Rider: 80kg Advanced
Style: Surf
Board: 6'3" Thruster
Weather: 15-30 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Free agent
After the last 2 weekends of great wind in SE Queensland I got the opportunity to demo the 2011 8m Naish Park on two separate days in two different wind conditions. I will leave the aesthetics of the kite to someone else to review, I will talk about how the kite flies. My first fly was on a down winder in 15 -22 knots. I set the leading edge bridle adjustment to the ‘power’ setting as I thought 15 knots may have been too light. The adjustment is only around 1 inch on either side and in my opinion changes the kite dramatically. Having enough wind for wave riding in 15 knots I was impressed by the way the kite flew backwards and with the turning speed. The kite turned very fast around its wingtip and developed consistent power through the loops. I am led to believe the Bolt is the more specific kite for directional surf riding however for my style of wave riding, I preferred the Park as the kite still turned quickly and positively when in the de-power zones of the wind window. I had set the rear lines of the kite in the middle setting. The bar pressure was medium for me and I always knew where the kite was in the window. I felt the kite sat square in the middle of the power zone most times and would drift backwards well when at the edge of the window. I unfortunately got the kite swamped by a wave at one point and it filled with water in the canopy. The kite eventually made its way to the edge of the window without much driving on my part and promptly stood on its wingtip ready to fly when I was.
My second ride was in gusty 20-30 knot wind conditions. I set the leading edge bridle to the ‘de-power’ setting and I was not doing a down winder. I immediately felt the kite wanted to fly more at the edge of the wind window. In the loops, the kite had more of an arching turn and was slower. With the wind at 25-30 knots this bridle setting came into its own as I was not over powered considering I was riding a strapless surfboard. It still flew backwards just as well when on a wave.
I still enjoy my 2010 10.5m Helix for Freestyle riding but I would recommend you demo the park if you need a good crossover kite for wave riding. Thanks to Jason from Briskites for the demo!
Cheers.
Yeh, totally agree great kite...surprising the difference in the more grunt/ more depower settings and the graphics this year look sh1t hot.
Naish is gonna sell truck loads!
+1 on the I can't believe how much the one inch further forward gruntier setting makes a difference....I was ready to write this off as another gutless naish kite, then changed the settings and really enjoyed it. The kite likes to be ridden fast and when you do it generates plenty of power, turns on itself (pivot style) and turns quickly in light winds also handled gusty conditions well. In 15 knots I was staying upwind on my skimboard comfortably on a 10m.....at 100kg it was about the same as my old switchblade 10m- took alot more finesse to ride though, had to be careful not to choke the kite and really had to make sure I didn't slow down.
I will be buying one this season. On a side note- because the kite likes to be ridden fast I will be changing my board as well, the switchy and custom worked well together but the amount of rocker in the custom makes it too slow in my opinion to work with the Park.
^^^ what Clint said up the top.
I have yet to have a great ride on the Park. I am always overcooked on the size I choose. That's a good sign.
Yesterday I went out in 35-40 knots at Caloundra on the 8m. Usually I would ride my FlexiFoil Ion 2 8.5m. Anyone who knows me should realise all I do is hooked in boosting in these kinds of winds. Not as big as Keahi but big enough.
Yesterday I got scared!! The Park went up, then it went up, and then it finally went up a third time. This is the first time I have had a three stage boost and it was enough for me to pack up and watch Keahi.
Fricking awesome kite. Powerful for it's size and comfortable to fly.
disclaimer: I work for a Naish retailer but for me to say it's as good as an Ion2 must mean I'm impressed.
I tried the 10m at Leighton beach today.
I'm a bit of a kook (kiting for like 5 months) and found it super easy to use and to relaunch out of the break zone after wiping out.
Nice and fast, i liked the bar pressusre.
I used it with both a twin tip and a surfboard strapped.
Considering i haven't flown many different kites, more advanced riders might have better feedback. But hey I had a great time and thats all I care about.
