Description

The North Rebel 2013 is the definitive free-ride universal kite. The 2013 Rebel still remains North’s flagship kite, combining all the ingredients you need to cover a huge wind-range, rip apart any size surf, boost huge airs and ride comfortably in nearly all conditions. It is quite simply North's best interpretation of what a modern free-ride/wave kite should be and it’s really no mystery why the Rebel is THE most sold kite ever.

 

The Rebel boasts a huge wind range, the widest available from any of the North Kiteboarding line up. Huge hangtime and lift, fantastic upwind performance, fast turning, direct feeling, easy handling, responsive steering when depowered and a short depower stroke giving you total control in harsh conditions. The 2013 Rebel perfectly combines power and handling to create the perfect kite for “hooked” riders looking for their perfect wave and freeride partner.

 

2013 Performance Improvements:

Upwind the Rebel is outstanding, still used by some of the North race team on the World Tour for course racing! For 2013, the Rebel incorporates a new strut concept, which combines the responsive turning and softer feel of three strut kites with the superior stability of a classic 5-strut design. The front sections of the struts feature an increased diameter towards the leading edge and then taper towards the trailing edge of the kite.

 

This radically reduced diameter leads to more flexibility while the front part of the struts remain super stiff and strong for great stability. The flexible back section of the strut allows the kite to twist over the entire profile when sheeting in and out.

 

As a direct result, the kite is able to generate better low end and a more responsive turning. In order to improve top end, North flattened the canopy profile towards the tip and quarter struts of the kite. This also gives less drag, less luffing and less flutter.

 

The 2013 North Rebel remains a loaded 5th line kite, offering its most acclaimed performance attributes like a short bar stroke, crisp, direct feeling, rock solid stability in all conditions, and it’s unique ability to steer while depowered.

 

The square wingtip design maximizes the effective tip area, makes the tips less prone to distortion and fluttering while steering and gives the Rebel its new stylish and modern appeal. Super clean tip panels account for greatly improved, ultra smooth turning and easy handling that remains smooth even in over-powered conditions.

 

Streamline Struts:

This year the North Kite Design incorporates a new strut concept, which combines the responsive turning and softer feel of three strut kites with the superior stability of a classic 5-strut design. The front sections of the struts feature an increased diameter towards the leading edge and then taper towards the trailing edge of the kite. This radically reduced diameter leads to more flexibility, while the front part of the struts remains super stiff and strong for great stability. The flexible back section of the strut allows the kite to twist over the entire profile when sheeting in and out. As a direct result, the kite is able to generate better low end and more responsive turning.

 

 

Size Specific Tuning:

Size-specific tuning ensures that the big sizes feel crisp and lively and the small sizes feel forgiving even in blistering wind. The Rebel also features a simple back-line adjustment to tune it for greater or lesser bar pressure to suit your desired feel. As with all North kites, the 2013 Rebel is built to last utilizing our proven construction methods and the highest quality materials like our exclusive Teijin D2 canopy fabric.

 

Whether you're ripping apart waves, getting huge lofty jumps, or just blasting around on flat water, the 2013 North Rebel is a stylish 5-line all-terrain freeride / wave machine that gives you an unmatched "connected" feel and virtually limitless performance in all conditions.

 

Flutter-Free Wingtips:

The North Rebel has become famous for it's direct depower, smooth, predictable turning, even when depowered and a short bar stroke. For 2013 this year is no exception! Flutter-free wingtips have greatly improved the smoothness and consistency of the Rebel's turning. This smooth turning combined with optimized canopy profiles that are highly resistant to back stalling provide seamless power delivery ideal for surfing. Improved bar feel and de-power in the small sizes means even more comfortable and accessible top-end so you can keep having fun even when the wind gets nuclear.

 

Loaded 5th Line Design:

The loaded 5th line design, in addition to providing safety, gives the Rebel its short and aggressive power stroke that is up to 30% shorter than bridled kites.

 

This means huge range and top-end comfort on those super windy days and the ability to instantly turn the power off and on at will as you link your turns down the line.

North's new “floating” centre strut further enhances the direct de-power by allowing the canopy to easily luff as well as providing rock-solid stability in strong winds.

