Dan Schwarz (new North rep as of this Spring) and the North pro team rider John Van Malsen paid us a visit on their West Coast North Kiteboarding Tour this past weekend.
We got very lucky with the wind Saturday in Alameda. Around 4pm, the winds kicked up to 25+ and we got a lot of people out on the new 2009 line of North kites and boards.
Dan said it was his most successful demo over the two week tour - with lots of riders hungry to try all of the North goodies. With such a nice setup in Alameda - good wind, sunshine, and a great crowd, we were pleased to have another successful demo event.
The highlight of the demo was of course the 2009 North Rebel. The kites were great last year, but have some significant improvements in 09. We're not sure what else they can do to this kite as it seems to be near perfect. Here is a description of its' riding characteristics> "The 2009 Rebel is bashing down the barriers of free-riding and surfing! The clean, simple 5 line design delivers smooth, reactive steering, extreme resistance to back-stalling when over-sheeted and the most direct bar feedback yet. Our unique quad strut configuration produces a light weight kite with quick turning and a snappy feel which makes the bigger sizes feel more crispy and lively than ever! The quad strut also helps create a very clean center profile that delivers constant, predictable power for free-ride comfort. The Rebel is heavily reinforced with Dacron to take some severe thrashings in the surf and come out in one piece. The combination of decreased weight and a rounder arch helps prevent the Rebel from falling quickly when the lines go slack while surfing making it easier to recover from steering errors. One pump inflation for added simplicity."
I got a chance to ride the 10m Rebel last week in Alameda...and was very impressed by the "snappy feel" and stability of the canopy through turns. The 10m had quite a bit of power, and I was able to crank upwind on a light day. The massive depower also makes it a very forgiving kite that will please beginners...just sheet out when that gust comes and the kite lets go of the power. I have been watching Yuri play on his Rebel in Alameda for some time...now I can see why looping the kite is so easy on a Rebel. Lots of response, quick turning, and a steady smooth ride. We have the 09 Rebels available for demo (and new ones in stock if you know you already want one) at Alameda and San Mateo. Come by anytime to try one out if you are in the market for a great new kite!
Dan invited me out with his crazy buddies Saturday night as well. Even though Dan is now 30 something...I am guessing his very cute and lively friends were in their 20s. I was hoping I could keep up with them and I did my best for a few rounds at Mas Sake on Lombard. I had my first experience with Sake Bombs...where you fill a glass with beer, place 2 chopsticks on top of the glass, rest your sake on the chopsticks, bang on the table to drop the sake into the beer, and shoot it back pronto! Drinking with the boys reminded me of my days back on the east coast with my financial buddies at Merrill Lynch...taking me to crazy clubs in Manhattan and trying new fangled concoctions. Oh to be young again! I had to head home early Saturday night so I could wake up Sunday morning and teach the stand up paddle clinic in San Mateo at 9am. That is what saved me in the end...
After teaching a great SUP clinic in San Mateo with sunshine and perfect flat water conditions, I made my way to Crissy for some more North demos and / or sailing. We got a few more people to try out the Rebels...but it was a bit holey and gusty, so I opted to take a maiden voyage on my new windsurf board and sail...the Tabou 76 3S and bright orange Hot Super Freak. I had a total blast and got to sail with Abigail, Rigapasta, Mary, and the regular Crissy crew. I miss hanging out there and will make time this year to get in some great sessions there.
We have some more great demo weekends coming ahead over the next month. Stay tuned on our website for dates/times/locations.
Drinking with the boys reminded me of my days back on the east coast with my financial buddies at Merrill Lynch...taking me to crazy clubs in Manhattan and trying new fangled concoctions. Oh to be young again! I had to head home early Saturday night so I could wake up Sunday morning and teach the stand up paddle clinic in San Mateo at 9am. That is what saved me in the end...
