For Rainer Kauper,
I still own my 159 spleen zone. one of the best boards I've ever had.
I noticed on the new boards just on your schematic views of them that there's tow in angle on the fins.
One of the things I love about the spleen zone is No tow in on the fins.
Having liked the spleen so much in the snowboard/ kite board construction style I tried the Nobile infinity thinking it would be very similar. Boy was I wrong!!! that board is so slow it moves like it's pulling seaweed it's got too much flex in the nose, has towed in symmetrical fins, and perhaps an inappropriate bottom shape which was a wavey concave that added a lot of drag. I bought the 5'7"
And sold it. Then the next guy hated it as much as me and sold it. the 3rd owner of it hated it even more. We all concluded it was super slow and the elements made the board one of the worst we ever used.
So...question is how are the new spleenes different then Nobile?
In my opinion this style board should not have towed in fins. It should have a relatively stiff flex to avoid chatter in choppy conditions, and the speed brake you feel with too much flex in the nose. 5'6" is too long in my opinion and could be shorter and still just as fast, with out all the extra swing weight. I am curious about the rocker line too. A more continuos rocker line should improve hydrodynamics and provide better flowing turns without the stall turns of a flat no rockered tail.
If your going to give a "sneak peak" at least give some thorough info rather than just outline and size as if those are the only elements that define a board. Otherwise wait until it's debut on the market and describe in detail all the key elements. It is very frustrating to see this type of intro. Kinda like showing a car without saying what is under the hood.
One last thing....your USA distributor is loosing money for you big time. He does no demo events anywhere anytime in the huge kite community of the western USA. He has failed on numerous occasions with personal emails from me trying to get info and parts for spleene gear. I have seen other posts regarding his flakey business dealings and lack of brand representation. My advice is get a western USA distributor. it is too costly for one distributor apparently to properly market the entire USA market. The kite community is maturing and tired of buying gear site unseen and untested and then being horribly disappointed.
This is a worldwide forum I presume, so it seems your prospective buyers are around the globe. Help us
try your new gear.
Thanks!!!! I look forward to trying the new spleenes including the new kites which have never made a demo event on the west coast to my knowledge either.