Liquid Force Kites Envy 9m 2013
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
The Envy for 2013 certainly looks the part, we’re loving the vibrant colourways that Liquid Force are repping this year, and the bold yet integrated graphics finish off the Envy perfectly. Essentially the Envy is a 3-strut Delta design, incorporating a fairly extensive bridle system to deliver good control in gusts and when turning the kite. It is an all-round kite that the Liquid Force Team use for wakestyle, waves and freestyle with much aplomb. It is also the kite for beginners in the Liquid Force line-up, a little like a Swiss Army Knife with a spoon attachment, no matter how you ride or whatever your level the Envy will see you right.
The Bar
The CPR control system from Liquid Force is very well thought out, and fans of below the bar depower systems will take to it quickly. It features integrated bar end floats for a sleek look. A front line spinner to stop your lines getting twisted and an adjustable stopper ball on the depower line. The CPR release system works really well and is very simple to re-attach. The unit has been moulded and designed to work in harmony with the trim system and you can operate the release from any side of the chicken loop.
In The Air
The Envy has a substantial bridle system and is one of the few kites on the market that hasn’t switched to a direct connection to the rear of the kite. It can look a little complex on the beach and it is important to ensure it is connected properly to the flying lines. Once in the air though, you soon forget about it and start to appreciate what an effect it has on the kite. It enables almost total depower with just a very short movement of the bar, putting lots of control at your fingertips. This is great when you are waveriding and want to dump the power, or for beginners who need to feel in control. It also makes the kite very stable in gusty conditions. You would expect the turning speed to be hampered by the bridle set up, but the Envy is actually surprisingly responsive, and you hardly notice any steering lag at all. That brings us to the next point; this kite boosts. The progressive turning speed coupled with the raw power gives this kite some serious hangtime and on the way down you get plenty of float. Kite loops can be as aggressive as you like and the medium bar pressure lets you know where the kite is at all times. It is a very easy kite to fly and one that feels natural in your hands, it also performs very well unhooked and delivers plenty of pop for freestyle tricks.
Overall
No matter what your level you will get something out of the Envy. A joy in the waves with its precise turning characteristics, super stable in gusty conditions and easy to fly for beginners, it has something to offer everyone.
Videos
This review was in Issue 36 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Liquid Force KitesRelated
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!
