Ultra flat kite
The new high tech weapon!
After the success of the first 4.5 m² bow kite prototype at the beginning of 2006 ( see Incredible kite! ), the Legaignoux brothers’ project of developing a high performance ultra flat kite continued with 10m² prototypes to end up with a 10-identical-kites set intensively tested since february 2007 by riders of different build and level.
Let Florence give us her first impressions (intermediate level):
” I was a bit sceptical at the beggining when I was offered a 10m kite in place of my 12 m, I am a small build – 122 pounds – but I like to have enough power to jump high. And it’s on this point that I felt very surprised: I was able to start jumping in 12-13 knots of wind… the hangtime of the kite is really huge.. I had far enough power to make tricks, in spite of my rather small board (129×34) for those wind conditions. As soon as the wind rose a bit (15-16 knots), I really had the sensation of gliding high and for a long time. So my tricks were easier, and since the wing turns really fast on tips, I even tried kite loops that I don’t generally do! I came out of the water delighted, it was such a good session ! “
Then Stephan (competing rider) :
“It’s a very good kite to jump high. With it I can go very high and perform very big jumps. The kiteloops are fast but rather soft. Futhermore, I found that the relaunch was very easy. “
Gerard, who loves waves, appreciates its capacity to go upwind as well as its discretion when surfing, as the kite stays super stable, even when very sheeted out.
All the testers share this enthusiasm; they are all unanimous about its exceptional properties:
The size/power ratio is far better than today’s bow kites. It allows you to use a smaller kite, with all the advantages that that brings:
- From a practical point of view, much less storage / easy carry and a reduced inflation time – combined with the “single inflation ” system using the “extrados” top skin.
Let Bruno explain:
” With this inflating system, I position the kite face to the ground from the start and launch it alone. I am on the water in less than 10 minutes “
- On the water, a light, responsive, fast wing;
- The power remains similar to that of a bigger size kite: a 120-pounds rider will use the 10m2 as his/her quiver’s biggest kite. This wing having, as all the bow kites, a huge ability to depower and many setting points, its wind range is even increased: close to 15 knots.
Concerning its piloting abilities, everybody is attracted by its surprising qualities on the water:
- Its responsiveness: a very high turning speed, allowing tight kite loops in spite of the pulley bar;
- In the pulley bar version (from 50 to 55cm), the bar feeling is very acceptable and allows you to know exactly
where the wing is during the jumps; it also works perfectly in the no-pulley bar version (60 or 65cm) for the direct connection fanatics;
- At last, and certainly its biggest attractions are: its mind blowing hang-time and the ability to take off at the slightest breath of wind: the jumps are easy, higher, we glide a long time and land softly…
Diamond White is supplying for free these new kite plans to its licenses, as well as its technical support. Some of them are already preparing the production of kites inspired by those plans, and within six months at most they will be on the market.
