How soon is too soon? Naish Release 2015 Lineup

Naish released 2015 Kite Lineup
We all talk about the same things every year, it’s usually around August or early September that we hear of kite brands releasing ‘next years’ kites, boards and accessories for the world to see.

But it’s March! This week Naish filled their subscribers inboxes with images of pretty new kites, fitted out with new shapes, colours and refinements, all of which smacks of new season releases! Presumably to coincide with the northern hemisphere’s season, which is just about to get started for summer. Naish have released a new lineup which they dub the 2014/2015 range. It’s unknown if they’ll release a 2015 range, or a 2015/2016 range in August. But what we do know, is that the new gear looks great.

Naish have this year (or is that next year?) taken their conservative and limited color pallet, throw it out the window, gone to Bunnings and went to town in the paint department. The new colour schemes are bright, out-there and totally in fashion right now. Can you say orange white and blue? Absent from the lineup are the Torch and Park, which are rumoured to be released more in line with the traditional August/September time of year. The Draft, Fly, Ride and Trip have all been given makeovers though, keeping the traditional tribal designs beneath their lairey new colours. Shapes have been updated too, here’s the low-down.

The Draft finds itself with two less struts in the larger sizes (14m and 17m), and interestingly, an increased diameter leading edge. Increasing the leading edge diameter increases drag, but greatly increases rigidity too, which will help tame the Drafts well known reputation for being a little ‘tricky’ to fly. To help minimize the drag increase, they’ve narrowed the struts and taken the pulleys off the bridle.

The Ride gains a ton of new sizes, coming in virtually every size from 4m to 14m. Wingtips have been pulled back for better relaunch and some mini battens have been added to the leading edge to stop that flutter when it’s windy. It keeps it’s two strut design, light weight and versatile performance envelope.

The Fly has also undergone a similar transformation, with more swept back wingtips (for relaunch), mini battens and two strut design. Like the Draft too, the Fly also has a thicker leading edge to help keep it more rigid in flight. The thicker leading edge will also help it generate that low end grunt the 15m Fly is well known for.

The Trip, which made serious waves last year with it strutless design is back again. Still with no struts, only some little leading edge battens which mean she packs away up to 30% smaller than a normal kite. This year it gains new sizes with an 8m, 10m and 12m available for all wind conditions. Will 2015 be the year we say goodbye to struts?

Delivery dates for the new Naish range is expected in early June for Australian retailers. Go and have a chat to your local dealer if you love those colours and want to be first!