The Kiteboarder Magazine 2012 Buyer's Guide

2012 BUYER’S GUIDE

Photo Paul Lang

2012 GEAR IS HERE! Once again it’s that time of the year when the kiteboarding manufacturers release the latest and greatest round of gear and the rest of us are stuck with the decision of which crispy new pieces of gear will be added to this year’s quiver. With the incredible range of choices out there it can be difficult to cut through the marketing hype to find the right gear that will work best for you.

We were able to get someone from 19 different kiteboarding companies to sit still long enough to answer our questions about what their new gear has to offer riders out there. You’ll find that some companies have made major changes to their product lines while others have made smaller refinements to continuing products.

Of course, the best way to find the right gear for you is to get out there and give it a try on the water, so we hope to see you at one of our KiteXpos this year. Meet up with us in La Ventana (January 19-22, 2012), Pismo Beach (April 13-15, 2012), or Cape Hatteras (April 29-June 6, 2012) and get your chance to kick the tires on some brand new gear.

As always make sure you keep your eyes on www.thekiteboarder.com to stay up on what’s going on in the kiteboarding world.

See you on the water!

2

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

AIRUSH .................................4 BEST ...................................10 BLADE ................................16 CORE .................................20 CRAZYFLY.................. 24 EPIC ......................................32 F-ONE ...............................38 FIREWIRE........................ 46 LIQUID FORCE ..........50 MYSTIC .......................... 60 NAISH.................................66 NOBILE ..............................74 NORTH ..............................82 OZONE .............................88 PROMOTION ............... 94 RRD ...................................... 98 SLINGSHOT ...............108 SWITCH ..........................116 UNDERWAVE ...........122 3

AIRUSH

Photo Ralf Bauchschuster

4

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

With an extensive line of seven kites, eight twin tips, four surfboards, and four specialty boards, Airush has a huge offering of products for 2012. New for this year is the Varial X, a combination of the 2011 Varial and Vapor X kites. Airush’s Marc Schmid answered our questions about what we can expect from the latest Airush products.

What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line? What is some of the rider input Airush used in the development of the 2012 kite line? The designers sat down with our product manager, marketing manager, and team riders to discuss what the current and future Airush rider was looking for in a kite, board, or accessory. With this in mind we simplified the Airush range and increased performance on 2011 products. Our flagship kite model, the Lithium, had major changes in its flying characteristics. Going from four struts to three gave the kite a lively feeling while keeping the low end and bar feeling that our older Lithium customers loved. The newest kite in our line, the Varial X, was the result of taking two of our kites, the Varial and Vapor X, and morphing them into one solid kite that riders would enjoy. The hardest part was finding the middle ground in which we had three totally different designs that we tested with Varial and Vapor X customers to find a consensus between them. The Varial X gives you the boosting, relaunching, and range of the Varial while delivering the direct and lively C-kite feel of the Vapor X. The Airush team riders always have a say in the certain ranges that they feel passionate about. Eight-time World Champion Gisela Pulido was very vocal on the Razor C-kite while two-time Vice World Champion Alex Pastor gave input on the Razor and his board, the FS Team. Of course they were looking for more pop, stability, and smoother landings for when they are competing. On the other side of the spectrum, Bas Koole helped us design the Protoy and Protoy Team. Finding the right amount of flex and response was his goal to make the perfect freeride/freestyle board for the masses. Bear Karry rides a lot in California so the Quad was his baby that resulted in a lot of back-and-forth between our board designer, Clinton Filen, and Bear to create something that matched the Cali conditions perfectly.

Can you talk about the V3 Bridle used on most of your kites? The V3 Bridle system is used on all our kites except the Razor. It was designed to increase the range of the kite but more importantly offers a full flag out system when you engage the quick release. The full flag out system tensions the front two lines and kills power in the kite. The V3 bridle allows for riders to safely recover their kites after engaging the quick release.

The One has been updated for 2012. What are the benefits of a onestrut kite? What does a smaller leading edge (compared to 2011) do for the One? The smaller leading edge makes the kite fly further forward in the window making it a more nimble feeling kite in the air. The One is even lighter than before (almost 1/3 lighter than a kite of equal size) which allows the design to be more stable in the sky, gives great drifting characteristics for waves, enables the larger sizes to move quicker in the sky, and allows the kite to fly in less wind. Last but not least the simplicity of the one strut design (no single point inflation) and a smaller bridle keep the plug and play rider stoked!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 AIRUSH LINE

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 5

AIRUSH 2012 BOARDS Board Name VOX Switch X-Over Protoy Protoy Team FS FS Team FS Park

Sizes 135, 140cm 130, 135, 138, 142, 146cm 129, 135, 142 cm 128, 132, 135 cm 135 cm 130, 135, 140 cm 130, 135, 140 cm 140 cm

Twin Tip Twin Tip

Package board, entry level freeride Entry-advanced freeride

Date Available Now Now

Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip

Intermediate-advanced freeride/waves Intermediate-advanced freeride/freestyle Intermediate-advanced pro freeride/freestyle Intermediate-advanced freestyle/wakestyle Intermediate-advanced pro freestyle/wakestyle Intermediate-advanced wakestyle/jib board

Now Now Now Now Now Now

Type

Target

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 models. There are four ranges of mainstream kites and three specialty ranges. The four core line items are representative of progression and feeling. In order, the One, Lithium, Varial X, and Razor incrementally progress in terms of how far they fly forward in the window, the increase in direct steering, ease of unhooked abilities, ease of relaunching, etc. We refuse to label certain models for certain riding because every rider is significantly different and is looking for certain characteristics in a kite. We like to pick out these characteristics and make it known to the rider so they can make an educated decision.

What makes the Access specifically suited for short lines? Why would you want a kite meant to fly on 9m lines? Our kite designer, Mark Pattison, based the Access around areas that were un-kiteable or normally dangerous to kite. He was tired of launching and landing in areas that were packed with kiters. With the resources he had, he created the first kite that was designed specifically to be flown on 12m and shorter lines. To fly a standard kite with shorter lines highlights the difficulty of keeping the kite deep enough in the window in order to maintain speed. A regular kite would fly to the edge of the window quickly which makes it hard to fly with short lines. The Access takes this into account and flies much deeper in the window to eliminate the problem and generate and maintain speed faster and longer.

How does the 14LW Lithium differ from the other Lithiums? Just like the 2011 and 2010 range, the 2012 Lithium adapts when going from the 12m into the LW sizes. To accommodate super light conditions and larger riders, the Lithium 14LW has a slightly different profile for more grunt, improved response, and easier relaunching in those light winds. We would say that the Lithium 14LW feels more like a 16 or 17m kite.

Have the bars changed for 2012? What’s the main difference between the Smartbar and the Analog Bar? The most changed aspect of the 2012 bar is the centerline. A double PU centerline reduces any wear when sheeting in and out while still maintaining a fully functioning stopper ball. We found that two smaller PU centerlines allow for easier bar movements while riding aggressively such as when learning, doing old school freestyle, or riding waves. The main difference between the Smartbar III and the Analog bar is the lack of adjustment found on the Analog Bar. This bar is a more streamlined version, which comes in a 45cm or 55cm length. The Smartbar III has the only truly adjustable system on the market which comes in a 45-55cm bar or 55-65cm bar length.

6

Photo Ydwer.com

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 7

Photo Ludovic Franco

8

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

With eight different twin tip models, how will riders choose the board that is right for them? With the many water different conditions out there, twin tips are hard to narrow down to please everyone. Hence we offer eight boards in the range going from package boards to the lightest competition freestyle board on the market: Vox (beginner/package board), Switch (beginner-advanced freeride), X-Over (intermediate–advanced freeride/waves), Protoy (intermediate–advanced freeride/freestyle), Protoy Team (intermediate–advanced pro freeride/freestyle), FS (intermediate– advanced freestyle/wakestyle), FS Team (intermediate–advanced pro freestyle), and the FS Park (intermediate–advanced wakestyle/jib board).

light, responsive, and yet durable compared to other boards in its class. The I-beam stringer creates a great flex pattern without getting to the point of buckling as experienced in alternative board constructions. A lot of riders looking for that flex and response in their riding as well as a lighter feeling board under their feet will really notice the benefits that the Active Carbon construction offers.

What is the Multizone Biotech construction used on your twin tips?

The Multizone Biotech construction is a vertical wood core sandwich comprising of a dual density balsa and a poplar core with ABS rail and tips. The higher density poplar stringer creates a responsive center section while the outer balsa section minimizes the weight. These boards are renowned for their response, durability, and smoothness combined with a versatile tri axial laminate for all-around performance.

What style of riding is each of the 2012 surfboards meant for? We have four ranges and two constructions for the 2012 Airush range.

Each surfboard has been designed in Cape Town, South Africa, in the various conditions offered there. The Choptop was designed around on/ cross-onshore conditions making it really playful and fun to throw around in small chop. The Quad was designed with our California wave rider, Bear Karry, who has various riding styles from down the line to strapless airs. The Quad gives him the best of both worlds in cross/cross-on conditions.

The Compact was designed for riders looking for a pocket rocket type of board mostly used in higher wind and strapped scenarios. The Converse is our true-to-its-roots down the line wave board designed for cross/cross-offshore conditions with waves from chest high and up.

The 2012 Airush surfboards are available in two constructions. What are the differences between the Flytech Bioflex and Active Carbon constructions? Why would a rider choose one over the other? The Flytech Bioflex is our standard solid construction using a sandwiched combination of glass, EPS Core, and Biax Bamboo layers to produce a super durable but lightweight board for kitesurfing. The patented Active Carbon construction takes the surf range to the next level. Kitesurfers have been requesting a board with similar flex patterns as a PU surfboard but that can resist the aggressive and heavy-footed riding experienced in kitesurfing. The result was creating a carbon I-beam stringer which allows the board to be super

Will there be any race or free race-type boards from Airush this year? The Sector V2 and Monaro V3 remain in the range. The Sector has been in high demand this year as a lightwind freeride/ freerace board. It’s simply a joy to use and explore areas of your beach that you couldn’t even get to before, but it’s still competitive enough to beat your friends! The Monaro V3 still sticks to its plan of a hardcore no frills race board. It’s definitely designed with the serious racer in mind!

What features make the FS Park a wakestyle-specific board? The FS Park takes a bit of the FS characteristic and adds benefits with the boot rider in mind. The rocker is increased to 5.5 cm making it really comfortable to ride powered up and come in hot on landings. The increased stiffness between the boot inserts allows for a better edge while going upwind and increases the pop of the board. The inserts themselves are a wider stance with two options for 8” and 6” hole patterns.

Underneath, the FS Park features molded abs fins with hitting obstacles finless in mind.

AIRUSH 2012 KITES Kite Name One Lithium Varial X Varial X Race Razor Access DNA

Sizes 6, 9, 12, 15m 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14LW 6, 8, 9, 10, 12m 10, 13, 15, 17m 5.5, 7, 9, 11, 13m 7, 10, 13m 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14LW

Number of Struts 1 3 5 5 5 3 3

Date Available Entry level-intermediate or experienced wave riders Now Entry-expert, all terrain riders Now Intermediate-expert, all terrain riders Now Intermediate-expert, light wind, racing Now Intermediate-expert, advanced freestyle, freeride, waves Now Entry level-expert, freeride/waves, short lines Now Kite schools only Now Target

9

BEST 10

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Adam Koch

Best has made significant construction and design changes to its 2012 lineup of next generation products and has also added a few new products to the mix as well. The new GP C-kite features patent pending Reflex curve technology and Best will also be introducing a new freerace/fun board called the Kiaola. Marketing Manager Simon Clark answered our questions about what we can expect from Best for 2012.

The Taboo is returning for 2012 with a new name. Why the name change? Is the TS sticking with the same design philosophy as the Taboo? The name change is something that was forced upon us. Gaastra used the name previously for one of their watersports products and complained about our use even though theirs wasn’t for a kite. So we paid them to be able to use it last year as the kites were already made and on sale, but this year we’ve opted to change the name. TS stands for Taboo Series. The design philosophy, tuning different sizes to specific riding styles, has not changed, but the implementation of that philosophy has. There have been radical changes across the board in the new TS line.

The smallest sizes (4-5.5m) are now 3-strut kites, ultra solid, and built for abuse in insane winds but shaped to be controllable and stable even in the worst gusts. The medium size TS kites have all lost the sixth strut. In going to five struts they lost weight, gained low end power, reduced drag, and above all else we tuned them for amazing unhooked stability. If you want an open-C style kite with all the benefits of our proven SLE bridle performance then the medium TS kites offer it in spades. The 15.5–17m TS kites now have all struts on the EZpump system, so you can pump that center strut up extra hard to make them even easier to relaunch. For light wind riding, in particular for heavier riders who don’t want to ride a large board, the 17m TS is simply unbeatable. It retains the responsive handling from last year’s kite and now gains more low end power.

For 2012, Best is introducing the GP C-Kite. How should riders, especially those that like to unhook, choose between the TS and the GP? Well the best way to choose is to try them both and see which fits your riding style best. The GP is a no-apologies 100% freestyle competition kite. It’s designed for riders competing at the very highest level who want every advantage to help them beat the competition in every heat. It’s designed to be ridden unhooked, almost all the time. In fact, it loves to pop and has the longest slack line feel making it easy to land any trick. Also, it’s a 5-line kite. It won’t perform on 4 lines so don’t try it without the GP-Bar. The GP is focused on being the best freestyle 5-line C-kite available.

The TS is different. It’s an open-C design and has wider appeal. Anyone who rode the Taboo last year will notice straight away just how good the new TS is unhooked and at the bottom end of its range, but it’s not just for freestyle and new school. The different sizes offer different performance and handling characteristics suited to all styles of riding.

Can you discuss how the GP’s Reflex leading edge works? The Reflex curve in the leading edge of the GP is patent-pending technology that gives you several unique performance advantages. Because the LE curves away from the trailing edge at the wingtips, it increases the wingtip depth, giving you more area to steer the kite with. It just turns faster than standard wingtip designs. The Reflex in the LE actually soaks up the line load from gusts and the load you put into the lines and kite as you go to pop. It smoothes out the gusts like suspension on your car and gives you amazing slack line feel after you pop and never snatches the bar back from you mid-pass. Lastly, the Reflex curve also brings the front of the center strut forward. This extends the lift area in the middle of the canopy, allowing you to jump higher and hang longer. This has the secondary advantage of increasing the effective AOA in the canopy, so you get more depower and a higher maximum upwind angle.

Is the GP only for advanced riders? It’s certainly not a kite we would recommend beginners to try to ride on.

11

How has the Kahoona V4 changed from the V3? The first time you twist the bar to turn your Kahoona V4 you’ll feel where the differences are. The V4 is faster and tighter turning than the V3. The wingtip area below the last strut has been widened on the V4, giving you more control surface for faster tighter turns. The bridle attachment points have been optimized to enhance the low end stability and give as much low end power as possible. Added to that there is the Kahoona+ model with the EZ-Pump. Of course for anyone who prefers the standard inflation, the entire range is available with that option.

What about the Nemesis HP V3? Will an updated version be offered for 2012?

The Nemesis is a hard kite to improve. It is so far towards the limit of what you can do aerodynamically and from a materials tech point of view that it’s hard to make it better rather than just different. We’ve managed to draw out a few more percentage points for this season though.

The leading edge barrel seams are made to closer tolerances. The acceptable seam deviation has been halved resulting in a more accurately cut and stitched leading edge which transfers steering input more efficiently. The tip-to-tip LE seam received a new internal tape reinforcement making the kite more resistant to wind shifts and gusts and enhancing stability. Canopy shaping has been similarly improved, reducing parasitic drag on the trailing edge and making the HP accelerate across the window faster than any other kite we have flown. With improvements to construction and performance, the Nemesis HP is closer to theoretical perfection than ever before. It’s still the highest jumping and most exciting kite we have ever made.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 BEST PRODUCT CATALOG

How has the Redline Performance bar changed for 2012? Do all Best kites still use the same bar? The basic functions of the RP-bar remain the same including the push to release cuff, dual depower line, stopper ball, bypass leash, and Redline safety. However the exterior QR cuff is an all-new part made to tighter tolerances from a more durable reinforced thermoplastic. The swivel in the cuff now has drainage vents and small twist-tabs to make cleaning and turning it easier. The bar ends are all new, co-molded in structural plastic, and covered in large, soft EVA outers. They offer a real improvement in safety and comfort. Lastly, we have completely replaced the bar center. The new design offers replaceable center bushings made from low friction plastic. These should eliminate depower line wear.

So lot’s of changes, but the same core reliable functionality and of course all spare parts are available as kits.

We’ve introduced a version of this bar for the GP kite. It gains an additional 5th line, the depower line is a single 8mm braided line, and we’ve removed the stopper ball. Other than these modifications, the two bars are the same.

How have the 2012 model twin tip boards changed from 2011? Are any new products being added to the 2012 lineup? The 2012 boards are all available in different sizes to last year’s boards and their outline, flex patterns, and board hhardware have all been updated for 2012. The 2012 Armada boards are a little stiffer uunderfoot and come with a little more flex in the tips. We are looking at adding a ccouple of pro models late in the season for those riders who want something a little more hardcore than the Armada, but we’ll see how these work out. m

BEST 2012 KITES B Kite Name GP TS Nemesis HP 12 Kahoona

Sizes 6, 7, 9, 11, 13m 4.5, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17m 8, 10, 12, 14m 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5, 13.5m

Number of Struts 5 3 or 5 5 4

Target Freestyle Freestyle/freeride Big air/old school Progression/waves

Date Available Now Now Now Now

Photo Adam Koch

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 13

Photo Adam Koch

14

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

BEST 2012 BOARDS Board Name Armada Profanity Spark KB Signature Short Stick Spacekraft Kiaola

Sizes 131, 135, 138 cm 134, 138, 142 cm 130, 135, 140 cm 130 cm 5'6" 5'11" 170 cm

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Surf Surf Freerace

Target Freeride/freestyle Wakestyle Freeride Women, freeride/freestyle Waves Waves Freerace/fun

Date Available November 2011 November 2011 Now November 2011 Now Now Spring Spring 2012

What’s special about the Profanity that makes it well-suited for rails?

The Profanity was the first wakestyle board to come with a beveled rail specifically for hitting sliders without tripping your edge. It also made hot landings super easy to ride away from. The new Profanity runs lower profile fins so you have straight line grip without worrying about getting caught up on a kicker or slider. Add to this the flex pattern that puts control right between your feet and you have the perfect combo for wakestyle riding.

What is unique about the KB signature that makes is a women-specific board? Kristin’s board is designed for women. It’s not a scaled down version of another production board. The outline, lay-up, flex pattern, and stance widths are all made specifically for female riders. It’s the board that Kristin rides each and every day, we just made it available to the public.

Did Best change its surf program for 2012? We’ve made changes to the fittings, fins, pads, and straps. The shapes of the boards and their construction haven’t changed.

Best is rolling out a new freerace/fun board mid season called the Kiaola. Tell us a bit more about it. The Kiaola is for riders who are looking for a directional board that crosses over between light wind, race, surf, and freeride. It’s not a pure race board but a directional that can be ridden across a huge range of conditions. With a large 170 x 60 cm surface area and stable platform it’s fast even in light conditions. It charges upwind as soon as there’s enough wind to ride and it can even be ridden in the surf. If you and a bunch of friends are looking for something new to do on the water but don’t want to limit yourself with a pure race board then the Kiaola is the perfect board.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 BEST TEAM VIDEO

Best brought back the RV tour. Will the RV bus be touring all year and where can people find out of the tour is hitting their area? The RV won’t be on the road for the entire season though we hope to be able to cover as much of the US as possible. Check with us on Facebook to see where the RV is and where it’s going to be next. As long as it’s on the road we’ll be updating daily.

Is there anything else you’d like to add regarding the 2012 Best lineup?

There’s not a lot to say other than with the Kahoona, TS, HP, and GP kites, we have every riding style, skill level, and market category covered. We are the only brand with a swept wingtip, SLE, Open-C, and a pure C-kite in their lineup this year. There’s bound to be the right kite for you. Take a look at the new lineup and come ride with us.

15

BLADE 16

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo courtesy Blade Kiteboarding

For 2012 Blade simplified their kite line by removing the Vertigo, which was possible because of two bridle configurations available on the 2012 Trigger. Blade is also offering the Fat Lady, a light wind-specific kite. Blade’s Yaron Barlev answered our questions about the latest Blade products.

