Managed to snag a demo of the new Core XC. So a quick and unauthorised review after testing over two days, one on river at Applecross, Perth and second in the ocean at Lancelin.

First, current available in one color, Core black from 2.5 to 7.0. I somehow convinced Mark of WA Surf to loan me his 4.5m for a demo over the weekend.


I forgot to ask for a leash so I just use a calf coiled board leash to my belt.


Canopy is latest gen taut. Core's well regarded kite triple rip stop so I suppose it will last. I tried to weight it on bathroom scale, i.e. with and without wing, about 2.7kg. Felt light flying in hands even in 10'ish knots.


The inflation system is well figured out. Nice positive quarter turn locks in. You can pump both leading edge and strut independently (lock the hose) or one go (unlock the hose and plug the other inlet). Likewise you can deflate thru either or both together.




Yes, a gen 1 mini-boom! Ok, I think the German design team sat back, decide it was time and tested many latest wings. Its one of the nicer mini booms (for my hands anyway). Rubber coated but not sticky or too soft. Feels they will last.




Leading edge handle thick neoprene knuckle savers and the wing flags well and no funny flipping or movements .. locked in nicely.


I am not a big fab of windows. Its there, I can see thru them while winging across and slightly upwind and its at least at the right height.


Generous anti scruff padding where its needed.






These actually holds the leading edge bladder in place mid span on each ide of the wing to prevent twisting.


To deflate, plug in those small tabs and it deflates quick due to large openings.


Comes with usual modern repair kit and manual.


Nicely built handsome bag.


I never owned a proper mini-boom. Had the Echo gen 1 boom, Cabrinha X2 soft mini-boom and lately with Naish Matadors, F-One Strike v1 and Ozone V2 Wasp. After 2 days of riding the 4.5m in 12/13 - 20knts (gusts) in both flat water and open ocean .. after first 5 mins figuring out where to put my hands for reaching and upwind .. its a nice latest gen wing. Very stable, pumps efficiently, tractors upwind as good as the Matadors. Not as light as the F-One Strike but never felt its weight even when sculling back in 6-7 knots on my 56L Amos Nitro board.






Had fun. Have to return it tomorrow to WA Surf. Not sure how much $$$ yet. But feel I will be liquidating some wings soon unless I demo something that makes me happier over next few weeks

Foil - FYI, I ride Axis HPS830/375P/Ultrashort Advance Black with 86cm v1.2 carbon mast. Weights 64kg dry. Thanks, hope was useful.

Powis said..
Great review, thanks. Had not heard of Core.

Me neither before I started seeing the XC wing on the web. Prior had chatted to a few Core riders at at Lancelin (by the way they are German but the wing itself made in their Sri Lanka factory).

Where Core is at home ..


So I hope when my 4.5m and 3m arrives, Core did a good job transfering their kite construction and material know-how to our sport (was happy with the 2-day demo but the real test is after at least a few weeks of wicked sessions). Will update here

Hi Rico .. Unfortunately my 3m + 4m is just "in the container" and be in the shop in a few weeks
So far, I had only managed to ekk out one light wind 8 to 12/14knt session a few weeks back at Lancelin (as above) but finally got about to compile a GoPro Max short video clip of the Core XC 4,5 in 'barely lit' conditions ...

www.instagram.com/reel/CjB3zlZjGiK (light wind Core XC wing behaviour clip)

Managed to snag the 4,5m demo again this morning, so will be heading up again this weekend to Lancelin and hopefully get a better feel of the wing in proper winds and maybe some swell "flags" . Will update again.

We had some decent WA conditions since I got the Core XCs .. I am learning to ride the Armstrong HA725/195/TC60 and it has been a humbling experience .. no usual medium aspect pump bump and go .. need a bit more finesse but getting hang of it and like to share 2 short "hear all the sound" #asmr clips of yesterday late arvo runs at Lucky Bay when everyone has buggered off

Pardon the title and description, those are for general YouTube population so don't bomb me that its too slow to be called speed winging etc .. we cool? I am still learning these HAs ...

mcrt said..
Black may look really badass to some but i prefer to be seen.
By big ships, drunken motorboaters,jumping kiters and SAR heli if needed.
Black,grey,olive,camo,dark blue...they become pretty much invisible IMHO.

yes mate .. I am always on look out for drunken tinny boat 'captains'

Hey Stanley, I'm located in South Germany near Switzerland, so no worries about grabbing a Core Wing

Also bought a 5.5 back in October and had a couple of sessions with the Core XC. I was riding Strike, Strike V2 , Unit 2, Slick SLS before but I really like the Core. It's power delivery, handling and how it feels in general makes this wing a top three wing for me. The only thing is, that it is heavier then the strike and sls but you only feel it in really low wind conditions.

Overall great wing. Love it









Cheers Rico

Just a quick 'season long' 5-month usage (averaging 2/3 sessions a week since Sept in mostly fully or overpowered WA coastal conditions) .. I would say, the XC 4.5 have held up pretty well

- handles EVA wrap still feels almost new

- the soft rubber ends had knocked my board a fair bit (jumps/stacks) but did zero board damage so far

- both strut and leading edge valves/seals all good

- I did stab my leading edge (3mm outer shell and bladder) and canopy trailing edge (40mm) with my HA195 "dagger" ends, patched up with repair kit patch and held up well

- windows are still fine

- canopy is of course now not brand new crispy after like 40 sessions (+ jumps etc) but it had held up very well vs. my previous wings, I think due to ample canopy segment stitching of the CoreTex2 material ..



As usual some in latest in action shots of my XC 4.5 in action ..

heading out at Dutchies on a light wind arvo

4.5m easy cruising 55L Core Roamer with HA725/HA195 foil

testing a demo HA525 first time on the river in uber gusty 12-20knts on the river before 'heading out' next week

Wish everyone good rest of summer winging ahead

Long time Core kite owner and love the colours - simple but hit the spot. As far as the wing goes.....

Looks like you're holding an inflatable Orca in your hands.

Not the same team.. one Team is SIC Maui with Mark Raaphorst from the Netherlands and the other team is Core from Germany. And both wings are completely different, so the weak bladder from the Raptor has nothing to do with this Core XC Wing.

@WST

I?m still happy with my 5.5m. In my eyes it?s the perfect mixture between balance, controllability and Power delivery. Speed is very good and comparable with the Slick SLS. Only negative point is the heavier weight compared to the slick sls or F-One Strike V2

Hi.... I have lost one of the bladder twist preventers (the yellow cap). Is it just a simple cap that makes a bulge in the bladder to stop it twisting?. Can I get a replacement and fit it myself?. My bladder is intact so I presume it was not fixed to the bladder..
Cant find any info on core site...
Thanks.. Bob..