Takoon Nova3 11m 2008
Reviews / Kites
7,177
At A Glance
Last issue we tested the Takoon eNova, this issue it is the turn of the Nova3 to step up to the plate. The Nova was originally one of the first Bow kites launched in 2005 alongside the Cabrinha Crossbow. Back then the kite was fully geared towards being a safe kite to fly and learn on. The major advantages being the huge depower and easy relaunch and also the hands off safety system. Since then Bow kites have come a long way and Takoon have increased their range to accommodate three bow style designs. This kite is aimed as a real freeride kite that can turn its hand to any application for the intermediate to expert rider. The Nova3 is very hot off the factory floor; this is the only kite in the country at the moment! It replaces the Nova2, which came out during the spring of last year. It features a new bar, which is much simpler than the old one and also does away with the hand grenade stopper block. The bar is super lightweight and a full carbon affair. On the kite there is a simple bridle, which has lost some of the pulleys of the previous model. A direct connection to the rear of the kite is a very welcome sight and should make the kite more responsive. The front lines meet quite high up towards the kite and it utilises a re-ride safety leash line, which runs through the bar. Another interesting design feature is the middle strut, which has made way for two struts placed further out. This reduces the number of struts in the canopy and also puts a flat section in the middle of the kite.
In The Air
It is good to see the simple bar design on the Nova3 there is no clutter and the large hand grenade stopper was never one of our favourite features. Another thing to point out is the stiff one-way inflate valve which made pumping very hard has gone and there is no one way stopper on the inflation point of the kite. This makes inflating it really easy, although last time we just used the deflate valve anyway! Once in the air the kite has plenty of power. The advantage of losing the centre strut is that you gain a large flat section in the middle of the kite, which adds power. The Nova3 has that in spades, heaps of low-end grunt and pull in light airs, the 11m really feels like a larger kite. The connection to the rear of the kite from the bar as opposed to last years pulley set up also makes the steering very direct. The bar pressure is quite light and you can easily get the kite whipping around in the window. The Nova3 is also very stable; if you leave the bar in place it is content to fly through the window and shows very little sign of drift. Jumping on the Nova3 is great but the real standout is the amount of glide you get from the canopy. The flat section in the middle of the kite really helps to give you extra hangtime. As an all round kite the Nova3 is excellent, its turning speed lends it well to waves and freestyle, yet its stability makes it a very easy to fly freeride kite as well. The low end will appeal to lots of riders especially with the summer airs just around the corner for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. As ever the kite has great depower too, something that has been a feature of Takoon kites right from the beginning and the Nova3 is no exception.
For
Simple bar design, simplified bridle over last years model, great low-end performance and good stability.
Against
The bar pressure is very light, if you are used to a heavier bar this could take a bit of getting used to.
Overall
A really good upgrade from the Nova2, more power simple set up and some great all round performance. If you want a freeride kite with lots of low-end power then the Nova3 won’t disappoint.
This review was in Issue 9 of IKSURFMAG.
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By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
