The concept is that this kite are so good that can fly even without wind
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The fact is that the technical advantaged and engineering of the kites are more difficult to implement in low wind conditions than in high wind. Everything can fly in high wind because the force of the wind will make it fly, but when on low wind, you need good engineering to fly, since the force comes from the aerodynamics of the kite.
I have been testing the:
12m Escalade
10m Escalade
14m Latitude
10m Latitude
and the 16m Tornado III
all these kites i flaw with the new 2008 bars.
I have been kitesurfing for 7 years and i am unhook for the last 3. I was with Naish kites for the first 4 years and i have tested most of the kites in the market.
The conditions i kitesurf are gusty in Kos Island and the water is choppy. The board i use is a custom wake pro 09 from Progressivesports which is a new school wake style kiteboard.
These kites are designed for conditions like the conditions i have mention.
No one can comment something about the ability of these kites to Fly well. Only comments on the Name (Latitude) is around.
The Latitude is a good low end kite, 4-line Hybrid (to bow) SLE which can produce a grant pull even when the wind is flaxuating. I am 80kg and it was first time of my kitesurfing experience that i was riding throwing unhook tricks at 10-11 knots of wind with a 134x40 wake pro kiteborad and the Latitude 14m. This kite produces allot more power for it's size...
The Escalade is a 5 line Hybrid SLE that has the most innovating shape in the market. Instead (like naish helix) changing the LE shape to influence the kite, Latitude Escalade made innovative changes by changing the shape of the Trailing Edge. The kite looks like a bat on the sky, but only at the trailing edge part. The wing tips are more wide than the center part which eliminates the problem that most Hybrid kites have, which is the slow pivot or general turning.m The par pressure is just fine and you will not need to look at the kite to see where the kite is at any time. This kite is great for jumping high, and the hang time is just crazzzyyyy. Trust me.... You can go unhook and the kite give a very sweek progressive power with nice drag and pop. The kite DOES NOT STALL when unhook and that is something we do not see very often on Hybrid kites.
The Tornado III is different from Tornado 2. This kite is a 5 line SLE C kite. The new kite fly allot sweeter, turns faster, bar pressure is reduced, wind range is increased and unhook is its name. The structure is not deforming at all and to make this kite stall, you need allot of effort. I ride the 16m unhook and this kite will not stall even when the wind drops to 12knots.
All kites are constructed with Dacron at the trailing edge, with one pump and you do not need to trim. They come ready. The weight of the new kite is reduced allot compared to the last 07 and that makes them fly even faster and in lower winds.
I anyone has the chance, just try some of them. You will be amazed. I have a test center in Kos for anyone that might come during the summer.
See ya all in the water and take care.