North Vegas 2010
About
I remember my first go on a Vegas. It led to one of the world fastest kite purchases ever. Back in 08 I was on 07 fuels, and a keen C kite rider. I jumped on Luke’s spanking new 7m in about 28kts. Words cant describe how magic it felt. I remember hitting a kicker and sending the kite. It rocketed me to the peak of a 30 foot mega jump faster than anything I had previously experienced. It’s common chat that good Vegas’s come every two years, and although I truly believe there has never ever been a bad Vegas, I will admit they have had their ups and downs. The 2010 shares much of the magic that the 2008 did, yet its far more tuneable to suit a number of riders and a little but toned down. The Vegas imo should be the most popular kite in the North Range. If people weren’t so hypnotized by the marketing, or what shops want you to buy. If they managed to dedicate a few sessions on a Vegas or getting used to C kite, coming from an SLE, they would realise just how exhilarating a bench mark 5line c kite like the Vegas can be.
Performance
If i could sum up the Vegas in one phrase it would be "efortless performance" The Vegas was the first of the generation of practical c kites on the market. It combined a wind range that could be covered with two sizes, reassuring depower and of course 5th line safety. Its perfect middle of the road territory. Not too extreme or centred solely on performance, not soft and limp like SLE would feel in comparison. Its one of those kites where you can shut your eyes and almost read exactly where the kite is and what the winds like 25m above your head. Epic bar feel, although some would find the 5th element bar a little big to use on the smaller sizes. The Vegas comes with a Y bridle, although ive flown it on a bar without Y and it works a treat.
Lines are great quality and seem too last among the longest I have known, although I find them a bitch to untangle.
Mind blowing easy to access performance no matter what the winds blowing, from a mid aspect canopy which is very easy to hold down in Gusts. The Vegas is good in light winds, thanks to its good air speed per size. Kiteloops are relatively predictable, but I would suggest 20m lines are a sensible investment if you’re really trying to go huge as the 25s are just too long.
Re-launch is moderately easy and reliable, with tug of the 5th line, but with the Y bridle can prove tricky is the kite turns inside out.
Sizing
Buying the sizes you need, can be tricky with the whole 9m or 10m thing. But a 7 is a must. If can only afford two of these beuts, then It’s a given that it would be the 9m and 12m, and trust me they are worth the money!
But if you can stretch to three (k ching!) and are under 85 kilos, then its either 7,9,12, or 7, 10, 12.Tricky, although the 9m and the 10m are so similar in terms of size, the are worlds a part in performance. The 9m really is like a big high wind kite, and tends to feel a lot more higher aspect. The 10m is more sits right in the middle of the sweet spot, perfect for 20 kits of wind, and for most will be the obvious option.
Bar
The bar is very well designed, and specifically the iron heart 2010 which is so smooth and easy to use. Its perfect for freestyle riding, with a number of riding option to customize to the trick your learning
To Sum Up
A Mass Market kite. Its safe and easy enough for riders with as little as 40 hours experience, and yet will more than satisfy experienced free riders and freestylers. Excluding a small fraction of all out competition riders who may find it a little “soft”, this kite delivers easy performance in bucket loads. Yeah its not a cheap kite, but trust me if you’re a fit healthy freerider/freestyler, you’ll soon forget about the price tag…after a good couple of sessions! Not as High Aspect or extreme as the HIFI comp, easier to use and more practical than Fuel
For a more info on how it compares call us in the shop on 01663 733666
