Vegas 09 hasn't left the factory yet! They are still about a month away (maybe sooner for samples).

Cool looking kite though. 3 set up configurations.

STD - Same exciting ride we are all used to, fast responsive with moderate-big depower.

User friendly - Slower turning and more depower than STD setup, will close the gap between rebel and Vegas making it easier for riders to upgrade to a more aggressive kite or for those gnarly days when you just want to slow things down and take it easy.

Kick UR ASS - Heavier bar, less sensitive, but super fast turning. Very little depower. Excellent for the hard core Freestyler or hard core wave rider. Similar to riding fixed four, but with a little depower.

Now I haven't ridden the kite yet so can't really comment, but from the early spec sheets it looks really interesting.

Regards,

JB

By the sounds of it, they have acquired a prototype kite. I hope that RIDE doesn't take that test as the one he is going to decide his kites on. Most of the time the earlier proto types can be pretty weird. It is definitely worth waiting for the production one to test properly.

I think they are still about a month away.

Regards,

JB

Hmmm... I am supprised that there is nobody that has had a go at this kite yet that wanna comment on this kite..... (Assuming that is in the shop, ref JB)

JB said...

User friendly - Slower turning and more depower than STD setup, will close the gap between rebel and Vegas making it easier for riders to upgrade to a more aggressive kite or for those gnarly days when you just want to slow things down and take it easy.

I thought that was the point of the Evo?

haven't ridden the kites, just seen the price list.
O.M.G.!!!!
I thrash my kites and upgrade every 2 years. I know they're a great kite but $4500 for a 9 and a 12 - too much.
You can be riding Best or NEW and a new board for that kinda money.
any kite on it's third season has next to no re-sale value.
Maybe all you young guys have mine jobs and no mortgage.
.

id rather buy 2nd hand than pay retail for a kite anyway... far over priced imo..

ps thers also catapult on east coast.. and their kites look nicer than best / new..

disclaimer: i strongly dislike best gear of any kind.

Hi Guys,

There seems to be an aweful lot of assumptions being made from people who are ALL working with second hand information.

We recently added a brand new 10m Vegas 09 to our demo fleet of 7, 10 and 12 2009 Rebels, and I can tell you that the build quality of the Vegas and the Rebels is everything you would expect from North - Exceptional!

The kites have changed quite a bit from the 2008's so your assumptions based on previous years kites are not as close as you think they might be. I recommend you demo the kites before dismissing them. As for pricing, maybe talk to your local dealer and see what else they can do for you.

The North kites are pretty amazing as is the 5th Element Bar system (totally Customizable). The new Vegas can be changed quite a bit to suit your riding style, even set up as a 4line (with conversion kit).

I will try and find time to write reviews on all the new North Boards and kites we have as I find time (probably wont be soon ). Abel, please review!

In short the gear I have ridden to date is sick! If you're in Perth and you can't wait for my reviews, come ride one and review it yourself.

Good winds,

thats great news kitehard that you got a demo kite in.. cant wait to try it!

haha got the hint darren, yes i hav had a ride on the 10m and loved it but am yet to get the perfect winds we hav all been waiting for to giv it a real bash.....

im 70kg, winds from 13-18knots and 23+ (not ideal)
mainly for freestyle but does boost pretty good

all i can say so far is it is bloody fast, very predictable, relaunches well for a very c shaped kite, has a sweet bar set up and was made to unhook!!!

the new look (canopy shape) does take some time to get ur head around but hey it does the job, also has no onepump system like the rebel but im all for that as long as the are !!NO PROBLEMS!! with bladders and one pump rubbers that happen after the kites get a sevre bashing from the crashing.....

i love the consistancy in the bar pressure when turning the kite... it is unlike the vapour where it tends to change significantly when the bar is moved up and down the centre line..

i would say the kite has a greater wind range than a pure c kite such as the fuel but still requires some working in the lighter winds i would otherwise be fine with on a 10m pure hybrid...

