Join Jen Tyler and Ewan Jaspan as they break down the 2025 Naish Pivot—a versatile, three-strut powerhouse designed to excel in waves, foiling, freeride, and big air. Discover the tech innovations and design tweaks that make this kite a standout in every discipline. Let’s dive into the details!

The Pivot is your do-it-all three-strut kite, perfect for waves, foiling, freeride, and big air. Is it more suited to any particular discipline this year? Did you focus more on one aspect, or were you keen to keep it on a broad spectrum of use?

Over the previous years, the Pivot was more focused on big air riding. Still, we wanted to maintain its 'do-it-all' abilities, so it was a fine line to balance between making it too fast flying forward and aggressive towards big air and keeping the drift and consistency that the kite is known for. With the introduction of the Psycho, we have put 100% big air performance into that kite. This is not to say the Pivot is not an excellent big air kite, as in the last years, we have found ways to add control and forward drive to give you extra vertical lift and easier edging in higher winds to hold down more power. 

What changes did you make to the kite's handling? What should we expect when we launch it?

When you launch the kite, you will notice a larger range of depower. With the all-new profiles, specific to each size, and the optimised aspect ratios, we have been able to enhance user control across all wind speeds, making a kite you can trust to advance your riding. 

Who was the lead designer, and what are the main differences between the 2025 Pivot and us?

I am the kite designer at Naish, so that's me! That is not to say it is not a total team effort, though. Des Walsh is instrumental in the process; he is imperative from early ideas to bridle work to testing. We also have his son and Naish Team Rider, Tim Walsh, a vital test rider who tests between Maui and Hood River with Des and me. We have many other test riders, and between the three offices of Naish in Maui, Hood River, and Holland, we have a wealth of experience and skills that we can lean on to make the best possible kite. 

What are the benefits of the redesigned bridle system?

We have spread some bridle points to distribute the load evenly across the wingtip, resulting in higher control and stability. A bridle adjustment also changes the kite between high and low wind settings. The high wind setting allows the kite to drive further forward in the window and excels in big air riding and styles where you need more depower, like cross/offshore wave riding. The low wind setting has the kite sitting deeper in the window, giving more sheet in-and-go power, and also gives the kite better drift for cross/onshore wave riding and kite foiling. 

How does the new Pivot differ from other kites in this popular category on the market?

One thing that sets the Naish kites aside from others is the build quality. Hence, we are launching this Pivot as the inaugural kite in the Q series product line. The Q stands for Quality, as everything we do in our kites is thought through with user benefits in mind. We use only Teijin materials for the LE, Struts and canopy. Teijin is the industry leader in premium performance, durability, low elongation and UV stability, meaning your Naish kite will last over time. We use strong and proven bladders mixed with the all-new bladder cap construction and premium one-pump valves, meaning bladder explosions or leaks are almost eliminated, so over time, you'll spend more time on the water and less time in repair. This year's bridle lines have been upgraded to TLS bridle lines with a clean locking splice. They are more aero and hydro-dynamic, giving increased efficiency while flying and easier water relaunch as the line breaks the surface tension of the water easier due to the reduced thickness in the line. 

In terms of performance, the Pivot can excel in all disciplines; unlike more all-around kites, you will see the Pivot on podiums in multiple disciplines worldwide, showing its true potential, which can outdo any other all-rounder.

What are the benefits of the Diagonal Load Seam?

The diagonal load seam runs from where the steering line attaches on the wingtip all the way to the centre strut of the kite. New this year, we added another seam running from the wingtip to the second strut as well. This distributes the steering forces throughout the kite, making the kite react faster. The seams also provide rigidity to the canopy, meaning over time, the kite does not bag out and feel worse.

What is the significance of the Profile Lock Seam in the new Pivot?

The Profile lock seam is another feature new to '25. This seam runs along the deep point in the kite profile, where the canopy has the most stress. It locks the profile in and gives a tight, crispy feel that lasts session after session, helping your kite drive forward deeper into its lifespan. 

What feedback have riders given about the 2025 Pivot?

Just the fact that not only have we worked on having the whole lineup have a similar feel throughout the size range, but also how each one we have managed to have perfectly balanced and perform exactly how it should. It is a true evolution of where the Pivot was from previous years, but in the last two seasons, we have modernised the performance and build quality to excel above all others. We are confident that we are as close to perfection as possible, but we will still strive for gains in future models. Many riders love the Pivot as a kite they can take anywhere and do anything with, feeling confident that their gear is helping them be better kiteboarders. 

Great product video! Can you tell us a little more about the shoot? Where was it, and who was there?

The video was shot between two locations. Firstly, we shot in Maui at some new locations with Tim, Robby, and myself. Maui is a great place to shoot because you never must stress about scoring conditions. You know you can lock it in; it will be windy, and there will be waves. It's ideal for any kite shoot. Part two of the shoot was in Venezuela with Stig and the Kite Bros team. The shots they logged were incredible, the location is idyllic, and the product stands out. The new colours shone in that lighting, and we were stoked with the look. Stig is great at being able to make the shoot happen and consistently delivers high-quality shots mixed with Andy Troy's video and photo skills. 

Anything exciting coming up at Naish that we can keep our eyes out for? 

Always! 

We are finishing the products for our Q1 launch, including some much-anticipated ones. The Boxer will be revamped, and the Psycho will have a Q series launch. Otherwise, there is only a little I can speak of exactly here. Still, we are doing some exciting work with new materials to hit the sweet spot in the market between performance and pricing, which is imperative for the customer. The team is ever-learning and evolving, and we are stoked with how things are right now at Naish.

 

Videos

NAISH PIVOT 2025
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.

Comments