 

The new back-line “V” attachment distributes the load of the back-lines on the kite for a solid bar feel and, together with the new bungee system, eliminates any line snags during re-launch.

 

The North 2013 Rebel’s unique steering sensitivity and smoothness have also been improved by implementing a straight segment in the leading edge for an ultra clean, flutter-free canopy near the tips that keeps you connected and in-tune to the kite’s every movement.

 

Adaptive Tips >

For 2013 the Rebel will feature the new “Adaptive Tip”. In recent years, there has been a trend leaning towards more reactive kites with even lighter sheeting forces than in the past. Such kites are really comfortable, lively for wave riding and offer more forgiving kite loops because they pivot around the wingtip. However, comparison tests have shown that North team riders and testers actually prefer kites with a harder bar feel because they offer better feedback, precise steering and more dynamic turning, which in turn creates more power.

The new “Adaptive Tip” allows users to easily change the sheeting force and turning performance through a simple back pigtail adjustment, allowing you to customize your kite to your desired style and feel:

 

 

 

Strut Configuration >

One of the reasons North liked the four-strut configuration of previous Rebels was that eliminating the centre strut permitted the broad centre section of the Rebel to luff completely when the kite was depowered. This gave better power and depower – more of a “pop”, more of a crisp and quick on-off in the canopy power – when pulling in on the bar or letting out.

 

At the same time, this more complete ability to luff in the center of the canopy gave all sizes a smoother, less draggy feel. North were determined to keep both the good depower and crisp feeling in the 2013 Rebel, but thought that staying with a four-strut design, while fine for most riders, was too close to the edge for some.

 

The answer was to move the quarter struts slightly farther from the centre – thus enlarging the luffable center area of the canopy and to place a straight strut in the centre position.

 

The new 2013 North Rebel shows that the tip and quarter struts provide providing good profile stability while the straight centre strut adds enormous stability to the leading edge tube without robbing us of the large luffable area.

 

 

 

Combining the wider luffable centre area of the canopy with the extra leading edge support from the fifth strut gave North, in short, the best of both four and five strut worlds.

 

Overall Geometry >
The change in geometry that is shared by all 2013 North Rebels is the reduction from three segements to just one segment in the span between tip and quarter struts. This is an idea North have tested and revisited over the years, but only now have hit upon the right way to do it.

 

From testing, and from observing some other kites on the water, North knew that having too few segments through the centre part of the kite – the part that has the most curve in the arc – has undesirable effects on canopy profile shape. Therefore, North knew they didn’t want to use single-segment geometry through the middle of the kite. However, nearer the tips, where the arc of the kite is normally not so curved and where flat canopy profiles are desirable because of their resistance to fluttering and flapping, the single segment approach makes sense.

The result of this use of single-segment geometry gives canopy tips that are cleaner, less draggy and nearly flutter-free.

The other change in overall geometry can be found in sizes 9 to 12. In those sizes we carried over the geometry found in Rebel sizes 14 and 16. The result is a crisper feel, better depower and greater resistance to overflying and nose-diving in those sizes.

This simple yet high performing kite can be used with any 5th line control bar providing the depower line is more than 45cm long.

 

Profile >

Since North were looking for softer, less aggressive- feeling small kites, they reasoned that flatter profiles, which “pop” less when sheeted in, might be the way to go. This is exactly how it turned out.

 

A 7 percent reduction in profile depth at the centre of the canopy gave a softer feel, and a further reduction of about 8 percent gave an even softer feel. Interestingly, this overall 15 percent reduction in profile depth did not result in less low end power.

 

Line Attachments >

Most obvious is the change to a “V” attachment for the back pigtail. This has two benefits: (1) it permits a better, cleaner relaunch bungee design, and (2) it gives a more solid bar feel when the bar is pulled in for maximum
power.

One side benefit of the new relaunch bungee design is that the back pigtail “V” and back flying lines are less likely to snag on the tip of the leading edge.

The other line change is in nose line attachment. Testing showed that the new North Rebel 2013 with its extra rib and consequent greater structural stability needed less structure from the nose line. This was evident from the fact that smoothness and responsiveness to turning inputs improved
with nose line attachments closer to centre.

 

Cam Battens >

CamBattens give the kite two key advantages: Lower drag at normal angles of attack and better profile stability at low angles of attack! At normal angles of attack, the CamBattens keep the shape smooth and stable along the front part of the canopy.

