December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

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Globe designer’s corner The new VSonic has a completely redesigned profile and is GK’s high performance kite for 2010. designer’s corner For the 2010 Havoc, Liquid Force went to a 4-strtut, no center strut platform and dramatically increased its low end raw power, lift, hang time and turning speed on the bigger kites. Photo Bryan Elkus liquid force Designer Profile: Name: Mat Pendle Age: 42 Location: Le Morne, Mauritius Job Title: GlobeKites Designer and Owner Designing: 13 years Kiteboarding: 13 Years For the 2010 Vsonic, designer Mat Pendle almost totally eliminated the kite’s V shape. The new GKVDelta shape is more like a high aspect ratio delta, closer to the original ‘06 Sonic and faster then the ‘09 Vsonic, as the central profile is shorter. By adjusting the A-KPO bridle to F4/F5, riders will have the same performance and feeling as the original Sonic ‘06, but will be able to use the A-KPO bridle for more bar pressure and reactivity. Mat said the Vsonic 2010 is for sure is a mix of the most efficient parts of design from the GKSonic history, combined in one kite. GK is offering two kite models for 2010. Why would a rider prefer the VSonic over the Trix? The Vsonic and Trix have two different programs. The new Vsonic has a higher aspect ratio; it will build more power when the kite gains speed. It is also perfect for cruising fast, going upwind, and going for big jumps. The power is huge as soon as the kite accelerates.The Trix is perfect in the waves and freestyle without having too much power when the kite flies across the window. The upwind performance is still very good, but you cruise with less speed, and feel safer to try out new stuff. I have tried the 2010 Vsonic 8m here in Mauritius with 15 to 25 knots of gusty wind. I am used to the 2009 Vsonic 8m. I also use it in our school. The first difference I felt was the kite was faster and more rigid when landing on the edge of the window. The original low bar pressure was kept and the kite turns good with a lot of power — even in the gusty wind I felt very comfortable. Unhooked performance is good, mainly in the medium wind range. In the high wind range, the power is huge. You really feel the high performance for upwind and jumping. The bar is very simple to use with a straightforward depower strap, stopper ball and a simple QR that is very easy and fast to reengage. I also use the 9m Trix. The program is different; I would say the Vsonic is for fast twin tip riding, big jumps and radical freestyle, while the Trix is better suited for waves, cruising, and easy freestyle. 74 thekiteboarder.com Product name: VSonic 2010 Product category: SLE Sizes available: 6, 8, 11, 14 and 17m Release date: November 2009 Mario Verloppe, GK Team Rider tested What was your biggest challenge in developing this product? Probably after getting the profile right, as we do not have the option to change it once the kite is built, is then to get the bridle right. I have always wanted to have the bridle as minimal as possible, giving the maximum options possible to riders so they can adjust their kites to how they want them to feel. I absolutely hate having huge bridles hanging everywhere under the kite. If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what would it be? The Vsonic construction and performance is built according to years of experience. Today, each part of the kite, the sewing method, the reinforcements, the bridle, the bladders have gone through a long process, and have been proved to be absolutely reliable. What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? The key features are to make the kite and the bar as easy to use and reliable as possible, I just want GK riders to feel comfortable, safe and have fun when they are on the water. Did the control bar change? In 2010 I will keep going with the bar used in 2009. I got a lot of positive feedback and the push-up quick release, based on an improved pin system, is very safe as no stainless steel pin will fly out when you release, and it is very fast to reengage. The depower strap and line are very simple. Without undoing any knots, you can change the distance of the depower strap to the bar in a few seconds. The stopper ball is also super light and easy to use. What is your warranty policy on this product? We will cover all manufacturing defects. I follow up personally as claims are getting low, and quality is higher every year. All GK riders should sign up to globespirit.com, our community website, where they can contact other GK riders for help and contact me and the globe spirit staff directly. What do you think differentiates this product from what else is available in the marketplace? When I am in China building the kite, I do not compromise; I just use the best options there are to build the strongest and most reliable kite possible. This is not always what I see in the marketplace, looks like for most