At first glance, the 2012 Blade kite line looks like a refined version of the 2011 line. Is this the case or are there any large changes that we missed?

Why has the Vertigo been removed from the line? Every year we approach the design of the new line starting with what works well and what we still need to improve. The 2011 Trigger was a great kite that generated fantastic feedback from customers and magazines but we knew we could make a few changes and make it better. Blade kites are known for their quick turning but we were able to make changes that made the 2012 Trigger turn even faster while still keeping the direct feel that our customers love and move the kite further into the window to give less tension on the back lines.

After lengthy testing, we came up with two bridle configurations that we really loved. One configuration is more powerful and direct which will be great for most riders and the other is the wave configuration which is essential for wave riding performance. It’s a great solution both for freestyle and wave riders and especially for those who love both. With the development of the two bridle configurations, we realized that the 2012 line didn’t need the Vertigo model anymore since the new Trigger is essentially two kites in one package.

What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line? The most obvious improvement is the two bridle configurations that will now come with each Trigger kite which will make life much easier for wave riders. We have also made a number of improvements on the kite’s construction including new aerodynamic 3D molded guards and new attachment point construction to beef up the kite’s leading edge.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 kites. We make specific kites for specific people. The Trigger is designed for powerful, playful, and dynamic riders who like to have fun in all sorts of conditions — jumping, cruising, wave riding, and even racing. The kite is quick and very lively, characteristics that could make a few riders nervous but thrill other riders. Also,, the new Trigger has different options for bridle settings which is great for wave riders and a bonus for all-around kiters.

The Prime is designed for aggressive, precise, and technical riders who want a specific kite to help them with all the newest freestyle and new school tricks. The riders who choose the Prime are serious riders who are fearless andd working to master their technique.

The Fat Lady is designed for people who don’t just want to kite in lower wind ranges, they want to enjoy themselves. While there are other large kites that let you cruise in light conditions, the Fat Lady makes you believe you are out with a smaller kite in stronger winds. It is the fastest turning 17m kite I have ever tried and it is just pure fun.

BLADE 2012 KITES ES Kite Name Trigger 4th Generation Prime 4th Generation Fat Lady

Sizes 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14m 7, 9, 11, 13m 17m

Number of Struts 3 5 3

Target Freeride and waves Freestyle and wakestyle Low wind

Date Available Now Now Now

17

Ho does the Trigger’s adjustable bridle change its flying How characteristics? The Standard setting is the way the kite is designed to ch fly 90% of the time. It is very direct, powerful, and predictable. The Wave Riding setting shifts the kite further into the window which lets the kite drift Rid better when going down the line and it also gives an extra few knots in the be top end so when you throw the bar up you feel more depower in the kite.

The downside of this is that the kite is a bit less predictable and has a bit Th less power on the low end. les Wh makes the Fat Lady a light wind-specific kite? Up in the air it might What loo look similar to other kites but down on the ground you can see details that set this kite apart from the rest. The kite is made for light conditions which me means that extreme design details were used to make it great for days when the wind is below 10 knots. Those design details are also the reason wh why flying it in high wind conditions might not give the best performance. wh The leading edge is extremely small – similar in size to the Trigger 12m.

Th This really brings the drag down and helps the fast flying speed of the Th kite. Using three thin struts on a 17m kite is unheard of, but it’s the secret kit behind the kite’s quick turns and fun factor. be Th Fat Lady was a late-season 2011 release. Will it be updated for 2012?

The What will the changes be? Last year we decided to rework our process and Wh release rel new models when it is necessary and not only because a year has passed. pas We now work on improving the existing models and developing new ones on throughout the year and model releases are scattered throughout. A second generation Fat Lady is currently in development and when we see the need for a major improvement the new model will be released.

Has the Blade Bar changed for 2012? For 2012 we will be offering two bars. The first bar is similar to the 2011 model with a few improvements which came out with the Trigger and the Prime kites and the second bar is something that is still in development. This bar is completely new with some great new features and new technologies that will really make a big difference in performance and durability. It will be launched around spring time and all kites can be used with both bars.

Please briefly mention what type of rider each board is designed for. Each board is paired with the rider characteristics of each of the kites. The Deuce is intended for the Prime riders and the Sanchez is intended for the Trigger riders.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 BLADE PRODUCT GUIDE

How were boards changed for 2012? The boards were changed drastically from 2011. We have moved our production from Thailand to Austria to one of the biggest board manufacturers in Europe. This on its own is a huge improvement as the construction is top notch. Also, we have new molds for both boards with channels on the tips to ease the spray and give better hydrodynamic flow of the board on the water. The new molds let us spread the flex in areas we need more (like the tips) and prevent torsional flex.

BLADE 2012 BOARDS Board Name

18

Deuce Sanchez

Sizes 131, 135 cm 130, 134, 138 cm

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip

Target Freestyle, flat water Freeride

Date Available November 2011 November 2011

Photo courtesy Blade Kiteboarding

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 19

CORE 20

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo thorstenindra.com

Core Kiteboarding is a subsidiary company of HissTec Fehmarn, which also owns Carved, a German custom board company. The complete Carved team along with input from some of Germany’s best riders help Core in the design and development of their kites. Now with distribution in the United States through 7 Sins Kiteboarding in California, Marketing Manager Philip Schinnage answered our questions about Core’s 2012 kites and new Sensor control bar.

Core has two kites in its 2012 product line up, the Riot XR2 and the GTS. Are the changes for 2012 significant or smaller refinements? According to our product cycle, the GTS remains the same for 2012. The XR2 is the new generation of the legendary Riot XR Crossride kite and comes with significant changes. Due to the Intelligent-ARC, an optimized profile for early planing and easy upwind ability, the XR2 offers ondemand massive airs and endless hang time. Fast turning and maneuverability go back to the new tip geometry while absolute linear and direct kite feedback along with perfect auto relaunch can be attributed to the improved delta design. The all-arounder has also upped its game in the waves. The kite is even easier to steer when fully depowered. It comes with our Core Speed Valve, a true innovation when it comes to one-pump systems. It will get you onto the water more quickly, guaranteed.

Why would you recommend a rider choose the GTS over the Riot XR2? The GTS is orientated towards the progressive freestyle and new school rider, hooked and unhooked, who demands a more aggressive kite. Wave riders will relish the GTS’s ability to steer when depowered. Riders who love to go huge but don’t unhook very much and want a more forgiving kite will probably like the XR2 better.

Core has a new release for 2012, the Riot XR2 LW. Why is it in its own special category and not just a larger kite within the Riot lineup? Especially in Germany, light wind riding is a category of its own. That´s why we put enormous effort into the development of our three LW kites and gave them a separate label. They are weight optimized and all of them have a special profile to get the most out of your light wind days.

The Intelligent-ARC, a first in the XR2, makes it a true jumping machine even in the lightest breeze. Intelligent ARC comes from nature. Like a bird that glides for long periods without flapping its wings, the Riot XR2 spread its wings when the bar is pulled in to the maximum. Similarly the projected area is reduced when the kite is depowered. This biomechanical principle also results in an increased power delivery that improves planing without developing side forces.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 21

T XR2 LW boasts that it is the only kite of its size The tthat can easily kiteloop and that riders can ride in winds as low as six knots. What is the average weight w oof a rider that can ride in six knots? Can they truly hhave fun other than mowing the lawn? The XR2 LW kkites 15, 17, and 19m, are all-in-one light wind kites that aare not only suited for racing or other special disciplines, tthey offer a wide wind range and fun starting at 6 knots.

We recommend the 15 for riders under 140 lbs., the W 117 for riders between 140 to 180 lbs., and the 19 for aanyone over 180 lbs.

N for 2012 is Core’s patent-pending Sensor New Bar with a twist cuff safety release system. What B aadvantages does Core think this safety system has over traditional Velcro/pin or push out cuff systems?

Our ergonomically designed revolutionary rotor quickrelease enables an intuitive safety release with the least amount of effort. To engage the main quick release, the user simply rotates the cuff to the left or the right to release. This is in contrast to traditional systems as there is no power required against the flow of the water. For a full and independent report by the German certification institute DEKRA (in German) see http://www.corekites. com/download/Sensor_DEKRA.pdf

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 CORE PRODUCTS

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE CORE YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Are there any other Sensor control bar features you’d like to point out? The intelligent mass distribution and reduction of the mass moment of inertia (by 55%) enables a noticeably more direct feeling of the kite. In addition, the leveled bar ends reduce, through improved leverage, the bar steering force. Also the Sensor Bar is the only 100% self-untwisting bar system. The lines will untwist by pulling the bar down. The center grip ability was optimized with a further development of the line guides and a noticeably thinner bar diameter. The Sensor Bar is suitable for all kite sizes – one bar fits all.

All the Sensor Bar lines come from the German manufacturer Liros to ensure a high standard of quality.

Working together with the leading sailing manufacturer of high performance ropes underlines our requirements.

After assembly, the entire line length from the chicken loop, over the depower lines up to the end of the front flight lines, are pre-stretched with 200kg.

CORE 2012 KITES CO Kite Sizes Name Riot XR2 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.5m Riot XR LW 15, 17, 19m GTS 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.5, 15m 22

Number Date Target of Struts Available 5 Freeriders that like to go big, waves Now 5 Light wind riding Now 5 Freeride/freestyle, wakestyle Now

Photo thorstenindra.com

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 23

CRAZYFLY 24

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Courtesy CrazyFly

A family owned company based out of Slovakia, CrazyFly has 13 different models and 37 different size options in its board lineup for 2012. The most dramatic change to its kite line is the introduction of the company’s new Sick control bar. Tech rep Brent Reagan from PKS Distribution answered our questions about what’s new and what changed for CrazyFly for 2012.

CrazyFly made only kiteboards for 10 solid years before bringing in kites to its product line. What was the catalyst that made the company decide to get into kite design in 2010? CrazyFly brought out their first LEI kite in 2010, but stepped it up in 2011 with three models. They got into kite design and wanted to make a line of kites around 2008 when their board lineup was drastically expanded after collaborating with Jeff Howard, the owner of North America’s CrazyFly distribution and a long-time kite product designer. With the recession starting at that time it wasn’t a good time to bring a new kite on the market anyway, so they spent the next couple of years on R&D. The bottom line is they are a family-owned company that only builds kiteboarding equipment and it was inevitable for them to make kites. Now in their third year of kites, all the finer details and kinks of the early models have been ironed out. I guess if there was a single catalyst for timing it would have been the economy stabilizing a bit, but it’s been in their minds for some time.

Please describe the target rider for each of your 2012 kites. The MooWii is a super stable low-aspect 3-strut 4-line bow kite with great low end grunt that is targeted to beginners for its ease of control and big range and also to schools for its stability, predictability, user-friendliness, firmer bar pressure, and slower turning speeds.

The Sculp is a medium-aspect 3-strut 4-line flat delta hybrid that combines the flatter nose of a bow kite with sharp delta tips for ridiculously easy relaunch, smooth turning and power, long lofty jumps, and great stability in a kite with great wind range and depower. The Sculp is a beginner friendly kite, but more geared toward intermediate riders and even advanced freeriders with its big jumping and good unhooked capabilities.

The Slash is a high aspect 5-strut 5-line depowerable C-kite hybrid with a smooth steep C-shaped curve in the LE and a lack of bridling. The Slash goes into hybrid classification with its delta-shaped tips, tons of depower, and standard 5-line setup. For intermediate to advanced riders, it is a freestyle-targeted (though works for wakestyle and advanced freeride too) faster, more-powered-turning kite with great unhooked riding, yet relaunches easily and excels in high-powered conditions.

What are the biggest changes that previous riders will notice? The new Sick Bar is the biggest change people will notice, as it was completely redesigned for 2012. For the MooWii you’ll notice less heaviness in the bar and feel of the kite, but it retains a bit more bar pressure than the others to maintain kite awareness for beginners. The Sculp has been tuned to be a tighter, faster, and smoother turning version of the 2011 and the onepump system has been upgraded to a standard 9mm valve. For the Slash, the biggest noticeable change was the gain of a solid one-pump system to replace the multipoint inflation of 2011, but it was also tightened up and tuned where needed from its predecessor model.

25

CRAZYFLY 2012 KITES Kite Name Moo Wii Sculp Slash

Sizes 7, 9, 11, 13m 7, 9, 11, 13m 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m

Number of Struts 3 3 5

Date Available Beginner through lower intermediate November 2011 Beginner through lower advanced (freeride or freestyle) Now Intermediate through advanced (freestyle) Now Target

Tell us more about Ronstan’s Swim-Proof pulleys used on CF kites.

Ronstan’s Orbit-Block pulley was introduced to kiting around 2010 and has appeared already on other kites (namely Ozone and Naish).

They are a ball-bearing pulley rather than wheel-and-axle for smoother action, have a rating of 1200 lbs. for higher load-bearing, and have a hole through the center which can act as a built-in pulley saver. In the event the pulley is under great stress and breaks, the line through the center will keep your bridle lines attached and keep the kite in the air, preventing you from swimming in. Orbit blocks are compatible with almost any kite and are available at www.FixMyKite.com.

CF’s Sick control bar is new for 2012. What are its features? What is the significance of the bar being the first and only bar made 100% in Europe with European parts? The Sick Bar is the most visually noticeable and most dramatically changed component of the 2012 lineup. It is a completely brand new bar system from the chicken loop up through the fly lines, and several features are CrazyFly designed and unique to CrazyFly. The single piece (monocoque) bar touts a solid-core full-carbon construction made at the CrazyFly factory and we think it’s the lightest, strongest bar on the market. A big upgrade in the grip and lines complement the CrazyFly-designed swiveling chicken loop, made with high-grade Dupont polymer and pressure-washers (to swivel easily when unhooked).

The Sick Click safety system assembly, which has a simple pushaway release that can’t be triggered accidentally, has to be the easiestto-reassemble chicken loop out there. The sheeting system is a simple trim strap with a clam cleat above the bar. If the technical jargon doesn’t excite you, just know it’s one of the simplest, cleanest, and most user-friendly safety systems anywhere and the bar is ultra-light. The significance of it being 100% European is in the pride of the CrazyFly family who makes the bars alongside their boards. We have learned that quality kite parts can be designed and manufactured in Europe without costing more than their Asian-made counterparts. It’s the only bar that can claim that, so that makes it unique in itself.

Your board line is broken down into six categories: Freestyle, freestyle/freeride, freeride, light wind, wakestyle, skim, and wave. What’s the difference between the first three? CrazyFly has categories of Freestyle, Freeride/Freestyle, and Freeride separated because there are so many models and a little crossover between some. CrazyFly has 13 different models and 37 different size options between them all, so it’s possible to get very specific on which characteristics you really want in a board.

Higher levels of stiffness and pop are generally what push a board into the freestyle category, while the freeride category requires the ability to handle more all-around conditions like having a good upwind 26 6

Photo Courtesy CrazyFly

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 27

Photo Courtesy CrazyFly

28

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

ability and working in heavier chop. This is handled with a little more flex and often a slightly steeper rocker than the medium rocker of freestyle boards. Boards built between these extremes are labeled Freeride/Freestyle and are more crossover in style due to broad ability but with more advanced features. They are the most popular in the lineup. These have a more aggressive rocker, more stiffness for great pop, and more advanced features like carbon fiber for a lighter more responsive board, double concave for softer landing, enhanced upwind, and smoother response.

Please describe the target rider for each of your boards. For Freestyle, the Bulldozer is for the rider who is a comfortable intermediate rider looking to start unhooking and progress with bigger load and pop. It is a stiffer board than most in the line and forces you to learn how to load and pop hard with the stiffness to get the most out of the board and enjoy it. For a lighter rider who rides aggressively but not super hardcore or a freestyle rider who wants a handle on their board, this is the best choice. The Pro Tour is the competition level board that came from an older design that was a regular production model but made to the specifications of world-class competition level riders. For 2012 the full top and bottom layup of Spread Tow carbon fiber helps thin the layups for lightness while maintaining full strength in a more perfect weave.

The smooth and consistent response you get from this layup combined with the incredible pop you get from the center of the board while still having flexible tips and the unique double-velcro strap bindings and lack of a handle make the Pro Tour the top board of choice for the advanced freestyle-dedicated rider.

For Freeride, the Allround is exactly as the name states. It’s an easy board for all general conditions. The Shox Custom is a bit more advanced having the benefits of a double-concave bottom, slightly more aggressive rocker, and stiffer center for great pop, but is still overall a more flexible board than most with great upwind ability. The Girls board is much like the Allround in terms of riding characteristics and has good flex for lighter-weight riders, comes in smaller sizes, and features female-friendly colors and designs.

For Freeride/Freestyle the Raptor Pro has been the king crossover and most-sold board in the CrazyFly lineup for years. Its construction and features allow it to work really well in about any condition including heavy chop and waves while being very light weight and very nimble, feeling looser and ultra-maneuverable but with great speed, edging, and load-and-pop abilities. So the Raptor Pro is for that intermediate to advanced rider who wants a fast, smooth, responsive board that works in a variety of conditions (which describes a lot of riders out there). The Raptor LTD has the same general shape and rocker line and works in similar conditions, but has a double-concave bottom rather than single concave, which allows splash-free riding, softer landings, better upwind ability, straighter tracking, and a little more “sticky” feeling to the water than the Raptor Pro. So its target is the same type of rider as the Raptor Pro, but for someone who wants a little more upwind ability, stability in landings and edging, and a broader wind range.

29

The Girls Pro is the same rocker and shape as the Raptor Pro but in a lighter layup for more flexibility for lighter weight riders, and thus targeted towards the women’s market.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 CRAZYFLY LINE

With three light wind board models to choose from, how can a rider best determine which board will suit them best? There’s Cruiser LW, Cruiser Pro, and I assume the big Allround. The big Allround (145x48) is the board that many people learn on or start using as a beginner because it’s just so easy to get up and going on but still rides in a wide variety of conditions, and so it becomes their light-wind board down the road when they want a smaller board. As a light wind board it’s got the surface area and easy early-planing edge and rocker to make it a good usable and cost-effective glass light wind board while working well in all-around conditions.

The Cruiser LW only comes in a 154x44 and is from the old dog bone design with tips slightly wider than the center of the board. It has an asymmetrical fin setup positioned towards the heel side and a full-glass layup, so this board is aimed at being super easy to get up and moving when it’s really light, and that’s all. The full long rail is a mega-planing surface, so planing and getting up on this is a piece of cake, and then it will track upwind like a champ, making it popular with some schools as well.

The Cruiser Pro is the board that is light-wind specific that can be ridden as a more advanced board. It is the most popular for light wind because its features allow the rider a style you wouldn’t expect in light wind. People always tell me how amazed they are they can jump, ride toeside, and ride in choppier conditions without getting beat up on a light-wind board! A 50% carbon fiber layup, 3cm fins, and thin tapered tips make this board lighter than most light wind boards, and so its target is anyone who wants a light wind dedicated board they can ride more like a high wind board but in light wind conditions.

CrazyFly has two new boards for 2012: the Nuke and Skim. Tell us more about them. CrazyFly had a skim board in 2007/2008, dropped it for a while to expand the twin-tip line, and now brings it back for 2012 in a new version. The Skim is made to be a strapless board (but has traction pads), for use with or without fins. With fins, it makes a very nice light wind board with great upwind abilities. Without fins it’s more like a skate-style board for flatter water or with kickers. The Nuke is a wakestyle-dedicated board. It doesn’t come with pads and straps because the inserts are set up for boots. It is still in production but you can expect a high-quality hand-finished board made with ABS rails and multi-axial fiberglass on a full-wood core with progressive flex for loads of pop. A flat bottom allows for full contact with sliders, kickers, or rails, and though it comes with a specially designed 1cm G10 fin set, it can be ridden finless.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? I’ve probably talked your ear off by now, but two more quick points. Check out the 2012 CrazyFly bags in three types and different sizes including a wheeled Golf Bag in 155cm size with thick padding and compression straps weighing under 9 lbs.! The only other thing to say is go try a CrazyFly! CrazyFly has been a high-quality leader of boards for a reason, but don’t take my word for it. The truth is in the way the boards ride.

