Fredstem

... And for my daughter Fiona, that's the whole Women US Olympic team (Gymnastics)... So having the national team training at her club (Airborne Gymnastics) before taking the plane for Beijing was quite amazing for her. So here she is, with (future Olympic champion?) Shawn Johnson working on her bars routine... Fiona was so stoked...

I did a nice photo shoot last week at 3rd Av. with DimiExter using my Cult 9, throwing everything I have in my bag... F16 (back-roll unhooked kiteloop), Kiteloop, railey, S-bend to surface HP, tweaked high jumps and more... Here are a few shots...

I spent the week-end kiting at Sherman on my way to Fiona's gym competition in Sacramento. Had a lot of fun in such hot weather ( despite Saturday kiting accident:-( ) sending big or surfing around the islands...

I wish all the best recovery to the injured kiter!

A (quickly edited) sequence of a recent Railey to Surface HP (thanks to Claude) on my Naish Cult 9 & Thorn 129. Next sequence, my new F16 move... Dimi, when are you available???

Flat 3 training on my trampoline... I am dying to get this move on the water !!!

A quick wrap-up video from Doudouke of our awesome kite trip in Holland...

And don't drink and kite kids! :-)

The Bar: clean, simple and efficient.

• The well-finished 2008 bar with the new smart loop is very clean and has a fine designed safety system. I personally like this under bar trim loop (being not very tall, I do appreciate an easy access to the trim) and the small easy-reload chicken loop so my arms are not yet fully extended while reaching the bar.
• I am used to rotate my bar over-hand after my spins but I really like the comfort of the optional adjusting stopper ball.  And the auto orientating loop is a fabulous feature when it comes to ride unhooked and hook back in.

+++  Auto orientating chicken loop and adjusting stopper ball
- - -  Small floaters and lack of a true suicide leash attachment point

The Kite: fast turning, easy unhooked and very stable.

• The construction of this SLE kite is of a great quality and the inflatation system is quite efficient. I personally appreciate the fast way to totally or partially deflate the kite, as I do like to fold my gear quickly when I am done. The setting is a no-brainer with goofy proof system line attachment but I would like to see an additional place to attach the bridles when folding or holding the kite.
• The water relaunch is clean and effortless. But the most impressive feature of the Cult is that this kite is flying very well in any conditions, even in the lulls, or when you are expecting the kite to fall back or down after a very bad landing. Its upwind ability is awesome as well.
• There is a light bar pressure (so you can fly your kite for hours) with a very responsive steering. The first few sessions I had to keep my hands centered while sending one handed transitions to avoid involuntary ending my move in a one handed backloop kiteloop :-)
• But the feature I like the most is that this 9m is truly turning fast while looping or wave riding: looping is super easy with a gentle pull and a non-fluttering canopy and turning in the waves is smooth and precise thanks to a constant pull all the way through.
• The jumping is "bow-like" with a soft landing and long gliding but without a huge upward lift... You still can boost it high though using some good speed. I personally use the 20m lines with the back lines attached to the last knot to get more low end.
• Riding unhooked with the Cult is so easy and direct! This Sigma kite is flying very well without adjusting the trim before unhooking.  It is almost like cheating...

+++ Very fast turning, easy unhooked riding, nice inflatation system, safe and stable in any conditions

- - -  Could use a bigger lift and colors could be more aggressive (but this is a personal taste: having been involved in designing kites for an other brand, I unfortunately know that I am not always sharing my tastes with everybody)

Recent kites used: Genetrix Hydra, F-one Bandit, Best Waroo, Cabrinha Xbow, Switchblade & Contra, Takoon Nova, Enova & Furia, ...

Boards used for the review: Naish Thorn 129 and Naish Custom wave 5.4

Rider: 5.8, 154 pounds, not talented but crazy enough :-)

Je vends mes hydra V3 9m et 12m (version 2008) et V2 14m (version 2007 - pro catman). 

Les ailes sont quasi neuve et en excellent état. Je les livre gratuitement n'importe ou en France Métropolitaine.

Prix :

9m complète avec la barre + sac : 650 Euros

12m complète avec la barre + sac : 700 Euros

14m complète avec la barre + sac : 400 Euros

The downside of having new toys is that you are spending your time playing with them... So after a windy 4th of July week end, I am simply wrecked... I wish I was still 25 :-(

I spent 6 years at school learning Ancient Greek so "Sigma" was natural for me! More seriously after trying various kites these last 2 months I finally decided to ride for Naish! My new quiver: Cult (7.5, 9, 12 and 13.5), Thorn 129 and the custom wave board 5.4. And a big thank you to the Naish team!

Après ma décision d'arrêter de travailler avec Genetrix, j'ai essaye de nombreux kites très différents... Le suspens est désormais levé... C'est donc sur Naish que je me suis arrêté, et la Cult (7.5, 9, 12 et 13.5) en particulier, agrémentée de la Thorn 129 et de la Custom Wave 5.4. Et encore merci monsieur Robby !