it is better to put money in the marketing rather then in product. Is this a new design or a next generation on an existing design? The Havoc is a completely re-engineered 4th generation SLE design. If this is next generation design, what were the main goals in developing it? We wanted to give one of the best SLE kites ever built a major face lift. We envisioned the high demand in 2010 for a no-center-strut design, so we redesigned the Havoc on a 4-strut structure, giving room for a much deeper and more powerful profile in the center of the kite where it’s really needed. The Havoc was already renowned for its exceptional high wind range and capacity. For 2010, we drastically increased its low end raw power, lift, hang time and the turning speed on the bigger kites. What was your biggest challenge during the prototype phase? Redesigning the internal structure of the kite based on a 4 strut, no-center-strut platform without losing the proven and popular stiffness and stability of the Havoc. We did it! If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what would it be? The 4-strut, high performance lightweight design. Most of our competitors have come out with a with a no-center-strut design based on 6-strut platform: We did the Havoc on a 4-strut platform. It made the kites a lot lighter; half a pound less on the Havoc 12m compared to last year’s model — in kiteboarding, this is a lot! What is the biggest advantage of your control bar? For 2010 all LF kites can be depowered 100% (a real 100%), and also 90% (better for riders trying new tricks and letting go of the control bar). How does self launch and self landing work on this kite? The self launch and landing is effortless! As long as you have flying line length clearance downwind, you can launch and land the kite alone with no assistance at anytime when needed. What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? Other then being one of the most reliable and strongest high performance kites on the market, the Havoc features all the LF proven kite tech, such as ultimate reliability, simple and proven bridles, LF signature diamond wingtips, and an overall quality built product that Liquid Force is renowned for. What style/level of rider will most enjoy this product and in what conditions? The Havoc is for everybody! It excels in a variety of different conditions around the globe. Just look at LF team riders like Slezy and Brandon that put the kites through hell hitting rails and kickers all day long while guys like Moe pull into solid 8-foot barrels at Chopes. It doesn’t get any more diverse that! But the Havoc is truly made for the rider that demands a little bit more of their kites. The Havoc is the quickest turning kite, the highest jumper and offers the most wind range in LF’s 2010 kite line. What is your warranty policy on this product? One year. What differentiates your product from your competitors? While many other brands push their design through R&D quickly by adding onto current models, we always try to improve by simplifying kiteboarding. It would have been easy to make the Havoc a 6-strut design, but instead we worked twice as hard to come up with a higher performance 4-strut kite. At Liquid Force, the reliability and the over friendliness of our kites are key. To everybody at Liquid Force, the best days kiteboarding are the ones where your gear doesn’t let you down, which is what we strive for everyday at Liquid Force. tested Designer Profile: Name: Julien Fillion Age: 27 Location: Montréal, Hawaii, US East/West coasts Job Title: Chief Kite Designer, Athlete Designing: 7 years Kiteboarding: 5 years Product name: Havoc Generation 4 Kite Product category: Pure SLE Sizes available: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16m Release date: Available Now Andy Holmes, Bellingham Kiteboarding 2010 Havoc = totally redesigned = agile, quick turning, and lofty. Moderate bar pressure gives the rider a good, direct feeling, and turns initiate faster and much more lively than prior models. Turning speed was significantly improved making this one of the fastest kites I have tried size for size. It has the familiar grunt and unhooked stability, but the kite does what you want it to the instant you tell it to. Jumps were predictable with an aggressive upward yank, while a quick redirect on the descent made for cushy soft landings. My first three jumps on the 10m were all 30 feet + according to the Shadowbox GPS unit attached to my board. The 4-strut design looks aggressive in the air, and keeps the kite feeling light. In lighter winds, the 12m delivered a steady pull ideal for wakestyle riding, offered a strong low end and was a very easy to relaunch. thekiteboarder.com 75