 

Aerodynamic theory tells us that this is the most important part of the profile for generating power with low drag.As you let the bar out to de-power, the wind tries to collapse the front part of the canopy and push the kite back.

 

CamBattens resist this by keeping a full, stable shape near the leading edge, allowing the kite to fly at lower angles of attack for more depower. Combine the CamBattens with Trim Tips, the new tip geometry lets the kite tilt even farther, and de-power to the maximum.

 

All of this gives the North Rebel 2013 a very direct feel on the bar, better low end performance due to reduced drag, and a much wider wind range. On the water you will notice that the wind just seems a lot smoother, with less holes and gusts.

 

Construction >
In 2001 North implemented several construction changes in their school kites – the kites that get the hardest, most unremitting beating of any.

One example of these, admittedly subtle, construction changes is the Fusion 10 strut-LE joint. Without going into too much detail, North can simply say that this method of attaching strut to the leading edge is more precise, repeatable and robust than any they have used in the past.

Now that this joint has a year of hard use by schools and riders, North feel confident putting it on all their 2013 models, starting with the Rebel.

 

Another change can be found in the chord wise (front to back) seams of the canopy. Where these in the past have been more of a “butt” type of seam they are now the stronger and smoother overlap seam. The improvement can quickly be seen in a canopy that is more wrinkle-free than in the past.

North 04/05/06/07/08/09/10/11/12 5th Element Control Bars can be used but upgrading to the Iron Heart Chicken Loop is recommended.

 

The Difference Rebel 2012 V Rebel 2013:

Think about two slightly different surfboards; both the same size, same shape, same rails, same fin configuration, yet subtly different in rocker or outline or fin angle. From just looking at them not one person in 100 could tell which is going to ride better. Yet after riding both you might easily determine that one is clearly superior.

Now think about the 2011 Rebel and the 2012 Rebel. To even the trained eye they look almost exactly the same. Not one in 100 people could tell by looking at them what the differences are. Yet still, when North handed a 2013 Rebel 6 proto to long-time Rebel customers for a test run, they thought it was a big step better than the older model. That's where kite design has arrived lately. You just can't tell much by looking.

 

Whats the same and Why?

The Rebel remains a 5-line kite, of course, all for all the usual reasons:

1.) Short depower stroke and crisp feel. In sizes 9 metres and over. Anyone who rides wave or has short arms or just likes a responsive kite can appreciate the importance of achieving full depower with a minimal movement of the control bar.

2.) Super stability. If it weren't so easy to keep in the air you'd be forgiven for thinking it's made of rock.

3.) Easy relaunch in light winds. Even riders who like four-line kites often add a fifth line to make relaunch possible in super-light wind.

4.) Safety. When you need to get total, complete and perfect depower in half a second, nothing else works as well as a 5th line.

 

Size Specfic Tuning:

 

1.) Sizes 10 to 14 have been tuned for short bar stroke and a maximally crisp feel.

2.) Sizes 5 to 8, which naturally tend to be a bit too crisp and responsive, have been tuned for a crispness and responsiveness that's just right. Not soft and slow; not uncomfortably harsh and fast.

3.) 9-metre kites can go either way, a bit slow and soft or a bit fast and harsh. We spent some time tuning this one for what we think is just the right feel in a wave and all-around kite.

 

Tolerant of Sub-spec Inflation:

2013 Rebels work best when inflated to 6psi, but they still work fine at 5 or 4psi. By contrast, many kites on the market these days need 8 or 10 psi to fly correctly.

 

Segmentation Rib Configuration:
Aspects of the Rebel's overall geometry have not changed. There are still five struts, with the centre strut being a floating strut for momentary depower and luffability. Segmentation is much the same from tip strut to tip strut. Multiple segments through the centre of the canopy give good profile fidelity, while one straight segment on each side gives a flat profile where it can do the most good in resisting unwanted luffing and flutter. Five struts give needed structure while allowing for good performance at low inflation pressures.

