In Focus: North Kites 2018 Product Overview
Features / Mon 20th Nov, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
North Kiteboarding 2018 Kites are here…
Innovation is one of North Kiteboarding’s cornerstones. Their designers and testers develop innovative new products that push the performance barriers and test each and every product rigorously before it is brought to production. Pure innovation… No gimmicks or false hype here!
One of our favorite changes this year is the TRINITY TX. Exclusive to North Kiteboarding, TRINITY TX is a 3×2 canopy material, which has proven to be far superior to other canopy materials in terms of durability and dynamic performance.
The 3×2 yarn combination has proven to be the best solution in performance as well as durability, overall superior to any 2×2 or 4×4 yarn solutions. TRINITY TX. Made to stand the test of time.
Other changes include max air flow (rapid inflate and deflate) that will help you get on the water first, the “Anti Snag” webbing is preventing the lines from tangling around the tip of the kite. This also makes waterstarts much easier and safer.
Check out the 2018 Kites
NEO
WAVE / FREERIDE
The NEO is the ultimate wave riding weapon for all the riders out there who love to ride surfboards, offering excellent freeride abilities as a plus. It is the go-to kite for our pro team competing on the Strapless World Tour and the kite of choice for wave riders all over the world. For 2018 the goal was to further improve the handling and responsiveness of the kite. To achieve this, our designers had to think outside the box, and they came up with a uniqueconcept. Special “Flex Segments” have been built into the leading edge allowing the kite to twist even more than before when turning. This has vastly improved the handling capabilities of the kite making it one of the most dynamic wave kites on the market today. The kite is also exceedingly stable in the air, with excellent drift, making it perfect for freeriding. If you want to get the most out of every wave session, the NEO is the kite for you!
- “Flex Segment” leading edge design to improve turning speed
- Adjustable front bridle for freeride turning setup
- 4 and 5 line set up
- Excellent drifting abilities
- Responsive steering whether powered or depowered
- Very powerful (choose one size smaller) but with good depower
VEGAS
WAKESTYLE / FREESTYLE
The Vegas is the undisputed king of the C-kites on the market, it’s the most popular freestyle and wakestyle kite and is the choice of many pro riders. With Aaron Hadlow taking two King of the Air titles and riders like Lewis Crathern and Lasse Walker , all using it when the wind gets strong; and the loops get big. The kite has an extremely stiff and stable canopy shape that generates huge amounts of lift and even more pop. The real beauty of the Vegas though is the slack that the kite has after you pop, this allows you to easily throw down new school moves and handle passes. The precise and dynamic handling of this very popular C-kite appeals to a multitude of riders. With 3 set-ups available and numerous trim options, the kite can be tuned exactly how you want it to fly. If you want the best performing C-kite on the market, the choice of champions, accept no substitutes, ride the Vegas!
- Pure C Kite design
- 5-strut design
- Loaded 5th line
- Best unhooked performance and pop
- Responsive Power Release Delay
- 3 available set ups and numerous trimming options
EVO
ALLROUND / FREESTYLE / FREERIDE / WAVEAre you ready for the EVOlution? The best all round kite on the market, now in a three strut format! The EVO is a hugely popular kite for North Kiteboarding, with exceptional hangtime and huge boosting capabilities. For 2018 the EVO was completely redesigned, taking the great DNA from the previous models and using all our knowledge to create a truly fantastic delta shaped kite. The goal was to keep the incredible upwind performance and huge jumps with floaty hangtime, but also to make it easier to fly. Removing two of the struts took some of the stiffness out of the canopy and improved the handling of the kite. It also reduced the bar pressure which makes it an easier and less demanding kite to fly. With easy sheet and go handling, and incredible relaunch, huge hangtime and blistering performance is within easy reach for every kiter out there. The EVO is also exceedingly versatile, so if you are looking for a kite that can boost to the moon, handle the latest freestyle tricks and tow you into some amazing waves, the EVO is it!
- Delta kite
- New 3-strut design
- 4 and 5 line setup
- Best allrounder of the range
- Easy water relaunch
- Powerful lift and huge hangtime
DICE
FREESTYLE / WAVE
If you love freestyle, but also like to play in the waves from time to time, the DICE is the kite you need in your quiver. For 2018 there have been some major updates; the goal was to create a modern kite with a slight delta shape to make it a progressive freestyle kite for advanced riders. An extra panel was added between the centre and quarter strut; this increases the radius profile of the kite. Also, the leading edge diameters were completely reworked to increase the structural stiffness in the wingtip area. These changes have improved the dynamic handling that the DICE has always been famous for and impresses even the most progressive freestyle rider. The steering is now even more responsive, allowing you to boost bigger jumps and control your loops with ease. Pop created by the kite is explosive, and there is a good amount of slack for unhooked tricks too. The DICE is the only kite to combine outstanding pop and release for freestyle with dynamic handling for waves, pleasing the kite crack who wants it all.
- 4-line bridled 3 strut design
- Solid LE FRAME design for ideal handling and jumping abilities
- 4 and 5 line setup
- Exceedingly powerful list and huge jumping abilities
- Very precise steering
- Perfect for kite loops and excellent unhooking pop
REBEL
HIGH PERFORMANCE FREERIDE / BIG AIR
If ever there was a kite that needs no introduction it is the Rebel, one of the most popular kites of all time; it is the choice of ambitious freeriders and kiters who like to boost huge airs. It’s perfect for experienced riders and experts alike, offering excellent performance for hooked in cruising and lots of hangtime. For the first time in the Rebel’s history, it can now be flown on 4 or 5 lines. The 5th line is unloaded for 2018, meaning you can decide the best setup depending on your preference and riding style. The turning speed has been enhanced, in combination with a smoother and rounder turning. The wind range has increased. While many changes have been made, one aspect has remained constant; the Rebel is still the ultimate boosting machine offering huge jumps with lots of hangtime and glide in the air! All that with the typical Rebel feel you love so much!
- Wide ARC
- 4/5-line design
- 5 Struts
- Excellent hangtime and lift for the highest and longest jumps
- Biggest windrange
- Best sheet and go power development
We spend vast amounts of time testing, refining and tuning our kites. We bring every line of kites to the point where it will satisfy just about any user and refine each line of kites so that each is based toward one type of user or a certain type of conditions. We are constantly working to ensure we have the best kites on the market.
Don’t know which is the correct kite for you? Click here for more information.
Full 2018 Northkiteboarding Kite Manuals available here
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.
