows strong strong edging edging in in a a board board that that delivers delivers great great pop pop for for big big air. air. The The carefully carefully tested tested broad-tip broad-tip outline outline combined combined with with a a single single mid-concave mid-concave bottom bottom enhance enhance effortless effortless planing planing and and contribute contribute to to the the well well mannered mannered ride ride of of the the Scalper. Scalper. G10 G10 fins fins are are chosen chosen for for their their maximum maximum edging edging in in a a hydrodynamic hydrodynamic profile. profile. The The 2010 2010 Blade Blade Bindings Bindings keep keep their their simple simple setup setup and and are are updated updated with with improved improved thick thick straps straps which which provide provide all all the the comfort comfort and and fit fit you you want want to to carve carve out out your your next next move. move.
++ High-end High-end materials materials in in every every detail detail ++ Easy Easy Edge Edge geometry geometry ++ Variable Variable flex flex pattern pattern ++ Effortless Effortless planing planing ++ Forgiving Forgiving and and still still direct direct characteristics characteristics ++ D-Flex D-Flex Tips Tips ++ G10 G10 Fins Fins
2010
BLADEKITES.COM
www.bladekites.com