30

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

CLICK HERE FOR CRAZYFLY VIDEOS

CRAZYFLY 2012 BOARDS Board Name Raptor Pro

Sizes

Type

Raptor LTD

127x38, 127x40, 132x39, 132x41, Twin Tip 132x43, 137x41, 137x43 cm 132, 136 cm Twin Tip

Pro Tour

130, 134 cm

Twin Tip

Shox Custom Allround

132, 133, 136 cm 135, 138x40, 138x43, 145x41, 145x48 cm 134, 137, 140 cm 130, 135x39, 135x41 cm

Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip

Nuke Bulldozer Cruiser Pro Cruiser LW (Light Wind) Girls Girls Pro

135, 145x44, 145x48 cm 154 cm

Twin Tip Twin Tip

127, 132, 135 cm 132 cm

Twin Tip Twin Tip

Wave Skim

5'8", 6'0", 6'2" 135 cm

Surf Skim Board

Target Advanced freeride, intermediate to advanced freestyle, waves Intermediate to advanced freeride/freestyle, good in chop Advanced freestyle (super stiff, massive pop, no handle) Progressive beginner to advanced freerider Beginner to upper intermediate freerider

Date Available Now Now Now Now Now

Wakestyle (comes without pads/straps) Progressive intermediate freestyle, wakestyle (stiff, poppy) Intermediate to advanced light wind General light wind or school

Now Now

Freeride for lighter weights/women Advanced freeride or freestyle for lighter weights/women Surf (straps or strapless) Skim (strapless, but with ďŹ ns)

Now Now

Now Now

Now Now 31

32

EPIC 3G

Photo courtesy Epic Kites

As opposed to referring to products by model year, Epic has decided to refer to products by generations. This is the year of the 3G (Third Generation) line of Epic products.

New for this year are two brand new surfboards, the Judge C-Kite, and a 13m Limited Edition Renegade. Epic’s Dimitri Maramenides filled us in on what we can expect from the latest line of Epic gear.

This year the Epic Kites are being referred to as 3G (Third Generation) models.

Does this mean Epic won’t be referring to products based on model years?

You can call it 2012, 2013, or even 2019 if you want, but from now on we will call them by generations. In the past few years, Epic has provided amazing and innovative products to riders of all styles. These innovations were based on rider feedback, passion, and desires. By the riders, for the riders! We are looking at kite development a little differently, and the results are truly exciting. We see no value to the rider in using a model year on kites. We make the best gear, and sometimes we’re so excited we bring it out as soon as possible without regard to what other companies are doing, like the Renegade 13m Limited Edition for example. We couldn’t keep it all to ourselves, so it was released early. On the other hand, sometimes our ideas take a little more time to refine, like the new Judge C-kite which is just now being introduced mid-season. All of our kites have new concepts applied and a very fresh unique look. As a matter of fact, the graphics on our kites are pretty awesome. Check them out!

New in the line is the Judge C-Kite. Where does this kite fit into the line?

Is this kite only for advanced-level riders? A few people have been asking us to up come with a C-kite. We have been working on the Judge for at least 13 months and finally came up with a C-kite that is even better than the old generation kites. Anybody can use the Judge because we made it to be very friendly, but it’s a totally different kite than the Renegade and Screamer. If you are into wakestyle, powered moves, and wave riding you will enjoy the Judge.

It has the pop but not as much hang time compared to the Renegade and Screamer, and some riders want this so they can do their wakestyle tricks low to the water.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 3G models. If you are a beginner, like to teach, love wave riding, or want a kite that can do everything well the Renegade is your best choice. The Renegades have been our best selling kites. On the other hand the Judge C-kite was designed for riders that are into wakestyle and power moves, but we made sure that anybody can use the Judge. We made the Judge to be a friendly kite but with the advanced performance of a C-kite. I actually taught my daughter on the Judge to see how it would work, and she had no problems. We made it fast to relaunch and very stable with good turning speed but not too fast so you don’t have to worry about having the kite move while you are doing powered moves.

The Judge has amazing pop but the hang time is nothing compared to the Renegade and Screamer.

If you are an adrenaline junkie and you are looking for big jumps, big hang time, big board offs, big handle passes, and racing, then the Screamer is the kite of your choice. The Screamer was designed for a specific type of riding. It’s made to go big and stay up there. This is my kite of choice for freestyle, but if I venture into the waves I use the Renegade or Judge.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 33

Photo courtesy Epic Kites

34

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Will the Infinity have any changes compared to the previous model? Yes we did make some changes on the Infinity V2. The 2011 Infinity was a big seller and the response was and still is amazing. Momi and I love challenges so we wanted to increase the power of the Infinity and gain at least 3 to 4 knots more in the low end without losing the turning speed of the kite and its performance. Well, not only were able to make this happen but the new Infinity V2 has better upwind and better pop than the 2011 Infinity. We were able to kite in 5 to 8 knots in the waves.

Will there be any changes to the XTEND Bar for 2012? You mean the 3G bar! The only change will be the new Epic Chicken Loop. For the past three years we have been using Blade’s chicken loop and this year we decided to come up with our own. We have been working on a new chicken loop for two years now in order to make it 110% perfect.

You’ve been offering a 10m Screamer LTD and are now introducing a 13m Renegade LTD. How are the LTD kites different from the standard Screamers and Renegades? The Screamer 10 LTD is our test pilot for the next generation of kites. It’s an amazing kite and it comes only in black. It’s in the family of Screamers but with a different concept. The same goes with the Renegade 13 LTD. It’s our test pilot for the next generation of kites. The Renegade 13 LTD will come only in black with yellow and white.

Will there be a huge difference in low end power between the Renegade LTD and the Infinity? Why would a rider choose one or the other? The Renegade 13 LTD will behave like the Infinity V2 but with less power and faster turning. So if you are a small rider (145 lbs.) then the Renegade 13 LTD will almost do what the Infinity V2 does for a large (180 lbs.) rider.

Personally I am 180 lbs. and have been using the Infinity V2 for the past five days because of the light wind (5 to 11 knots) and head high surf we have been having. I was the only one on the water kiting. No one else could come out. If you don’t want to miss a day of kiting then the Infinity V2 is your kite of choice.

How is the Junior Pro different than the Renegade line? Can this kite be used by non-children in high winds? The 4m Junior Pro is different than the Renegade kites. I actually use the Junior Pro in 27 to 50 knots but you have to use the XTEND bar and not the bar that comes with the Junior Pro because the Junior Pro bar was made for kids and small hands. I love this kite in strong winds.

2012 EPIC 3G KITES Number of Struts Renegade 5, 7, 9, 11m 3 Renegade13 LTD 13m 3 Screamer 7, 9, 12, 14m 5 Screamer 10 LTD 10m 5 Judge 8, 11m 5 Infinity V2 Top Secret 3 Junior Pro 4m 3 Kite Name

Sizes

Date Available Beginner and all around riders. Good for waves/teaching/freeride Now Beginner and all around riders. Good for waves/teaching/freeride Now Advanced and extreme riders. Jumping/hang time/racing Now Advanced and extreme riders. Jumping/hang time/racing Now C-Kite for waves/wakestyle/freestyle Now Light wind machine for 5 to 15 knots December 2011 For small riders and kids Now Target

35

2012 EPIC BOARDS Board Name Reef 5'7" ATV Reef 5'11" Spartan Droid Oxygen Junior Pro

Sizes 5'7" 5'11" 129x39 135X41 135X47 115x33

Type Surfboard Surfboard Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE EPIC 3G LINE

Target Wave riding, light wind, up to head high waves Wave riding, strong winds, bigger surf Freestyle Wakestyle/freeride Light wind machine Small riders, kids

Date Available Now Now Now Now Now November 2011

Please briefly mention what type of rider each twin tip board is designed for.

The Spartan is for freeriding, board offs, and big pop. This board can be used by anyone, but it was designed for 18 to 45+ knots. The Droid is for freeriding, freestyle, and wakestyle. This board was designed for lighter winds than the Spartan and for bigger riders. If you are looking for a light wind board, then the Oxygen is the answer. If you don’t believe me, just check all the testimonials from customers that have bought or tried it. This board is also very good for teaching because of the two sets of fins it comes with. If you want to teach remove the 4 cm fins and put in the 5 cm fins and you will have a totally different board. The 4 cm fins will make the Oxygen ride like a small board but in 7 knots. The perfect light wind combination will be the Oxygen with the Infinity kite.

What are the construction details of the Epic boards? Now you are asking too much! All I can tell you is that we sold 237 boards this year and only two of them broke.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT EPIC 3G PRODUCTS

36

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Epic now offers surfboards, the Reef 5’7” ATV and 5’11” Reef. These are two very different looking boards. What type of rider is each one meant for? If slashing waves or dropping into monster slabs is your thing, we’ve created two kite-specific surfboards that will have you killing it in the surf. The 5’7” ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) is built for head-high waves and ripping until the sun sets. The 5’11” Reef is designed for meatier surf or performance strapless riding.

The 5’7” ATV has a fuller fish-style outline that holds more volume through the nose. The wide swallow tail allows the board to drive across flatter wave sections with ease. The ATV is relatively short so it requires little input for a lively skatey feel making it a really fun board for a variety of wave and wind conditions. The shape also caters to a front foot style of riding due to the width and drive of the board.

The ATV has five fin boxes, allowing you to choose between a quad or thruster fin arrangement. Want to get really loose and skatey in the small stuff? Ride it as a twin fin and tail slide the heck out of it! The wide outline, relatively thick foil, and flatter entry rocker make this the board to have for everyday riding or for less than ideal conditions. The ATV rides equally well with or without straps in winds ranging from 8-28 knots. We’re thrilled with this board and we know you’ll be amazed!

The longer and gunnier 5’11” Reef was designed for larger surf and/or stronger winds. Features include a traditional performance surfboard outline with a thinner nose, pulled in squash tail, and moderate rocker. Compared to the ATV, the longer rail line allows for a stronger hold when riding fast in big surf. Riders looking for powerful down the line action will appreciate the rail hug and snappy response in the pocket. With thinner pinched rails, pulled in tail, and thruster set-up, the Reef holds tight during steep face riding or barrel hunting. Charge as hard as you want. This board will give you the confidence to tackle the big stuff. The Reef was designed to be ridden strapless, but larger or heavier riders can mount straps and benefit from the increased rail line and size of this board.

Photo courtesy Epic Kites

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 37

F-ONE GEAR GUIDE ‘11 38

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Gilles Calvet

F-One has made some major changes to its 2012 product line. Returning for 2012 is the fifth generation of the Bandit delta kite. US distributor Nicolas Ostermann walks us through their extensive lineup which now also includes SUP boards and paddles.

F-One’s signature kite, the Bandit, went through a major redesign for 2011. For 2012, can we expect more major changes? With the Bandit, our goal is not to offer just a versatile kite but rather the best kite for each discipline and style of rider, from the beginner to the pro. To be successful in all areas, it is a real challenge from an R&D perspective and is proving to be much more complex than developing several highly specialized kites.

The most difficult challenge faced with the B5 was to improve upon the B4.

We focused on three areas: Wind range, weight (reduce weight to improve underpowered performance), and maneuverability.

The 2011 Bandit 4 featured a three strut design and new canopy shape.

Were any changes made to the construction or design of the Bandit 5 for 2012? The whole structure of the kite, its profile, and its bridles were reworked to achieve the three main goals listed in the previous question.

Its construction has also been updated, both in the use of materials and the manufacturing processes. Because the structure of a kite is soft, it can deform and twist allowing the kite to rotate. Therefore, maneuverability and responsiveness depend directly on the ability to twist, which we greatly improved thanks to a thinner leading edge, a new 3-point bridle system, and a new strut shape.

Reducing the diameter of the leading edge, with almost 25% less volume, brought an important gain in terms of weight and aerodynamics. The result is better performance in the low end and also in the high end thanks to improved handling. The B5 also has a new flatter profile. By reducing the curve of the profile, it is easier to depower to keep control in the high end.

In the low end, a flatter kite is more forgiving when powered up, providing constant power. The result is better control of the kite aerodynamics, less lateral traction, and less effort in your legs when the wind picks up.

Each year, we test more than 60 prototypes and spend more than 120 days on the water to develop each new collection. Our initial objectives have been largely achieved with the B5 over the B4. It’s lighter, more maneuverable and responsive, even more forgiving, and ultimately more enjoyable regardless of the category you are in.

You introduced the Airlite bar in 2011. Did much change on this bar for 2012? The monobloc aluminum Airlite bar introduced in 2011 represented a major improvement. Two details were reworked this year. A more flexible part replaced the molded strap you use to trigger the safety system and the chicken loop includes a new donkey dick which is now adjustable in length depending on your personal preferences, harness buckle shape, and your active discipline.

Some consumers continue to be skeptical about F-One’s Velcro safety release system. What’s your response to this? When it comes to release system, we believe that you need something that works all the time in all

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 39

Photo Gilles Calvet

conditions. A safety system won’t make your kite fly better or turn faster. It’s there to perform when you need it. The Velcro release is very reliable in this regard and will work even if you don’t use your kite for a prolonged period of time. Our system continues to pass the European norm to release with a pull force less than 10 kg. If you look at the results, you will see that our system is one of the few that passes the test successfully. We have tried other systems and are open to new ideas, but we won’t change for the sake of changing. A few years back, nobody understood why F-One did not make a bow kite. The reason was that we thought the performance was not there, and then we introduced the delta. Now a lot of riders see why.

The Volt is your school kite. Is there any reason a rider would want to get a Volt instead of the Bandit 5? Absolutely! The Volt is actually not a school kite. It’s the Bandit’s little brother that has been toned down a bit to emphasize freeriding abilities such as range, depower, and relaunch. Some riders prefer the Volt over the Bandit for its depower. It’s the perfect tool in a school as it basically relaunches by itself. The Volt is influenced by the Bandit in terms of construction, flying ability, and general design, but has a more traditional bar and depower system, making it more affordable than the Bandit. The Volt is also available as a package with the Next, an excellent twin tip board to progress from beginner to ripping freerider.

F-One’s two-line kite, the Source, was rolled out last year. Did this product catch on with riders in light wind areas? Will it be back in the 2012 lineup? The most difficult challenge for kiteboarders to accept with the Source was that using a kite on a SUP can be a very different sport than kiteboarding. Since the Source is at its best when unhooked, this is also a challenge for most kiteboarders that are used to being hooked in at all times. To increase the reach of the Source, F-One is

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BANDIT 5 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 F-ONE LINE

F-ONE 2012 KITES Kite Name Bandit V (B5) Volt 40

Number of Date Target Struts Available 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m 3 All-around kite Now 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m 3 Freeride Spring 2012 Sizes

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 41

Photo Gilles Calvet

42

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

working on a Source 2.0 that will have a different line system so the kite can also be used with a regular twin tip or directional.

What are the significant changes in the Fish, Surf, and Signature boards? What conditions are best for each? Why has the Gun been discontinued for 2012? The gun had a small reach and we replaced it with a mini Malibu, a 7’0” board you can use to learn how to ride strapless due to its larger volume, to cruise in light wind conditions, or to just go surfing with. For the rest of the line, some boards received small changes while profound changes took place on the Signature 5’10” and 6’0”.

Oriented toward light wind and small waves, we didn’t change much on the Fish as its perfect rocker gives it incredible early planing ability and maneuverability. We worked on the outline with a goal to facilitate easier entry with faster speed into your turns with a more explosive reentry. A wider nose gave us this result. The Fish boards also gained stability with a more natural drive.

The Signature boards represent the culmination of 15 years of R&D on kiteboards dedicated to wave riding. Both sizes have 100% new shapes. These are no longer surfboards diverted for kite use, but real surfboards developed specifically for having a kite in your hand, whatever the conditions. Because a kitesurfer does not need a lot of volume compared to a paddle surfer, the volume distribution was optimized through a unique new inverted concave deck. This allowed us both to lower the center of gravity and to increase the control by reducing the thickness of the board without affecting the profiles of the rails. The result is a significant gain in controlling turns. The inverted concave deck also allows the use of pads twice as thick under your front leg to further enhance comfort. What’s new in terms of shape does not stop at the deck. The new double concave V-shaped bottom and ultra-progressive rocker allow for better edging, acceleration, turning radius, and radical angles with control and ease.

Mitu favors the 6’2” Surf as it allows him to use a smaller kite when doing his transitions at low speed. For 2012, this size underwent changes to the rocker, the addition of a V-shaped bottom, and a slightly rounder nose. Our objectives were to gain stability during turns and improve transitions from rail to rail to gain more liveliness in all conditions. The 6’4” Surf remains unchanged for 2012. It’s a better board for regular surfing during take offs and its width gives riders an advantage in light winds. The 6’4” has a natural upwind ability meaning you will be the first to reach the peak.

F-ONE 2012 BOARDS Board Name Trax Trax LW TX SK8 Acid Fish Signature Surf Malibu Anakao Manawa Madeiro Race

Sizes 132, 134, 136 cm 140 cm 132, 134, 136 cm 132, 134 cm 127, 130, 132 cm 5'4", 5'6" 5'10", 6'0" 6'2", 6'4" 7'0" 8'4", 9'1" 8'6" 9', 10', 10'6" 7'7", 7'11" 12'6", 14'

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Surf Fish Surf Quad Surf Thruster Surf Thruster SUP SUP SUP SUP

Target Freestyle Light wind Freeride Carving New school Light wind and small waves Fast powerful waves and/or strong wind Mitu's choice for riding strapless Learning strapless basics or for soft waves Waves All around Expert Long distance

Date Available Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now for special order Fall 2012 Now Now Now Now

43

What are the biggest changes on F-One’s 2012 twin tip line? All our innovations are tested on the flagship board of our twin tip range, the Trax. For 2012, we focused all our R&D attention on the seventh generation Trax. Then we pushed one or more of these innovations to each of the other boards of our range according to their specifications. The Trax is firmly geared toward performance. For 2012, we integrated a new double concave with a progressive V which improved early planing and quickened jibes, two qualities that are appreciated by freestylers and freeriders. This year we were particularly interested in an aspect often neglected in a board, the shape of the deck. Combining our Twist Control Carbon tech and a well thought out deck resulted in significant gains in rigidity, weight distribution, and improved general reliability.

The complex 3D shape of the Twist Carbon Control is an integral part of the board’s core structure. The core consists of strips of Polonia wood glued vertically and CNC machined in 3D. The distribution of thicknesses and the formatting of volumes were directly done within the laminated Polonia. Adding a layer of carbon brought the ideal strength to the qualities of the wood core. This structural combination gave the board a greater liveliness and longitudinal stiffness. Finally, the inverted rail was abandoned in favor of more rounded surf type rails. The bigger sister of the Trax, the Trax LW for light winds, was not modified.

After several years of evolution, we agreed to not change the magical shape of the TX that blends great performance, comfort, and accessibility. We just added a board size (132x38) for smaller riders or bigger ones looking for a strong wind twin tip. The new school freestyle Acid board has a new shape which includes a double concave V that is progressive longitudinally and a new rocker. We kept the Twist Control to better control the board torsion. Ultimately, the Acid gained pop and is more forgiving during landings when riding with your kite low.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 F-ONE TWIN TIPS The SK8 board has always been a real standout in high wind situations and two aspects have been improved for the 2012 version. Its early planing ability has been improved thanks to a new shape and the board offers better carving performance with the addition of our Twist Control technology. As a result, the SK8 is more flexible with added liveliness without added weight.

F-One has made a significant commitment to stand up with the roll out of a 2012 SUP board and paddle program. Why did F-One decide to include SUP in its lineup? Raphael Salles is in charge of the program and said, “The first time I tested a SUP board, it was a huge surprise. I did not think it could be that fun and its accessibility for all won me over.

Immediately convinced, we wanted to be a part of it with the same rigor and the same requirements we are known for in the kiteboarding world. This first line of boards and paddles is the result of research and development that started more than three years ago.

We wanted to develop a technical range geared toward performance but also accessible, using all our expertise and experience.”

44

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Your new SUP line also features paddles. Can you briefly describe what type of rider each paddle is targeted to? The paddle is an extension of your body. It must transmit all your power and match your style. Stiffness, flex, surface, shape of the blade, and choice of materials are the parameters that we have optimized to offer comfort and performance.

Peak and Battle are the two lines of paddles that we have developed with Ludovic Dulou, an accomplished waterman from the Basque region who is widely recognized in the world of endurance ocean rowing and knows better than anyone that the difference is always in small details.

The Peak is narrower and longer and favors a higher frequency paddling, requiring less power. A more flexible shaft makes it more comfortable and less physical. The Battle, wider and shorter, develops greater power for each stroke, and therefore requires a lower frequency for the same effort. The shaft is stiffer and increases the Battle’s efficiency, but its performance also demands more from the body. Each paddle comes in either hybrid or full carbon construction with two distinct rigidity shafts that are either soft or hard.

