Top 3 Kites for Kiteboarding - 2021 Edition

Kiteboarding is one of the most exciting sports you can get into and it gets even more epic the better you get. Getting peak performance out of your kiteboarding kite is something that every rider is looking for so it is imperative to find the best kite that fits your riding style. Most riders want kites that can provide increased air time, quicker response time, and durability. These three kites have made improvements for the better ultimately decreasing weight but increasing controllability to keep these models at the top of the kiteboarding game. Some of the best options are going to be listed below where we will go into the best attributes of each one of these top 3 kites for kiteboarding - 2021 edition.

The first kite is the new XR7 from Core kiteboarding. This new 2021 kite delivers more of everything including: power, vertical lift and maximum kite stability. It is made as easy as ever to catch air with this kite. The added muscle and 8% weight loss make this kite easier than we have ever seen before to control and turn. The XR has been a name that has always been linked to big air and this kite does not disappoint in that area. Two more years of development have upped the XR’s performance profile once again with many new features being added to this model’s kite. Starting with the CoreTex 2.0 now features improved tear resistance in both directions at a 300% strength increase and a new emulsion that improves flight, durability, and longevity. A new coating process that is the aforementioned emulsion will also increase the stiffness of the canopy and will increase flight stability of the kite. Core has replaced the ExoTex strut material with ExoTex Light to achieve that lightweight kite that is coming in at 8% lighter. This is a strong yet lighter version of the industry-leading airframe material. It has been real-world tested by Core for two years so the durability of this new technology should hold up.  To sum up the new XR7, this kite is even lighter than before but the performance has increased.

The 2021 North Reach is North’s latest kite to hit the market and this one has not disappointed either. This kite is almost like having four different kites in one. It is perfect for those times when you don't know which kite to go for because it performs well in all conditions. This kite specializes in getting big air as well as great upwind performance and effortless relaunch. It is a lightweight kite that is easy to control and has responsive turning abilities that also make it have great boost for those big air freestyle moves. Some new features in this kite include low-profile and pre-stretched bridle lines that are pre-loaded and measured before cutting to improve accuracy and consistency. This has improved the kite for reduced shrinkage, reduced elongation, and improved longevity. They also removed all pulleys from the bridle to improve safety and give the kite direct and precise handling. The end result of this is lower drag, more accuracy, and a more direct feeling.  Weight reduction has been achieved in this kite that assists it to fly more efficiently with even better performance in lighter winds. This reduction in weight has made for optimal steering and performance without compromising strength or durability by using a small two-ply of canopy along the trailing edge instead of heavier Dacron materials.

The 2021 Naish Pivot kite is famous for its jumping ability and big air performance. Not much has changed in the strategy of this 2021 kite as Naish is still making kites with this in mind. This kite is the two-time King of the Air Champion but is also a versatile and incredible wave riding kite with amazing response that can easily make tight, pivoting turns. The Pivot has a wide wind range and incredible power generation for fast riding and huge boosts. There is a new adjustment system for the bridle to give the Pivot even more range than ever before. This was inspired by the KOTA riders who want to ride the biggest kite possible in super strong winds. This is equally as beneficial for strapless wave riders who don’t need the super strong pull. New features in the 2021 model include an additional front bridle setting that is designed to help the kite with additional depower built into its angle of attack. This setting helps the kite move farther forward in the window with the intention of helping riders complete their turns on big kiteloops. A benefit of this is the kite will be slightly quicker to depower and the other steering inputs performance will remain the same. This kite packs a ton of useful features into a light to medium weight and well-designed package to make it a kiteboarder’s dream kite. 

If you are interested in any of these kites contact us today and a team professional will get you set up with the kite that will fit your riding style.