 

Leading Edge Diameter:
North have kept the overall LE diameters fairly large right out through the tips to ensure rock-solid stability and tolerance of low inflation pressures. The new square tip is more tolerant of low pressure than the old one, so we could have reduced tip LE diameter a bit, but chose not to in the interest of ensuring stability and reliability. The Rebel is an all-round and wave kite, so there's no need to try to minimize diameters at the expense of convenience, stability and easy relaunch.

 

Arc Segmentation:

The overall geometry remains the same because the Rebel's unique combination of arc, segmentation and strut configuration gives good stability, power, depower and flutter resistance. Multiple segments through the center of the canopy give good profile fidelity, while one straight segment on each side gives a flat profile where it can do the most good in resisting unwanted luffing and flutter. Five struts give needed structure while allowing for good performance at low inflation pressures.

 

Power vs. Depower
Recent Rebel designs have had a lot of power. In 2011 and 2012 North refined canopy profiles and angle of attack to improve depower, and for 2013 North have carried this process a step further to give a bit more depower without hurting power.

 

Smoother Feel:
Every year North try to reduce undesirable luffing and fluttering in the Rebel and this year we have made a further step in that direction, mainly achieved through fine-tuning of canopy profile. North also moved the quarter struts slightly farther toward the tips so as to increase the central „power“ area of the kite and reduce the size of the side panels, the panels prone to luffing in a turn.

 

Luffing and fluttering occurs most when a kite is overpowered, or when it is turning tightly. In both cases, the feeling of the bar is one of vibration and imprecision. Reducing luff and flutter gives the bar a smoother and more precise feel.

 

Square Tip
The square tip has the potential to make the tip surface area a little more effective and, if done correctly, less prone to unwanted distortion from steering forces. The risk of the square tip is that the canopy fabric can be less tightly controlled and can luff and flap more. North have paid particular attention to this issue and ensured a clean canopy shape in this area.

 

New Strut Shape:
The new struts, North call it the STREAMLINE STRUT are larger in the front for a more rigid connection with the leading edge tube. The quarter struts are thinner for less drag and weight, and because the need for rigidity is least at this point. The thin quarter stuts give the Rebel some of the flexibility and lower weight of a 3-strut kite without the big losses of range, speed, boost and top end that 3-strut kites suffer from.

 

Tunable Bar Pressure:
The 2013 Rebel features an adjustment in the back line bridle that permits the rider to opt for greater or lesser bar pressure. Low bar pressure reduces strain on arms and makes turn initiation easier, but gives less feedback about kite position and load condition. Higher bar pressure is a little more athletic and is often preferred by more experienced riders.

 

Bar Pressure and Turn Initiation:
A kite with low bar pressure often seems to require very little pressure for turn initiation. A kite with high bar pressure is the opposite. The 2013 Rebel has slightly lower bar pressure than the 2011, and slightly easier turn initiation. This is something North didn't want to overdo because then the kite would fail to deliver good bar feedback.

 

Improved Construction:
Most obvious of the new construction elements in the 2013 Rebel is the element we call the "TE Force Spread” a layer of wave-shaped cloth situated at the boundary between our durable 50-gram D2 canopy ripstop and our super-tough 160-gram trailing edge Dacron. The dissimilar cloth weights between the two materials can result in excessive flexing and thus weakening of the ripstop just in front of the Dacron. The addition of the "TE Force Spread" layer mitigates and spreads the flexing of the ripstop and prolongs the life of the kite.

 

The new Rebel has a beefed up leading edge construction that allows for more durability at high inflation pressures. Frankly, one of the big advantages inflated kites have over ramair kites is relatively high inflation pressure. Pressure gives better shape stability and responsiveness to bar input. Being able to pump to a higher pressure has no downside. Other details, such as scuff pads that cover stitching and improved Lazy-Pump valves help ensure the Rebel is built to last.

 

Turning Speed:
Sizes 10 and up in the 2013 Rebel turn a bit easier, faster and more smoothly than the 2013. Sizes 9 and down have slightly easier turn initiation and are smoother while turning, but overall turning speed is about the same. Owing to an adjustment in canopy shape between tip and quarter struts, there‘s less luffing and fluttering near the tips in a turn, so turning speed after the initiation phase is faster and smoother.


Small Sizes:
North have gone for a bit more depower in sizes 6 to 8 by changing the canopy profile to a more draft-forward shape. This change makes the small sizes absorb gusts better and gives them a less aggressive feel. They‘re still quick and responsive. Just not harsh and unforgiving.