Photo Gilles Calvet

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 45 45

FIREWIRE 46

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Chuck Harlan

For 2012, FireWire has updated the construction of their kitesurfspecific line of surfboards and has introduced the Deviant Fin, a canting center fin to replace the trailing fin on any tri-fin surfboard. FireWire’s Brian Friedmann answered our questions about what’s new from FireWire and how riders should go about choosing the correct FireWire for their needs.

Do the shapes of the FireWire Kitesurf boards differ from the equivalent boards in the surf line? All of the FireWire Felix Pivec Pro Kitesurf models are identical shapes compared to their FireWire surf-specific counterparts. FireWire has spent years developing technology and shapes that are proven to work for some of the best surfers in the world including two top ten contenders. Additionally, the same 3x4mm Parabolic Balsa Wood Rails and Future Shapes Technology (FST) methodology is used to preserve similar flex characteristics found in our surfboard line, a key component to ensure the same surf feel is maintained in our kitesurf line. FireWire is committed to making certain that our kitesurf boards are identical in shape and performance as our surf models. We strive to provide a variety of boards that will let you surf with a kite. When’s the last time you paddled into a wave with your kitesurf board? FireWire kitesurf boards are the real deal and intended to kite or surf.

How is the construction different from the FireWire surfboards?

Our kitesurf boards are reinforced compared to the surfboards with an emphasis on the deck areas due to the additional load that kiting puts on a board. A double 4 oz. layer of cloth combined with a reinforced laminate on the top deck and a highdensity skin provides the additional strength required for our kiteboards. In addition, there is a layer of bamboo under the hi-density deck skin to provide more strength and to control the flex due to the higher loads inherent in kitesurfing. We have done extensive testing to ensure you are getting a long lasting board that provides an excellent balance between weight and strength.

Has the construction changed from the first round of kite-specific boards?

Yes, our kitesurf line is continually evolving with incremental improvements being introduced throughout each individual model lifecycle. We found the first round kite-specific boards could be improved by increasing the strength of the board with minimal weight gain. The current production kitesurf boards are stronger than ever while retaining all the great qualities we originally set out to create in the boards.

FireWire is known in the kiting industry for its commitment to providing high quality exceptional craftsmanship boards and we believe incremental changes to our board offerings is one mechanism allowing us to meet this objective.

With five different boards in the line, how will someone without a strong surfing background choose the right board? Our lineup provides boards for all rider levels and conditions. First, all models come with inserts for straps if desired. Let’s work from smallest to largest size. The KHF506D is a 5’6” HellFire with 5-fin configuration that can work great for a smaller or medium sized rider as a lighter wind board or larger rider as a high wind board. A deep double concave and a wider outline make this a very versatile board. It’s considered a “performance hybrid” which in simplest terms means it’s going to get up and plane quickly but turn on a dime when you want it to.

The KDM508R, a 5’8” Dominator, is another 5-fin “pure hybrid” shape. Again, it will get up and plane quickly but will provide slightly more stability for a rider with its wider outline. It works great in light wind for the small or medium rider and has a really round outline that would suit a new directional board rider well.

47

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT FIREWIRE KITE SURF BOARDS

The KHF510D is a 5’10” Hellfire with 5-fin configuration, the bigger brother of the 5’6” HellFire. This board will work amazing for larger riders as a primary board. It has a wide outline with a double concave in the bottom and will really perform well in light wind but still carves like our high performance models when the surf gets hollow or you push it.

The KTJ511Q is a high performance tri fin based on Taj Burrow’s (Google it) boards that he competes on. Best suited for a small or medium rider, this lower volume board is a fast vertical pocket surfing machine with lots of rocker allowing the board to recover from even the latest top turn. This is an advanced rider’s board that will grow with you. This board is already there while your cerebrum catches up.

The KDF600S is a 5-fin swallowtail Quadra-5, a favorite for medium to larger riders in lighter wind conditions. It’s very easy to manage but still a very fast and loose board when you need it with the wide point of the board pushed towards the tail. Any level rider can easily ride this shape.

The KQF602Q is a 6’2” Flexfire with aggressive rocker and a slightly larger outline than the KTJ511Q Taj model. This is a great board for a larger rider that wants tight vertical turns or for a small/medium rider as a bigger wave board. It carves long smooth lines in the bigger stuff but push on the tail a hair and it will turn super tight turns in any size surf. All of the 5-fin models allow a variety of fin setup options (typically a quad or tri) to cover varying conditions. The 5-fin models ship with a quad set of fins. Tri fin models come with a tri fin set.

For someone with a strong surfing background, what’s the best way for them to choose the correctly sized board? Should they choose a board similar in size to what they would paddle surf on? It really depends on what you’re planning on doing with the board. In other words, if you want a lighter wind board then one of the hybrid shapes may suit you. However if you’re looking for a vertical surfing board the lower volume models are great. Rider size also dictates which board is a good fit. In almost all cases, but especially with the hybrids, you should choose a board that’s 2-4” shorter than your standard short surfboard. Again, there are other factors outlined above but this is a general guideline. There are a number of discussions and lots of information on rider size, conditions, and finding the perfect board on the FireWire Kitesurf Forum at http://www. firewiresurfboards.com/kitesurfing/forum.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF FELIX PIVEC ON FIREWIRE

Some of the boards are offered with 5 fin boxes. What are the major differences setting up a board as a quad vs. a thruster? Quad setup is generally going to get you more drive or forward squirt which will make

2012 FIREWIRE BOARDS Board Name Felix Pivec Pro KFE602Q Felix Pivec Pro KQF600S Felix Pivec Pro KTJ511Q Felix Pivec Pro KHF510D Felix Pivec Pro KDM508R Felix Pivec Pro KHF506D 48

Sizes 6'2" 6'0" 5'11" 5'10" 5'8" 5'6"

Date Available Squash tail, tri-fin Waves/high performance, larger rider Now Swallow tail, 5 fin (quad or tri) Waves/light wind Now Squash tail, tri-fin Waves/high performance, mid/small rider Now Diamond tail, 5 fin (quad or tri) Waves/high performance hybrid, larger rider Now Round tail, 5 fin (quad or tri) Waves/hybrid, light wind Now Diamond tail, 5 fin (quad or tri) Waves/high performance hybrid, light wind Now Type

Target

the board feel faster. This configuration does really well when the winds are light, but also goes to work when it kicks in. Another thing to think about is where you weight your feet. Even pressure or a front-weighted foot does great on a quad. Even pressure or a rearweighted foot will make a tri fin setup turn tight, hook into pockets, and carve off the top really well. Tri fin setups like to go vertical with ease and rail to rail turns come naturally. The nice thing is we offer a number of 5 fin boards that allow you multiple options.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF THE DEVIANT FIN

Why do the boards now ship without straps and pads? With more and more riders choosing to ride strapless and a number of pad options available out there, we would prefer to put that choice in the consumer’s hands and keep our pricing low. All kitesurf models continue to ship with fins and a fin key. We also provide a rivet, which is intended to be used as a marking tool on where to make holes into a pad for the strap screws in the event that you purchase pads at a later time. Screws and washers are also included in case you opt for straps later. Please be careful to select the proper length screws if installing straps. We mark the board with a sticker indicating correct screw length.

Do FireWire boards have to be treated any differently than other kiteboards? Are they any different to repair than other boards?

No, not really. While FireWire Kitesurf boards come with balsa rails that minimize dings, all boards should be cared for by using a good board bag when transporting. The boards are constructed with 1 lb.

EPS foam cores, reinforced sandwich construction, and epoxy resin that uses a standard vacuum bag process. If you’re not comfortable or skilled to do repairs yourself look up a local surfboard repair or glassing shop. There is also a list of FireWire authorized repair centers on the FireWire website at: http://www.firewiresurfboards. com/repairs.php.

What’s the idea behind the Deviant Fin? Can this fin be used on non-FireWire boards? We were really stoked when the guys at the factory handed us a couple of these to try for kiteboarding. The Deviant is intended to replace your rear trailing fin on a tri-fin board.

The concept is the fin can automatically cant either direction by about 7° (14° total). When the Deviant shifts either right or left it closely matches the amount of fin cant of your outside fin. This has a dramatic effect on the boards turning ability and introduces a much tighter turning arc. Suddenly your board feels looser and you can turn it with minimal input while continuing to hold a rail and not have the tail slide out. It also adds speed and drive, somewhat mimicking a quad fin setup. There are a number of smaller riders that we hear from who love this fin as they usually have to buy smaller fin sets in order to really turn a board the way they want. With the Deviant they can still use the larger stock side fins and gain that looseness and feel of a smaller set of fins. We heard from several riders that found the fin had increased their board’s upwind performance. The Deviant fin comes in both Futures and FCS versions and can be used in any brand board.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 49

LIQUID FORCE GEAR GUIDE ‘11 50

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Paul Lang

For 2012 Liquid Force has drastically updated its line of kites, with only the Envy continuing from last year. Liquid Force is also offering an extensive line of twin tips and an updated surfboard line that includes collaboration with Fletcher Chouinard of FCD. Gary Siskar and Julien Fillion answered our questions about the large offering of 2012 products from Liquid Force.

It looks like the 2012 LF line has gone through a big change compared to last year.

Why did you retire the Havoc? When we took a very close look at our kite offerings, we really started to see the lines becoming blurred between the three 2011 kites. We realized we needed to make products that satisfied riders looking for particular performance charicteristics in a kite. What we have now in our 2012 line are three kite models (four if you count the NRG Light Breeze) that are designed around what certain riders want to feel in a kite. The Havoc was our flagship kite for years, but with the popularity of 3-strut kites the Envy became our most popular kite. Also, the design features in the Envy such as the LF Diamond Wingtip and USB 3.0 bridle placements started to make the overall feel of the Envy closer to the Havoc. Based on this we decided to create the NRG to satisfy kiteboarders that are looking for a different feeling, response, and needs from a kite. For the pure freestyle lovers, we came up with the Nirvana, the most radical high performance C-kite shape we have ever made. The Nirvana is the result of the very high demands from new school freestyle riders all over the globe.

What are some of the specific improvements on the Envy for 2012? Making improvements on the Envy was a difficult task! We have to say thanks to our team riders, schools, and loyal LF supporters around the world for pushing us to make a better Envy.

With this input we have created the most effortless and easy relaunching kite on the market. We were able to increase the raw power and low end feel for the Envy with some very slight modifications that we will keep secret! We have retained the Beyond Delta hybrid profile of the kite that generates smooth consistent power and a direct bar response feel. These changes were made while keeping the Envy as one of the most reliable kites on the market.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 kites. Everybody loves the Envy. It’s powerful, easy to use, reliable, and good in waves, flat water, and snow. This kite simply excels in every single condition. The 3-strut platform makes the Envy very stable and predictable. With this predictable design and reliability the Envy makes riders progress.

Whether you are just starting or are a seasoned rider, the Envy will take your riding to the next level. Another bonus is that it is a very affordable kite!

The NRG was designed for riders with high demands and needs. It’s for kiteboarders that are looking for pure power, low-end grunt, lofty hang time, and light wind performance.

The 4-strut, high aspect, flat profile is designed for riders who love to feel the power of the kite through the bar. It was very important for us to also give the NRG the LF durability and reliability stamp of approval, making this kite good for everything from the slick to the surf.

Kite looping, mega looping, unhooked maneuvers, and massive controlled jumps; the Nirvana is made to answer the high expectations for C-kite riders. The Nirvana is LF’s 5-line rocket ship. While extremely powerful, agile in response, and quick in the turns, the addition of amazing depower makes the Nirvana a standout in the crowd of C-Kites.

What are the differences between the NRG and NRG Light Breeze? The NRG Light Breeze is the 14m and 16m version of the NRG. It’s made to ride in the least amount of wind possible. While working on the NRG in the smaller sizes we quickly realized that

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 51

LIQUID FORCE 2012 KITES Kite Name

Sizes

Envy NRG NRG Light Breeze Nirvana

5, 7, 9, 12, 15m 6, 8, 10, 12m 14, 16m 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m

Number of Struts 3 4 4 5

Date Available All-around beginner-advanced Now Low end power, lofty jumping Now Light wind kiteboarding Now 5-line C-kite Now Target

we had the ingredients for one of the most efficient light wind kites in the world. The lightweight 4-strut platform has a higher aspect ratio and a flatter profile which gives more projected area than its smaller siblings, thus generating more power in lighter conditions. The NRG Light Breeze editions also come equipped with 7m flying line extensions.

Add the extensions to the stock 23m lines and you have 30m flying lines that will get you out on the water when others have to sit on the beach.

Has the MaxFlow system changed this year? The LF MaxFlow valve and system is completely unchanged, reason number one, its perfect! We did give our pump a little boost by introducing the world’s first pump shaft extension called the Super Shaft which makes kite inflation effortless. The days where you had to bend over to pump your kites are over.

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT A LIQUID FORCE DEMO LOOKS LIKE

Has the CPR Control System changed for 2012?

Yes! The 2012 bar is smaller in diameter and has ergonomic finger grips that reduce rider fatigue.

Another great feature is our one-piece EVA molded floats and bar end winders which offer a few rider benefits. First, we have effectively reduced our bar weight by 1/3 creating the lightest control system on the market. Also, the one piece EVA floats and winders are safer! They float better than conventional line floats and eliminate any hard points that can come in contact with everything from you board to your head. The CPR release safety system has not changed at all. The system is extremely reliable and we feel that it is the best safety on the market. We do not have any mechanical parts in our release that can be contaminated by sand or dirt or that can corrode or wear out.

With such an extensive line of boards, how should a rider go about choosing which board is right for them? We are very proud at Liquid Force to offer the most extensive board line out there. We have pretty much everything (sans race) for every rider looking to maximize his or her fun on the water with a kite. Even with the depth of the line it’s pretty easy for a rider to zero in on which board will suit their needs.

The Edge is for the beginner to intermediate

52

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Bryan Elkus

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 53 53

Photo Paul Lang

5454

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

looking for an inexpensive board that will help them progress from their first ride to air transitions. The Contact is a stiffer flex, low rocker upwind machine. It’s a very lively ride that rockets upwind in moderately choppy conditions. The Full Contact is our larger version of the Contact for larger riders or light wind planing.

The Influence is the most versatile board in the universe and will handle the smoothest slicks to the roughest seas. Moderate rocker with a medium flex make this board ride like a hot knife through butter. The Influence Mini features the same great feel in a smaller package for lighter riders. The Influence LFX uses a wood PVC composite core that allows for soft tip-to-tip flex while keeping rigid torsional flex for edge hold and features a grind base for durability or slide-ability when you are ready to step up and hit the slider!

The Bliss is LF’s power-packed board designed for the ladies.

Using the proven outline of the Influence, its insides are tuned to flex and be responsive for gals. The Nova was developed with intense input from LF’s PKRA competitor Christopher Tack.

It delivers explosive pop off the water, a flat profile for upwind reaching, and a bottom contour that turns hard landings to pillows while holding speed.

The DLX was born from the best wakeboard builder on the planet. LF has been the leader in wakeboard designs since the beginning and these years of knowledge have been put into making a wakestyle board that performs for kiteboarding. Higher rocker, stiff flex, and a channeled bottom make this board the wakestyler’s choice.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 LIQUID FORCE VIDEO

Is it important to choose a stiffer board if you plan to ride with boots? Not at all. You can ride boots on any board. Riding boots will enhance your overall edge control and energy transfer to the

LIQUID FORCE 2012 BOARDS Board Name DLX Nova Influence

Sizes 134, 138, 142 cm 133, 136, 139 cm 133, 137, 141 cm

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip

Target Wakestyle Freestyle fun Extreme versatility

Date Available Now Now Now

Influence LFX Influence Mini Contact Full Contact Bliss Edge Sequence Twin Skim Kite Fish 5'7" FCD 5'9" CJ 5'10" LF 6'0" LF

134, 138, 142 cm 126 cm 134, 137 cm 146 cm 129, 134 cm 136, 146 cm 120 cm 51" 5'3" 5'7" 5'9" 5'10" 6'0"

Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Wakeskate Twin Skim Fish Skim Surf Surf Surf Surf

Freeriding pleasure Lighter riders Freestyle, upwind rocket Light wind, larger riders Women-specific Beginner-intermediate Wakeskating Wakeskate skim Light wind, chop, small wave fun Powered up quad surfboard Fast and narrow surfboard Thruster surfboard Quad surfboard

Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now

55

board. Mount a pair of boots to a wakestyle kiteboard and you will have a supercharged energy-filled kit that loads and pops to the moon. You can mount boots on a nice soft board to hit sliders and put some style into your presses.

What changed on the construction of your surfboards for 2012? You can say that we had taken a bit of a hiatus from making surfboards, but now we are very proud of what we have to offer. We have been testing, prototyping, shaping, surfing, and kitesurfing all kinds of shapes and constructions. We feel like we have come to a great solution for the strength to weight to flex ratio. Three of our boards use an EPS CNC shaped core that is then double vacuumed bagged with a bamboo laminate top and bottom. Using a stringer core has allowed us to use a bit less glass for weight reduction and has added great flex properties that make the boards feel more lively in turns and soak up chop. We are also excited to offer a 100% waterproof, non-gassing core on the limited edition CJ 5.9. This board is a product of collaborative design work between Corran Addison and LF international team rider and designer Julien Fillion. The construction process is the same as the EPS boards but with a BXP-3 core. You can ding this board to the core and not worry about repairing the damage right away, which is a great advantage when traveling. The non-gassing of the core makes it possible to withstand extreme high temperatures. There is no need to worry if you left your board in the car in the sun. The BXP-3 core will not emit trapped gasses and delaminate!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUID FORCE TWIN TIPS

56

Can you talk about the partnership with FCD that led to the 5’7”?

Of course! We can’t hold back our excitement of having a partnership with Fletcher Chouinard of FCD (Fletcher Chouinard Designs). Fletcher, a long-time and very passionate kitesurfer, has been designing kitesurf boards since he took up the sport and now he is shaping some of the plugs for select LF kite surfboards. What is unique is that these are the shapes that he rides. They have been under his feet for a long time and he has everything from the size to the bottom contour, foils, and volumes perfectly dialed. Jason Slezak has been riding with Fletcher for some time and the conversation came up about collaborating. The rest fell into place.

No big talks, no big contracts, just pure passion for kiting!

What style of riding is each of the 2012 surfboards meant for? The 6.0 is a quad and has a low entry rocker that continues through the mini swallowtail. It works great in fast down the line and sizable surf. Not to mention it paddles fast for the no wind days if you want to take it out for a regular paddle surf. The 5.10 is a thruster which creates a board that has nice projection off bottom turns and pivots very hard in the pocket. It’s a great board for small to medium surf including beach breaks and rolling point breaks. There is plenty of volume in this board to paddle into waves, just ask Jason Slezak!

The 5.9 is the Corran Addison/Julien Fillion collaboration. It is very unique as it has a high entry rocker that soaks up the chop yet is nice and straight through the mid section and tail. Julien added years of tow surfing design into the board with the narrow dimensions and straighter quad fin orientation. This makes the board ultra stable at speed and a comfortable ride when powered up. If you are kitesurfing in conditions where you have to constantly chase down peaks at a beach break or deal with very choppy conditions this is your choice, but you better act quickly as it’s a limited edition and they will be gone fast.

Photo Bryan Elkus

GEAR GUIDE ‘12‘1257 GEAR GUIDE 57

Photo Bryan Elkus

58 58

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

The 5.7 is the Fletcher Chouinard shape. If you are riding in conditions that require you to be powered up or you just love to ride powered, this board is your ticket to the promised land. The perfectly proportioned outline, a rocker and foil that are slightly back of center, and quad fin setup will handle everything from knee high slop to double overhead grinders.

LF is offering four different boots for 2012. What are the main differences between them? What does the Profile give up to make it a price-point entry level product? Liquid Force is one of only two brands that offer kite specific boots. What really separates the boots are flex and entry systems. The Synergy is a closed toe single lace with a Velcro cuff closure. This is the stiffest boot in the line. The Vantage is the next in the line as it is a medium flex closed toe boot with a full Velcro strap closure.

The Cradle we carried over from last season and is a proven open toe full Velcro closure boot that offers a softer flex. These three boots feature our patented IPX chassis that creates the tightest most direct connection to the board.

