In 4-line mode the Yarga Hybrid is pure unadulterated C-kite, there 's plenty of power on tap, low end grunt for pulling any wakestyle moves you can think of and turning speed that has to be tried to be believed. I feel like I 've come home. In 4-line mode it 's the best wakestyle kite we 've ever made.
The 5th-line option kit attaches straight to the top of the depower strap and to the center of the LE. This gives riders the option of rapid relaunching when not using the SLE set up. To relaunch, just reach up, grab the handle and pull the line to flip the kite on its back. If riders prefer to leash to the 5th-line, rather than to the bypass leash on the 07 bar, then that 's an option as well. If you are tackling big surf there 's no faster way to get your kite out of the water.
In SLE mode the Yarga uses the same bypass leash set up as the Waroo kites. The minute you drop the bar, or fire off the QR at the Chickenloop, the kite goes into full safety and complete depower. Riding the kite in SLE mode, via the bridle, also gives the kite huge wind range. I 've not ridden a C-shape kite with this much depower on tap, C-kite riders will be amazed at the depower and wind range that each kite allows.
What really makes it different from other kites on the market is that it really is 4 perfect kites in one.
How many of the features from the other 07 kites will we see on the Yarga Hybrid?
All of them.
We 've included all the features that make our SLE kites top performers. The Yarga comes with our new EZ-pump total inflation system. Single point inflation with concealed one way valving means you 'll be out on the water sooner than anyone else; there are no valves to check and no clips to close. Inflating the kite couldn 't be any faster or easier.
Canopy Framing Technology reinforces the entire surface of the kite, wherever the airframe and the canopy meet you 'll find CFT delivering improved durability and increasing flying performance. Having CFT on the trailing edge of the canopy is one of the reasons why the Yarga is such a great performer, it allows for a faster turning kite that better responds to rider input no matter which way you choose to rig it.
We 've also included our Solid Airframe Construction into the design, so you are guaranteed a rock solid kite that flies perfectly the first time you take it out of the bag, and for the life of the kite. The Yarga also uses the Load Flex LE Seam that all the other 07 kites have; the design is completely surf-tough. The Yarga will take any abuse you can throw at it.
LE Profile Shaper battens maximize stability and aerodynamic performance when ridden at full depower. These profiled reinforced battens lift the canopy at high AOA, improving air flow and reducing drag. This gives more stability even at maximum depower. Of course, all the Profile Shaper battens are reinforced and individually sleeved. If you ever need to replace one it 's a ten second job, not a trip to the repair shop.
On the leading edge we 've used our new Load Flex seam to deliver the strongest leading edge construction in the industry. We take the LE Dacron, double fold it, triple stitch it and wrap it all up with a reinforced webbing tape.
There 's whole host of other innovations; bridle stowage pockets, Kevlar LE elbows, trailing edge battens, the specification is out of this world.
What do the Pro Team members think of it and who is riding it in competitions this season?
Last year the Waroo came out too late in the season for the Pro team to get dialed into the kites, this year they 've been riding all the 07 kites since day one.
From the testing we did in Brazil and Australia, 1/2 of the team said they would use the new Yarga and 1/2 of the team said that they would use all kites and switch between them depending on what felt perfect for the conditions at each event and the tricks they wanted to throw.
I think that 's a great reflection on the range of kites that we 've made this year, that riders would feel comfortable using any of them for competitions. The smallest of advantages can make the difference between losing and being world champion at the level they compete at, so I 'm really happy to see all of the kites are being ridden this year. The fact that we have one kite, in the Yarga, which does it all just makes our team riders ' jobs even easier.
Last year a lot of riders got the chance to try prototype versions of the Waroo and give their feedback into product development, has this open source testing been continued with the Yarga?
Much of the fine tuning of the new Yarga Hybrid SLE has come off the back of customer testing in Brazil and also in Australia. All our new kites this season have benefited from the feedback we get from customers who just turn up and take the latest prototypes for a ride, there 's no doubt about it, customer feedback plays a huge part in the product that we finally deliver. After all, we make kites primarily for our customers and you have to give the people exactly what they want.
Customers tend to see the details in a different way to our test riders and Pro Team, and they have ideas that aren 't limited by their experience of products. With the Yarga Hybrid they wanted one kite that does it all, and with their help Peter and the guys have delivered.
What wind range can riders expect from each kite?
In 4-line and 5th-line mode the Yarga delivers the same wind range as any current hybrid design, the curved wingtips and Profile Shaper battens enable the Yarga to pivot forward into the wind as far as any other hybrid kite. In SLE mode the Yarga delivers 95% of the depower of the Waroo.
The combination of careful canopy shaping, thin LE, increased projected area and adjustable front pulley tow points make it the highest depower Hybrid on the market. The wind range on each size is simply huge.
Will it fly on the new 07 Best Bar?
The new Yarga is designed to work with exactly the same bar as the Waroo, Waroo Pro and Bularoo, just rig up and you are ready to go. For riders who want to use the 5th-line option kit all they have to do is pass the line up from the top of the depower strap to the center of the LE. It 's the simplest 5th-line system we 've ever used.
What 's involved in adding the 5th-line kit?
The 5th-line kit is really easy to add; at the bar end you thread the line through the Mickey-Mouse ears and then simply attach it to the centre of the LE.
At the kite end there are 4 sets of knots, one for each kite size, simply attach the 5th-line to the center of the LE and trim it by selecting the correct knot for the size of the kite. It 's a 30 second job to switch between 4-line, 5th-line and SLE/+ modes.
Who is the kite aimed at?
It 's a kite for every rider out there, there are no restrictions on how you rig and fly the kite so it has mass appeal. There 's one kite in the bag when you buy it, but by choosing your preferred rigging options you can have a kite that does anything you want, freeride, big surf, hardcore freestyle, even the perfect kite for learning on.
It 's the perfect kite for free-riders looking for one kite to take them from wakestyle, to big air, to chasing the surf in downwind monster sessions. Competition riders who demand performance and total reliability will fall in love with it from the first time they ride it just like our Pro Riders have.
The Yarga Hybrid SLE is aimed at riders of any level who want the perfect kite for the way they ride, no matter how they ride, or how often they change their mind. No matter what they want the Yarga Hybrid has them covered. It 's versatility without compromise.
When will it be available?
The Yarga Hybrid SLE will be available in selected sizes mid April, soon after that all sizes - 7m, 9m, 11m and 13m - will be available.
How much will it cost?
As always, we 've worked hard on keeping the price down while retaining absolute product quality. Just like all the other kites we make, it will be considerably less than the price of the competition and offer much better performance. It 's 4 kites for the price of one.
Any final words?
I think Thomas from our R&D summed up the Yarga pretty well, after spending his first day riding it in 4-line, 5th-line and SLE/+ 5th-line modes:
“Guys, are you sure we are only going to give this kite one name? I would swear there were four kites in that bag!”
Yarga Hybrid SLE: Four kites in one.