Naish Kiteboarding Helix 9m 2009
Reviews / Kites
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At A Glance
Last year Naish caused a storm in the industry when they launched the Sigma Series of kites. The Sigma Series featured the distinguished angular leading edge and also featured Geo Tech canopy stitching and layout. The effect was a group of kites that were frankly unsurpassed with their gust handling abilities and smooth feel. A lot of people doubted the new shape would stand the test of time, but it did and it more than proved itself durable enough. This year the Sigma series is back for more with the Cult, Cult Sport and the Helix. The Helix this year though is a totally different beast to the 08 version. Last year the kite took some getting used to and some people claimed it was a little lacking in feel. Whilst the jumping was insane the timing was often tricky to get dialled into and so this year the 09 Helix went back to the drawing board. The result is a kite with a much more curved arc than previously. It also features a deeper chord depth and much larger wingtips. The bridle is also simplified and shortened and we were told to expect a completely different style of kite to last years model. The kite has lots of reinforcements and as usual comes with the Naish seal of approval in terms of construction!
The Bar
Naish bars have always been a staff favourite here at the magazine, clean simple and effective. This year sees the ability to adjust the line position on the bar, effectively shortening or widening it allowing you just one bar for more kites. The floats are larger and now cover the knots on the leader lines, which leads to less chance of them getting stuck on each other when twisted after doing rotations. The chicken loop is the same Smart Loop from last year, we like it, it works, and it is necessary to incorporate the below bar depower. But, we still love the Naish chicken loop from 2007 over anything else out there today!
In the Air
We were told to expect something different from the Helix this year, and different it is. This kite has lots of power, and unlike other kites when you sheet out not much happens, then you sheet out some more and then some more and then you hit the depower. The new Helix isn’t a kite for beginners, Naish have that base covered with the excellent Cult. This kite is aimed at the intermediate to advanced rider looking for something altogether more exciting. It harps back to the good old days when depowering a kite involved using your board and your edge to spill wind by forcing the kite to the edge of the window. The 2009 Helix works in much the same fashion, it is a grunty kite that needs to be flown by the rider rather then the other way round. In the right hands the performance is blistering, the kite is super stable in the air and through the gusts. Input on the bar isn’t too heavy and once you engage the bar the kite will turn very quickly indeed making it ideal for wave riding and kite loops. Last year the Helix was fairly tame in its looping power, but this year the Helix delivers a fast powerful loop with plenty of pull through the turn. The unhooked performance is impressive too; the Helix is just as solid unhooked, as it is when hooked in. If you want a kite that can free ride with power, deliver outstanding freestyle excitement and still provide the speed you need to manoeuvre a kite in the waves then look no further. Just remember you need to be the master of this kite, otherwise it will own you.
For
Direct feel and handling, heaps of performance under the hood and a really clean bar and bridle set up.
Against
Not for the feint hearted, this isn’t your typical easy depower bow kite.
Overall
For the more advanced rider out there this is easily one of the most exciting kites to come from the Naish Sigma Series. We love the build quality and all the usual Naish features like one pump. And we love the way this kite is all about power and lots of it!
This review was in Issue 14 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit Naish KiteboardingRelated
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!