As for the Profile, you are not giving up anything, it actually is what are you gaining! This boot was designed to be the gateway from straps and pads to the sensation of riding in bindings. So you are gaining a new feeling of kiteboarding with increased edge control, power in pop, and stomped positive landings. The boot does have a more basic chassis and comes in a one-size fits most single lace open toe closure system. The Profile is easy to get in and out due to the soft flex and wide-open cuff and yes, all this for a very affordable price. They don’t cost anymore than a good set of straps and pads.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT 2012 LIQUID FORCE GEAR

LF is also offering four different straps and pads. What are the highlights of the line? LF’s offering of straps and pads is deep. We are particularly proud of our integration of a very lightweight and strong connection point to the board called the X-Chassis. This chassis was designed and built with the ultimate goal of having the tightest and lowest connection to the board. This enhances board feel and edge control. The Comp features a pressure thumbscrew system that creates easy adjustment of the strap. The Luxury and Bliss are completely adjustable via a full Velcro closure. For the budget conscious riders we offer the Profile that has an ultra-comfortable dual density foot bed and a lace adjustment system for the perfect fit.

How do the harness and vest lines complement each other? The foam placement on the vests is strategically designed to fit our waist harnesses while giving freedom of movement to the riders. The unique LF inside grip technology securely locks the vest in place under the harness even during big wipeouts. All of the vests can be used with any harness combination. With this in mind you can really dial in the type of harness you want and pair it with the LF impact vest that has the amount of float and protection to suit your needs.

59

MYSTIC 60

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Ydwer van der Heide

Mystic completely redesigned its 2012 collection of wetsuits which now come in front and back zip models and a multitude of other options to match your specific needs and budget. The harness line was fine tuned to make them even more comfortable and stylish and women will be especially stoked with their expanded options as well. New for 2012 is Mystic’s wake/cable line of wetsuits and vests along with an entirely new line of clothing and board/travel bags. Mystic’s Evan Mavridoglou walked us through what we can expect from Mystic in 2012.

It looks like a lot of the Mystic harnesses from 2011 have carried over into 2012. What are some of the specific changes compared to last year’s models? After the Warrior III’s incredibly successful debut last year, it’s back and better than ever. It’s been fine tuned with softer edges, lighter materials, covered side parts, and the battle belt is the strongest yet for maximum reliability and support in the most extreme conditions. Mega loops, powerful freestyle, or pure freeriding, anything’s possible with the Warrior III. What are the differences between the Warrior III and the LEN10?

Ruben Lenten is the most extreme kiter in the world and the Warrior III LEN10 is his chosen harness. A different spreader bar specifically designed by Ruben, a leash system on the back of the harness with a swivel for aggressive spins, and orange highlights throughout are part of Ruben’s 2012 look. There is also a rumor of the 2012 Warrior III LEN10 being offered with slightly stiffer foam for even more support, but we will let our customers feel the differences between the regular Warrior III and the LEN10 version.

How is the Youri Zoon Shadow different from the standard Shadow? What does the PKRA World Champion in freestyle look for in a harness? Youri Zoon wanted a harness that he could forget he was wearing. The design had to be compact, feather light, and super flexible giving Youri maximum range of motion. The Mystic Shadow YZ enables him to pull his sickest tricks yet. The 2012 Mystic Shadow shares the same back support technology as the Warrior III with a narrower profile, super light materials, and increased flexibility for additional comfort and range of motion.

Tell us more about the Code 01 waist harness. Mystic has pushed the limits combining innovative technology with design, support, and function. The 2012 Mystic Code 01 is the most advanced waist harness in the line with technology exclusive to Mystic. The Code 01 is packed with features including the revolutionary BOA Support Control that lets you adjust and control your back support with no ride-up. Simply click and rotate to control the tension for optimum support.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 61

What are some of the features of the women’s harnesses that make them female-specific? There is great news for the girl riders in the Mystic harness collection for 2012. It seemed only fair that Bruna Kajiya get her own signature harness, so here it is, the BK Shadow. With an ultra compact design, feather light weight, and super flexible contours allowing for maximum range of motion, what Bruna wants, she gets! In addition to the Bruna Pro model, Mystic introduces another brand new harness for women, the 2012 Mystic Women Warrior III waist harness.

All the features from the Warrior III men’s version are now available for the women rippers.

What are the main changes to the 2012 Mystic wetsuit line for 2012? 2012 is a marquee year for Mystic’s wetsuits. The wetsuit collection has been completely redesigned, with both front zip and back zip models, 100% flexible neoprene, liquid seals outside and inside the suits, and tons more features including Isoprene mesh (a three layer foam construction where the mid-layer is perforated to keep your body heat locked inside), Teddy-Prene (a soft interior lining that reflects body heat), GBS (Glued Blind Stitched) stitching (the panels are first glued together and then only stitched halfway through the fabric instead of fully perforating it), taping inside at the critical stitching joints, additional taping to strengthen and smoothen critical areas, a colored waterproof zipper with an extra waterproof coating, Aquaflush (perforated neoprene that allows water to exit the suit, preventing the leg cuffs from filling up with water), and debossed non slip cuffs which consist of a silicon print inside the cuffs to keep them in position and prevent water from coming in.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT THE 2012 LINE OF MYSTIC HARNESSES

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 MYSTIC WETSUIT CATALOG

62

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

What are the different wetsuit models and who is each one best for? The 2012 Mystic suits are a mix between the ultimate surf suit and the most technical kite-specific suit. The 2012 Mystic wetsuit collection is equally split between front zip and back zip models. The front zip suits offer a bit more flexibility and warmth, as there is no zipper on the back to restrict motion or let water drops pass through. The back zipper models make getting in and out a breeze, and with the blind zipper and the back system are now nearly as warm as the front entry suits.

In terms of technical details, the High Voltage is the highest end suit in the Mystic line. Available only in 4/3, it is warm, super flexible, and packed with every possible technical feature available for a surf/kite wetsuit. It’s almost a lie to call this a ‘wet’-suit. With double liquid seals inside and out and a new additional water barrier around the front zip, there’s no water getting through this bad boy. Boasting feather light foam and 100% M-Flex neoprene, this super flexible, ultra-lightweight suit is the Rolls Royce of wetsuits. The Voltage is High Voltage’s sibling. A back zipper, 100% flexible neoprene, liquid seals, Isoprene and Teddy-Prene, Aquaflush water release on the ankles, and Velcro closures complete the package.

The Lightning (front zip) and the Crossfire (back zip) offer more kitesurfing and windsurfing features with shin bone protectors (Crossfire) and additional articulation and flex panels

Photo Ydwer van der Heide

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 63

Photo Ydwer van der Heide

64

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

where they matter the most for wind sports. The Empire (front zip) and the Star (back zip) are focused on the price conscious users who are looking for technical wetsuits at very competitive price points.

The 2012 Mystic wetsuit collection offers two different back zip models for women. The Hypnotize (available in 5/4, 4/3 shorty, and 3/2) is the highest end suit with 100% flexible neoprene, Isoprene, Teddyprene, and two different colors. The Mystic Star Women wetsuits are available in 5/4, 4/3 long arm short leg, 3/2 full suit, and 3/2 shorty.

Finally, for 2012 Mystic offers cable and wakeboarding-specific wetsuits with the signature line for Nick Davies, cable world champion extraordinaire.

What are some of the kiteboarding-specific features on the Mystic vests? For 2012 Mystic expands the vest product line with the Star vest (kitesurfing specific), new introduction of the Impact Shield in black/black color, and a new Razor II model for a float specific vest. In addition, there is a whole new section of Mystic Impact Vests for 2012, including 11 new wake/cable specific vest models. The Mystic vest collection brings brighter colors, side, front, or no zipper models, D3O, and super stretchy materials to offer a very complete vest line.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 MYSTIC KITEBOARDING CATALOG

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 MYSTIC APPAREL CATALOG

Some people don’t realize that there is also a full line of wakeboarding/cable, apparel, and travel bag product lines from Mystic. Tell us more about them. After the introduction of World Champion Nick Davies to the Mystic family, the Mystic wake and cable program has been on fire. Dan Nott, Lior Sofer, and Tor Young were added to the international team in 2011, and the wake/cable program is a new success story within Mystic! But having team riders of this level requires the highest quality products to offer the complete package. Eleven impact vests, wake specific wetsuits, travel bags, board bags, and tons more goodies complete the wake/cable specific line. Take a look at the catalog and check with your local wakeboarding/ cable dealer for sizes and stock.

In terms of apparel, the 2012 Mystic collection is the most complete ever. There are eight main color themes that follow across the apparel, wetsuit, harness, boardshorts, t-shirts, jackets, bikinis, caps, and beanies.

These themes are: El Mystico (inspired by Moroccan and Mexican motives), purple/yellow, black/yellow, black/ white, black/blue, Len10 Signature, Nick Davies (ND) Signature, and the Women/Bruna Line. The collection is rich and complete. Take a look at the 2012 Mystic catalog for apparel and tell us what you think.

In winter 2011 Mystic also introduced a new collection of travel and board bags. So on land, in the water, and in the air, Mystic offers something to meet every kiter’s possible needs.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 65

NAISH 66

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Stephen Whitesell

Naish has made a lot of changes for 2012 including all new shapes and construction for the twin tip line, a new line of strapless only surfboards, and refinements to the kites and existing directional boards. Designers Ian Ponting and Damien Girardin filled us in on what Naish has in store for the 2012 model year.

For 2012, Naish has three kites in its lineup. What are the changes compared to last year’s models? The Torch received a lot of improvements based on rider demand and thanks to what we learned last year on the Park. Due to a slightly shorter wingspan and lowered side struts that allow for a more rigid profile on the wing tips, The Torch is now more stable and has a stiffer arc. Technically this gives a crisper bar feel and a more responsive kite, making the kite better in overpowered conditions and finishing turns even better providing extra pull to land without making a hole in the ocean!

The Park has been refined in order to provide added low end power without losing any of its light crisp feel. Its LE diameter and profile depth were tuned to improve the low-end pull. We also slightly reduced the sweep in order to get the overall platform closer to a real classic C-shape. In order to maintain the relaunch characteristics, we slightly extended the wing tips to keep the same leverage on the overall kite when the rider pulls on the back line. We also introduced our new Anti Stiction Windows that allow water to drain quicker out of the wing tip when relaunching. The result is that the rider can expect earlier planing without sacrificing handling. The bar feel is crisper, which means the rider can better feel what the kite is doing and can steer it with precision.

On the Bolt, we focused on tuning each surface by reworking the LE diameter for each size thanks to our new automated LE calculation application. We also reworked the arc in order to have a better match between LE and trailing edge curve. The Bolt can now fly further forward in the window, provide better low end power, and is more lift efficient. Thanks to its Sigma outline and Geotech construction, it remains the most stable kite you can find to ride in gusty and shifty conditions.

Who is the target rider for each kite? The Torch is dedicated to competition freestyle, unhooked waveriding, and power freeriding.

The Park is really the kite dedicated to any rider, no matter his riding style or the conditions. The Bolt is for riders demanding superior stability, direct bar feel, fast turning, and easy jumping.

Why would you recommend a rider choose the Park over the Torch? I think it would be easier to put it the other way around. The only reason you would ride a Torch over a Park is if you are really focusing on freestyle tricks, engaged kite loops, or unhooked riding.

For all other applications like freeriding, wave riding (both hooked in or unhooked), any freestyle tricks that don’t require a lot of pop, making fun kiteloops, if you’re beginner, if you like the simplicity of back line pull relaunch, and all other aspects of kiteboarding, then you should get a Park. The Park is truly a kite that does it all.

67

NAISH 2012 KITES Kite Sizes Name Park 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m Torch 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m Bolt 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.5, 12, 14m

Number Target of Struts 3 All riding styles, wave, freestyle, freeride 5 Competition freestyle, powerful freeriding, unhooked wave riding 5 Fast turning, stable, easy jumping

Date Available Now Now Now

Were any changes made to your control bar for 2012? We have two control systems that utilize the QRTL Smart Loop. The shared features include the QRTL (patented and passing the AFNOR norm), Hytrel bar ends, and floats.

Both control systems are adjustable from 18 to 20 inches (46 to 50 cm) long and feature line length adjustments underneath the floats. The Universal (4 line) control system has been refined and tweaked to provide better kite feedback, improved security, and better ergonomics. We have lowered the front line connection and added a functional swivel. This configuration increases the turning speed of the kites and keeps the lines neat and tidy.

The Shift system (5-line) got a revamp as well. We have gone to an above the bar trim adjustment which allows the trim line to be a single PU covered unit. The system is bombproof and performance driven. Both control systems received an updated grip as well.

Naish has six twin tips in the line up for the new model year. The Momentum and Haze boards have been staples in Naish’s twin tip line.

Were any changes made to them? Why did Naish decide to discontinue the Thorn? The entire twin tip collection has been re-imagined. Every board has a new shape and construction. The Haze has a tip to tail single concave, new flex, and the super bold graphics that tie into the entire Naish range. The Momentum has added tip channels and a single concave to give the boards an easy ride with great grip without compromising on any of the performance and comfort that last year’s edition was known for. The Thorn was a full tilt competition type board. This was not the target we wanted for the new Money Shot where ease of use together with high end performance was the goal. The Money Shot features one of the most aggressive bottom shapes on the market with a low rocker making it the easiest board to edge with, pleasing competition riders together with the average kiteboarder.

CLICK HERE FOR THE NAISH 2012 VIDEO

68

The Money Shot, Arcade, Skate, and Raskal twin tips are new for 2012.

Please briefly describe the stand out characteristics of each and their target rider. The Money Shot is the board providing unparalleled freestyle performance and amazing edging. Its low rocker and straight outline are paired with unique bottom shaping consisting of a double concave, quadruple channels, and tunneled beveled edges that effectively micro-manage the water flow across the bottom of the board. For the normal rider this means that the board has a lot of grip, unmatched control, and great upwind ability.

The Arcade is specifically engineered to meet the needs of the wakestyle riders. It can be ridden with the Ally binding or with boots, with fins or finless, thanks to its “skid plates” bottom shaping. It has specific reinforcing to withstand hitting obstacles and a high rocker that is a key element to allowing the rider to nail that late rotation and not catch the tip when landing.

The Skate comes from the mindset that purpose-designed product is always better than using existing product designed for a different application.

Many riders have been trying to use wakeskates that were designed for use behind boats and getting frustrated with the feel and the durability. The Skate is designed specifically for riding behind a kite. It has added width in the

Photo Tracy Kraft Leboe

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 69

Photo Tracy Kraft Leboe

70

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

tips, a straight outline, and shares a rocker with the Arcade. It comes with three fins in order to let you ride it with two fins on ones side for added grip for those lighter wind days and to help feel comfortable for your first ride on a wakeskate. The skate will allow you to step right on and be comfortable instead of struggling to stay upwind as is the case on most wakeskates. The construction is built to take the abuse that kitesurfing can dish out as well.

Lace up those shoes!

The Raskal came from the idea that smaller riders needed a specific board, not just a scaled down version of a normal one. So even though the Raskal is inspired by the Momentum regarding the single concave and channels on the bottom, it has its own specific outline, width, and stiffness to meet the demands of girls and groms.

How does the Money Shot differ from the Momentum, Arcade, and Haze boards? Each board in the range has been targeted in terms of flex, outline, and shaping to target a specific rider. While you can do anything on all the boards, the discerning rider will appreciate the design details specific to their riding style. The Money Shot shines with its capabilities to edge, the Momentum is extremely forgiving and offers very smooth landing, and the Haze offers excellent edging while its softer flex matches the need of slower speed riding. The Arcade with its high rocker and stiffness answers the demand of wakestyle riders.

Does the new Raskal board borrow tech from any of your other twin tips?

All the boards share construction details and a design sensibility. The Raskal has a stance and flex that is specific to lighter riders. It shares the tip channels and centered concave of the Momentum. The board has received rave reviews from our testers and in consumer tests.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE 2012 NAISH SURFBOARDS

Naish’s 2012 Surf Line includes the Global, Fish, Gun, and Skater models.

What are the most significant changes to the next generation Global, Fish, and Gun boards that previous riders will notice? The main new feature on the Global is the option of riding it either as a quad or a thruster, adding versatility to one of the already most versatile wave boards yet. Ridden as a quad it has a lot of drive and track while ridden as a thruster it is looser and snappier. The Fish is a completely new board. At 22” wide, it is dedicated to light wind wave riding and bigger riders.

The Gun has been reworked to really appeal to those really big wave or super strong wind days where regular wave board width is just too much.

Our constructions are the most durable out there and will keep the board in one piece. Everything from the new honeycomb bamboo mesh torsion fins to the 3D traction is thought through to the smallest detail.

The Skater series is Naish’s new strapless only directional line. How do these boards differ in construction to your other directional boards? The surfboards all share a similar construction. We have eliminated the carbon rail to add a bit of flex to the Skater range and have focused on the deck reinforcement to minimize heel denting inherent with kitesurfing. The Skater range is oriented towards strapless riding with a more compact design. They are meant to be ridden 4” to 6” shorter than your regular surfboard. These shorter lengths and wider planforms help keep the board with you in the air and through rotations. The 5’9” and 5’4” are great all around boards. The 4’8” is a unique machine that is also oriented to flat water spinning tricks and is a really fun board to ride in lighter or underpowered conditions.

71

The Alaia is a new strapless light wind board. Tell us a little more about it. The Alaia is one of the more versatile boards out there. The application for kitesurfing evolved out of making a sample for wave riding just to see how it would ride, and it turned out to be an amazing light wind board. Its construction keeps the costs in check while providing the rider with an unreal light wind tool that is easy to ride.

What changes were made to your race board, the Venturi? The advent of racing in the kite market is driven not only from the competition side but also as a tool to get out in surprisingly light wind.

We have three boards in the Venturi collection that fit these various applications. Last year we had a 183 x 57cm design that looked like a barn door compared to the conventional twins and surfboards. Now, boards are upwards of 190 x 70 which makes the previous boards look tiny. Surprisingly enough, the 70 cm wide board is easy to ride and is a blast in the lightest of wind. We have kept a 180 by 65 cm board in the range to fit smaller riders or people who want to blast around in light air. The 175 is targeted to riders who want to do crossings or just blast around in moderate wind. All the boards received new rockers, constructions, and fins.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE 2012 NAISH TWIN TIPS CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT 2012 NAISH PRODUCTS

Naish’s Ally binding look like an improvement on the foot pads and straps that Naish introduced in 2011. Is this right or is the Ally binding completely new? The Ally is a completely new binding that sets new standards in rider ergonomics. It is designed to fit any size foot with maximum comfort, lateral support, and multiple stance and duck options in one easy to assemble package. The footpad has multiple density injection molded EVA that is grippy and comfortable.

One important feature is the accentuated sidewalls that eliminate any foot contact with the adjustment areas of the foot strap. The lateral “side wings” (where the foot straps sit on the sides) allow for unmatched lateral support. You really have to try these new Ally bindings to measure their level of comfort. Your board will literally feel and ride better with these on!

NAISH 2012 BOARDS Board Sizes Name Money Shot 131, 133, 135 cm Arcade 136, 139, 142 cm Momentum 132, 134, 136 cm Haze Raskal Global Skater Fish Gun The Skate Alaia 72 Venturi

135, 138, 140, 145 cm 124, 130 cm 5’5”, 5’10", 6’1” 4’8”, 5’4”, 5’9” 5’6” 6’ 120 cm 5’9” 175, 180, 190 cm

Twip Tip Twip Tip Twip Tip

Control, edging, and unparalleled freestyle performance Aggressive wakstyle with boots or straps, kicker, sliders Easy planing, superb edging, soft landings

Date Available Now Now Now

Twip Tip Twip Tip Surf Surf Surf Surf Wakeskate Surf/Lightwind Race

Freeride performance and easy edging in all conditions Designed specifically for girls and groms No compromise waveriding in any surf condition A compact design for strapless riding Riders wanting light wind fun in both surf and flat water Wave riders committed to huge waves or high winds Kite wakeskating made easy A light wind gem in a simple finless, strapless design A race-competitive design without sacrificing ease of use

Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now

Type

Target

Photo Stephen Whitesell

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 73

NOBILE GEAR GUIDE ‘11 74

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Lukas Nazdraczew

For 2012 Nobile will be introducing a new freestyle kite, a light wind/race kite, and a wave directional board as well as a new control bar while the rest of the line has been tweaked to improve construction and performance. Two new customer service reps were also brought onto the team who will handle all demos and US and Canadian customer and warranty inquiries.

