NORTH 2020 - THE RETURN!

After a change of ownership in early 2019, North Kiteboarding, now managed by North Technology group NTG, is coming out with a brand new range of equipment for kiteboarding. In other words, they had to work hard to be able to present so many products "from scratch" and in such a short time.

The result is obviously there, thanks to a brand new team selected by hand, including Pat Goodman, former kite designer at Cabrinha.

Of course if you are an "aficionado" of the brand's legendary models (Rebel, Vegas, Evo, Dice...) you can naturally find them at Duotone.

A sober and effective design is what emerges from the first observations of the models and other statements of the "young" brand. North Kiteboarding offers a refined style and color codes that will undoubtedly remind you of the old North. But everything is obviously 100% new and the program is just as ambitious in terms of performance.

North 2020 kites:

As for kites, for this very young opus, 3 models are available and there is one for every type of rider:

Orbit - Freeride/Big Air Kite

For freeride and big air it is the "Orbit" with its 5 struts that you need. As a reminder, 5 struts give a more stable kite, which deforms less. As a result, the kite will be much more precise in handling and will hold the lift better. Available sizes are 4 / 5 / 6 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 and 14 m²

Pulse - Freestyle/Wakestyle Kite

For freestyle / wakestyle the "Pulse" with its C-shape hybrid¹ profile and its 3 struts will be fast in rotation and powerful for heavy tricks with maximum bar feel. Available sizes are 5 / 6 / 7 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 10 / 11 / 12 and 14 m²

Carve - Freestyle/Wave Kite

For those who love waves and strapless sailing, the "Carve" is the right choice. With its lightweight 3-struts construction and moderate ratio, the kite will let itself "forgotten" to make the most of the wave and come back fast as soon as needed, and that's what is expected from this type of kite. The available sizes are 3 / 4 / 5 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 and 13 m²

_{C-shape hybrid¹: longer tips for responsiveness and power but with a less tight leading edge to keep the confort of a modern kite shape.}

The North 2020 "Navigator" bar:

At the bar level, nothing better to get to the market than to innovate, and that's what North offers us with its "Navigator" bar. Indeed, in addition to a solid and proven basic design and features, North offers a set of 4 interchangeable loops to adapt the bar to each type of ride. The "Navigator" is available in two lengths, 45-50cm and 50-55cm.

North 2020 kiteboards:

On the twintips menu, North has done well with a reasonable board range of a total of 6 kiteboards. More precisely, 4 models are proposed, with, as is now commonly done, variants at the construction level. There are 3 types of construction, the 3 benefit from a Paulownia core¹ and "dynamic flex²", the difference is in the lamination process with a standard fiberglass version, a version with carbon reinforcement strips and a performance version "full carbon".

The Prime – Freeride kiteboard:

It is the entry-level model if it requires one but it is already the top level construction. A freeride oriented program that will allow beginners to progress while having fun and freeride enthusiasts to have the most fun with a very comfortable and efficient board.
Available sizes: 133x39 136x40 138x41 141x42 144x42 144x43 148x44 152x45cm

The Atmos - Freeride/Big Air kiteboard:

It bears its name well because it is intended for addicts of big air jumps in freeride mode. It is therefore the level above the premium. It is available in two variants, the "Hybrid Series" with carbon reinforcement strips for more explosiveness while keeping a comfortable flex, as well as the "Carbon Series" which benefits from a high performance carbon construction for an ultra light and precise board.
Available sizes: 133x39 136x40 138x41 141x42 144x43cm

The Focus – Freestyle/Freeride kiteboard:

Also available in hybrid or full carbon versions, it differs from the Atmos by a progressive rocker, a tighter contour and more rigidity which will allow you to notch as much as possible to send freestyle tricks.
Available sizes: 133x40 136x41 139x42 142x43cm

The Flare -Wakestyle/Park kiteboard:

With the Flare we radically change the program with a board oriented wakestyle tricks so be careful, wearing bindings is mandatory! With its bulletproof P-Tex bottom-sheet you will be able to ride into the park on the modules without fear for the integrity of the board. The Flare has of course what is called a "banana" rocker perfect for wakestyle notching (for "real" freeride upwind rides please cancel: P!), as well as three mounting positions for bindings allowing softer and controlled landings or more nervousness.
Available sizes: 139x41 143x42 147x43 151x43 151x43cm

_{Paulownia ¹: Paulownia is timber from Asia that has been commonly used for kitesurfing boards for several years for its very good mechanical properties and « minimal » environmental impact.
dynamic flex²: The flex of the boards is specially adjusted for each type of board and construction, offering an optimal balance of the board for better control, response and gliding comfort.}

North 2020 foils:

If you make a new range of product, it is better making it trendy and exhaustive. Then for 2020, North Kiteboarding is also positioning itself on the promising foil market, to the great delight of the levitation junkies. Nothing less than 3 distinct board models and 2 types of foil are available.

North 2020 foil-boards:

The Scoop – Performance foilboard:

It is the brand's performance-oriented foil board, very light and ideal for long sessions where comfort and precision are essential. Its scooped nose rocker avoids as much as possible « nose-diving » and allows faster return to the planning. The deck of the board has a concave profile adequate for positioning and piloting more intuitively and naturaly. Board dimensions of this foil are compact with only 120 x 46cm.

The Chase - Foilboard/Surf/Kiteboard :

Here is a really interesting foilboard as it is a 3-in-1 hybrid board that allows you to vary activities in a fairly compact format. With the Chase you have a kitefoil, a foilsurf or a directional kitesurf board. This implies that technically one can also practice surf-foil or "foil surfing" without using a kite by ideally using the Sonar Surf Edition foil (see article below). Only one board length is proposed, 158cm.

The Sense – Freeride foilboard:

A 135 x 47cm freeride model, the Sense is built on a Paulownia timber core that provides rigidity and reactivity. The shape of the board is also compact with a slim profile and ABS rails to easily carry it everywhere with you. The North Sense is the all-round freeride board to have fun even on light wind days.

North 2020 foils range:

Sonar Freeride Edition foil:

The North Sonar Freeride Edition foil is the standard model for beginners and advanced foilers alike.
The foil has a base with an 85cm aluminium mast and an 850cm² carbon front wing. The connection between the mast and the fuselage is made using the "GeoLock" system, which guarantees a perfect mechanical adjustment. The fuselage is also made of aluminium on CNC. On the customization side, it will be easy to change the front wing for more lift with 1150 or 1650 cm².
And with all this, how does it work in practice? Well, the North Sonar Freeride Edition is an accessible, progressive and high-performance foil with a particular focus on the components to achieve both a great maximum ride speed and an incredibly low stall speed. Manoeuvrability is optimised by the "anhedral (falling)" profile of the front wing, which will limit roll during turns.

Sonar Surf Edition foil:

Surfing requires lift and the North Sonar Surf Edition has a 1650cm² carbon front wing to do the job and a great job. The 70cm mast allows tighter turns to enjoy the thrill of surfing. It is also possible to customize your foil since the elements are interchangeable, so you can change the mast for an 85cm mast or the front wing for 850 or 1150cm².