I fly Naish and like the 09 Helix. I suggest you demo kites (more then once) and make your own mind up. I am 95kg and ride a 129 Thorn and a 141 ABOARD Z and have ridden my 14m 09 Helix in 12 - 25 knots, I have ridden my 12m 08 Cult in 15-30 knots. My mate who's 75 kgs and rides a 136 something has a 9m 08 Atom and has ridden in 15 -30 knots. He hates my kites and I'm not a big fan of his. Doesn't mean either kite is better just what a person's preferance is. I must say though I am sick of Naish changing their designs so much every season but at the same time other manufacturers are just pumping out the same design with a different bridle each year which is just as annoying. I was thinking of switching to RRD or F One.

I m flying a Naish Cult 09 and i love it a lot. Never had any trouble with my gear, nothing broke yet and i had some really nice crashes in the waves Kited also with my friends Torch, a 12 m, its a sick kite, very powerful and aggressive. Happy that Naish kept producing this kite...i bought later a Torch 6 m but prefer riding in strong winds my 7 m Rebel since its a bit slower and not that powerful than the Torch...maybe you should give it a try and demo it one day.

Oh well, was worth a shot. If it swings your choice at all the designer of Royal kites is the same guy that designed the RRD kites He's just left them and doing his own thing now.

torch 2010.......The Torch delivers the smooth power and aggressive turning that performance C-kite riders demand.

C-kites continue to dominate the PKRA tour, and Kevin Langeree rules that arena with the 2010 Torch. Rugged, predictable and reliable, no other C-kite handles as well as the Torch, which is why more top riders choose it over any other C-kite on the market.

Whether your goal is to win competitions. or just take your freestyle riding to the next level, the Torch is your answer. Super smooth, easy handling, hooked-in, unhooked, impressive depower and fantastic relaunch -- these characteristics allow riders of all levels to take advantage of the Torch's unsurpassed performance.

helix 2010.....extreamly good for freestyle but exels in waves.......The Helix continues to bridge the gap between C-shaped and bridled kites with an engaging feel, fast turning and punchy power. The Helix is the exotic sports car of the kite world, pushing the envelope in both design and flying characteristics.

The Helix has been radically redesigned to provide C-shaped performance and feel, while maintaining the depower you expect out of a bridled kite. For 2010, the Helix continues to eveolve with a revolutionary "power foil canopy" Sigma outline. This platform coupled with refinements to the aspect ratio, LE diameter, strut foil and arc have produced the most performance driven Sigma kite ever.

With speed, versatility, huge jumps, kite loops and precision handling, this kite allows riders to push their limits to new heights. the Helix is the next generation in ultra-performance kiteboarding.

Thanks for copying and pasting off the Naish website :)

It is helpful info but have to ridden them your self? What do you think?

Yeah i knew about Simmon doing the switch. I bought one of the first Royal kites to hit the market and its still riding well. Bought mine in Late 2007, 12m it is a 2008 kite though, tons of power on the low end. I can kite in such little wind on my 128 Underground and my 12, crazy. I think i mentioned this before but when i was at Pinnaroo the only other kite was that 17 ozone and he was on a surf board. I'm only 70kgs. Same when i was in cuba, i was the only one out of my friends that could ride... hahaha. Thats the one of the few times its fun to ride in light winds, when your friends are watching you and they can't go out ha ha.

Great kite, I use my RRD Hyper type bar on it so don't know if that effects anything. Maybe just the de-power range.

As for the HT, i love that thing or loved it. For it being unstable well that was one of the draw backs, just don't put it above you and always have back line tension and its fine, don't recommend that kite for beginners.

What do people think of the Obsession 2 compared to the HT?

Jeff2231: when you say that do you mean he left Royal now? as he left RRD in 2007/2008 so that was 2.3 years ago now!

Thanks Guys

Cankite, it really depends on your style. Fast turning wave kites may not be a good choice for jumping or any freestyle move, but if the new RRD Type wave proves it..? The Obsession is just a sweet kite (I don't own, but demoed the 9m). Light bar pressure, impressively fast turning in light wind. It likes apparent wind, so it was not that grunty as some others (slingy, torch), but you can kite a whole day without being too sore or tired...just remembered, you like to ride unhooked, so it doesn't really matter. Check out the SOS guys, even just by email. They are helpful brunch, and John and Andy are two of the finest local wave riders (IMHO). They ride RRD's, but I am not sure if they ride unhooked. I haven't tried the new Torch. The 06 ones were mad, I loved them.

Just make sure you get the kn color you want.

Hey Cankite,

Sorry I didn't write that very clear before. Simone started Royal so I don't think he'll be leaving them any time soon

Nice vid btw

hey nebbian,

yeah i bought mine at abargin too and exactly right as soon as you know its little qurks then your good to go.

Don't know how much of a bargin you got for yours but i bought both my 9m and 7m for $280/ kite USD brand new........
And the brand new bar was $150

Pretty good bargain i would say..... i should of bought a double order.....

heinsight is 20/20