15m Hellfish from Cabarete

[gumball]

Just got off the phone with Kim from Cabarete and he told me about 20 people got to ride the 15m Hellfish this morning. If you know Cabarete at all, you know how strong a statement that is in and of itself... There's no wind in the morning...

Here's a wind graph of today in Cabarete thanks to windsofcabarete.com


They started demoing the Hellfish 15m @ 8:30 this morning when there was about 5-6 knots. The wind climbed during the day gusting to 15 with lulls of 7-8 but a steady 11-12 knot day and about 20 people rode the Hellfish, each saying it was hands down the best kite they've ever flown. Some comments included:

"Super stable"

"Unbelievable hang time"

"Huge sweet spot"

"Really fast, felt like an 11m"

"Really responsive - it felt like nothing on the other end of the lines"

and of course...

"This is the best kite I have ever flown"

[vesku]

Hi!

I start this message with a disclaimer:

I ride 9m2 Starkites, 12m2 Naish Torch, 16m2 North Rhino5, 25m2 Naish V4. I weight 77 kilos. I'm intermediate rider riding since 1/2001. I like to ride waves and I do basic tricks but not power moves.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS TO BEST KITES

OK, let's start then...

I tested the Hellfish 15m2 prototype here in Cabarete on Sunday morning around 11 am. Wind was really gusty side off-shore (from 'left'). Kite was equipped with 45 cm Best control bar and 27m (?) lines with 5th line. I rode only about 15-20 minutes, so these are just first feelings.

I would describe the kite with word "gentle". Another person said “smoothâ€

[as_norman22]

VESKU --

Thanks for the review. One major question: how powered were you in the lightest wind during your session?

Put simply, could you park and ride upwind in 10 knots?

Or did you have to work the kite to keep going/go downwind?

I'm curious.

Thanks,

Alex

[vesku]

I can't answer because the conditions were gusty and I didn't have a long perioid of steady 10 knots (I think). But I was going all the time upwind without working with kite so much. Generally I felt powered all the time and I was able to control the kite well even during the hardest gusts. That's why I said it is 'gentle'.

Of course it is also question of your riding skills and board characteristics. I would guess I wouldn't have any problems in steady 10 knots with my normal board - BUT this is just quessing. And I also like riding light winds...

I'm sorry that I couldn't give you a simple answer.

VESKU