ocean rodeo designer’s corner The next generation Rise has a snappier, more direct feel, increased power and lift and an all new control bar. Photo courtesy Ocean Rodeo Due to the popularity of the 2009 Celeritas, the larger Moonshine model was developed for 2010 to accommodate larger riders and offer better planning in lighter wind conditions. Photo BenWilsonSurf.com designer’s corner slingshot Product name: Rise Venturi XPD Product category: SLE Sizes available: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16m Release date: September 30, 2009 Designer Profile: Name: Ross Harrington Age: It’s a state of mind Location: Vancouver Island, BC Job Title: Head Designer Designing: 30+ Kiteboarding: 10 Dave Nunn, Owner Windance Is this a new design or a next generation on an existing design? The 2010 Rise Venturi XPD is the next generation of our Rise SLE. If this is next generation design, what were the main goals in developing it? The main goal of the next generation Rise was to take all the positive characteristics that made the 2009 Rise a success and make improvements where needed. We have always prided ourselves on listening to the feedback from our crew of riders and implement changes where we feel it will benefit the most. We try not to get pigeonholed by listening only to the feedback of “X” rider or “Y” rider as everyone’s riding style is different. Of course I always have what I want to do in the back of my mind but it helps if you have an open mind to suggestion. What was your biggest challenge during the prototype phase? Not to get too carried away with having to change the existing design for the sake of releasing a new model. It’s a fine balance between trying to meet everyone’s expectations while not messing with an already great design. Ocean Rodeo has always followed the mantra that we aren’t going to market gimmicky new design products. The changes we make are all real improvements that affect the performance of entire line. If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what We rode the kite in the 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 meter sizes so far. The Rise 2010 still has the big low end power of last year but a more solid feel overall due to the extra strut. What we all noticed most of all is a longer glide time — you just seem to hang up there forever giving you more time to tweak that grab harder. It’s definitely a big jumper. This has to be due to the flat top design. The 6 and 7 meters are our Gorge favorites in nuking winds since they are even more stable than 2009. Note that the Rise flies more off the front lines than others: Get used to it and don’t oversheet. If using another brand of bar, be sure to extend your rear lines. 76 thekiteboarder.com tested would it be? XPD or Exponential Panel Design on the LE: This is a concept that I have been toying with since 2007. XPD on the LE of the kite means that the large LE sections are used to make the wing tips into progressively smaller panels, which are used as the LE curves into the middle of the kite. This accomplishes two very key new features. The larger wingtip segments allow the turning area of the kite to be tighter and straighter producing a snappy, direct feel. They also reduce drag at the wing tips, helping the kite perform better at low angles of attack. The smaller center segments allow the LE and power area of the kite to better match the curvature of the TE, producing cleaner air flow which directly results in more power and lift. Long winded enough for you? Don’t get me started! What is the biggest advantage of your control bar? The new 2010 SLE control bar is a beautiful upgrade from our past bars. The entire bar has been rethought from the ground up by a team of designers who really wanted to bring to market the nicest bar available. Starting from an ergonomically designed bar, the 2010 SLE Control Bar leaves nothing to the imagination with well thought out improvements and style. We expect the bar alone will win over many new and existing Ocean Rodeo riders. How does self launch and self landing work on this kite? Same as our previous Rise kite…easy as can be. What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? We went to a 6-strut design. By moving to 6 struts, we were able to remove the center strut which opens the middle of the kite to a cleaner air flow. The kite actually pulls harder and creates more lift than its predecessor. What style/level of rider will most enjoy this product and in what conditions? This kite is truly the perfect all-around kite. It is used by everyone from one of our top wave riders, Philippe Alengrin, all the way to some of our Euro freestyle competitors. It’s also proving to be a formidable race kite as well. What is your warranty policy on this product? I will drive to your house and fix it myself. Seriously though, the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee speaks for itself. What differentiates your product from your competitors? What immediately comes to mind with this question is build quality, innovation and customer service. These are three things that Ocean Rodeo has always prided itself on and is known for. The other is performance over hype. We design products to meet every rider’s needs, conditions and style. The Kiteboarder