2022 North Orbit Kite

From North

Committing to overpowered airs and megaloops in gusty conditions demands an unwavering trust in your kite. Our iconic premier 5-strut kite delivers incredible top-end control and allows you to hold down more power than any other kite per square metre. Big jumps. Big hang time. Big wind range. This kite was designed to rocket you upwind fast, with effortless steering, extreme boosting and hangtime guaranteed to take your breath away. Tested by nature, proven on the podium. The Orbit has your back when the rules of gravity don’t apply. For 2022 we’ve made small refinements to the bridle, so the Orbit retains its light steering impulse, stability, high-end performance and kiteloop recovery. We’ve also further reduced the weight of the kite with new lighter weight bladders across more sizes, so the kite feels even lighter and more responsive in all conditions.

Features

• NEW HYPERFLOW RAPID SINGLE-POINT INFLATION
  New ergonomic high volume single point inflation system with large diameter hose for rapid inflation and deflation. The cap and valve base have been updated for more comfortable opening and closing in colder conditions (when your fingers are freezing). The bayonet style main inflation valve compatible with most pumps. No adapter needed.
• LIGHT BAR PRESSURE
  In 2022 we’ve made small refinements to the bridle, retaining the Orbit’s controlled response and fast steering, while giving the kite a more energetic feel with increased depower. Chief Kite Designer Pat Goodman has worked closely with team riders to put the kite through hardcore testing in a lot of wind. This enabled us to further improve the stability, the feedback and the steering behaviour, and to give the kite a lighter, more responsive feel.
• AERODYNAMIC PROFILE TRANSITION PANELS
  We've added an extra panel that connects to the leading edge seam to ensure a precise lateral profile shape is maintained as close to the leading edge as possible, creating a smooth transition from the segmented leading edge to the curved canopy so the profiles are more uniform throughout the entire wing. The panels reduce inconsistencies in the profile, resulting in a smoother, more efficient kite, with more aerodynamic airflow and less turbulence.
• KEVLAR REINFORCED STRUT SYSTEM WITH BRIDLE DEFLECTORS
  For the most accurate and durable connection between the strut and the leading edge. Bridle deflectors on the leading edge prevent the control lines from snagging.
• POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT 2-STAGE ARC DESIGN
  Our two-stage arc design incorporates a flattened, more open arc shape through the central power-producing region of the kite, where the energy is most useful for you performance-wise. This gives you the highest amount of projected area and projected aspect ratio, meaning the Orbit has the best hangtime and power delivery for its size. Pulling the wingtips in towards the rider gives the kite more responsive steering and the smoothest transition of the profile attack angles when it's under load.
• THINNER DIAMETER STRUTS
  The Orbit’s five struts are surprisingly slender when inflated, helping to keep the weight of the kite down while providing canopy stability.

• NEW LIGHTWEIGHT BLADDERS IN MORE SIZES
  The lighter the kite, the faster the steering, the more lift it creates and the higher you jump. For 2022 lighter weight bladders have been adopted into more of the larger sizes in the range. This additional weight reduction helps the new Orbit fly more efficiently, so the kite feels even lighter and more responsive in all conditions – and particularly in light wind. It also improves the overall static balance of the wing by reducing weight in the front of the kite. Bladders make up a bigger weight percentage than any other material used in a kite. The new bladder material is 17% lighter than in previous bladders.
• CUSTOM-TUNED PERFORMANCE
  The steering impulse options are the attachment points at the wing tip on your rear bridle. All our kites come delivered with what we feel is the optimum setting. On the Orbit, this is the lighter of the two, and gives the kite a lighter, more forgiving feeling. If you prefer a more direct steering and shorter depower travel, you're able to move the setting forward on the wing tip. This will increase the amount of depower and make the kite a little bit firmer in the steering and in the bar pressure. It gives the kite a more sporty feel, but requires a little more force.
• HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH TENACITY RIPSTOP CANOPY
  All our kites are manufactured using high tenacity polyester yarn canopy material for lightness, high tear strength, zero porosity and longevity.
• HIGHEST QUALITY NO-PULLEY BRIDLE LINES
  Our high-quality spliced, pre-stretched bridle lines are pre-loaded and measured before cutting to improve accuracy and consistency. This results in reduced shrinkage, reduced elongation and improved longevity. Removing ALL pulleys from the bridle improves safety and gives the kite direct and precise handling.
• DURALITE SEAM PROTECTION
  Lightweight reinforcement to protect from chafing and abrasion along the struts to the leading edge. Thin foam padding is inserted underneath to form a lightweight durable buffer which lifts the kite slightly off rough surfaces, and protects the stitching along the struts and leading edge seams.
• STRATEGIC CANOPY REINFORCEMENT
  Lightweight canopy reinforcement material is used on the trailing edge and at the very leading edge to add strength and elongation control, protecting the lighter inner main canopy body and producing a durable kite that can hold its profile for increased performance and lift. Because the fabric is more conforming to the inflated structure than a traditional Dacron, it also helps create a smoother, cleaner entry on the profiles.
• REDUCED DIAMETER LEADING-EDGE WITH SWEEP
  Gives the Orbit a low drag profile, making it sit further forwards in the wind window for incredible upwind performance. The high aspect ratio swept design allows more area in the centre of the kite for efficiency and easy roll to relaunch.