By SeismicKite
Was very lucky to see and test the NEW ELEMENT V2 13m
Construction :
Very impressive, to be honest best i have seen it has the nice sewing and put together feel of an OZONE kite i think you know it has a big influence from the the sail maker Bill Hansen. Also has the reinforcement of the Cabrinha kite brands. Gread inflation valves and also quality attachments ie one pump system valves. The only issue i have is that maybe just a touch heavy for really light wind use but i say these kites will last and in the waves will fair alot better than others. You may loose 1-2 knts on the real low wind range compared to other light weight designs maybe there wind range reflects this though. The quality of materials looks very good as well easy up with the best ie OZONE and now Cabrinha maybe one step behind Airush new material and canopy construction fr 2014.
Graphics :
Really nice i think simple clean and distingtive with black ok in the sun may not be the best idea but for showing up marks ie oild stain etc makes it look good for longer. The Black and blue gows well together and so doe the red.
Flight :
Rock solid in the air this was in its low wind range 11-12knts. Has ia kind of OZONE Edge rock solid stability in the air with very smooth power withing the bar throw BUT seems like when you over sheet fully pull in the bar pressure goes up alot but not too much. I say bar pressure is lightish a little more than the OZONE Edge.
Turning :
They are right in that it turns quick easy as fast as a 10m no problem this is what i liked, for wave use no problem. The only thing was a slight hesitent and slight back stall when starting the turn but then would turn fast so a little unsure about this. Easey as fast as a Airush ONE 12m and i say getting close to a 9m ??
Power :
I say it has pretty good power but once apparent wind has been built up it goes like a rocket pretty amazing. I say similar to the OZONE Edge in this aspect but has more useable power from the start.
Depower :
Hard to say as did not try in high winds but i say its going to be big as when i put the bar out i was amazed how much you can depower the kite where on others i kites you put the bar out and you can still feel some power there. So with the depower strap pulled it i think no problem. I say probarly a similar range to an OZONE Edge so pretty big.
Bar :
nNice and simple seems good but it does need an update i can see somethings could not last so long depower rope. The price is really good which to be honest 2014 bar costs ok there good but they are very exspesive now crazy costs you see the cost of the 2014 Slingshot bar, you really want these bars to last a longtime before they fail.
COST :
The big one really in 2014 i am just getting tired of the high cost now of all kites its pretty crazy, even the cheaper brands are now not cheap. If you spend this money you want 100% good quality and kites to last even longer but really they do seem to be slightly better but ths does not really justify the higher costs i think. If you have a well put together kite and good materials and somtimes things break but the kite is good value then you dont mind so much. When you pay a high cost and things break or go wrong in a relatively short time you really become very unhappy. I have followed Switch kite for along time and do feel its nearly the right time when they upgrade there bar and maybe the NITRO 3 that i will be pretty intereted in swapping over to this brand as other kites are just pricing themselves just too high i belive.
Conclusion :
Really nice kite BUT extream low wind i say is probarly not as good as the lighter construction kites so in the 7-8knts i say tricky but at 9knts should be good on there bigger kites. i just feel they will fly well in 9knts and probarly ok in 8knts but when i had a Cabrinha kite due to there heavy construction they did have a tendency to fall out of the sky in 7knts or had to be very good to keep them there, 8knts was ok and 9knts was good for a 14m kite. The Airush ZERO really can fly in 5knts and 6knts is ok but very light construction same with there other kites they fly pretty well in light winds. In strong winds with the heavy construction i say they will last very well which is good. I still feel the Element V2 13m could be a kite i could grow into but i feel its not really for me hence i hope the Method V2 will be more for what i am looking for and the Nitro V2 or maybe wait for the NEW Nitro V3 which i belive is being worked on. maybe the Element 15m is a good light wind kite be nice to know and if it turns fast which i am sure it will ie as fast as a good 12m then that be good for the extream light wind wave use but i feel the Method 11m will be better.
Marc performing one of his powerful moves. Photos by Toby Bromwich.
Liam Whaley (second), Alex Pastor (first) and Marc Jacobs (third) on the podium.
Marc performing on the water.