the fith line system is a proven system "which other brands seem to be catching on to" and even when riding suicide i find the kite still has a huge amount of depower in the beatings..

north did try to put on some other tuning options but after playing around with them i don't no why!!! so just stick to the original setup....

all in all i would consider myself lucky to ride such a kite, has great graphics, the perfect bar, no bridles, and does'nt do anythin u wouldn't expect (no folding up or rolling over lines when relanching)...

in comparison to the vapour it has a very different feel but achieves a similar goal, however i would say it has more C kite charateristics (maybe not against the new one)...

i will post any updates if i find out anything new, hopefully in 2mrws breeze!

Hi Guys,

<re-edited for better clarification (couldn't understand my original ramblings)>

Finally got hance to ride the 10m Vegas 09. Sweet kite! Pretty much Abesy hit it on the head, I agree with all of his comments so won't re-invent the wheel.

My thoughts are that it is very fast and has almost pure C kite feel, a bit heavier in the bar, real radius turning (Not pivotal at all) which means it pulls beautifully in the turns, even tight turns and feels very direct. I absolutel love the feel but after spending a year on Ozones, found the bar just a tad heavy for prolonged sessions, as my hands started to get sore after about an hour.

I prefer the flying characteristics of the Vegas but the bar feel of the Rebel (for my soft girlie hands ). Really both kites are excellent in their given categories.

I felt my freestyle riding was better on the Vegas but this could have been due to the lighter wind as I was pretty lit on the Rebel when I took it out after the Vegas. Wind was 23-27 knots and both kites were 10's. Although the Vegas turns very quick it takes concerted effort to make it turn ie, when throwing a raley the kite maintains it's low straight flight without being effected by inadvertant bar inputs making for more concise freestyle.

Vegas vs Vapor - The two are very different. Vapor is more hybrid as Vegas is much more true C kite. The Vapor is lighter in the bar and lacks the grunty feel of the Vegas although it does power up, you just feel the power more on the Vegas.

Vegas goes upwind very well as does the Rebel and Vapor. Vapor hunts to neutral more with resistance (board stalling) than the other two, creating a bit of on and off feel as it relies a fair bit on apparent wind power. You can do the same with the Vegas but it seems to keep it's power a bit more so the power is controlled but a little more constant.

I like both North kites but found Vegas better for freestyle, and Rebel better for freestyle and waves. I wouldn't wave ride at all on the Vegas.

Junior has been riding the new 09 Airush Vapor and has been claiming a much better kite than previous years. He's pretty stoked on it and indeed his riding sees to have improved since being on the new kites??????

Hope this helps,

Good winds,

Abesy said...


all in all i would consider myself lucky to ride such a kite, has great graphics, the perfect bar, no bridles, and does'nt do anythin u wouldn't expect (no folding up or rolling over lines when relanching)...

Hint hint darren

I just owned the Vegas 12m 2009 model. Black and white. Ride it on 18-20knots wind and the handle bar feels very light. Quick turning even at low wind 14-15 knots. All rounder kites and will recommend it to anyone. However the kites need wind to enjoy, moderate 12-13 knots may not do the job....

I'm quite shy on these forums and not an active poster, however being so impressed with my new 09 Vegas' I just had to express my excitement!

These kites are absolutely awesome for unhooking and looping. I was also quite suprised at how much hangtime i got out of my boosts. Anyone else notice this?

I have my settings on slow mode. This is my preference...as i like the kite to stay where i want it to stay when unhooking but still be responsive. Even on the slow setting the kite loops really well and consistantly (i found to be the main difference with the 08 Vegas).

The bar pressure is consistant when increasing and decreasing power i.e. when moving the bar up and down. For me this is great because i feel i have good control over the kite and know what its doing (if that makes sense)

I usually kite down at woodies (beach 3) and melville. If anyone wants to test these kites give me a hola!

Chrissy