 

New Arc in 5 Metre:
With the 5-meter North intentionally designed the leading edge arc to not match the trailing edge arc. This mismatch would be undesirable in a large kite, as it would lead to inefficiency and a mushy feel. However, since small kites like a 5-metre tend to feel too crisp and unforgiving, the arc mismatch is appropriate.

 

Speed:
Though the Rebel won the 2011 Kiteboard Race World Championship, it really is just a wave and all-around kite and pretty much none of the testing for the 2011 model involved race boards. That said, the 2013 Rebel is a bit faster than the 2011 and 2012. This improvement comes from refinements in profile depth, angle of attack and tip shape. That said, the canopy profile changes made in sizes 8 and smaller of the 2013 Rebel make those sizes faster and better for racing than they were in previous years.

 

Key Features:

 

• Perfect for Freeride / Wave Riding
• Loaded 5th Line Concept
• Short and Direct depower stroke
• Adaptive Tip Feedback Option
• Sheeting Force for different bar pressure options
• Lazy One-Pump System
• Floating centre strut
• Easy Relaunch Bungees
• Self Rescue Handles for easy water packdown and swim
• All sizes have greater structural stability and a more solid feel
• All sizes have lower drag, less flutter and better depower
• All sizes have stronger, more repeatable construction
• Small sizes are softer and more forgiving
• Middle sizes crisper in feel and more stable in the air
• Large sizes are crisper in feel
• Direct and fast following steering commands, even completely depowered
• Low drag design

 

**Prices shown are kite only - includes bag and FREE PUMP**

 

Complete with FREE North PUMP and Sandbag:

 

 

	* A Harness is required to fly this kite - click for harnesses >>
	* You can learn how-to setup and fly water relaunchable kites using the Kiteboarding Progression DVD - click for info >>

Wind Range

Model	Projected Area (sq m)	Aspect Ratio	Wind Range (knots)	Skill Level
5.0	3.3	4.9	21-40	Beg / Exp
6.0	3.9	5.0	19-38	Beg / Exp
7.0	4.5	5.0	17-36	Beg / Exp
8.0	5.1	5.0	16-34	Beg / Exp
9.0	5.6	5.0	15-32	Beg / Exp
10.0	6.2	5.0	14-30	Beg / Exp
11.0	6.9	5.0	13-29	Beg / Exp
12.0	7.5	5.0	12-27	Beg / Exp
13.0	8.2	5.0	11-25	Beg / Exp
14.0	8.6	5.1	10-23	Beg / Exp

 

 

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Depower Control Bar

Riders of all levels, from pros to newcomers, will all gain substantial advantages from the new North Trust Bar 5th Element system.   Safety - perform all moves with safety leash Water Start - without swimming Performance - increased performance due to wider wind range   The 5th Element will come already set up so there are no hassles on your first day and it doesn’t take any more effort to wind up or unwind them, and you don’t feel anything else but better performance when flying them.   All kites can be flown with the same bar, just the short line attached in the middle of the leading edge has to be adjusted to the different kite sizes. Instructions will be attached to all bars or upgrades.

Safety: The 5th Element line set permits anyone, from novice to pro, to easily and conveniently use a kite leash. The leash can be short and inconspicuous, or it can be a long handle-pass leash like the pros use. In either case, releasing the chickenloop quick-release while leashed-in causes the kite to depower immediately and totally and with no line tangles.   Whether you ride unhooked, spin, try a water relaunch for the first time or practice a handle pass, all maneuvers, including the latest tricks, can now be performed with the safety leash of the 5th Element. As soon as you pull the Quick Release or let go of the bar it slips up the safety line. The kite is then completely depowered and comes down without twisting the lines. One additional benefit of the 5th Element is that it makes dragging upwind to reach a lost board much easier.

Waterstart: When the kite is on the water after you crashed or let go of the bar, the 5th Element system allows you to relaunch without swimming a) Keeping tension on the middle line, reload the chickeloop if necessary, and hook in if you want. b) To get started again, use the middle line to pull the bar toward you. c) If you pull the back lines simultaneously, the kite will slowly come off the water. d) The harder you pull on the side of the bar, the faster and lower the kite will start in. e) If you only pull gently, the kite will move as usual to the edge of the wind window for relaunch. f) No unsafe pulls or drags. No more swimming!

