Helium3 Review!
Rider size and gear:
-140x43 Youri Zoon 2017 board.
-Helium3 16m 2018.
-Helmet, harness, impactvest and wetsuit.
-Rider Weight + gear wet: 101 kg.
Wind and conditions: 10-13kn.
NO TIDE ASSISTANCE, as the session is sat from 1900 - 2100 (TIDE is from 1200-1700, infromation from habour messure)
The H3 is one amazing light-wind kite in the size of 16m, never have I tryed riding in 10 knots on a TT and kept going! My setting are always factory set with 20 or 22m lines, today was 22m. The thing that caught me was that the Helium3 was so easy to launch, I must be honnest I was a little scared on my way to the spot knowing I was going out alone BUT!
I had help, so I did two self launch and landings and about 10 with help to test the ease of the "drag" for the person who holdes the kite. The kite is a little hard to turn around, but hello... Its 16m!
On the water, the Helium3 has very quick in respond, riding on the 55cm bar I had no problem steering the kite with ease getting that snappy feeling then turning and just riding.
When freeriding and jumping. The quickness WILL suprice you.
Getting out in 10-13 knots with a 16m you suspect the kite to fall out of the air, that is not the case with the H3! When you get it up there its just sits I tryed a lot of stupid things to get it to fall, running towards it and it just drift after you.. Plain and simple with no sound at all, wobbeling, collapsing or anything, just hanging there, ready to get on the water!
Bar pressure: The bar pressure on the lightest setting, is medium, you have no trouble holding it. The H3 gives you that real kite feeling.
Relaunch/Self-launch: This kite is easy to relaunch. Its between the Element6 and H2 (H2 is harder), For the size the kite is steady with no jumping up and down or turning over. Water start is as easy as a 9 or 12m kite i think, no problem at all, the kite turns smooth and go up like nothing have happend.
Drift: If you let go of the bar, the kite will follow the same dirrection or go up to 12. Didnt go to the edge of the window as I thought. When you got it, it keeps going. I am not a specific wave rider or foil rider, so cant say so much about it other what I mean about a kite that drifts.
Boost: On a skale on 1-10 (10 is boosting to the moon): I will give it a 6, Not saying that the kite do not boost, it sure does, for a big kite I managed to get 6 meters of air in 10-13 knots, thats pretty good for a big kite with a heavy rider, compared to the Helium2 it have much more smooth lift and LOT more hangtime, you know there the kite is and the hangtime is forever getting 4-5 seconds on such small jumps.
I really like how the Helium3 preform, its different from what you usally gets in just a big kite.
If you like to go out in like zero wind on a TT, get the H3 16m - NO DOUBT!
Ease of use: For riders who like a smooth ride and responsive steering, want to go out and enjoy an evening summer day on a TT and just want to have fun, this is the perfect kite, I think Switch did a really nice job with this Helium3.
From the H2 -> H3 there is a uge difference in riding, you can really feel the kite and have fun.
Video to show ->
https://goo.gl/EQJhNZ