Product Description:
Included Items: Kite / bar&lines / safety leash / pump / kite bag / instructions
Whether you're ripping apart waves, getting huge, lofty jumps or just blasting around on flat water, the 2011 North Rebel Kite is a stylish 5-line all-terrain freeride/wave machine that gives you an unmatched "connected" feel and virtually limitless performance in all conditions.
The North Rebel Kite has become famous for it's direct de-power, smooth, predictable turning, even when de-powered, and short bar stroke. Flutter-free wingtips have again greatly improved the smoothness and consistency of the North Rebel's turning. This smooth turning combined with optimized canopy profiles that are highly resistant to back-stalling provide seamless power delivery ideal for surfing. Improved bar feel and de-power in the small sizes means even more comfortable and accessible top-end so you can keep having fun even when the wind gets nuclear.
The loaded 5th line design provides the highest level of safety as well as being responsible for the unique short de-power stroke and direct lively feeling. Mainly due to the floating strut construction, the North Rebel Kite get a very direct and precise feeling – even when depowered. North Kiteboarding's highest quality construction means the Rebel is built to last and withstand the demands that serious riders put on their kites, as well as providing a long list of other slick details like back line V bungees and snag free strut ends. Now stop dreaming and go ride!
2011 North Rebel Kite vs. the 2010 North Rebel Kite. What's Different and Why?
• Power vs. Depower: The 2010 Rebel had a lot of power. Probably no kite has more. For 2011, North refined canopy profiles and angle of attack to boost depower without hurting power.
• Turning Speed: Sizes 10 and up in the 2011 North Rebel turn a bit easier, faster and more smoothly than the 2010. Sizes 9 and down have slightly easier turn initiation and are smoother while turning, but overall turning speed is about the same.
• Speed: Though the Rebel won the 2010 Kiteboard Race World Championship, it really is just a wave and all-around kite and pretty much none of the testing for the 2011 model involved race boards. That said, the 2011 Rebel is a bit faster than the 2010. This improvement comes from refinements in profile depth, angle of attack and tip shape.
• Bottom Line: Not one in 100 kiteboarders could spot the differences in geometry and shape between the 2010 Rebel and the 2011, but not one in 100 could fail to miss the improvements in feel.
2011 North Rebel Kite Technology
The North Rebel remains a 5-line kite, of course, all for all the usual reasons:
1.) Short depower stroke and crisp feel. Anyone who rides wave or has short arms or just likes a responsive kite can appreciate the importance of achieving full depower with a minimal movement of the control bar.
2.) Super stability. If it weren't so easy to keep in the air you'd be forgiven for thinking it's made of rock.
3.) Easy relaunch in light winds. Even riders who like four-line kites often add a fifth line to make relaunch possible in super-light wind.
4.) Safety. When you need to get total, complete and perfect depower in half a second, nothing else works as well as a 5th line.
• Size-specific Tuning: Sizes 10 to 14 have been tuned for short bar stroke and a maximally crisp feel. Sizes 5 to 8, which naturally tend to be a bit too crisp and responsive, have been tuned for a crispness and responsiveness that's just right. Not soft and slow; not uncomfortably harsh and fast. 9-meter kites can go either way, a bit slow and soft or a bit fast and harsh. We spent some time tuning this one for what we think is just the right feel in a wave and all-around kite.
• Tolerant of Sub-spec Inflation: The 2010 and 2011 Rebels work best when inflated to 6psi, but they still work fine at 5 or 4psi. By contrast, many kites on the market these days need 8 or 10 psi to fly correctly.
• Arc, Segmentation, Strut Configuration: The overall geometry remains the same because the Rebel's unique combination of arc, segmentation and strut configuration gives good stability, power, depower and flutter resistance. Multiple segments through the center of the canopy give good profile fidelity, while one straight segment on each side gives a flat profile where it can do the most good in resisting unwanted luffing and flutter. Five struts give needed structure while allowing for good performance at low inflation pressures.
2011 North Rebel Kite Construction Details.
Every production process is defined in the smallest detail and accurately logged, allowing North Kiteboarding to achieve the highest level of quality control for every single product. With the sum of innovations, new materials, construction changes and quality control procedures, the standard of North Kiteboarding products has risen to an entirely new level.
• New Inflate and Deflate Valves: NEW for 2011, the valve now offers a bombproof closing system, very easy and comfortable to handle and with an integrated deflator pin. The material of the valve itself and the connection to the tube also has been improved so the valves can not twist anymore and can not slip into the tube.
• Fusion 10 Leading Edge to Strut Connection: In contrast to normal connections, the forces are no longer supported by a webbing strap but by a flexible line. The line ensures a perfectly clean connection of strut to leading edge even with the smallest struts and offers the strongest strut connection ever.
• Computer supported sewing: Guaranteed to give the strongest possible seam construction and a clean, good-looking stitch. The extremely durable double V pigtails are also constructed using this innovation for maximum quality.
• Cam Battens: revolutionary and patent-pending Cam Battens made of flexible nylon improve the stability of the canopy and reduce the drag of the kite. The Cam Battens allow North to achieve a deeper profile and increase kite power. The deeper canopy combined with a round entry profile gives better stall resistance, which yields better low end power and better hang-time. Cam Battens also give the kite much better upwind abilities and very good stability in the sky.
• Kook Proof Connectors: These connectors prevent the number one cause of kite accidents by ensuring that front lines cannot be attached to the back of the kite and back lines cannot be attached to the front.
• Self Rescue Handles: These loops attached to the inside of the wingtips make it easier to hold the kite for bodydrag rescue.
• Relaunch Bungees: In order to make the relaunch easier and to avoid any possible line tangling, North has added Relaunch Bungees at the kite tip. The bungees keep the lines lying slick against the inside of the leading edge, preventing any line from going over the top of the kite during the relaunch.
• Anti Snag Concept: The combination of Re-launch Bungees and the new low profile batten pockets and thin strut ends helps prevent any lines from snagging anywhere on the kite during relaunch.
• Aramid Reinforced: added in highly exposed areas such as the Micro Batten pockets and the leading edge scuff pads. These reinforcements reduce wear from everyday use and increase the durability and life of your kite.
• Load Distribution Panels: More powerful kite profiles means that the canopy has to carry higher loads resulting in a distorted profile and loss of efficiency. The Load Distribution Panels spread the load from the lines to a wider area keeping the profile smooth and distinct and allowing the kite to perform with maximum efficiency at all times.
• Technoforce D2 material: improves the stiffness of the canopy and the whole kite structure.
• T9 Polyester Ripstop Canopy: resulting in a lightweight and durable kite. This material does not absorb any water and is coated with UV-protection on both sides.
• UV-obstructing polyester polyurethane bladders: very reliable and are now also equipped with return valves at the small transversal tubes.
• Dacron Leading Edge and Ribs: All areas exposed to peak stresses are made of top-quality 170g or 175g Dacron. This material helps achieve maximum tear strength in combination with conventional kite materials and will never delaminate.
• Lazy Pump Single Point Inflation/Deflation: One valve for inflating, one valve for deflating the whole kite.
2011 North Rebel Kite Colors (Please Specify Color when Ordering)