Nobile’s Maciej Wacławczyk answered our questions about what we can expect from the company’s 2012 product lineup.

Nobile has two returning kites in its 2012 line up, the N62 v3 and the T5 Koinobori. As next generation kites, what are the biggest changes made to each? Both of the kites deliver the latest generation of innovative design. We’ve taken what aerodynamic science has to offer and implemented it into our kites’ construction. Improvements include a redesigned leading edge, flattened wing tips, and thinner bridles and steering lines. These changes enabled us to optimize the performance of our kites by maximizing lift, minimizing drag, and fine tuning turning speed to a rider’s desired level.

Additionally, the side-strut kite valves have been moved to the outer sides of the struts to gain the “catch-free” location. Now it’s almost impossible for the bridles to catch the valve when launching the kite. Our new kites also feature reinforced bridle attachment points.

Why did Nobile discontinue the NHP kite which was targeted at new school and freestyle riders? At Nobile we always make all possible efforts to develop products that meet the highest standards in performance and quality. The NHP kite will be soon replaced by a new freestyle kite, the 50Fifty. This new kite will be even more new school focused and dedicated to advanced and professional riders. With this kite we want to set new standards in this sector and set the bar higher when it comes to freestyle kite performance. The final product is in its final phase of testing and will be introduced to the market soon.

You also have a new light wind/race kite in development.

Tell us a bit more about it. Our light wind kite will feature new light wind materials, huge power, excellent upwind abilities, and a high aspect ratio. Nobile’s light wind kite may be used even when the wind is under 10 knots.

Which kite does your top PKRA rider, Mike Blomvall use? At the moment Mike “The Knife” Blomvall uses the T5-Koinobori and is helping us with the development of our 50Fifty kite.

Soon you will see him competing on that kite.

Why would you recommend one kite over the other? Which is better for wakestyle, surf, and all around freeriding?

The N62 V3 is an all-around kite, dedicated to beginners and intermediate riders who want a user-friendly kite to start out on but can also help advance their skills when ready. Our 75

compact construction offers easy relaunch, perfect balance, and super stability. Our T5-Koinobori is a freeride-focused kite that features a high aspect ratio and higher angle of attack than the N62. Its huge wind range, enormous lift, and incredible hang time makes it a kite of choice for advanced and intermediate riders. Thanks to its direct and responsive handling, the Koinobori is also a perfect choice for waves.

The 50Fifty will be our hybrid C-kite featuring the advantages of both C and bow shape designs. Featuring new construction equipped with our new thin profile, it is designed especially for freestyle. The 50Fifty will be super fast and feature huge, constant power. This model is highly recommended for new school and freestyle riders. More info about this model will soon be online.

New for 2012 is Nobile’s KISS (Kite Intelligent Safety System) control bar system. How does this bar differ from your 2011 bar? Our KISS bar is designed to deliver the ultimate performance, safety, and comfort to harmonize the rider and the kite and provide ultimate control in all conditions. It offers an advanced quick release system that is fast, safe, and easy to use. The KISS bar also offers directional color coded graphics, double finger bumpers, double width connection possibilities on the bar ends, and color coded rubber protectors on the inside of the bar ends. The polished alloy central core stays for strength and for depower line durability. It features no sharp edges so the rope is safe and won’t be damaged.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 NOBILE LINE

What are the major differences between your freestyle and freeride boards? What are the major changes that were made to each for 2012 and who are they best suited for? In general, freeride boards are stiffer and focused more on stability at speed, edge grip, and riding upwind while freestyle dedicated models feature more pop and comfort on landings. Most of our 2012 models are now equipped with unique Pre-Stress technology, an advantage for all disciplines. Pre-Stress benefits include better responsiveness and more pop. The new tech also allowed us to build thinner but more durable boards. For 2012, the outline and shape of our boards have been changed to optimize all the benefits you get from Pre-Stress technology.

When it comes to the specific models, the T5 is our classic freeride board that now features Pre-Stress tech as well as an improved rocker line. The 2HD is our top of the range model that conquers the discipline of freeride. With a unique double profiled bottom, Pre-Stress, and Pop Grower technologies, this

2012 NOBILE KITES Kite Name

76

T5 – Koinobori NHP V3 50Fifty Lightwind/Race

Sizes 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14m 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14m 16m

Number of Struts 3 3 5 5

Target Freeride, wave Freeride, wave, beginners Freestyle, new school/wakestyle Lightwind, racing

Date Available Now Now November 2011 December 2011

Photo Lukas Nazdraczew

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 77

Photo Lukas Nazdraczew

78

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

2012 NOBILE BOARDS Board Name 50Fifty 2HD NHP T5 Infinity

Sizes 134, 139, 140, 141 cm 131, 134, 137 cm 128, 131, 134, 137 cm 128, 131, 134, 137, 140 cm 5'1" , 5'4", 5'7", 6'1"

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Directional

Target New school/wakestyle Freeride Freestyle Freeride Wave

Date Available Now Now Now Now Now

is a board for demanding riders looking for ultimate speed and control combined with freestyle pop. If you’re looking for a freestyle focused all-arounder, feast your eyes on the new NHP. We’ve done what seemed to be impossible. All the features of one of the most popular high performance boards have been taken to the next level, making the NHP a definite must-have for 2012.

All new school enthusiasts should look no further than the 50Fifty. Mike “The Knife” Blomvall’s signature model is a weapon of choice for those who desire spectacular pop, super smooth landings, and tons of control.

What are the major differences in your women’s NHP and T5 boards from the regular boards? Our women’s boards are not shortened men’s boards painted in different colors. Both models, the T5 and NHP, were designed in collaboration with Asia Litwin and feature women-specific flex and stance modifications.

Compared to our regular models, the flex pattern increased (girls are usually less powerful than the boys and need more flex) and the stance is narrower for more comfort. Ambitious female riders looking for a technologically advanced new school board should pay attention to our 2012 50Fifty board. The new 134x39cm size might not be 100% to a women’s spec, but it was designed with the ladies in mind to give them the tool for uncompromised hardcore riding.

Nobile offers three boards for light wind: The Flying Carpet, the XTR, and the Skim board. Why would you recommend a rider choose the XTR over the Flying Carpet? Does the Skim offer comparable or better light wind performance over the others? As always, the choice of the board depends on the riding level, direction the rider wants to progress in, typical riding conditions, etc. The Flying Carpet is a huge light wind board designed for beginners and intermediate riders to help them progress and is to be used in extreme light wind conditions. The XTR is a freestyle machine dedicated for advanced or heavy weight riders who want to enjoy the ride and perform tricks in less than perfect wind conditions. The Skim board is a fun toy dedicated to practice strapless riding and tricks when the wind is not strong enough to use a standard board.

79 9

Nobile is introducing a new wave board for 2012 designed by three time wave KPWT World Champion Jose Luengo. The Infinity is promoted as “easier to ride strapless than any other wave board.” What makes Nobile so confident in claiming this? Testing, testing, and more testing! Jose Luengo helped us to develop the Infinity and spent countless hours on testing and improving it until we developed the product that satisfied him. The Infinity board is very smooth and soft in choppy conditions. The pad all over the board is a big luxury. You can just walk all over it and it feels superb! While riding it, when you start to grab the board in the air for back rolls and other tricks, it’s much easier than a normal surfboard! It just sticks in your hands and stays there until you land again.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE KISS CLICK&GO FIN SYSTEM

The NHP Snowkite board was designed specifically for snow kiting. How does this board differ from regular snowboards?

If a rrider uses it for pure snowboarding, what differences will they most notice in comparison to their regular snowboard? com Our N NHP Snowkite is a very special product, equipped with our patented Snake Transition equip technology (www.snaketransition.com). A few techn years ago, former team rider Remi Meum was disappointed with using a standard snowboard disap for ssnow kiting. His board was turning upwind constantly and there was no way to ride on the cons edge straight ahead without sliding. He asked us to make the edges straighter. At the beginning Remi was very satisfied, but later on begin he faced the problem of using the board without a kite as a regular snowboard. We realized that not everybody wants to have separate boards for snow kiting and snowboarding so we started to work on a snow kite board that could be used for both. By working on this issue, we developed and introduced Snake Transition technology into snowboard construction. Now you can use the NHP Snowkite board for slope riding in all conditions.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your 2012 lineup? All kiteboarding enthusiasts should check out our freshly developed KISS “Click&Go” fins and pads mounting systems.

Now it takes just a few seconds to mount/ demount the fins and adjust the angle of your footpad. It’s a travel friendly solution that will help you save time.

80

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Lukas Nazdraczew

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 81

82

NORTH

Photo courtesy North Kiteboarding

For 2012 North is offering an extensive line of five kites, eight twin tips, five surfboards, and three specialty boards.

Highlights for 2012 include new Adaptive Wingtips on the kites (except the Vegas), a track system on the twin tips, and new surfboard construction. North’s Dan Schwarz filled us in on the changes on the 2012 North line.

At first glance, the 2012 North kite line looks like a refined version of the 2011 line. Is this the case or are there any large changes that we missed? Actually it’s a pretty mixed bag. We did some small refinements and we also made some major overhauls. If you really wanted to sum it up simply, I’d say that the response to our entire 2011 lineup was overwhelmingly positive, and so we improved as much as we could without compromising the core elements that attracted people to last year’s gear.

What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line? Besides the usual subtle tweaks to all sizes of all of our kites, we have added a new feature to all of our kites (other than the Vegas). The new Adaptive Wingtips allow you to tune the feeling and turning speed of each kite easily. It’s like having two kites in one.

Are the Rebel and the Fuse still similar flying kites? Why would a rider choose one kite over the other? Obviously, the biggest difference is that the Rebel is a dedicated 5-line kite with no bridles or pulleys. While it is not possible to 100% mimic the feel and performance of a 5-line kite with a bridled 4-line kite, the Rebel and the Fuse are extremely similar.

As Ken Winner has not finished designing the Fuse for 2012 I can’t give you specific comparisons, but there are generally fairly subtle differences between the two that seem to get more subtle with each iteration of the Fuse. Now with the Adaptive Wingtips on both models I expect the differences to become even more subtle.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 models. The Rebel is the ideal kite for 90% of the riders out there. It is an extremely forgiving kite with a direct connection feel and all of the depower you could want.

The Fuse has a similar description, but will work on either 4 or 5 lines.

The Vegas is back as a dedicated C-kite aimed towards freestyle and wakestyle oriented riders who are looking for a high performance kite for unhooking and looping. The Evo, our Delta-C shaped kite returns as a do-everything kite which works great for waves and also for unhooked freestyle/wakestyle progression. Finally we will have the Dyno available this spring as a light wind and racing machine.

What has changed on the Vegas for 2012? Again, we were very happy with the Vegas in 2011, so we just wanted to make some small improvements while maintaining the performance and feel of the 2011 kite. The kite now feels somewhat more uniformly stable when unhooking under various stages of depower. We also made the freestyle setting slightly more freestyley, especially in the smaller sizes where last year’s seemed to be a little too fast even when set to the slower settings.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 83

Is North still using the Teijin TechnoForce fabric on all the kites? What are the benefits of this fabric? Yes, all of our kites are manufactured with Teijin TechnoForce D2 material, a material on which we worked hand in hand with Teijin in developing, and to which North has been given proprietary use of for several years. There are many advantages, including higher ripping strength, higher breaking strength, greater resistance against the effects of wind and sun due to double coating, and superior resistance against rip propagation. All without any added weight.

The Dyno was a late-season 2011 release. Will it be updated for 2012?

What will the changes be? Ken is just putting the final touches on the 2012 and I haven’t heard details on what has changed, but he assures me that the improvements are significant.

Has the North Trust Bar changed for 2012? We were happy with the 2011 design, so not much has changed design-wise. The bar sports a more comfortable grip and an awesome new blue color. We also have a new World Cup Edition bar featuring new line material. The gold-colored PBO lines are a hit with demanding freestyle and racing kiters as the material has almost no stretch, so you have a slightly more direct connection to the kite and you will never need to tune your lines.

What is the biggest change on the 2012 North Twin Tip line? The most obvious change for 2012 is the addition of the Track System for our twin tips. We liked the idea of adding a track for many reasons, but we were put off by the idea of a single long track for each foot, as it interferes too much with the flex pattern of the board. We came up with the idea to have two separate offset (to give more duck options) tracks for each foot. This allows for less interference with the flex pattern and it also allows each strap/pad to be removed without disassembling the strap/ pad unit, making it even easier to breakdown and rebuild your board for traveling.

Especially when paired with our new Entity strap/pad combo, the track system is an awesome addition to our twin tip lineup.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 NORTH LINE

Please briefly mention what type of rider each board is designed for. The Select is for riders looking for the ultimate in comfort for freeriding while still offering some pop and the ability to carve on waves. It does everything. The Team Series is our stiffest board in the line and is meant for people looking to do hardcore freestyle. The Jaime is slightly more flexible than the Team, so it is slightly more comfortable through the chop but still maintains a lot of pop for freestyle. The X-Ride is one step more flexible than the Jaime and is meant for freeriders who would like a comfortable board that can jump high, carve on waves, and still maintain some pop for a lively feel. The Soleil is our women’s board, with flex and sizes focused on lighter riders. The Gambler is our wakestyle board for riders looking to do freestyle and hit features. The Gonzales is our entry-level board with lots of flex to make for a comfortable ride. The Spike is our light wind board.

NORTH 2012 KITES Kite Name Rebel Vegas Evo Fuse 84 Dyno

Sizes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14m 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14m 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14m 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14m 13, 16, 18m

Number of Struts 5 5 5 5 7

Target Freeride, wave Freestyle/wakestyle Freeride, wave, freestyle Freeride, wave Lightwind, racing

Date Available Now Now December 2011 December 2011 March 2012

Photo courtesy North Kiteboarding

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 85

Photo courtesy North Kiteboarding

86

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

What features make the Gambler a wakestyle-specific board? Lots of rocker, a deeply contoured bottom allowing it to be ridden without fins, a reinforced track system to take the added strain of boots, less flex, and a new bottom material designed to slide easily over features and take the brutal abuse of hitting them.

What changed on the construction of your surfboards for 2012? We went to a new factory for 2012 and are now using a new blown EPS core, which makes our shapes more accurate without the need for stringers. This means that our boards are lighter (some sizes lost over one pound from 2011), stronger, and have a livelier feel due to the flex that results from not having a stringer.

What style of riding is each of the 2012 surfboards meant for? The Kontact is back as our big wave gunny board meant for hollow down-the-line riding in big conditions. The WAM continues to be our all-around shape with a 3+2 fin setup so you can run it as a quad or a thruster. It works for everything from smaller mushy waves to bigger downthe-line type riding. The Whip is a dedicated quad, smaller, looser, and quicker than the WAM. It works well for smaller mushy waves or short steep wind swell. The Nugget is a new project for Sky Solbach, and it’s a super wide voluminous quad meant for smaller mushy waves or river swell. It also makes a great light wind or flat water board. Finally, Sky’s other new project is the X-Surf, a crossover kite and surf board, so when you go on vacation to Indo, you only need to bring one board.

What sets the X-Surf apart from the other boards to make it work well as a crossover board? It has more volume in the middle of the board to help you paddle into waves, but the edges are aggressively tapered off so that you can still bury the rail when charging down the wave with a kite.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT THE 2012 NORTH KITES

Will there be a production North Race board this year? Yes. It will be released around the time the Dyno comes out in the spring, just in time for our racers to start training for the 2012 race season.

NORTH 2012 BOARDS Board Name Select Jaime Team Series Gambler X-Ride Soleil Gonzales Spike Kontact WAM Whip X-Surf Nugget Free Race Skimfish Race LTD

Sizes 132, 135, 137 cm 130, 133, 136, 139 cm 134, 137, 140 cm 125, 136, 139, 142 cm 130, 133, 136, 139 cm 128, 131, 134 cm 130, 134, 138, 142, 151 cm 141, 153, 163 cm 5'9", 5'11", 6'1" 5'8", 5'10", 6'0" 5'4", 5'6", 5'8" 5'11" 5'0" 164 cm 138 cm TBD

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf/Race Skim Race

Target Freeride, all around Freeride, freestyle Freestyle Wakestyle, freestyle Freeride, all around Freeride, freestyle, women-specific Freeride Light wind, freeride Big waves Small to large waves Small waves Kite/surf crossover Small/mushy waves, light wind Light wind, wave, race Light wind, wave, all around Race

Date Available Now Now November 2011 November 2011 Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now March 2012

87

OZONE GEAR GUIDE ‘11 88

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Stephan Kleinlein

Ozone released their first 2012 kite, the surf-specific REO, in June and is now releasing updated versions of the rest of their kite line. Among the kites returning for 2012 is the race-winning Edge. Ozone is also continuing to produce depowerable foil kites for snowkiting and now offers an ultra-light version of the Frenzy that weighs 30% less and packs up smaller. Steve Barrett from Ozone Kites USA answered our questions about the 2012 Ozone line.

At first glance, the 2012 Ozone kite line looks like a refined version of the 2011 line. Is this the case or are there any large changes that we missed? Ozone really hit the mark in 2011 with unsurpassed kites like the Ozone Edge used by Johnny Heineken and Adam Koch to dominate numerous course racing events across the globe. The lineup of kites for 2012 will see slight refinements in design. The names and overall riderspecific appeal will remain true and continue to impress all those who put an Ozone kite in the air. The REO was the first 2012 kite released in late June and pioneered a wave-specific addition to the lineup. The response from the REO has been huge and being the first 2012 Ozone kite it has left other companies racing to establish such a contender in their lineup with characteristics so tuned for wave riding.

The REO was a late season 2011 kite. Will it be updated for 2012? The REO was released in late June to the lineup but was the finished version and is considered the first addition for the 2012 line. The REO features incredible down the line drift, speed, and stability like you have never felt.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 models. The Zephyr is a 17m light wind specific kite, however it boasts one of the largest wind ranges for a kite that size and can easily be handled in excess of 20 mph.

This kite is meant to get out in little to nothing with the right board, but really comes alive as a true wakestyle weapon in lower teens due to its park, stability, and loads of pop.

The C4 is a mini-bridle C-kite hybrid geared for those riders looking to excel at mega loops, wakestyle, and also have great unhooked performance throughout a huge wind range of over 20 mph. Being able to unhook confidently in gusty conditions is paramount for those looking to really progress their trick book. The overall performance with responsive near internal pivot point allows for great wave riding as well!

The Edge is the ultimate in performance. Built with a course racer in mind, it has the best upwind performance of any kite I’ve ever ridden. This is due to its super high aspect design which begs for you to cut upwind. The larger sizes provide great park and ride ability, but as you start to build speed you notice that the kite progressively pushes you faster. The smaller sizes have proven just as valuable in upwind performance, but they also offer some of the longest and floatiest jumps imaginable when you pull the trigger.

The REO is geared for wave riding, but this notion can be put to rest within the first minute of flight as it offers unrivaled speed and stability. The stability when you ride toward the kite (also known as drift) is what makes

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 89

this the perfect choice for any wave rider. Now you can worry about the wave chasing you down and your next hit off the lip rather than kite placement, as it will be right where you left it. Pairing this kite with a surfboard is truly a treat as you can put it anywhere throughout the window and not feel like you are about to get ripped off your board.

The Catalyst is the most rider-friendly kite in the lineup which is built on a simple three strut design with great features for beginners such as automatic relaunch, stability, and just enough bar pressure to let you know where it is but not tire you out by any means. Jump on this kite from any other and you will feel confident to try all your tricks and go big. This is truly a kite that grows with the rider and once you have the ability to push it, it will respond and bring you to new heights.

What are the main differences between the Reo and Catalyst? The REO resembles a more C-kite design than the Catalyst which provides it with better ability to stay put as you ride toward the kite with less tension in the lines. The bar pressure is slightly higher in the REO when sheeted in, but also offers more on-off power as you sheet out compared to the more progressive range of the throw with the Catalyst. Both feature a pulleyless design which eliminates points of failure and offer immediate response from rider input. Both are great kites, however the REO would not be as all around and geared for beginners as the Catalyst. Want to shred some waves and have a great time flying the hell out of a fast and stable kite, then pick the REO. Want to learn, ride a wave, and have fun doing everything else? Then the Catalyst will be your pick.

The Edge is used by many riders who are really into racing. Why does it work so well for racing? What other types of riding does it do well? This kite has been proven to give a rider a 3° better upwind tack which can be attributed to its super high aspect design which resembles a knife cutting through the wind.

