Hey ascole,
I've been kiting 10 years, no special alliances and I suggest that you consider the Cult 2010.
For me it's the holy grail of the 1 kite quiver.
As far as wind range goes it could have one of the best wind ranges of any kite.
I ride it 13 - 30k (81kg, 130cm board).
The helix is a super kite but it's got lots of grunt. I'm thinking, for your foray into wakestyle you could do some damage on a helix if you screw up, whereas the Cult is a lot more forgiving - check out some of the U-tube footage - they're doing some crazy stuff on these kites. They ride well un-hooked (check out their technology).
If anyone says the Cult lacks low end I can show you some video footage of me in about 12k doing some ok jumps.
So, to summarise, I suggest get a 12m Cult to answer both your need for a 1 kite quiver and your intro into wakestyle. If you out-grow it migrate up to a Helix - but you might find that it's such a great all-rounder you won't wanna get rid of it. Maybe grab a demo kite.

glad youve been enjoying the 2010 naish kites...ive flown both the 12 cult and helix,and after 10 years of riding,these kites are insane in all aspects....the cults sooo smooth,speedy and predictable,yet the helix jumps with big balls........if you havent ridden these kites,you really are missing out!...

I think Chris is absolutely right.
Cult is actually targeting the beginner side of the market and being forgiving and predictable is the goal and from the time that Naish started the seagull series (2008) Cult was their best seller (beside their old successful Torch).

On the other hand Helix was their dream of getting the feeling of a C with all the benefits of SLE. Helix is full of grunt and it asks for skill from the rider.

I have a 9m Core GT too and I think the benefit of Cult/Helix over GT is the massive amount of depower you have on your Naish.
Benefit of GT over Helix is the easy self landing of GT.

Jumping with Helix is extremely fun, most times you feel like a double jump as it kicks up again while you are in the air and as some one mentioned before you will travel a long distance downwind while you are in the air.

I'm just a kite surfer like most other people here and I'm not selling anything.

2010 10.5mtr naish helix
Rider 5 years experience 85kg wet
Style waves and flat mostly hooked in riding
Build quality 9/10
Satisfaction 10/10
Disclosure have always had Naish kites tried others but keep coming back.
Buy my kites from WindNwater Byron Bay.


After a fair few sessions on this kite it is one exciting kite to fly.
The kite does fly fast and generates alot of power and I have to agree with idiot this baby pulls from the harness so to slow this beast down you have to edge your board as well as pushing the bar away.

Jumping is like a C kite its all timing with how you edge and pop and push of the water just pull the bar down send the kite hold that edge as much as you can and off you go hang time is very good as well this kite does jump very big due to the speed you can generate with it.

Wind range gets going in about 16 knots but you will start to have fun on this kite when it hits 18 knots through to 25 tops.

The kite has no geo tec this year which does give it more pop and lift but it is not as smooth through the gusts and does not drift down the line of a wave as well as last years so there are some advantages and disadvantages but after three generations I would say they have got it right of where geo tec belongs with the Cult and Charger and the Torch and Helix having the power foil canopy.

Turning speed is quick but not stupidly fast I recently adjusted the settings and put an extra knot on the bar tighting the steering lines, and on the kite set it to the one closest to the top of the wingtip I found this increased the turning speed and gave me a slighty bigger wind range as well a making the bar slighty lighter which I like.

Water relaunch is so quick at times it has come out of the water on its own.

The bar is simple and clean extremely comforatable on the hands and very well built.

The pop on this kite is execellent for a bridled kite you have alot of time to do your tricks I found myself over rotating when doing fronts rolls on this kite due to the glide it is almost torch like but the torch is still the ultimate when it comes to C kite performance and unhooking.

Bottom hand turns this kite holds its power in turns with out having to pull the bar in , when doing them for the first time it ripped me of my edge as it caught me by suprise so this is nice in the waves for powered up wave riding.

Kitelooping have done a few backroll kiteloops with it and it pulls through the loop very hard, I thought I lost my balls a few times I would say after riding torches and looping those it has about 90 percent of the power of a torch while looping the kite.

Wave riding with this kite is nice in the waves and suits my style of waveriding for powered up wave riding as it has heaps of power in the turns and floats nicely down the line but it does not float as nice as last years Helix due to no Geo Tec.

Who would like this kite intermediates and up , Naish have marketed this kite as a bridge between SlE with giving it a C kite performace which is on the Money.
Very grunty powerfull.

had a quick ride on the new 10.5 helix.

big improvement over the previous years models, the kite had a massive amount of grunt. smooth and controlable power, fast turning and very nice and simple bar.

i was pretty over powered on it and definately think the 9m would be the choice for me. the new shape is really nice with the edges smoothed out.

ill write something more when i have had a full session on one but the short time i had left me wanting more!

hey guys been kiting for three years now i dont ride unhooked but like jumping big transitions 360 s backrolls, basic stuff i ride c kites just because i like the way they feel not becausei am a awsome kiter i want to start kitelooping and was wondring witch kite would suit me better and easyer to loop the torch or the helix lokking at the 10.5 or the 10 in torch cheers

matty b said...

hey guys been kiting for three years now i dont ride unhooked but like jumping big transitions 360 s backrolls, basic stuff i ride c kites just because i like the way they feel not becausei am a awsome kiter i want to start kitelooping and was wondring witch kite would suit me better and easyer to loop the torch or the helix lokking at the 10.5 or the 10 in torch cheers

Obviously the Torch will produce a fair bit of power in a loop (even though it has a better wind range than some bridled kites)
The Helix will give good pull in loops but if needed you can loop it a bit tighter which might be a good thing if your just starting.

Hi,

i have extensively rided my 7m and 10.5m helix these past 3 month.....
I love these kite for unhooked freestyle, wave (the 7m) and old school big jump !

But i think there is two much gap between the 7m and the 10.5...i think i will buy a 9m.....as the 10.5 is very powerfull......
But it was impossible for me to have a ride on the 9m.....i hope i will not lost to much low end ( i will sell my 10.5m).

My weight is 80kg with a good level....

HOPELESS said...

So what you guy's think the 9 helix would get me goining around 16 or 17 knots(80 kg on 132 twintip) and maybe a couple less on a surfboard?

I think in cold wind (not egypt) the 9m will start at 17knts....but i have to have a try on it to be sure !

Yes my 12 would be similar,i can get away with what i would call 13 to 14,(no wind meters),am keen to here from someone with the 9 as this will be my next purchase,and can't wait to get my hands on one.