Performance: The 5th Element stabilizes the kite’s arc and thus clearly increases performance. Enhanced profile stiffness brings considerable advantages in depowered situations and increases the kite’s wind range. As a result, the kite flies closer to the wind window and responds more directly to steering impulses.   While arc-shaped inflatable kites have a marvellous simplicity, they also have a tendency to change shape as the wind increases and decreases and as load goes from front lines to back lines or vice versa. While it's possible to control such unstable tendencies in conventional four-line kites, such control comes at a cost: more drag.   The 5th Element line set offers a low-drag solution to maintaining kite shape stability, thereby permitting higher performance in every respect. 5th Element-equipped kites have greater high end, greater range, and quicker turning.   Because of the better high end they also have better lift, which makes for higher jumps. Because low end power is in no way reduced by the 5th Element line set, such kites also have excellent hang time.

 

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Reviews

Solid with no flutter! - Charlie Railton >>

 

So far I have been out on the 9 and the 12m, both moderately powered.

 

The kite has more reinforcement where it needs it and oozes the North solid build quality. I flew the kite both on the 2012 bar and the 2013 bar, this year's bar really does feel a great deal lighter and enhances the whole flying experience.

 

In the air, the Rebel is solid with no flutter through any redirection at all. There is quite a big change in the flying charachteristics on last years, a fast kite accelerating to the edge of the window and is unbelievably smooth in getting there.

 

Other key qualities of the Rebel have remained with full steering while de-powered, really simple re-launch, loaded 5th line safety, huge floaty jumps and big wind range.

.

The first noticeable difference with the 2013 5th element control bar is the weight, metal parts have now been replaced by lighter weight materials and it really shows a difference. I'm quite shocked by how it make the flying experience better.

 

The bar addresses a few of the gripes I had with the previous incarnations, the first being that it is now really easy to use the rotating head of the iron heart to unspin the lines after a lot of rotations. Previously this was nearly impossible to do on the fly and the worry was that the 5 line would not move freely. They have also given the 5th (or mini 5th) a channel through the new vario cleat, meaning it can't get jammed in the cleat another winner for me!

 

So have you ever had to replace the de-power line in the trust bar before? Only an Allen key needed! The new removable bar insert looks as though it will be a lot kinder to the de-power line which should increase it's life also.

 

You have probably read about the clever new bar ends and the new way of changing the line lengths inside the bar ends. It is really easy to alter the bar width with the kite in the air, really useful if the wind picks up and you want a less reactive kite to work on a particular trick. I did even manage to change the line lengths with the kite sat on the water, no more pulling the floats to get the the adjustment knots.

 

This has to be the most engineered bar on the market, what else would you expect from North!

 

Another Great Rebel! - Charlie Railton >>

 

I was lucky enough to have a pre-launch play with the new Rebel 2012. This year I have been using (and loving) the 2011 model so the new model had a lot to live up to!

North have the most sold kite in the world with the Rebel, so why change anything? Well, all the seasoned Rebel users will be pleased to hear that the flying characteristics are the same, good stability, amazing up wind performance, loads of float in the jumps (possibly a bit more than the 2011) and responsive turning.

So before you ask - No, North have not just put new graphics on the same kite. There have been some construction changes, the zips in the struts have gone, last years kite found occasionally found these to be a point of failure. Some changes have been made to the bladder material too I believe. But beyond some build changes the big addition comes in the form of a knot adjustment on the trailing edge bridal.

 

Really simple, 2 knots, 1 for more bar pressure (or the same as the 2011 kite) and one for lighter bar pressure. When I got back on the '11 Rebel earlier this year, the first thing that hit me was the bar pressure, I soon got used to it's not to many people's taste. This new feature on the kite actually works and gives a noticeable change in bar pressure. For me the heavier bar setting will be used for freestyle and free ride sessions, and the lighter bar setting will be the mode of choice for race board and wave sessions.

Another great Rebel in my opinion, and if I were Mr North, I’d be pretty certain that the 2012 model will keep the top spot for kite sales worldwide.

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