As I mentioned before, the larger sizes (1317m) will provide amazing top speed which is built progressively and paired with more upwind ability than previously possible. Each size provides amazing lift potential, which has made this an excellent choice for those looking for some serious loft. The Edge is heavily used in the snow for just this reason. Have you ever 90

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo courtesy Ozone

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 91

Photo graememurray.com

92

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

gone upwind with a twin tip on a 7m in 16 knots? If not, you may want to give the Edge a try.

Ozone also offers depowerable foil kites for snowkiting. Why would a rider want to use one of these kites on the snow instead of using the same inflatable kite they use on the water? The largest benefit of foils in the snow has got to be their simplicity to set up and go. All you have to do with a foil is run the lines and you are ready to go. With no pumping or valves to close, you can keep your hands nice and toasty in your gloves. These are great perks, but to be honest the true benefit lays in back country exploration. You cannot put an inflatable kite down at the top of a mountain with as much ease or at all in most cases compared to foils. The foils also offer more connection points which spreads the load and can be of great benefit in case of an emergency.

Imagine a bladder issue after you ventured many miles from your starting point. If you do not have a pump with you then a long walk awaits. It’s just not possible to have an issue like this with a foil. Even with a tear or rip these kites will fly and pull you back to where you began.

How is the Frenzy Ultralight different than the Frenzy? What are the benefits of a lighter kite?

The Frenzy Ultralight is the same great kite as the Frenzy but with a reduced pack size and weight.

For those looking to really get out and adventure, this is the best choice. Designed with material pioneered through Ozone paragliding, this allows up to a 30% weight reduction. The Ultralight will fly in less wind and provide better performance in lighter conditions.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 OZONE LINE

OZONE 2012 KITES REO Catalyst C4 Zephyr Edge Access

4, 6, 8, 10, 12m 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14m 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15m 17m 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17m 4, 6, 8, 10, 12m

Number of Struts 3 3 5 5 5 Foil

Frenzy

5, 7, 9, 11, 13m

Foil

Frenzy Ultralite 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m

Foil

Kite Name

Sizes

Target

Date Available

Wave riding All around, freestyle Wakestyle, wave riding, mega-loops Light wind, wakestyle Racing, top upwind performance Beginner-intermediate chairlift, all around snow kite Intermediate-expert, ultimate snow kite performance Ultimate back country snow kite

Now November 2011 November 2011 November 2011 November 2011 Now Now Now 93

94

PROMOTION

Photo Doug Bixel

Dedicated to windsports for the past 30 years, ProMotion Wetsuits was founded by waterman Dana Love. In 1984, Dana moved his company to the Gorge which he said has proven to be an unbeatable location to design and test wetsuits with temperatures ranging from below freezing in the winter to above 100° in the summer. On any given summer day, it’s not uncommon to see the ProMotion bread truck parked at the Event Site while Dana enjoys an afternoon session. We caught up with Dana between sessions regarding what ProMotion has in store for the 2012 season.

ProMotion started out as a San Diego-based company catering to surfers. What made the brand start focusing on suits for windsports and triathletes? Growing up surfing and sailing in Southern California, I took an early interest in windsurfing to extend my time on the water.

When the Gorge turned on with windsurfers in the mid 80s, it was a no-brainer to move the company to Hood River to chase wind. When kiteboarding came on the scene, it was a natural transition for the business to get involved as I personally took up the sport. On the triathlon side, ProMotion had been commissioned to make rescue wetsuits for lifeguards in the early 80s. These same wetsuits were discovered by triathletes and became the first triathlon wetsuits. We have been making both types of wetsuits ever since.

Why doesn’t ProMotion have a wholesale channel for retailers to expand the brand? We made a decision some years ago to limit our distribution to our company store in Hood River, Oregon, and our website (www.wetsuit.com).

We feel that selling customer-direct helps us maintain a closer connection with our customers while offering better customer service. Most shops only stock a few wetsuits and can’t offer the variety of models and sizes that are available directly from us. By focusing only on wetsuits, our staff can be better educated on the products we sell and if a customer ever has a problem they can talk directly to us.

How are new products developed and released? Our windsport wetsuits have evolved over 20+ years, so we have a solid benchmark of understanding from which to start. From our existing product line, we continue to make improvements. Our location in Hood River gives us a daily opportunity to test design concepts and prototypes in a wide range of conditions. It is not uncommon for us to build a prototype and get it on the water the same day.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 95

What are some of the design and material elements that you think sets ProMotion wetsuits apart from its competitors? Most wetsuit companies focus on surfing. Our focus is all about windsports. We don’t test our windsport prototypes by surfing, we test them kiting and windsurfing until our material choices and design features are right. Our ADV WindSkin material reduces evaporative cooling while remaining more durable than conventional smoothskin neoprene. Unlike top loading surfing wetsuits, we use a long back-zip entry combined with our ZipperDam. It is fast and easy while keeping water exchange to a minimum. Removable ankle straps are provided on cold-water models.

What is ProMotion’s warranty policy? ProMotion Wetsuits carry a 5-year warranty on seam construction. Nylon two-sided material has a 1-year warranty and nylon one-sided material has a 6-month warranty.

In 2011, ProMotion launched the Charger series line of wetsuits. How do these suits differ from your kitesurfing wetsuits? The Charger Series was developed to blend our surfing wetsuits with our windsport wetsuits to create a crossover series for people who want to do it all. With a back zip entry they are as easy to get into as our windsport wetsuits, but do not have as much smoothskin on the exterior. On the cold water Chargers, we use a liquid seal on the seams for bombproof durability and water tightness.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT PROMOTION WETSUITS

Are any new product releases slated for 2012? We just released a new pullover style flotation vest. We have also expanded our ExoSkin line.

ExoSkin is a smooth coated micro fleece that cuts wind chill. It works like a sweater for the water and doubles as a layer under your wetsuit. This spring we will be adding a new long sleeve shorty to the Charger line, a number of thin wetsuit tops and bottoms, and more rashguards. We are also developing new products for the SUP market.

What are the top three tips you can share with users regarding how to extend the life of their wetsuits?

1. Don’t leave your wetsuit in the sun to dry. Drip-dry it in the shade on a wide hanger. Leaving it to dry in the sun will cut the wetsuit’s life in half.

2. If you use it in salt water, rinse it in fresh water. It will dry faster and remain flexible.

3. Store your suit clean and dry, right side out, on a wide hanger — NOT wadded up wet in the back of your car or gear bag.

4. Get it wet often…you will feel better.

96

2012

TKB CALENDAR

s. Photography to by: Abreu Bro an, Maui | Pho Shawn Richm

MARCH

Enjoy 13-months of wish you were here and insane riding shots in a wall calendar format. http://store.thekiteboarder.com/category_s/26.htm

RRD GEAR GUIDE ‘11

98

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Nic Bothma

The 2012 RRD Kitesurfing line is more extensive than ever before. Roberto Ricci and the RRD team in Italy have developed unique products for specific riding styles and conditions. The 2012 RRD kite line up offers six kite models, 10 different twin tip kiteboards, seven different kite specific surfboards in 24 sizes, and two IKA registered course racing boards. RRD is confident that it has the right product for every level and type of rider out there. North American distributor Evan Mavridoglou answered our questions about RRD’s extensive line for 2012, including their new ultra lightweight twin tips, which average about 3.6 lbs. with pads and straps.

At first glance, the 2012 RRD kite collection looks like a refined version of the 2011 line. Is this the case or are there any large changes that we missed? For 2012, we have six different models of kites that are specifically targeted to perfectly match a rider’s style and riding conditions. Five of the kites are next generation models, continuing their programs from the previous years. These kites have been refined to improve performance while retaining the qualities that riders liked in the 2011 line. For 2012 we also add a brand new C-kite, the Obsession Pro. What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line? Each model brings in improvements and new ideas for 2012. The flagship freestyle and all around kite, the RRD Obsession, gets even smoother. The smaller sizes (5, 6, 7, 9m) are now even more stable, while all the sizes get a little more power and higher jumping. The kiteloops are smooth with steady power while the upwind performance and quick response and flying of the kite remain key characteristics. In the hands of the advanced freestyle riders, the Obsession unhooks, jumps, and loops like no other SLE kite on the market.

The Religion MK II is the kite that every wave kiter has been waiting for. The 2010/11 Religion was a huge success. Designed specifically with side on and onshore conditions in mind, the Religion MK I was the fastest turning kite on the market. The 2012 Religion MK II continues on the path of its predecessor, but adds more low end power across all kite sizes and more stability on the smaller sizes. The Dacron wave-specific frame of the Religion kites creates a solid and uniquely strong structure, making the Religion ready for any unplanned wave wrestles.

The 2011 Vision was introduced in spring of 2011 and will remain unchanged until spring of 2012. The Vision is the 3-strut design from RRD that is taking over the allaround performance kite scene. With a full year of testing and R&D, the 2012 RRD Addiction MK III is the fastest race

99

RRD 2012 KITES Number of Struts Passion MK IV 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m 5 Vision 5, 7 ,9 ,10. 5, 12, 13.5m 3 Obsession MK IV 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.5, 12, 13.5, 15m 5 Obsession Pro 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.5, 12, 13.5, 15m 5 Religion MK II 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11.5m 3 Addiction MK III 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18m 7 Kite Name

Sizes

Target Freeride All terrain Freestyle Freestyle pro Waves Racing

Date Available November 2011 Now Now November 2011 November 2011 Spring 2012

kite RRD has ever made, ready for the podium at worldwide course racing competitions. The 2012 RRD Addiction MK III, while labeled as a dedicated race kite, is very easy to fly and will make an amazing light wind machine in its bigger sizes.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 RRD KITE CATALOG

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 models.

The Passion, RRD’s “easy rider” pure delta kite that offers 100% depower, excellent upwind ability, and effortless relaunch, is a great kite that entry level riders will appreciate for its forgiving nature but will also be stoked on for its performance when ready for freestyle moves. The Vision is the lightest kite in our lineup. This kite is amazing in the gusts, very stable with light bar pressure, and always perfectly positions itself in the window area, never too far forward nor back, just right where it needs to be to let you feel safe and in control.

The Obsession MKIV is RRD’s most advanced yet user-friendly kite in the range. Thanks to a new leading edge arc on the small sizes, the Obsession is remarkably fast and stable! RRD also upgraded the kite on important features like improved turning speed on the big sizes and more neutral pull on kiteloops to create an even more stable kite with 5% more power and improved easiness to ride unhooked.

New for 2012 is the Obsession Pro, a pure C-kite developed by PKRA competitor Seb Garat. It comes with RRD’s Global Pro 5-line bar. This kite is best suited for the serious hardcore freestyler.

The Religion is RRD’s surf kite and for 2012 we improved its turning speed, low end grunt, and stability in the smaller sizes. The third generation Addiction is our race kite and was designed for optimal upwind and downwind race performance. The 7-strut design of the Addiction is the basis for its stable, predictable, and powerful profile.

The moderate/high aspect ratio of the kite allows a powerful yet very progressive pull on the bar. The kite keeps its behavior of stability and constant power/depower even when completely sheeted out.

For 2012 the Addiction adds more sizes: 7, 9, and 18m to complete the racing quiver range.

What are the main differences between the Obsession and Obsession Pro? Why would a rider choose one kite over the other?

Since the Obsession Pro is a C-kite in its purest sense, if you kite in a gusty wind area, want the widest wind range possible, and don’t want to swim like hell to relaunch your kite, then the Obsession would probably be a better choice.

100

Photo Martin Rendo/RRD

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

101

Photo Nicolas Calvetz/RRD

102

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Has the RRD Global Bar changed for 2012? Does it still feature the special low-stretch lines? Yes, the new Global V3 bar still features our exclusive rigid low-stretch lines, made especially for RRD. The new Global bar also features a few upgrades while some parts of the bar remain unchanged. The ergonomically designed chicken loop is compact, clean and precise, is very easy to release, and can be remounted with one hand. Other features include a new quick trim to adjust the bar length, a narrower carbon bar to improve grip potential and reduce hand fatigue, and an incorporated depower line where both the depower rope and safety line now run inside a dual chamber tube that protects them while keeping them out of the way as well.

The RRD board line is huge this year with seven surfboards, nine twin tips, two race boards, and a skim board. Why so many offerings?

As kiteboarding evolves, so do more riding styles and disciplines. Our board line offers something specific for every rider in terms of his or her particular style, which can cross over into multiple areas. We don’t have a one size fits all program at RRD. All our products are custom designed to meet specific parameters.

For 2012, RRD is introducing a new class of super lightweight twin tip boards. Tell us about them. The new latest freestyle machines from RRD come in five totally new shapes with revolutionary technology never used in kiteboarding until now. Our new Style boards feature a wider tip area with rounded edges, thinner profile thickness, and a crazy flex response. A new exclusive technology only possible in Formula One car racing is today available in the Style boards, which are completely built and assembled in Italy. To truly appreciate the 2012 Style board, you have to hold it in your hands and feel the difference. There is no other board that feels the same as the Style. When a board weighs only 1.8 kilos and is made in an autoclave process with 100% carbon, a wood core, and honeycomb components, then you know that the RRD Style will not only look amazing and unique, but will also ride as such.

This is a new era of twin tip boards, and RRD is again pushing technology and innovation to the limits by bringing the most unique and exciting new kiteboards to the market.

Please briefly mention what type of rider each twin tip board is designed for. The Placebo V3 is our pure freeride board. It has a new redesigned outline and rocker line which increased its turning potential and helps it start planing early. The Bliss is a step up from the Placebo and is a solid freeride/freestyle board. It is one of those boards that you can hop on and feel immediately comfortable with and gives you the confidence to try that new move you’ve been wanting to stick. And don’t hesitate to throw those hard carving turns. The crease on the tips of the Bliss will control the flex and you will feel as if you are locked on your turn!

Next in our lineup is the Poison Camo. The Poison has been the backbone of our twin tip line which suits the majority of twin tip riders out there. The technology developed for the 2011 Poison LTD board was integrated into the 2012 board, but now features a more durable top and bottom finish. The Poison outline, flex pattern, and rocker have created the most successful twin tip setup to date for RRD and the Camo continues this tradition.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 103

The Joystick is ideal for flat water and freestyle and will also take the beatings for park style riding. Test the Joystick on the chop and you will be amazed about how well behaved it is. When you carve with it, get ready for some amazing spray due to its beveled rails and progressive outline.

For wakestyle riding, we have the Juice and Park boards. The Juice is meant for pure wakestyle riding and comes with no pads or straps as it’s meant for bindings and comes in only one size, which meets the needs of the majority of pure wakestyle riders. New for 2012, the Park was developed for riding over obstacles, sliders, and kickers. The board features a very flat rocker with super deep channels on the tips and can be used with or without fins. The Park comes into two different sizes and can be ridden also as a real light wind freestyle board thanks to the super flat rocker line that allows it to plane earlier and stay upwind. While the Park is focused on all slider and kicker riding, it performs amazing well as an all around freestyle board, riding and popping huge jumps on both flat and choppy waters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 RRD BOARD CATALOG

RRD has two twin tip boards specifically for light wind riding. Why would you recommend one board over the other? There are two different light wind twin tip boards, the Broad Spectrum and the 10 Knots V2. The Broad Spectrum is designed for performance light wind riding, adding more rocker to the tips of the board. The 10 Knots V2 is a flat bottom, flatter rocker twin tip, designed for the lightest wind days. In addition to the V2 construction, RRD is offering a limited edition 10 Knots twin tip made with the same technology as the RRD Style board. At just 1.7 kilos for the 10 Knots LTD (146 x46 cm), this board is sure to set a new standard for light wind twin tips.

Can you describe the special carbon construction being used on some of the 2012 RRD boards? The core of the RRD Style Ultralight Twin Tip board is a CNC laminar wood core with honeycomb middle sections plus reduced weight polycarbonate sidewalls. The core of the board is amazingly light while solid and strong. The lamination process of the RRD Style is a few steps ahead from anything else on the market today. Laminated with pre-preg Dynacarbon hi-modulus carbon fiber on the deck with a full carbon bottom, cured at four bars in an autoclave pressure heated at 185°on a composite/aluminum

104

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Martin Rendo/RRD

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 105

mold, and with PET finishing top sheets on deck and bottom, there is no other board made this way today, and we don’t expect any other board to be made similarly for a while. RRD is bringing Formula One technology to kiteboarding, pushing the limits of technology and innovation.

What changed on the construction of your surfboards for 2012?

All our directional boards are PU-based as there is no other material that connects you to the water and waves better. However, due to the stresses of kiteboarding, we have integrated horizontal bamboo into the decks, carbon stringers on the bottom, and carbon on the rails running down to the tail for increased durability.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT THE 2012 RRD SURFBOARDS

What style of riding is each of the 2012 surfboards meant for? New for 2012, the Maquina is our all-around wave board. It features a classic pro surfboard shape and combines the advantages of a wider tail with a generous rocker and a serious tail kick. The narrow nose helps riders snap radical off the top turns on the heaviest sections. The Gitano V2 is for side shore waves and boasts a new outline which is generally wider everywhere, especially in the nose area. Also the tail has been widened up a little and the rails are thinner on the nose while the middle was beefed up to improve floatation and make waves easier to catch.

Powerful, fast, and thick waves are the bread and butter for these sticks.

If your home conditions are mostly onshore winds, then the Salerosa V2 is the board for you. Slightly revised in all areas for 2012, the most outstanding change is that some of the concave in the tail area was reduced to maximize tail flex and improve the direct feeling with your back foot. The Pescado V2 is best suited for small waves and comes in one size only. Its wide retro style rounded swallow tail lets you slide, grip, or release any extra unnecessary speed and slam on the brakes if needed.

The Magonda V2 is the strapless board Abel Lago rides in competitions. This board features a concave hull with a slight tail kick on a fast rocker line. Its wider nose allows you to be able to ride a board a couple of inches shorter than you normally would without losing all the comfort and forgiveness of a longer board. The Asso is our most versatile board, which can be used for both kitesurfing and regular paddle surfing.

The V bottom allows for smooth rail to rail transitions while its wider nose area helps planing speed over flat sections. Its round pin tail helps riders change directions perfectly. The Asso can be ridden as a quad or tri fin. Rounding out the line is the Domingo, our freeride/wave board meant for less than ideal wind and surf days when you just want to get on the water and have fun.

What is the difference between the two RRD Race boards? Why would a rider choose one over the other? RRD is registering two different size boards with IKA for the 2012 production class in course racing. The K-Race 70 is the ultimate racer and is the board we expect to see the most on podiums next season. It’s a tri-fin design and it brings the deep experience and expertise of Roberto Ricci, designing race boards since the 80s, together with the RRD Course Racing testing team, headed by the most recent addition to the RRD team, Julien Kerneur, 2011 European Course Race Champion. The K-Race 60 is the narrower sibling, made for super strong winds or lighter riders.

106

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

RRD 2012 BOARDS Board Name

Sizes

Placebo V3 Bliss Joystick Park Poison Camo Poison LTD Style Juice BS46 10 Knots V2 10 Knots LTD Easykite Milk Maquina Gitana V2 Pescado/Fish V2 Magonda Asso Pigliatutto K Domingo V2 K-Race 50 LTD K-Race 70-65-60 LTD

132, 133, 134, 138, 140, 142 cm 133, 135, 137, 139 cm 134, 135, 136 cm 135, 138 cm 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 cm 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 cm 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 cm 140 cm 145 cm 146 cm 146 cm 148 cm 123 cm 5'9", 5'11", 6'1" 5'11", 6'11", 6'3" 5'9" 5'6" 5'8" 5'8"x20", 5'8"x21" 180x50 cm 180x70, 180x65, 180x60 cm

Type Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf Race Race

Target Freeride Freeride/freestyle Freestyle/park Park Freestyle High performance freestyle Freestyle pro Wakestyle Freeride, light wind Freeride, light wind Freeride, light wind Schools Skimboarding All-around, wave Sideshore, wave Small waves Pro/strapless Convertible surf/kite Freeride, wave Free race Pro race

Date Available Now November 2011 November 2011 November 2011 Now Now November 2011 Now November 2011 Nov 2011 November 2011 November 2011 November 2011 Now Now Now Now Now Now Spring 2012 Spring 2012

107

SLINGSHOT GEAR GUIDE ‘11 108

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Lance Koudele

For 2012, Slingshot is continuing the Fuel, RPM, Rally, and Turbine kites and also introducing a replacement for the Key HD, the Z. Slingshot’s board department also has some exciting things happening this year as they are now producing their twin tips locally in the Columbia River Gorge.

