A password will be e-mailed to you.
Photo Andre Magarao

Photo Andre Magarao

Visit Crazyfly for more info.

Get full 2015 gear info from 26 brands in the TKB 2015 Buyers Guide.

Crazyfly has one of the deepest board lines in the industry. For 2015, the company has 52 different twin tip and surf models to choose from with a few new exciting additions and tweaks. Crazyfly kites did not change that much but some modifications were made to the Sick bar. Crazyfly USA’s Brent Regan shares what Crazyfly has to offer in 2015.

What are the biggest changes for the 2015 line of kites, and who is the target audience for each model? Besides the bar changes, the kites for 2015 have some differences. All three models now have the turbo inflate/ deflate valve, which is an oversized screw valve for same-point super- quick inflation and deflation of the one-pump system. All kites also have brand new custom Crazyfly 90° one-pump valves, manufactured right there in Slovakia for high quality control of materials unlike some previous valves. The Tango and Cruze, which were new models for 2014, did not change in overall design shape for this year, but the Sculp got a bridle system re-design for the most direct feel and persistent stability yet. Also, all kites now are made with the highest quality Dacron from Germany and Teijin TechnoForce Ripstop from Japan for ultimate performance and durability, as well as other high-quality materials like Kevlar® reinforcements at high-load zones. They all use Italian Antal® brand o-rings instead of pulleys for 2015 as well, so goodbye pulleys getting jammed and hello responsive direct feeling.

tango-2015

The Sculp is still Crazyfly’s main all-around weapon where the majority of riders will feel most comfortable in standard “good” 15-25 knots conditions. The combination of depower, turning speed, stability, and ease of use make it ideal for freeride kiters from beginner to advanced, while its fast and smooth looping and lift allow freestyle riders to still push the speed and jumping ability of the kite with confidence. The Tango is a true crossover kite whose completely unique Nifty Bridle system allows you to adjust the actual shape of the kite according to the settings in the bridle itself. These adjustments change the shape, power, and lift enough to make it more ideal for wave, freeride/freestyle, or wake riding specifically. A truly unique kite with mass appeal in it’s variety, the Tango has more low end and looping power than the Sculp and so it is better suited for intermediate and advanced riders who focus more heavily in one discipline or often crossover from multiple disciplines. The Cruze is pretty opposite the do-it-all approach in the other two models in that it was completely designed specifically for light wind riding, and that’s its sole target.

sculp-2015-orange

How does having a dedicated light wind platform like the Cruze allow you to meet the needs of riders in lighter wind locations? The Cruze fills the void for Crazyfly that has quickly become a huge market share for kiteboarding. 2010 saw some of the first light-wind specific kites I can recall, but Crazyfly was just starting its venture into kite manufacturing after having made only boards for over 10 years at that point. By 2013 we were seeing many kiters finding new love of the light wind because so many areas have long light wind seasons, and the demand to keep riding year-round was finally being met by most manufacturers. crazyfly made 15 and 17M versions of the Sculp in 2013, but light-wind riders had already become savvy to the nuances of light-wind riding, and the benefits that light-wind specific kites could provide. So for 2014 the Cruze was completed and released having been designed beginning to end specifically for the demands and nuances of lighter winds. This is very important in the world market to provide something that really works in these conditions, not just a larger version of something designed around a smaller-size higher wind platform. The Cruze fills in this role nicely with tons of consistent pulling force, stability, and direct handling in light breezes and lighter lulls.

cruze-2015

Last year’s Sick Bar saw a new inner quick release mechanism and small changes to the fit and finish. Any major changes for this year? Yes, as Crazyfly is constantly looking at r&d for products, and since the design team and manufacturing is all together in their factory, it’s very easy to make modifications, test them, approve them, and put them into regular production quickly and efficiently. That’s one of the benefits of them owning their own factory and making only crazyfly products. The depower line is now sheathed in a PU tubing with the safety flag-out line running through this. It was time for this since it is becoming the industry standard among top brands. The clam cleat is a new original design as well, and has velcro on the side to hold the strap neatly when depowered so it’s not flopping around all over the place. While simple and clean has been the mantra of the Sick Bar, it doesn’t hurt that these upgrades were approved and certified again by Bureau Veritas with an AFNOR Safety certificate, Int’L NF S52-503. That’s a fancy way of saying it’s about the safest bar in the world and has passed the international Standards testing to prove it. Crazyfly is proud to give you this confidence in their product, and proud that all bar parts, lines, etc. are still 100% made in Europe with European-made parts.

sick-bar-2015 - side

Crazyfly has one of the deepest selections of boards, last year you had 14 twin tip models and three surf models comprising 48 total different board/size options. How has the offering changed for 2015? Yes, incredibly there is a new twin tip model for 2015 and three completely new surf models, though the previous three surf models are gone. Some sizes have changed in different models; for example the Raptor Pro lost the 127cm design, but gained a 135 option, the Pro Tour dropped the 133 size, while the Allround added a size. Overall, our 2015 board line has 15 twin tip models and three surf models for a total of 52 different board/size options. It’s kind of crazy to think about, but I love to talk to someone about their specific needs; their weight, conditions, style, attribute desires in order to really narrow the field quickly and find the perfect option for that individual. It’s great to do that process with this kind of range and see it result in the happiest customers anywhere.

