North Lightwind Wakestyle/Freestyle Kite

[Shifty33]

I was wondering what kite in Norths lineup would be good for a lightwind fun wakestyle/freestyle kite. I got a chance to ride the Best TS15 last year and the kite was great for light wind sessions. Relaunch was easy, and unhooking was good, and would get you riding in light winds. I have a new quiver of 2014 Vegas's 12m,9m,7m but doesn't seem there is a good lightwind solution for wakestyle. 14m Vegas? Evo?

[Shifty33]

bump

[Westozzy]

I ride dice kites.

I run a zephyr 2013 under these.

Bump.

[Shifty33]

What about a 14evo? Have you been able to try that or 14vegas? Just wondering how much will gain on the low end from my 12m.

[Pierrot]

Hi, had the same question 3 months ago (have evo 12-9-7). But Norh does not offer a good 4 line, LW, freeride kite.
I ended up buying a Core XR3 LW 15m.
- really good light wind kite
- compatible with north bar and security system on 2 front lines

[TheJoe]

Evo would not be good. Bar pressure is insane and it does not like to be unhooked. Some friends have 14 Evo's and I hate it every time I have rode it. Maybe the Dyno or just get a TS.

[Westozzy]

Dyno for wake style?? No. Too high aspect.

[Dan-at-Duotone]

Everyone's definition of lightwind is different so I can't guarantee it, but the Vegas is our dedicated direct-connection freestyle kite and it comes in 14m. It has always been our least powerful kite, but it's really quick turning, so it might do the trick. On top of that, the 2013 was significantly more powerful than previous years, and the 2014 supposedly has even more power, especially in the big sizes. The 14 Vegas is a really popular kite in Seattle, where there is both extremely light wind and a large number of kiters who ride freestyle at a high skill level.

2013 and earlier iterations of the Evo are also considered unhooked/freestyle kites, and they have significantly more grunt. I agree with TheJoe that it has a lot of bar pressure, but I disagree on it's unhookability... I have ridden Evos in the park and find it works well for unhooked freestyle/wakestyle, though I don't think it'll give you quite as much slack as the Vegas. The Evo was the gruntiest kite in our lineup and I keep a 14 in my quiver as my ultimate lightwind freestyle/wakestyle kite.

Finally, though we do not market it as a freestyle kite and I've never personally tried it as such, I have heard from several different and reliable sources that the Dyno works really well in the park. The Dyno is our lightwind specific kite, coming in 15m and 17m. Craig Cunningham has one he uses for lightwind freestyle and park riding. He used it for lightwind days in Hatteras and made sure he always had it on hand during the Triple S. He says it's great on sliders and kickers because it sits in one place really well and it's really light so it doesn't want to drift down to the water when sliding towards it on features. He says he doesn't get much slack out of it but that after a little getting-used-to he was able to use it for unhooked freestyle tricks. Plus he says it goes upwind really well so he gets more use out of the light wind than if he had to constantly be fighting to make it back upwind.

You should try to demo all you can.

-Dan

[TheJoe]

TOUCHÉ Dan. My light wind kite is http://wakenationhouston.com/. I can be a little bit more picky about the way my kites fly.