2021 North Reach Kite

Excellent kite.

Awesome

I've been kiting for 15 years and I have had my share of bad kites. I bought a new 9m kite and found myself riding my 11m way overpowered and then pumping a 7m, just to avoid having to ride my 9m. I finally dropped by Real and picked up a new North Reach 9m and it is now my favorite kite! The wind today started at 22mph but quickly ramped up to 28mph, so it was really a 7m day but the 9m Reach worked great. The Reach is very stable and easy to ride overpowered. Just add a little depower and all is good. The kite moves smoothly through the wind window without any stalls or hesitations. The kite drifts great on a toe-side transition and stays powered all the way thru the wind window. Even at 28 mph, I had full control over my speed. I can't believe I waited this long to get my new favorite kite. I have so much confidence on the Reach. This is a fantastic kite!

I've used this kite in all kinds of conditions, wind speeds, disciplines, and teaching lessons at REAL. It's a kite that I use with a lot of my students because it is so stable, user-friendly, and will handle a wide wind range. Compared to the Orbit, it's less sporty and doesn't pack a huge punch, which is great for people who are looking for a kite that will allow them to cruise easily, or more lightweight riders. However, I've also ridden this kite very powered up and it has surprised me with how well it boosts and handles overpowered. Good hangtime and responsive steering. I've even used it to hit features in the slider park.

I took these kites with me to Puerto Rico for endless kitesurfing sessions, twin tipping, and foiling. It performed well in every category, and made it so easy for me to have my quiver dialed in without having to bring a bunch of different models. For the waves, it was good enough to get me some epic sessions at Shacks beach -- but if you're looking for a wave-specific kite, I would recommend the Carve. I love the light bar feel of this kite for foiling, and it down loops easily without a ton of force.

It's amazing how high quality and versatile this kite is.

Got the 12m to replace my old (2015?) Best Roca.. what a difference:
Lots of power, feels like a size bigger
Very good upwind performance.
The smooth power delivery between up and down stroke also helps a lot in many ways.
Good turning speed, live in a 'light wind' place, kite stays up and turns well in light conditions.
High and floaty jumps with good kite control.
Good drift/downwind pull for waves and foiling.