I’ve always enjoyed every aspect of Kiteboarding. I think it goes back to my addiction to power kiting.
As a result, Â you will find me on a twin tip, on a strapless surfboard, on wake skate in strong winds in soft winds in waves on flat, getting stoke just from being out there and having fun whatever the conditions. (haven’t tried foiling cause it’s so big and I have the luxury of riding windy spots most of the time)
In the past I used to enjoy my Peter Lynn “Swell” as a “do it all” kite, it rides magnificently in the waves, but it jumps and loops and does all the other stuff pretty well too.
But then came an Escape v5 prototype. More C shaped than its previous incarnations, it had something different from the Swell that got me hooked. It was that vertical lift, and the smoothness in the loops. I just had to admit that for megalooping it did have an edge.
After working with the designer on the V5 and the V6, I just had to have it in my quiver.
The tradition has been carried into the “Escape V7”
It is such a smooth kite! you notice it immediately in flight. Compare it with most other kites in the sky and you will notice that it has less flutter and that the canopy looks smoother in the air. As a result it is a super stable kite, super predictable. Besides those attributes, the fixed bridle gives it that connected feeling in whatever input you throw at it and the bar feel is just perfect, not too heavy, not too light.
Last year I ended up with an 11m Escape v6 in Sardinia and absolutely loved the kite for airstyle and general free ride. This year I will be there with Escape v7 13m, 11m and 9m. I already had a few session on the 13m and was pleasantly surprised at the manoeuvrability of the kite for its size.
For my weight I’ve always maintained the the best size boosting kite would be an 8 and with the addition of 8m and 10m, I finally have that size to throw around! I’ve had a few outings with it and YES, it is as I expected.
It feels like a 7m but has more hang time. I have not been overpowered on it yet, so still to find its top end, but the loops have been an absolute blast!
The “Escape v7” as just been tweaked. There is no radical change in the kite, but yes it’s smoother and even less flutter in those big loops. I’ve also been messing around with line length and getting some great results for different applications especially for radical megaloops.
I strongly suggest you try this kite for yourself.
Ced
Thanks for the pics to M. Borsato