New for 2015 is the Allround double, a tandem board based on the Allround’s shaping and construction. This board of course is laid up super thick and beefy to support the standard 250-300 lbs. That two riders will give it, but it comes with two sets of pads and straps and no handle compared to the regular Allround’s setup. When the tandem setup isn’t needed, one set of pads and straps can be removed if desired for single-person use. Crazyfly is working on a larger size as well for easier two-person riding and heavier total weights.

Also worth mentioning on the twin tip side is the Elite which was actually new for 2014, but very late in the season. We didn’t get the Elite boards until summer, so it’s still a very new and exciting product. Besides being the lightest serial production board in the world, the Elite is one of the most unique, decadent, and awe-inspiring twin tips as well. With a $1400 sticker price, custom-tailored hard-foam case, three sets of fins for different needs, pads and straps made just for this board, and other goodies thrown in, it’s an impressive status symbol from the get-go, though the construction is what makes it the Elite. It has a unique wood type in the core compared to any other Crazyfly board and a unique carbon/ resin layup using only a single carbon layer on each side (top and bottom), pre-pregnated with a carbon nanotube infused resin for the best molecular bonding and perfect resin ratio. This high-tech construction allows both the use of only a single layer of carbon (so it’s not too stiff) and the ability to have no top or bottom foil sheets on the board at all, dramatically reducing the weight even well beyond the Raptor LTD’s light weight. What you touch is the actual HMX-CF carbon/resin itself, which is the world’s highest tensile-strength fiber. So while the Gullwing double-concave bottom shape (for enhanced upwind ability and softer landings) and outline are similar to the Raptor LTD, the construction itself is as elite as the name implies, giving it dynamic flex response for beautiful pop but a softer flex in the chop than the LTD.

Any major construction or other changes for 2015? Yes, all the twin tips now have Synergy Sidewalls instead of the ABS rails Crazyfly has used for years. ABS makes for an excellent rail easily rounded or beveled, but the Synergy sidewalls is much more hardy, with a durability level resistant to dents and dings we haven’t seen before. rough handlers or machines can ding board rails before it even gets in the water, so we wanted to offer lifelong toughness against the perils of shipping, traveling, and riding around sandbars and rocks. Synergy sidewalls was the answer for this.

In addition, a few models have changed rather dramatically. The Pro Tour, Girls Pro, and Nuke were all changed in shaping and accessories this year. The Pro Tour went from a single-concave bottom to double concave with four V tips, and now comes with 3cm fins and is only compatible with boots. The Girls Pro went from single concave to quad-concave shape with Hexa tip channels, like the Bulldozer shaping, and also comes with 3cm fins and is only compatible with boots. The Nuke went from single concave to double concave with four V tips similar to the Pro Tour (though still a continuous rocker instead of the Pro Tour’s three-stage rocker), comes with 1cm and 3cm fins, and also is only compatible with boots. The Bulldozer construction and shape stayed the same (quad concave to Hexa tips), but is now compatible with SEC pads and straps (included), standard DURA pads and straps, or boots, and it comes with 3cm fins and 5cm Razor fins. The Skim board now has a straighter outline and a wider blunter nose for improved upwind and low-end performance.

Photo Andre Magarao

Photo Andre Magarao

For 2015 you have added a tandem board. Can you tell us about the development of this board? We have been thinking about this idea for a few years now, but the development was taken from analyzing all the feedback we could get from many long-time industry kiters who have experimented with tandem riding and realized how different the needs are from regular boards. Of course the stance width and inserts were considerations for the production of the board, but stiffness, layup, progressive flex patterns, bottom shaping, rocker, riding style, and other considerations also came into play. We really had to try to understand how much difference twice the weight would be on a board. In the end it made more sense to use the Allround shaping for the board rather than a super-flat light wind design so that it would be easy to plane and grab and edge but still feel fun and playful at speed. We think the specifications and size of the Double model will continue to evolve in the next couple years, but having our design team in-house with our own production will prove as beneficial for evolving as it was in the development process. It’s fun to work on something so different like this, but even better to see it working out in the water and grow a demand for a product that just wasn’t around in the past.

You have three different surfboard shapes. What’s the difference between the three models and the type of surf they are intended for? Previously the surf boards were a very small part of the Crazyfly lineup, going from a single board in a single size several years ago to two sizes, to three models in one size each, and finally now to three models, each with two or three size options. They’re all constructed with the latest Bamboo Tech, layering, tucked-in rail, and glassing, and are stocked with high quality dual density EVA foam pads, straps, and Futures® fins. The ATV is as it sounds, an All-Terrain-Vehicle Designed for use in a large variety of conditions from small to big waves. The five-fin setup allows you to chose thruster or quad setups depending on conditions, the medium rocker planes early and builds speed, and the rounded baby-swallow tail gives you great snappy turning. The Strapless model is named such because it was designed specifically for the demands of the new school strapless freestyle riders, though it does come with straps in case you need them to get to that point of riding expertise or want them for light-wind riding. The Strapless is the lightest of the three surf models but has the widest outline and most volume of the range. These characteristics combined with the flatter rocker and thruster fin setup make this board work well for small waves and get up and go very early in light winds. The Classic model is purely for surf riding. It’s long, more narrow, has a rounded pintail, and comes with a thruster setup: This board is designed for tons of power and control speeding down those big, fast, powerful waves.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? It seems like I’ve said a mouthful already, but with such a large range it’s really nice to look at the website to see all the little differences, and of course we’re always happy to talk to people about the differences between certain models as it pertains to their individual needs, so give us a call anytime.