I was told by one of the naish importers that the new sigmas are only about a 5% increase on last years pricing

Here Danny Prices in US Dollors just convert to A$
www.realwatersports.com/collections/kiteboarding?catID=579&page=detail&productID=9299

Thanks Mr float
I think your find that they will be shipped direct from the Factory by Ship to here. them Don't forget to add freight ,import clearance fees,import duty and GST .As UK USA Will Have these costs as well
VAT in the uk at17.5% USA not shore
+ we are closer to the factory

Bar Pressure on the SIGMA kites is very light. To those of you that used a Boxer SLE on 1:1, it's a similar lightness to this, maybe a bit lighter, but much much smoother. it's the smoothness of the depower that will blow your mind. I found I was able to totally steer in both direction and sheet all the sle kites with one arm anywhere on the bar. There is still enough feeling in the bar so you can feel where the kite is, but it's pretty light, lighter than last years on 1:1. I didn't try the kites on 2:1 as I feel there is absolutely no need for it. Only the Helix comes with the option to convert the bar to 2:1, but it comes in the 1:1 configuration.
The Alliance has a bit more bar pressure (the shift SIGMA), it's probably a bit lighter than the TORCH III bar pressure. Most Torch customers like that possitive bar feel, and you definatly get it with the ALLIANCE.

Price, All 2008 Brands would be stoked that the dollar is so high, it is helping keep the prices reasonable! But don't think they are coming down, every year oil gets more expensive, and nearly every part of a kite is made from oil. Labour costs are increasing in the factories, freight, duties, and just the basic over all inflation of the standard of living. The kite are very close to last years pricing if you were going to try and match them up with similar models. Had the dollar of been worse, it may have been a whole different story. You also have to note that importers ordered and paid for this season kites sometimes nearly 2 - 3 months ago, in order to meet our seasons deadlines we sometimes have to order blind with out even seeing the products.

Anyway, I have been home sick all this week with the FLU, but I believe there are some HELIX arriving this week if they haven't already.

Regards,

JB

quote:

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Originally posted by danza
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2340735

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Sounds like it covers all the bases "ok", but doesn't deliver anything really exceptional. I have to admit i still think it will be a great all round kite, but if you are buying a kite "for wake tricks" or for "in the surf only"(i.e. specific function) then there will be better options.

Its another "all round bow" with a different shape. NOTE: i don't think this is a bad thing, just not for me. Next purchase will be a RRD TYPE 9 methinks.

quote:

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Originally posted by Saffer
Thats why the 5 line alliance is there with the sigma shape, more for C riders

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Cool. Time will tell i guess, i still reckon i will sit on the fence for the moment, wait for the hype to settle and then demo one myself.

Not a very good review.

The tester claims that his 7m "C" kite would have had more power than the 9 m he was riding ? Sounds like they are lacking in power and low end. Probably because there is a bit missing in the most critical part of the kite !

User you obviously dont know how to read do you.

Or maybe you read to much between the lines.

A very positive review I thought, as for surf kites Im sure there are better kites out there and Im sure the North Rebel will produce the goods again for dedicated wave riders.

Like I said read it properly.

He never said his reactor had more bottom end , he actually said the Naish shockwave looked like it had a better bottom end , he did say however he was out out on his seven and was still underpowered before he rode the Helix.

Have a read again user.

What I didn't like: Slow turning compared to new Cs for unhooked waves. Granted it was a big kite but still this is the big area that needs work in all depower bridle kites. Much slower than Generator, Torch, Reactor etc. Kite also felt a little undersized for a 9. I would have been on my seven reactor (in fact I had been earlier when wind was even lighter but I was also underpowered). I would like to try the seven of this kite (none around) but I just had a feeling that it would be not enough. Seemed when I rode it and watched others that it was a little less kite in lighter winds than older Naish SLE shockwave. So maybe for light winds you loose a little. Not a whole kite size worth but feels like maybe 1/2 to 1 meter smaller

Wots wrong wif youse dumbos??

He said he was underpowered on the 7 Airush when THE WIND WAS LIGHTER !!!
When the wind got stronger,he said he was underpowered on the 9 m Helix.

If you are underpowered on a 7m ,then use a 9m when the wind gets stronger,and you are still underpowered,there is something wrong !

I wear non matching socks,but some people think it's really important to have them identical, and some others only wear them red (cause red is faster I've heard...). I just think that before getting into the socks argument, wearing them actually helps!( and yes Meerkat, I know... I really should give up innuendo's on seabreeze!!!)
People, stop reading... Flying is better...
-I know, some wind would help...-
I do believe anyone can write anything they want: at the end of the day, your only way to make up YOUR mind is to fly the bat yourself.
I find frustrating to see people arguing based on other people's thoughts and experiences.
Yes, don't show up bare feet to argue about socks quality!!!
I haven't flown the Helix nor any Sigma kite yet -most frustrating thing ever:got the goodies but not the wind... I'm fuming!!!- but I will do a review whenever I will have flown one, in my gorgeous non-technical English, with my average rider's appreciation! -and yes, in the gear review section (and I feel the need to precise that regardless of whom I'm employed by, whatever I write in here (and whatever I've ever written BTW) is on my behalf and based on my personal appreciation ONLY))-.
In the meantime... Beautiful Helix on our Demo shelf at Windsurf N Snow next week...
So if you feel like arguing about something you've actually flown... You guys better run before I grab the toy, lol.

quote:

