Description

The North Evo 2012 continues to combine the typical characteristics of a Delta design. Easy handling with C-kite feeling, suitable both for freestyle and freeride, a large wind range and easy water relaunch make this kite extremely versatile in use. It bridges the gap between the North Rebel and the Vegas.

 

The North Evo is quiet possibly the most versatile kite in the North range; a crossover kite that performs as well in the surf as it does for unhooking and throwing the latest new-school tricks. Smooth, predictable power delivery and steady C-like bar feel invite you to unhook and push your new-school moves to the next level, throw massive kite loops or boost big airs.

 

The Evo 2012 also offers excellent depower ability and quick, predictable turning and drift ideal for the more surf-minded kiters. Whatever the day brings, you will always be prepared to take advantage of the conditions. Whether you´re into stomping freestyle tricks, shredding waves, jumping, cruising or all of the above, the Evo's got you covered!

 

Being the perfect crossover weapon between freeride and newschool freestyle, the 2012 Evo has a huge performance range to tickle nearly every rider’s fancy!

 

Precise kite loops allow you to throw every variation of kite loop to your heart’s content. Amazing low-end power gets you up and riding in light wind and the auto re-launch lets you go for broke without a second thought of getting your kite back up; Simply let go of the bar and the kite will do the work for you!

 

New relaunch bungees prevent any lines from snagging on the wingtips during re-launch and construction details have been improved to prevent wear and tear. The Evo can be ridden on 4 or 5 lines depending on your preference. The Evo is easier than ever. EVO Epic!

 

The new profile for the North EVO 2012 is more powerful and has improved the upwind ability with added low wind riding in the larger sizes. Now complete with the Lazy Pump system.

 

Impressive light wind ability, enormous range, forgiving flying characteristics and easy bar feeling are just some of the unique features of the new North EVO 2012. Continuous EVOlution!

 

North Evo 4 / 5 Line control:

The North Evo 2012 can be ridden on 4 or 5 line control bars, uniting new-school and free-ride in one kite. The Evo‘s delta shape offers great sheet and-go riding, excellent wind range and high de-power.

 

The overall shape helps the Evo turn quickly and predictably while the new bridle geometry stabilizes the arc for a soft, consistent bar feel and extreme back-stall resistance.

 

The 4-line mode boasts an innovative new safety system and bar-feel prefect for those who prefer soft, easy handling.

 

In 5-line mode the 5th Element additionally stabilizes the arc, providing very direct bar-feel for new-school riding and the ultimate 5th line safety.

 

Auto re-launch means that you can go for it and never have to worry about re-launchng your kite. Just take your hands off the bar and let the kite do the work for you!

 

For 2012 the EVO features 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:

 

 

 

Construction:

The North Evo 2012 is built tough to take some thrashings and the new connection between strut and leading edge easily withstands the high loads of the delta shape.

 

The North Evo's precise steering response always delivers predictable and controlled jumps even if your take-off is not perfect.

 

The innovative Bridge Profile geometry optimizes airflow and gets you up and planing in extremely light air even when the Evo is fully over-sheeted.

 

This profile balances the load distribution around the leading edge which prevents the Evo from ever back-stalling and is the key to it's acceleration in light wind.

 

With its simple bridle configuration the Evo can be used with a four-line bar or with the North 5th Element Control Bar.

 

In 4-Line mode the Evo is ideal for everyone who favours easy water relaunch and simple handling, while the 5th Element mode additionally stabilizes the kite for optimized performance, direct handling and the best safety.

 

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. Northhave paid particular attention to this issue and ensured a clean canopy shape in this area.

 

Tunable Bar Pressure:
The 2012 EVO 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 2012 EVO has slightly lower bar pressure than the 2012, 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.

 

Features:

• Good light wind performance
• Delta-Orientated Design
• Adaptive Tips
• Huge Wind Range
• Easy Unhooking Ability
• Forgiving flying characteristics
• Fast turning High durability
• 4-or 5-line setup
• Bridge Profile design
• Kevlar reinforcements
• Solid Dacron trailing edge
• Sizes: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

Aramid Reinforcements:

For 2012 are the Aramid Reinforcement, added in highly reinforced exposed areas such as the Micro Batten pockets and the leading edge scuff pads. These reinforcements reduce wear from everyday use, and increase the durability and life of your kite.

