Naish Bolt 2011 Review

Words: Stubbie - Hunstanton Watersports team rider.

--------------------

Ok...ok 'if simply the best kite I have flown' is not good enough I will try and expand a little.

I have a 5, 7, 9 and 12 in these and have flown all apart from the 5.

Out of the bag and pumped up the kite has a much more angular leading edge profile than the helix and it's been said before that its more cult like to look at. The bar is almost identical to last years but it does have a much better grip and the safety leash/ chicken loop are now in i-pod white, it comes complete with a de-power stop pre fitted which can be easily slid up and down to suit, all in all it's very nice to look at and simple.

In the sky the the bolt feels amazingly stable even in the gustiest of conditions, (how about zero to 35 mph and then back again, we can get it bad in Norfolk) being very well balanced, it's seemingly able to fly itself and as a result it's very difficult to drop out of the sky. The bar is oh so simple and the bar pressure, is in my opinion perfection, it's certainly not heavy and more importantly not too light, it has a very nice pull throughout with the off (I don't want to play any more) position being at the very top, just as it should be.

The kite can be made to peform C type kite turns with a nice constant pull or it will turn on it's own axis, pretty amazing stuff when you see this happening, this ability coupled with the kites superb upwind ability, I believe is down to the best yet synergy of sigma bridle and the all new improved 'klingon bird of prey shape'. Unhooked the kite is an absolute dream and the kite can be steered one handed with a twist of the wrist, when riding unhooked down the line on a wave, the kite will drift back nicely, allowing you to concentrate on riding rather than worrying about what the kite is doing. If it does go wrong, just keep hold of the bar and watch the kite climb back into the air, all very nice and reassuring. When riding into the wind on a wave or in those crappy onshore conditions the upwind ability of the kite coupled with it's insatiable 'i want to fly' personality means even these waves can be good fun.

I'm not much of freestyler and so will not comment on its ability to perform unhooked kite loops and so forth, that said I am told by those in the know that it's a good freestyle kite as well.

Does this kite have a personality? You bet it does and it's a 'I wanna get out there, have as much fun as is possible, rip the arse out of it and at the same time if your a little bit unsure of my potential i'll go easy on you until you catch up with me'

Well done Naish