Finally got a session on the new Vegas. Wind was 18-20+, I was riding the 10m Hadlow Edition (same as the stanard kite, just diff. graphics), with the 2015 22m 5th Element bar. Was setup as it comes out of the bag, so medium bar pressure and maximum depower setting.

I've been riding the 2015 Airush Razor AP Edition & 2015 Naish Torch for the last two months so I had some good gear to back to back against. Having ridden predominately Vegas for the past three years, I was instantly at home on the 2015 version. Even with the changes, the kite was how it should be; a Vegas. Predictable, a ** load of fun and awesome for my level of freestyle riding; trying some blind judges and that kind of thing.

Construction as always is top notch. Airport valve makes pumping up a breeze. There was HEAPS of depower, definitely more than the Torch & Razor. The kite felt like it boosted better than previous models. This could be just me but it felt a little softer in the take off but with more hangtime. Unhooking the kite was not too fast when handle passing, but just enough that I could loop it when needed out of jumps or turns.

The kite definately has more slack than previous models. Just need to get it on the Wakestyle setup and go from there to really push the limits

Overall, I'd put it at the top of these three C kites in terms of being plenty easy enough for your kiter getting into freestyle, and I assume once it's on the wakestyle bar, hardcore enough for the most "legit" of wakestyle riders. Anyone who likes the feel of North's kites or has ridden a Vegas before will be instantly at home on this kite. I can't comment on the unhooking versus the Razor or Torch until we get some more sessions on the wakestyle bar and some different tuning options.

For 90% of freestyle kiters, the 2015 North Vegas should hit the nail on the head with it's consistancy throughout the wind range of a certain size, great freestyle performance and huge range of tuning options.

Disclaimer: shop owner. Currently have 8-9-10 in demo, stock and more sizes arriving shortly.

Drew @ WA SURF

tomme said..

All in all a pretty good review,am looking at all three of these at the moment, interested to see more of your thoughts

Cheers

Tomme,

Depends what kind of freestyle you're wanting to do. I think the Razor is pretty epic for unhooked freestyle. The Torch also has always been exceptional at this but is possibly a little more stable when you're riding totally lit up like the guys in the King Of The Air. This is what Naish concentrated on for 2015 with the Torch, so it makes sense. I can't really say where the Vegas sits in the best yet as it has such a wide variety of tuning and bar options that you could really have any kind of C-kite with it.

It also really comes down to what kind of bar setup you like. Personally I am loving the new Naish bar, but with the North depower cleat would be my preference. The AP bar for the Razor is shorter with two chicken loops (one big, one small) and the above the bar, toggle system to depower. The North bar has one size chicken loop on the Trust Bar, with 19&22m lines on a shorter bar or 24m lines on a longer bar. They also have the Wakestyle bar with a bigger chicken loop, single coated depower line, short bar length and both 5 line and Hadlow setup. The Torch bar is slightly shorter than the standard Naish Fusion Bar. Above the bar toggle system depower, smallish chicken loop. The north bar is also thicker than the other bars.

Another thing is personal feel and bar pressure. Again, try to really find the one that suits you.

They are all great freestyle kites, in the end it will come down to personal preference. I can not really split them into a "this kite is better than that or this" too much, if we had someone in the shop asking which one should they get I would really have to say try them all back to back and then decide.

Not a conclusive post, but I hope it helps.

Drew
P.s. Personally I am not too sure exactly which one I prefer yet. More water time needed

Ed if you really want a North I would get a Dice. No reason for a 5 line C kite when you're still learning the basics. Otherwise look at Switchblade, RPM, and other all around kites to make your life easier.

After trying both chaos and vegas decided for vegas
chaos is a really good kite to ride with both freeride and wakestyle riding options
but i prefered vegas slack (in this year's model has more power power release delay)
it is a little bit more angry style kite but if you want to go more in wakestyle this is the kite!
i wish i could get both but......
this year i will be in Vegas baby