 

5th Element Line with 4-Line Safety:
The North Evo 2012 can be flown with four or with five lines, the fifth line provides 100% depower and maximum safety even in high wind conditions.

 

Kook Proof Connectors:
These connectors prevent the number one cause of kite accidents by ensuring that the front lines cannot be attached to the back of the kite and back lines cannot be attached to the front.

 

Deflator Pin:
The low-drag ribs require a high inflation pressure, thus all valves at the chambers of the North EVO 2012 have a deflator pin. Thanks to the worked-in drainage functionality, the air can be let out within a few seconds.

 

Self Rescue Handles:

These loops attached to the inside of the wingtips make it easier to hold the kite for body drag rescue.

 

Low-Drag High Pressure Ribs:
It's not true that all types and sizes of kite need to have as little aerodynamic drag as possible. However North like to control drag by putting it where they want it and elminating it where they don't want it.

 

To the end of elminating undesired drag North have created the lowest drag ribs available.

 

From the low profile and correct orientation of the seams to the small overall diameter and tiny, low turbulence rib ends, the North EVO 2012 ribs are designed to reduce undesirable skin friction and wake drag to a minimum .

 

Segmented Leading Edge:
For all heavily stressed areas, North canopies are manufactured from top quality 170g or 175g Dacron.

 

This material is equipped with the best possible breaking strain characteristics with the usual kite materials, and moreover, it will never delaminate.

 

Relaunch Bungies:

In order to make the relaunch easier and to avoid any possible line tangling, North have added Relaunch Bungies at the kite tips.

 

The bungies keep the lines flying slick against the inside of the leading edge, preventing any line going over the top of the kite during the relaunch.

 

Leading Edge Bridles:
The leading edge bridles creates the necessary stability for the North EVO's consistent and direct handling.

 

**Prices shown are kite only - includes bag, and pump**

 

North Kiteboarding North EVO:

 

North Kiteboarding North EVO:

 

North Kiteboarding North EVO Features:

 

North Kiteboarding North EVO Kite Relaunch:

 

North Kiteboarding Trust Bar 5th Element Control Bar Features:

 

* A Harness is required to fly this kite - click for harnesses >>

 

Wind Range

Size (m2)	Wind Strength (knots)	Aspect Ratio	Projected Area (m2)
4	24-46	5.2	2.3
5	22-42	5.1	2.9
6	20-40	5.0	3.5
7	18-37	4.9	4.1
8	18-35	4.9	4.7
9	15-31	4.8	5.3
10	14-28	4.8	5.8
11	13-27	4.8	6.4
12	12-26	4.8	6.9
13	11-25	4.8	7.5
14	11-23	4.8	8.1

 

You can purchase spares for this item here >>

Depower Control Bar

North 2012 EVO Trust 5th Element Control Bar System:

 

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.

 

You can purchase spares for this item here >>

Reviews

North have addressed the needs of every type of rider! Charlie Railton >>

 

The new North EVO is changing its position in the North range to be pitched between the Rebel and the Vegas under the categories of freeride/freestyle & Wave. Jaime Herraiz has had a lot of involvement with the development of this kite to ensure that it performs and it really does.

 

The build is North’s usual high standard with a new rib design that is triple stitched plus even more reinforcement for the tips, trailing and leading edge.

 

Again the North EVO can be used as a 4 or a 5 line kite. The 5th line has no function other than added safety (not the case on the Rebel). 5th line usage is a personal choice; North strongly recommend that it is used on all their kites for maximum safety. The North EVO gives you the choice to ride 4 lines if you surf large open beaches with reliable wind, or to opt for a 5 line bar setup if your local spots have more obstacles and are susceptible to gusty winds.

 

On the water the North EVO works well. As expected it’s got a great wind range and the bottom end is impressive. The bar pressure is lighter than last years kite and gives you good feedback as to what the kite is doing. I mentioned that the kite fits between the Rebel and the Vegas, this means that it has attributes of both. It is similar to the Rebel in that is has a larger wind range, meaning a 2-kite quiver is more viable but then its got characteristics of the Vegas such as working well unhooked, producing solid kiteloops and being super stable when you need it to be in those more technical tricks.

 

North have addressed the needs of every type of rider with their range of kites, the North EVO will answer the needs of many kitesurfers and could easily become the most popular kite in the range, if you are considering the Vegas and don’t want to stretch to a 3-kite quiver then this could be the tool but equally this could be your post IKO/BKSA beginner course kite.

 

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