recently tested the Celeritas 5’4” 2009 model and was immediately curious about it due to the board’s unique shape. Overall, the board got an excellent rating from the TKB test team who found it to be “loose and fast, stable at slow speeds and totally smooth at high speeds.” The 2010 Celeritas line up is a direct translation of one of Ben Wilson’s “magic” boards; the original board was a Gorge specific 5’3” made especially for R&D designer Amery Bernard. Ben was in the shaping room when Slingshot made it and ended up liking it so much he took it home with him. He said it changed his life. He then convinced Slingshot to develop a full line of Celeritas boards. The 5’8” is his daily driver and was the reason for translating a 5’8” Celeritas into production in Avisosurf Carbon Fiber construction in addition to the EPS construction Slingshot offers. This board’s super deep single concave and low entry rocker gives it insane speed with a curvy rail for drawing whatever kind of lines you can imagine. As a new design, where does the 5’8” Celieritas Surf fit within Slingshot’s Surf Program? It fits into our Crossover collection with its features of speed, agility and high performance. It’s an essential quiver builder for Slingshot Global Team rider Ben Wilson. The 5’8” is good for a bigger rider looking for more volume while the 5’4” is ideal for a smaller rider who is focused on speed and agility. What was the biggest challenge in developing this product? Making sure the board delivered on all levels of construction and performance and lived up to the Slingshot standard! If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what would it be? The super deep single concave that makes the Celeritas insanely fast! The Moonshine Celeritas excels in all conditions. The faster you ride the more this board can handle. What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? Its shape, size and performance make this board a great quiver builder board that can be ridden strapped or strapless. The ultimate combination of trifin, concave and shape make the Celeritas super fast driving and agile. What style/level of rider will most enjoy this product and in what conditions? Bigger riders (175 lb. plus) to intermediate Designer Profile: Name: Ben Wilson, Amery Bernard, Tony Logosz, John Doyle and John Omohundro Age: Some Young some OLD! Location: Hood River, Australia, California Coast, Oregon Coast Job Title: Slingshot R&D Designing: 80 + years combined Kiteboarding: 60+ years combined riders who are riding their first directional for flat water, advanced riders to pro in waves. What is your warranty policy on this product? Please defer to www.slingshotsports.com/support What do you think differentiates this product from what else is available in the marketplace? From its unique shape to its construction to its performance, this board handles a huge range of conditions from chop Gorge swells to 2 to10 foot surf. It loves it all! We have an extensive surf line up for 2010. Check out what’s right for you at www.slingshotsports.com/surf tested Product name: Moonshine Celeritas 5’8” Product category: Surf Sizes available: 5’4 and 5’8” Release date: October 2009 Will Brady/Floras Lake Windsurfing & Kiteboarding The 5’8” Celeritas is an older more mature cousin of the 5’4”. It has a more confident feel in larger, choppier surf and is much more stable and easier on the knees than the 5’4”. The 2010 5’8” tracks through choppy water like a polyester wave board and has a good, solid, clean carving feel without the nervousness of a small board. For me, at 215 lbs, it offers plenty of floatation for those light wind big kite days and when the wind picks up and I’m on a 7m... Magic! thekiteboarder.com 77
Page 1 and 2: Welcome to The Kiteboarder’s Onli
Page 3 and 4: Photo Gustav Shmiege New at The Kit
Page 5 and 6: LIQUID FORCE JASON SLEZAK HAVOC GEN
Page 8 and 9: Consisting of over 300 islands, Los
Page 10 and 11: EDITOR RYAN RICCITELLI ryan@thekite
Page 12 and 13: Ian, Lakey Pipe/ Indo helix the evo
Page 14 and 15: INSIDE JOB Drew Fargher How would y
Page 16 and 17: shop talk With miles of pristine co
Page 18 and 19: 1 2 13 9 12 17 4 7 18 10 14 Send it
Page 20 and 21: Niccolo Porcella has grown up in fr
Page 22 and 23: ClOSE-up ARUBA BAJA MAUI JERICOACOA
Page 24 and 25: Jeremie was able to feed the birds
Page 26 and 27: “The Best of Baja” La Ventana
Page 28 and 29: Baja is full of some of the nicest
Page 30 and 31: Going Deep Mitu Monteiro is one of
Page 32 and 33: Grom Goes Big Grom Gormley is a nom
Page 34 and 35: LIQUID FORCE KITEBOARDING 2010 COMP
Page 36 and 37: designer’s corner cont. analyze t
Page 38 and 39: designer’s corner cont. analyze t
Page 40 and 41: In its fourth year, the Naish SUP M
Page 44 and 45: Unstrapped Toeside Jibe Made Easy R
Page 46 and 47: Craig Cunningham, one of the Liquid
Page 48: Gulfport Boardsports (228) 596-1936

December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

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