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Blade Kiteboarding 2012

For 2012 Blade simplified their kite line by removing the Vertigo, which was possible because of two bridle configurations available on the 2012 Trigger. Blade is also offering the Fat Lady, a light wind-specific kite. Blade’s Yaron Barlev answered our questions about the latest Blade products.

At first glance, the 2012 Blade kite line looks like a refined version of the 2011 line. Is this the case or are there any large changes that we missed? Why has the Vertigo been removed from the line?

Every year we approach the design of the new line starting with what works well and what we still need to improve. The 2011 Trigger was a great kite that generated fantastic feedback from customers and magazines but we knew we could make a few changes and make it better. Blade kites are known for their quick turning but we were able to make changes that made the 2012 Trigger turn even faster while still keeping the direct feel that our customers love and move the kite further into the window to give less tension on the back lines.

After lengthy testing, we came up with two bridle configurations that we really loved. One configuration is more powerful and direct which will be great for most riders and the other is the wave configuration which is essential for wave riding performance. It’s a great solution both for freestyle and wave riders and especially for those who love both. With the development of the two bridle configurations, we realized that the 2012 line didn’t need the Vertigo model anymore since the new Trigger is essentially two kites in one package.

Photo courtesy Blade Kiteboarding

What are some of the specific improvements over the 2011 line?

The most obvious improvement is the two bridle configurations that will now come with each Trigger kite which will make life much easier for wave riders. We have also made a number of improvements on the kite’s construction including new aerodynamic 3D molded guards and new attachment point construction to beef up the kite’s leading edge.

Please describe the target rider for each of the 2012.

Want More? Get the rest plus info on 2012 gear from 18 more brands in the TKB 2012 Buyer’s Guide.

Choose your version of the 2012 Buyer’s Guide below. You can get a .pdf file for you to view on the device of your choice or you can also download the Buyer’s Guide directly to your mobile device through The Kiteboarder App.