One of the best aspects of putting together the SBC Kiteboard Buyers’ Guide is hauling a truckload of new-release kites and boards down to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, for three weeks of on-water testing. It’s a tough job, with all the riding, surfing and jumping required. Over the course of checking out the new gear and putting together this gear guide, we noticed some design trends. Here is a quick rundown.
Depower
Bow kites, which led the way in ’06, are being challenged this year by new SLE hybrid and depowering C designs. Enhanced depower is the biggest revolution in kiteboarding’s short history. Push the control bar away and spill that unwanted power. See Design Brief for the behind-the-scenes look at kite design and the difference between SLE, bow and depowering C kites.
Wind range
Wind range and depower are not the same thing, and designers are taking two very different approaches. Even though they’re capable of increased depower, kites like the Naish Torch and North Vegas are the smoothest for unhooked riding but tend to have a smaller usable wind range. At the other extreme, flatter kites like the Slingshot Turbo Diesel II, Globe Sonic and Best Waroo tend to have bigger usable wind ranges, making it possible for riders to cover their local conditions with fewer kites.
1:1 control bars
The introduction of the first bow kites two years ago brought 2:1 pulley control bars to the masses. This year, moderate bow designs and the explosion of SLE kites are replacing the 2:1 bar with the more direct-feeling 1:1 control bars. The extra leash options on 1:1 bars and more direct feel and responsive handling made them a big hit with the SBC test team.
Below-the-bar cleats
This year sees an explosion in the number of brands offering cleats positioned below the bar for fine-tuning the kite’s power. Slingshot, Liquid Force, Globe, Airush and RRD all offer control bars with the depower adjustment below the bar, making fine-tuning for riders with shorter arms easier.
Single-valve inflation
More than three quarters of the kite brands tested this issue offer single- or dual-point inflation systems. There can be no doubting the increased speed of kite inflation with this style of system. SBC is a firm believer that they are worth the extra cost and occasional maintenance.
Snowkites
The snow kiteboarding market is doubling in size every year, and the amount of gear designed specifically for the snow is growing also. There are now snow-specific foil kites offered by Airush, Flexifoil, HQ, North, Ozone, and Slingshot. Other brands are building leading-edge-inflatable water kites with snow-friendly features like coloured flying lines, reverse relaunch, increased durability and single-valve inflation.
ABS rails
Building boards with different flex characteristics for various riding conditions is a big trend for ’07. ABS rails, wood and PVC cores borrowed directly from snowboard manufacturing are making their way into almost every board line and allow designers to precisely control the flex of their boards while keeping the prices within reach.
Lightwind specialty boards
What started last year with the introduction of the Slingshot Glide has exploded into a specialty category. Twin-tip boards featuring huge surface areas, flat rockers and wide parallel rails are making blazing upwind in seven knots easier than ever. The incredible performance of the early-planing machines has caused a dramatic decrease in the largest kites most brands now offer.
Surfboards
With almost every veteran pro rider spending 90 to 100 per cent of his time in the surf, it is little wonder that directional surfboards are popping up in every kiteboard line. Strapped or strapless, this is one of the hottest categories for experienced riders. Airush, F-One, Jimmy Lewis, Liquid Force, Naish, North, RRD, and Slingshot all offer a surf-specific directional design.
Women-specific gear
Women and kids need smaller and softer-flex boards than men. Many brands offer their smallest boards in a series specifically for women and kids. Liquid Force’s Aura, Jimmy Lewis’s Sister, Crazy Fly’s Girls, and North’s Paris are designed and marketed specifically to women.
Specialty snowboards
Riders no longer need to look at the snowboarding brands for their boards; they now can rock boards from their favourite kite companies. Several snow-specific kiteboards are offered by Best, Cabrinha, and Nobile. Each has flex and sidecut fine-tuned for the rigors of snowkiting.
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