Also, Slingshot is offering some of their surfboard in two constructions, a strapped and strapless version. Slingshot’s Chris Schey answered our questions about what riders can expect from the 2012 Slingshot Kiteboarding product line.

What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line? All kites in the 2012 Slingshot line, except for the Z kite, will be built with Splitstrut Integrated Strut Design. Refined sizing is another key improvement that allows riders to precisely build quivers to their specific riding conditions and needs. New sizes will be the 9m in both the RPM and Rally and a first ever 6m has been added to the Fuel quiver. Other improvements to the lineup include additional mark cloth and ballistic Aramid reinforcements that increase durability and aerodynamics by reducing flutter and drag. The first thing you’ll notice is how clean and improved the canopies look overall in the sky, especially during high powered maneuvers. This will ensure total stability, performance, and long term longevity.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012 models.

The Fuel is built on a 5-strut platform, making the kite incredibly rigid and stable in even the toughest conditions. For 2012, the Fuel reintroduces one of our most important design features ever to hit the industry, Splitstrut Technology. The combination of dedication, design, and technology creates a kite with unmatched deliberate power, fearless looping, and unwavering recovery making the Fuel the C-kite expert rider’s weapon of choice.

With its 3-strut “Open-C” canopy and Full Suspension bridle design, the RPM delivers limitless performance and unmatched tuning options for all riding styles. The RPM is the one kite that allows for top performance while executing unhooked freestyle, powered wakestyle, snow, and unhooked down the line surf styles. It’s also the first and only non C-kite to take a PKRA World Championship! Any rider looking for superior stability when unhooked, good line slack for passing the bar, and direct feel should look no further then the RPM! The Rally is the top choice for crossover freestyle and surfminded riders. Proven delta features such as low-end power, responsive pivotal turning, endless lofty hang time, effortless relaunch, and unbelievable range are matched with predictable C-kite power and uncompromising stability. The 3-strut design of the open delta C delivers smooth efficient power through the stroke and offers a balanced lightweight build for maximum flight stability. The Rally is great for everything from onshore, offshore, strapless, hooked, unhooked, and excels in all conditions including 109

snow, giving the rider a smooth and predictable ride. If you’re looking for the Swiss Army Knife of kites the 2012 Rally is it!

The Turbine is the light wind performance kite that will get you out when other kites can’t. A refined light windtuned bridle configuration allows the Turbine to have massive pull through the wind window and nimble speed for its size, generating excellent apparent wind characteristics that any rider will enjoy when the wind is at a minimum. It’s ggreat for light wind surf, course racing, snow kiting, and is a saver! Any rider that wants to maximize riding time session sa have one in their quiver. should ha The Z is a freeride package kite which offers a superior value and mixes the perfect amount of performance, range, relaunch, and grunt. Anyone looking for a user-friendly quick rela setup and stellar stability should look to the Z kite as their tool to get the job done! The Z is a Bucket-C shape designed and a no-pulley bridle configuration. It around 3 struts s complete with the 4-line Key Chain bar. comes co

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 SLINGSHOT KITES

Do you ha have any tips to help wakestyle riders decide between the t Fuel and RPM? Both the Fuel and RPM will get the job done well with stellar stability, good line slack, supreme lloading capabilities, direct feel, and balanced but the biggest tip to help decide whether the Fuel design, bu or RPM is the ticket would be the conditions you ride in.

If you live in an area that has gusty up and down wind conditions the RPM will be the best kite for you due to the fact that the RPM will have the most depower and range.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT THE 2012 SLINGSHOT KITES

Is the Z a replacement for the Slingshot Key HD? Will the Z work well for non-beginner kiters? The Z has replaced the Slingshot Key HD for 2012. It is targeted towards freeride users and will be offered as a complete package with bar, board, and kite. Packages will either include the Ignition twin tip for US customers or the Crisis twin tip for international customers. Both boards are handmade in the USA. The Z is a perfect balance of grunt, range, and performance for anyone planning on pushing their abilities in a wide range of conditions and riding locations.

Last year marked the return of Splitstrut and for 2012 Splitstrut returns to the Fuel. What benefits does integrating the strut into the canopy offer? Slingshot’s Splitstrut Integrated Strut Design offers maximum durability,

2012 SLINGSHOT KITES Kite Name Fuel RPM Rally Z 110 Turbine

Number of Struts

Sizes 6, 7, 9, 11, 13m 4.5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14m 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14m 6, 9, 11, 13m 17m

5 3 3 3 3

Date Available Freestyle/wakestyle/snow Now Freestyle/wakestyle/waves/snow Mid Winter Waves/freestyle/freeride/snow Now Freeride/snow Mid Winter Light wind/snow Mid Winter Target

Photo Lance Koudele

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 111

112

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Lance Koudele increased stability, and shaping control. It also enhances power delivery under heavy loads, creates total efficiency in the overall frame, and helps enhance relaunch performance.

The Turbine was a late-season 2011 release. Will it be updated for 2012? What will the changes be? It’s too early to tell since prototypes are still being tested at the moment. The Turbine will be updated for 2012 so look for product info in the next few months. It will be a mid-winter release. With all the great rider feedback we’ve been receiving about the 2011 Turbine, Slingshot R&D is amped to raise the bar again in the light wind category.

Are there any changes on the Comp Stick Bar for 2012? Only minor changes have been made to the 2012 Compstick bar, but you will notice a new white bar grip on all 2012 Rally kites and an updated trim grommet on the chicken loop rope that aids in ease of trimming and prevents jamming.

The Joint is a very different looking binding. What’s the idea behind it? The idea behind the Joint binding is to bridge the gap between straps and boots to create an evolution in our binding lineup. For those that can’t decide between riding straps or boots, the Joint allows the rider to split the difference. It offers a sturdy outline and increased support, which wraps below the ankle for rock solid support and control similar to high performance boots, but with the freedom of slip-on convenience. The Joint enables any rider to push their limits and it’s one of the best ways to update your twin tip.

Has anything changed on the 2012 Bolt-Ons? New for 2012, the Third Generation Bolt-On is back and better than ever with a lock down Velcro strap and custom molded EVA pad/strap to maximize support and overall comfort.

Tell us about the new factory for the Slingshot twin tips.Moonshine Manufacturing has allowed Slingshot to produce the world’s greenest and most advanced performance twin tip kiteboards in the industry!

Here’s how we do it: A sustainably grown Columbian Gold wood core, no PVC foam, Resin X (the lowest VOC resin available on the market), no plastic top sheet, Singleshot Fusion Rail, no airborne solvents used in the manufacturing process, and locally sourced aluminum Fastrack mounting system add up to the lowest carbon footprint from forest to factory. All of these features will allow the 2012 twin tip lineup to have maximum durability, total adjustment, and improves overall dampening of the board while maintaining exceptional flex that can withstand longer flex cycles.

What are some of the benefits of sourcing material and building boards locally? The ability to design, test, produce, and ship boards in house has given Slingshot the benefit of manufacturing within the US. It allows for the best communication between the team riders and the developers to ensure top-level products. It forms a healthy connection between the business and the local community and allows hiring around the area to help put Americans back to work! Sourcing materials and shipping locally has kept pricing down while maintaining the most advanced, sustainable, and green-friendly boards on the market.

113

Briefly mention what type of rider each surfboard is designed for. The Pit is an ideal kite surfboard for those committed to ride river or ocean swell in nuking conditions, letting it all hang on the line. The tri fin configuration and thumb tail shape allow for pivotal snappy turns and solid drive characteristics.

The Tyrant is a true to the bone tri fin short board that does it all. The Tyrant has a deep single concave under foot with a double concave between the fins.

It also has a more pulled in squash tail making it sharp and explosive for above the lip air tricks.

The Celeritas is a short trunk-style board with exaggerated concave and step-down tail lines. It also features a fast centered rocker that blends from the center to the tail giving this board off-the-chart speed while maintaining perfect control and bump and jump performance. It’s a blast to ride in small mushy surf but also holds its own in good medium surf. It’s one of the most versatile boards on the market. The Dialer is aimed towards a light wind freeride kite enthusiast who also wants a high performance surfboard to utilize even when you need to paddle in. The Dialer is our light wind kitesurf dominator! The quad fin arrangement and concave deck make the Dialer exceptionally smooth in turns, stable, and easy to maneuver in small to medium size swell.

The Knee Swacker is aimed towards a light wind kite enthusiast who also wants a tool to catch anything in his or her path. The wide Screwdriver Head Tail Design and full outline shape allow excellent drive and planning ability even for bigger riders. The quad fin arrangement makes the Knee Swacker exceptionally smooth in turns and easy to jibe. It’s a great travel option when you know you have to have your bases covered in case of marginal wind conditions or need to paddle in to save a session.

For 2012, Slingshot is offering surfboards in two different constructions.

What’s the difference between the different versions? For 2012 Slingshot is introducing both strapped and strapless board constructions. Available strapless shapes will be the Tyrant 6’1”, Celeritas 5’8”, and Dialer 5’10”. All three surfboards will meet the needs of any core strapless shredder looking for increased performance, weight reduction, and insane feel under your feet. The major difference between the two constructions will be additional Divincell support around the Fastrack section to allow maximum durability. In the Strapless Series, the Divincell reinforcement is removed to reduce weight and increase the traditional poly feel. All other construction features and shape designs are consistent across the lineup.

This year Slingshot has expanded into SUP. What drove the decision to make SUP boards? Since 1981 Tony Logosz and his brother Jeff have dedicated themselves to the performance and design of quality water sports equipment. Tony and Jeff have been innovators in the design of surfboards, windsurf boards, kiteboards, and wakeboards. SUP design and construction was a natural next step.

Please briefly mention the target paddler each board is designed for. The Crossbreed is the perfect board for those who want to go fast on flat water but also want great performance in small to medium sized surf. The Nitro is made for racers who want fresh technology and innovative designs to give them the edge in their next race. The Grand Tourino is made for paddlers who use their board in a variety of water conditions, be it for a short afternoon paddle to get some exercise or longer excursions to explore your surroundings. The Space Pickle is for the surfer looking for high performance with aggressive turning ability, agility, control, and speed.

114

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 SLINGSHOT SURFBOARDS

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE 2012 SLINGSHOT TWIN TIPS

2012 SLINGSHOT BOARDS Board Name Misfit Mayhem Darko Darkside Glide Reform Pit Tyrant Celeritas Dialer Knee Swacker Crossbreed Nitro Grand Tourino Space Pickle

Sizes 132, 136, 142, 146 cm 132, 136 cm 132, 135 cm 142 cm 149 cm 4'7" 5'6", 5'11" 5'11", 6'11" 5'8", 5'11" 5'10" 5'10" 11' 12'6", 14' 12'6" 7'6", 8'6"

Types Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Twin Tip Skim/Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf Surf SUP SUP SUP SUP

Target Freestyle/freeride Freestyle/freeride Freestyle/freeride/flatwater Freestyle/wakestyle Light wind/freeride/flatwater Reform surf/freeride/flatwater/light wind Surf Surf Surf/bump and jump/freeride Surf/light wind/freeride Surf/light wind/freeride All around flat water/surf SUP racing SUP touring High performance surfing

Date Available Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Spring 2012 Spring 2012 Spring 2012 115

SWITCH GEAR GUIDE ‘11 116

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

Photo Jeff Pfeffer

Having just launched in June of 2011, Switch is a new kite manufacturer that only sells kites directly to consumers. We talked to James Overington about Switch’s product line (including the upcoming Element kite) and about how they differ from other kiteboarding companies.

Switch is a new company with a unique business plan.

What makes Switch different than the other companies out there? Switch does not use the standard distribution model used by most kite companies. We sell direct to customers all over the world via our online store. Our sales strategy is to offer a great quality top performing product while keeping our margins to a minimum and selling at the absolute best price. By cutting out the middle man we can offer prices only a distributor would normally enjoy without sacrificing quality or performance.

How can interested riders get their hands on a Switch demo kite? To get our kites out there and allow interested people to demo our gear, we have a network of team riders that spans the globe. Switch team riders will gladly show you any of the kites they have on hand.

The locations of our team riders and the kites they have available are all listed on our website at http://switchkites. com/headquarters/team_rider/team_rider.php. You will find our team riders are friendly, approachable, and only too willing to spread the good word!

Will Switch be on a traditional annual new product release schedule? Although we are absolutely committed to ongoing product development, Switch does not have a policy of releasing new models at the same time every year such as most other manufacturers.

Instead, we will release new products when we have significant improvements to offer. This may be more or less frequently than other brands depending on what innovations we develop and how long it takes us to implement them. As we just released our current kites in June of 2011, there is not likely to be another release this year.

Besides the distribution plan, what other things set Switch apart from other companies? We have world class designers and engineers matched with world class riders working together to develop our products. We strongly believe we have achieved our goal of offering the best value for money kites on the market. We also opted to invest a substantial amount of time developing

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 117

our own factory. We now have complete control over quality and design features and can define all manufacturing details without being forced to pick from a catalog of available options. We also make all of our own kite and bar molds and are completely independent from any other manufacturer.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT SWITCH KITES

Please describe the target rider for each of the Switch kites. The Method is a pure world-class wave kite. It was developed on the North shore of Oahu, Hawaii, by the best wave riders in the world and perfected around the globe. The turning speed, bar pressure, and drift are optimized for down the line wave riding.

The upwind performance is outstanding and the power delivery exceptionally smooth. As soon as you are surfing the wave, all power can be completely turned off within the throw of your bar.

The Nitro is a freeride/race kite for old school big air or winning races. The powerful smooth turns remind you of the flying characteristics of a traditional C-kite but the huge wind range allows you to master most conditions with a two-kite quiver. The unprecedented upwind performance, hang time, and lift best describe the characteristics of the Nitro. The Combat is our competition-ready freestyle C-kite at its purest form. This is a no-gimmick, nocompromise hardcore PKRA kite designed to satisfy Marc Jacobs’s world-class powerful wakestyle demands.

Where will the Element fit into the Switch line? Will this kite be targeted to beginners?

The Element is intended for a broad group of riders including, but not exclusively limited to, beginners. The design goal is a very userfriendly kite which is not only easy to use but inspires and facilitates rapid skill improvement without compromise to the experienced kiter.

Primary criteria include great stability, easy relaunch, low bar pressure, and quick yet predictable maneuvering. As all Switch kites are performance oriented, the Element is no exception and upwind ability, wind range, speed,

SWITCH 20 2012 KITES Kite Name Method Nitro Combat 118 Element

Sizes 5, 7, 9, 12m 8, 10, 12, 14m 5, 7, 9, 11, 13m 7,9,11,13m

Number of S Struts 3 5 5 3

Target Waves Freestyle, boosting Freestyle C-kite All aound

Date Available Now Now Now December 2011

Photo Jeff Pfeffer

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 119

Photo Jeff Pfeffer

120

GEAR GUIDE ‘12

and power are available as the user gains experience. The Element, being a userfriendly all-arounder, completes the Switch lineup of a true C-kite, a high-aspect SLE, and a dedicated wave kite.

It appears Switch has a strong relationship with FireWire. Are there any plans for Switch to produce their own boards? Switch recognizes the level of achievement attained

by FireWire and acknowledges that we would be hard pressed to develop a product range that matches their performance in surfboards.

We happily recommend FireWire surf boards to get the absolute best out of our kites in the waves. However, in keeping with our philosophy, we do believe that we can offer a range of twin tip boards that once again offer the best price/performance in the industry.

We are currently working on a number of prototypes and if all goes as planned we will have them on the market soon.

What are the stand-out features of the Switch Control Bar? Simple, clean, and, most importantly, functional. We believe in above the bar sheeting and offer an adjustable cleat to accommodate for all body types. Above and below the bar swivels will keep your front lines untangled and in close reach for self-landing your kite. The on the fly adjustable stopper, a small diameter bar grip, two width (45 and 55 cm) settings, the best available flying lines on the market, and a kite leash perfectly sized for double handle passes are the result of one and a half years of development and testing.

Without a dealer network how will customers deal with any problems they might have? The world is not as big as it once was. A vast majority of places are within 3-5 days of our warehouses for any item that may be needed. There are members of the Switch team available 24/7. We respond via phone, email, Skype, Facebook, and our forum. A large portion of the kiting population does not live ‘just down the road’ from a dealer. In this modern internet age we can be just as accessible. Switch has a complete range of spare parts available for order online at very reasonable prices. It wouldn’t take much of the money saved on the purchase of your kite to maintain a stash of commonly used spare parts on hand.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT SWITCH KITES ON FACEBOOK

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SWITCH YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 121

122

UNDERWAVE

Photo Gilles Calvet

Soft launched in North America in mid2011, the full collection of Underwave apparel and water wear will be available at your local dealer in 2012. Underwave’s North American distributor Nicolas Ostermann explains why his distribution company is bringing the brand to the US market and highlights some of the key products he is most excited about.

Underwave is a European accessory brand that is being fully introduced to the North American market in 2012. What made you decide to bring this brand in? The current accessories market for kiteboarding has not seen a lot of innovations in the past few years compared with the kite or board market. There is room for a new and innovative brand that offers top-notch quality and truly innovative products along the way at reasonable retail pricing. We believe Underwave has the potential to do just that with a complete collection that offers a multitude of gear choices built specifically for the kiteboarding market. From harnesses to a full line of wetsuits, vests, booties, and beach wear, the designer behind the collection is a veteran of building great technical apparel and this was a critical point for us. Having Underwave is a nice addition and complements the F-One collection we have distributed in the North American market since 2006.

The company’s new Vacuum Imperial harness is an industry first. Tell us a bit more about it. Yes, the Vacust harness is totally new for 2012 and is truly a custom fit harness using patented technology that sucks air out of an airtight pocket. The more air that is sucked out, the harder the shape will become. The load distribution is optimal and harness comfort is being redefined. It does not get more custom than that.

Aside from the vacuum technology, why would you recommend a rider choose the regular Imperial, Sultan, or Argo harnesses instead? Some riders prefer some movement and rotation in their harness or are looking for a thinner profile model that is lighter. The price point on the Sultan can also be something that will attract a lot of riders with the Vacust being the top of the line. For 2012, the Sultan, which was our top seller for 2011, is being improved upon with a new soft area around the waist to better protect your ribs.

GEAR GUIDE ‘12 123

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT UNDERWAVE PRODUCTS.

Underwave also offers wetsuits in four different ranges: the Imperial, Sultan, Atlantis, and Sultane (women’s). What makes the Imperial your premium wetsuit? First and foremost, it’s the quality of neoprene so you get the best flex. It also gets a front zipper, stitched and liquid glued seams, and some very unique features specifically made for kiteboarding such as a drainage system at the ankles, reduced diameter wrist seals, and seam positioning around your waist to avoid friction with your harness.

All these details make for a top of the line suit.

What tips can you give riders regarding what features and qualities to look for in a wetsuit and what to avoid? Pull and stretch new neoprene and if there is a noticeable lack of elasticity, there is a quality problem. Check out the seam build and seam positioning around the waist. Make sure the suit has a drain system or some form of closure to avoid water pooling inside the suit. And try it on if you can!

You were excited about the Mat-Maz Jacket when you unveiled it at the recent industry trade show. Why? This is one of the most versatile and cool looking work/play jackets on the market.

Whether you are teaching off a jet-ski with its opening to access a spreader bar, walking the beach at 30+ knots, or just chilling out and watching the action on the water in between sessions, this jacket offers comfort, warmth, and looks great too!

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT UNDERWAVE’S HARNESSES AND WETSUITS

124 24

Are there any other Underwave accessories that you’d like to highlight? Our Impact and Float jacket options are great and our Poloma and Welter Ponchos allow you to change out of your wetsuit anywhere you want without freezing or being seen.

When will the products be available to the public? Spring 2012.

Contact your local dealer for more information.

2012 TKB KITEXPO Photo Paul Lang

DEMO SCHEDULE

Free to the public, come demo all the new gear, enjoy pro rider clinics, and party like a rock star at an upcoming annual TKB KiteXpo event.

La Ventana Classic and KiteXpo, Baja Mexico January 15-22, 2012 www.laventanaclassic.com

Pismo Beach Kitexpo, California April 13-15, 2012 www.xtremebigair.com/kitexpo Hatteras KiteXpo, North Carolina April 29-May 6, 2012 www.thekitexpo.com

APP

Download it now at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-kiteboarder/id455210895