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Hadlow pro

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Created by Unchained > 9 months ago, 29 Apr 2008
Unchained
WA, 193 posts
29 Apr 2008 8:29AM
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After all the hyp before the kite was to be released, the kite seems to have fallen into a hole. I haven't heard one person talk about it at all.
So I'm wondering why this is, has anyone tried it.
I went searching for some info on it and this is what I found.

The wind ranges seem rather small for the 11 and 13.
Size
7m2 22-34
9m2 20-28
11m2 16-23
13m2 13-18

The kite doesn't seem to have anything special on it, other than hadlow's ultra thin LE which claims to increase speed through the window.

If anyone has any info on these kites i'd like to know about it thanks.

Neill
VIC, 484 posts
29 Apr 2008 1:21PM
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some bloke on kiteforum (obviously a flexi rep) was shouting their praises a few days ago. basically he reckoned it was like a fuel except it turned better and had almost no depower at all. perfect kite if your local spot has 18 knot winds that never vary by more than 2 knots in a session, not so great if you kite in gusty conditions.

Karve
VIC, 197 posts
29 Apr 2008 2:39PM
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Firstly I am a Flexi Rep.

There are only a few of these kites around as they are a limited production kite and aimed at the top level kiters. The kite does not have the depower of a hybrid or a bow as it is a C kite and when set up on the 6line (Pro setting) can not even use the 5th line to change the angle of attack.

I have ridden the 13m in about 15Knots max (i am 130kg's) and it was brilliant, the kite has a huge amount of grunt generated by the speed it goes through the air. It also turns really fast but pulling like a train the whole time.

There is a demo 11m kite at SOS so give them a call and try it and see for yourself. Evryone I have spoken to who has one loves them.

walshd
SA, 601 posts
29 Apr 2008 2:43PM
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6 line?

Have you got a picture, i'd love to see how that works.

harry potter
VIC, 2777 posts
29 Apr 2008 4:53PM
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I am more interested to know how at 130KGs you can get going in "15knots max " on a 13m are you riding a mal as well ?

Karve
VIC, 197 posts
29 Apr 2008 5:33PM
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Harry, The kite is fast enough to sine and generates a lot of pull. I was on a Flexifoil Alpha 144 x 44 by the way.

The six line is simple. Imagine a 5 line kite with a two point attachment for the 5th line. Then throw the 5th line away and place a y bridle on each front line. Hence 6 connections to the kite. Makes the kite loop like a dream but only runs a suicide safety in this setup.

TheChad
QLD, 142 posts
29 Apr 2008 5:50PM
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So it's the same as an fone bandit setup, with the attachment points in different places?

Why do they call it a 6 line configuration?
Why not a 4 line?

Karve
VIC, 197 posts
29 Apr 2008 6:30PM
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Not quite the same as the bandit as It does not have any pulleys.

Hence there are 6 individual lines to larks head onto the kite which is where the 6 line comes from.

TheChad
QLD, 142 posts
29 Apr 2008 7:40PM
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true, the bandit does have a pulley on each front line where it joins the long Y bridal and the hadlow doesn't, however it the bandit also has 6 individual line attachments to the kite. What about a 5 line kite with a two point attachment for the 5th line, if the small bridle for the 5th line is made up of two peices, is this also a 6 line kite?

*edit* After looking at flexi's website for the Hadlow, it turns out that they refer to it as a 4 line configuration (Makes more sense to me personaly).

I probably should have looked there before asking

andrewm
WA, 243 posts
29 Apr 2008 7:01PM
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this is just comments I have heard but..

less depower than the fusion2s apparently, says in the manual not an advanced kite but for professional riders only. also says apparently it wont depower until it hits the edge of the window!!

my mates say it has less depower than the fusion2, pulls like a truck. they were saying it been days of tea baggings, butt slidings and getting hauled over your front edge during gusts

guess it takes some time to get used to the lack of depower again, must be awesome kite for freestyle because they all love it

wal269
WA, 718 posts
30 Apr 2008 4:49PM
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Sounds like an 2001 kite

Jacques
NSW, 159 posts
1 May 2008 8:03PM
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wal269 said...

Sounds like an 2001 kite



after the 100% depower, here is the 100% power, this is the future!!!
fashion comes and goes...