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Originally posted by em

I wear non matching socks,but some people think it's really important to have them identical, and some others only wear them red (cause red is faster I've heard...). I just think that before getting into the socks argument, wearing them actually helps!( and yes Meerkat, I know... I really should give up innuendo's on seabreeze!!!)
People, stop reading... Flying is better...
-I know, some wind would help...-
I do believe anyone can write anything they want: at the end of the day, your only way to make up YOUR mind is to fly the bat yourself.
I find frustrating to see people arguing based on other people's thoughts and experiences.
Yes, don't show up bare feet to argue about socks quality!!!
I haven't flown the Helix nor any Sigma kite yet -most frustrating thing ever:got the goodies but not the wind... I'm fuming!!!- but I will do a review whenever I will have flown one, in my gorgeous non-technical English, with my average rider's appreciation! -and yes, in the gear review section (and I feel the need to precise that regardless of whom I'm employed by, whatever I write in here (and whatever I've ever written BTW) is on my behalf and based on my personal appreciation ONLY))-.
In the meantime... Beautiful Helix on our Demo shelf at Windsurf N Snow next week...
So if you feel like arguing about something you've actually flown... You guys better run before I grab the toy, lol.

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Em,
I noticed you edited your post.
Smile.
You deleted the bit about your involvement in North and Naish importing.
lol.
Too revealing hey.

The point to this whole Helix kite test thing by surfingwithkites is that the reviewer is portrayed as totally unbiassed.
Swk's loyality to Airush C-kites and his history of slagging bows establishes his cred for the job.
Regardless of whether it's pimp or pure,
your upcoming review will have zero cred, Em.
Sorry.

quote:

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Originally posted by waveslave
Em,
I noticed you edited your post.
Smile.
You deleted the bit about your involvement in North and Naish importing.
lol.
Too revealing hey.

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No. Just thought it was pointless to mention my work on a post where I claim this is MY character and is not work related. Which is the case and just want to keep those two things separated, and yes, I DO have another alias with which I post for work related things...
So, no Waveslave, it had NOTHING to do with being too revealing at all... I'm just happy keeping my own thoughts as my own responsibility. I logged on Seabreeze way before I started my job, "Em" is just me. Nothing to do with whatever I do for a living. I could be selling socks tomorrow, "Em" would still be "Em"...

quote:

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[your upcoming review will have zero cred, Em.
Sorry.

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LOL. Then so be it Waveslave.(Check my avatar, there's a clue in it...)
The fact that YOU won't give it any credit doesn't stop me from posting it, right?
Any way, my bloody innuendo's curse stroke again: I was rather trying to make a point that before I even considered doing a review, I should have flown the kite...

How fun are forums.........

Anyhoo, any SLE or bow has a different feel to any "C" kite. This was the reason for the whole agrument in the Bow vs C issue bought up in so many posts in many threads. We all know that no BOW or SLE will respond as quickly as an IDENTICLE kite in a 4 or 5 line control configuration (any time you add a pulley, or a 1:2 purchase on the kite you reduce the input to that bridal line by half, this is why the 2:1 bar was designed to counter-act this loss in responce). The SIGMA is a totally new shape and has performance advantages never before seen on any kite design. The SIGMA SLE kite's only have 1 pulley, and fly perfectly on a 1:1 control bar providing unmatched depower and responce.

In my opinion I found that the HELIX turned very quickly, it's a different quick to the TORCH III (which is an amazing kite), but easily quick enough for any surf riding and freestyle, but for those who want the absolute in response and bar input, the ALLIANCE is your kite, all the benefits of the SIGMA shape but with the Shift control system. From what I have heard, majority of the Naish International team have changed their kite from the TORCH to the ALLIANCE (some are riding the HELIX).

Now I hate to support one of EM's posts (and I'm not talking about the sox), but she is right, this is a kite that really needs to be tested by YOU before YOU decide weather it more or less powerful, or turns fast enough. I personally felt that the kites had amazing bottom end. I was able to ride very comfortably on a 7m Helix (I'm 95 kg) when other much lighter riders (est. 75kg) were on 12m kites. I guess the confusing part with the SIGMA kites is you never feel overpowered, your going fast, and can do all your tricks, but you feel so comfortable. Everything is so smooth, and it's not just because the kites are new. At a guess I would say that I have owned over 100 brand new kites straight out of the bag in my time, and there has never been any kite feel as smooth as the SIGMA kites.

Now obviously I am totally sold on the HELIX and SIGMA, and yes I am a Naish Team rider, and Yes I also work for the Naish importer, But I would have (and believe I did) say the same about the TORCH III last year, and the kite was everything it was supposed to be and more, earning excellent reviews world wide. This is the first year since the beginning of TORCH in 2005, that I am not even concidering a TORCH IV in my quiver, my hardest decision is choosing weather I want 14 & 9 or 12 and 7m kites in my quiver.

If we get some wind, I will try and get out at Longy on SUNDAY. I'll post on here before I leave.

Regards,

JB

quote:

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Originally posted by JB
How fun are forums.........

my hardest decision is choosing weather I want 14 & 9 or 12 and 7m kites in my quiver.

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lol.
That above quote is code for 'These are the kite sizes...Order now'.

Hey JB,
I'm not surprised that you are confused about the choosing of sizes.
In your last post,
you said you were good on a 7m when lighter riders were on 12's.
And in a previous post,
you said you needed a 14m when other riders were on 9's and 7's.

I've dumbed-down my kitesurfing now to just one kite; a 7m bow.
It's good for 15-25 knots.
This sport can be cheap if you want.