Kiteforum.com

I've ridden Sectors since they first came out with version one. Three years later, there is finally some competition in the game (I guess North has the Freerace board, but it never seemed to catch on) with the RRD K-Free 60.

I got to ride it today and took a bunch of pictures. Full disclosure, we sell both Airush and RRD.

First, the dry observations. The outline is very similar to the Sector V2 and V3. There are some differences as the pictures show -- the tail is pinched more, the end is pointed, the nose is less full. The top deck is the bigger difference. The K-Free is almost entirely flat on top. The Sector V3 has more convex under the feet and a scalloped nose. On the bottom, the RRD K-Free has slight concave outboard. More toward the rails. Plus, the nose is absent of concave.

On the fins, the K-Free has a more surf shape and less of a race shape. The trailing edge of the RRD fins is scalloped and the Sectors are straight. The K-Free is only a three fin, mini-Tuttle set up.

The RRD straps have a huge amount of adjustment in them, the Airush has almost none. The RRD straps also cover less of your foot -- for me it allowed me to "elf" my toes more to turn the nose upwind while keeping the back foot flatter.

Whew, that is enough for one post. I'll put up the wet observations later.

The price is pretty much the same.

Thanks,
Stafford

www.adventurekiteboarding.com

www.adventurekiteboarding.com

Fins:







www.adventurekiteboarding.com

Have a k-free in my garage all strapped and ready to go..can't wait to try it. looks like it will be a really fun lightwind toy.

Of course the day it came the wind was solid 25 all afternoon, so stuck with a 9 and small waveboard.

Any ideas for a bag to fit it in?

Overall, on the water the RRD feels more playful, lighter, and easier to turn. The tough part to compare is that I only had the Sector 66 in three fin setup. I've never had the 60 in 3 fin. So, the comparison isn't perfect. However, even walking the board to the water, the RRD seems lighter. The K-Free seems more forgiving to putting my feet in other spots on the board to find the best power/upwind/speed combos.

The full deck of the K-Free is grippy textured too. The Sector only has some grip texture.

- Droffats

www.adventurekiteboarding.com

Shame it looks like a badly prepped concrete wall

...just coincidence it looks like the old V1 Sector?

"Shame it looks like a badly prepped concrete wall "

It would be sweet to give it a real comparison RRD 60 vs Sector 60. The Sector 66 is in a different class.

Any test Update?

Initial impression have been consistent with more time on the RRD. Everything I first wrote has stayed the same -- no surprises to speak of.

Now it is just a matter of other companies getting in this market. I want to try the Kiola from Best and I know one of the other big 5 kite companies will have a competitor soon too.

- Droffats

www.adventurekiteboarding.