Damo
WA, 641 posts
4 May 2008 4:43PM
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i know this might be a bit late but i have only just got back from tassy saw this post and wanted to put me 2 cents in.

the hadlow pro is the most performance orientated kite i have ever ridden!
it turns faster and pulls harder than anyother kite i have ever seen!!
if you are the kind of rider that want to go out and ride HARD every time you hit the water then this is the kite for you! but if you want to go out and cruise then you might be better off with the atom or the ion.
the hadlow pro is the most balls to the walls perfomance kite you will come across if you disrespect it it will kick your ass sooo bad but if you want to ride with aarons power and aggression then this is the kite that will let you do it and you will love it

the wind range isnt the biggest that you will find on a kite due to the lack of depower but it makes up for it with bottom end and it responds to a good edge realy well. when it does pick up i think you are better off coming in and changeing down a size.

it is not a kite for the masses as karve said
"There are only a few of these kites around as they are a limited production kite and aimed at the top level kiters."
there is a demo 11m at SOS in fremantle so if you are a young up and coming grom wanting to test yourself or you are an old cruiser just interested in what the latest kites can do the head down to sos and check it out.

just my 2 cents

sir ROWDY
WA, 5366 posts
4 May 2008 5:50PM
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why would you make a kite for a person that does unhooked wakestyle type kiting the fastest kite in the world. sounds pretty stupid to me.

Spacemonkey!
SA, 2288 posts
4 May 2008 7:45PM
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sir ROWDY said...

why would you make a kite for a person that does unhooked wakestyle type kiting the fastest kite in the world. sounds pretty stupid to me.


So you can do mutliple kite spin bar swaps all in one boost.

sir ROWDY
WA, 5366 posts
4 May 2008 6:30PM
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true i forgot about kite circle bar swaps.

Bigwavedave
QLD, 2057 posts
5 May 2008 10:14AM
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tall poppy syndrome is alive and well!

lizzzy
WA, 53 posts
5 May 2008 9:50AM
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i went out on one just last week and the kite performance was second to none... blew my mind away.. the kite took my riding to the elite level and am looking at taking on both the world tours now... love it so much.

lizzzy
WA, 53 posts
13 May 2008 8:37PM
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has this one lost interest..

Karve
VIC, 197 posts
14 May 2008 10:05AM
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No I think it just went off topic

Back on topic the kite does have similarities with the older C kites in terms of depower but that is all. The latest design ideas and technology make it far removed from the "kites of 2001"

The slimline leading edge and the rigid strut connection along with multi point support to the leading edge drastically change the way the kite flies from those early C kites.

People may see it as a step backwards to have a kite with less depower but the idea is that the kites sweetspot is the whole wind range that the kite is able to be held down in, rather than trying to fly a kite that is so depowered the rear lines go slack and soggy feeling.

As to unchained's original post Flexifoil always understate the wind ranges (as this is the sweetspot for the kite for an average weight rider) and it really depends on your skill level and weight. I could hold a 13m down in 20 - 24knts but I would rather be on the 11m at that time.

It is the best performing C kite out there, so if that is what you want then give it a go, if you have the kahuna's for it!!!!

walshd
SA, 601 posts
14 May 2008 9:50AM
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I'm sure it's an awesome kite if you are sponsored by flexifoil and thus you dont have to pay for 4 kites to cover your windrange.

But I guess the kite wasnt made for the average joe's wallet

Karve
VIC, 197 posts
14 May 2008 12:59PM
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You don't really need to buy all the kite sizes to be able to have a good range a 7 and 11m for the smaller guys and a 9 and 13m for the larger guys should give a pretty good windrange to cover most days. This is not the kite for extreme wind with mega gusts and it who wants to be trying to do freestyle in less than 15knots it is just hard work.

fattso
VIC, 170 posts
16 May 2008 10:21PM
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Rode the 13m today. Thanks matt (Karve)!

I had a ball! I thought that the hadlow pro would be too fast ( after reading some of the earlier posts ) but it was great. I know the 13m is the biggest kite in the range, but it was responsive, not too fast at all. the bar gives positive feedback, so you know exactly where the kite is all the times, without being heavy.

I don't think that i did the kite justice but it was great fun to ride. Heaps of pull, stable in the air, big boosts, and great unhooked! I found it the easiest kite that i have ridden to ride unhooked.... now I just have to learn some decent tricks!

Wind was a bit up and down, never really testing the top end, so depower wasn't really an issue, you just used your edge to control delivery. For those of us who have turned to the dark side (bow kites..... most kiters it seems) you need to relearn, or remember, how to edge. With this in mind timing was a bit of an issue but nothing that wouldn't be overcome with a couple of decent sessions.

Just to put my comments into perspective I ride North kites, really like them, and have been kiting every chance I get for just over 2 years. Still got a lot to learn, but was surprised how easy this kite was to ride. Sure that this kite won't be everyones cup of tea. But it shouldn't be written off by those who havn't ridden it either.

Again thanks Matt. Pleasure to ride something different to my norm. Even better to have enjoyed it soooo much! Will definately be asking for another session soon.

cheers
I recommend a ride if you get the opportunity.



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"Hadlow pro" started by Unchained