"We" spoke with Mark this evening, click read more for his comments on the new Torch, Raven & Aliens.
Rob: Firstly what are you doing in the UK? Mark: I'm competing in the BME event at the Whiteair Comp on the Isle of Wight this weekend. This is Britains Most Extreme and is being held on Friday. It involves various sports, icluding Windsurfing, Street Luge and various other stuff they have not yet told us about. Danny Seales and Nick Baker are also competing so it should be fun.
Rob: Can you tell me about the Torch? Mark: This is a completely new design, whereas in the past we have started off with the previous design as a basis for the new design, the Torch is a completely new. It is a medium aspect kite biased to new school moves, with hangtime as the lowest priority. It's not that the kite doesn't jump well, because it does and lift is very good, more than the Boxer 2. The lift provides a high jump, but not hang time like the X4 or Raven, it is more of an up and down jump.
The major difference in the design over what has gone before is the Shift line/5 line bar system. This provides allround improvements in safety, relaunching & performance. There is no downside to this system and all Naish riders are using 5-lines. The performance advantage comes as the fifth line works as a bridle and stabilises the leading edge, which enables a smaller leading edge and better airflow over the kite. The improved aerodynamic design helps promote super fast turning and kitelooping is superb. As the kite loops there is almost no power from the kite. It is very pivotal, with a super fast and very llight feel through the bar. The kite feels almost the same hooked in or unhooked, it's almost cheating! This gives you a more secure feeling riding and pulling off unhooked moves and has an easier feeling to fly. |
kiteboardertje·28 okt 2004 · 2 min lezenkiteboardertje · 28 okt 2004 · 2 min
