“IT’S A STORM CHASE MINDSET”
Ten different shapes have come and gone since we started this project in early 2022. It takes a lot of time to get these types of products tested in 40 knots. There are only so many days a year with really brutal winds. We had to commit to hunting them out. This kite’s definitely got Edge DNA, but with a heavy dash of magic dust that makes it extra special. It’s also a three strut, so everything changes.
VORTEX ULTRA-X DESIGNER, DOM ZIMMERMAN
TESTED TO PERFORM IN THE EXTREME, BUT WHO IS THE VORTEX ULTRA-X REALLY FOR?
If your biggest love is to blast around on a twin-tip sending it big, whether you’re already pulling kite loops, or are serious about learning them, the Vortex is for you.
Lighter in steering and more whippy in its response and turning than the Edge, the Vortex accelerates around its tips, turning very consistently without any pause in flight.
Mixing jaw dropping, super stable lift with ultra-responsive handling, if you’re absolutely dedicated to big air and are a seasoned kite loop specialist, then the Vortex will help you reach the next dimension.
Jump to stunning heights and then pull kite loop combinations with confidence, knowing the Vortex will drive around to catch you every time.
For those looking for extreme performance, the Vortex always delivers intuitive feedback of the kite’s position through the bar and is tuned to continue driving, even accelerating through a second kite loop.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TOP END, THOUGH
Super reactive and light weight handling means the Vortex can be moved with great agility around the window to generate power without causing fatigue in your arms. The Vortex simply feels very intuitive.
The top end control is superb, but you’ll also be impressed by the range of each size. If you’re just gaining confidence with kite loops, the Vortex’s low end performance and turning speed offers the ideal gateway.
Ultra-X: Aluula
We have been working with and testing Aluula on different kite and wing prototypes for three years. Bringing materials together to deliver combined performance and reliable strength without compromising any aspect of build quality is always of utmost priority, and a reason that our returning customers place their trust in our products.
Ultra stiff, Ultra responsive, Ultra reliable, Ultra wow…
In the Vortex we chose to use our strong triple-ripstop canopy cloth with a rigid Aluula air frame. Aluula’s incredible strength, stiffness and light weight qualities have helped deliver positive handling gains, particularly in the low end performance as well as when climbing up through the window, when its manoeuvrability for power and lift is key.
The added stiffness of Aluula materials helps to maintain the Vortex’s designed shape under heavy loads in extreme conditions for optimum handling and long lasting performance; the latter of which is always a crucial part of a design brief for any of our products.
ALUULA SNAPSHOT
Aluula can provide a tensile strength increase of as much as 38% compared to standard material construction, while tear strength is up to seven times greater.
Combining those advantages with the fact that careful integration of Aluula can also deliver up to a 30% weight saving, it’s the right air frame material for the high performance goals we set for the Vortex Ultra-X.
ULTRA CLEAN PROFILE
Integration of Aluula is delivered alongside our double transversal seam that runs parallel to the leading edge. Especially effective in the high lift area of the profile, this creates a beautifully tight and efficient canopy.
The Vortex Ultra-X is the result of a constant in-house design evolution that spans more than 20 years. It is built with our fundamental principles that put testing and reliability at the heart of all our products.
Access to our own factory allows for real prototyping freedom. This, alongside our honest philosophy of only releasing products when they’re truly ready, instead of annually, has helped develop our community of happy customers.
THE JOURNEY – CREATING A SPORTS KITE
WORDS – VORTEX DESIGNER, DOM ZIMMERMAN
“Ten different shapes have come and gone since we started this project in early 2022.
“It takes a lot of time to get these types of products tested in 40 knots. It’s a storm chase mindset and there are only so many days a year with really brutal winds. We had to commit to hunting them out.
“Most of the prototype shapes followed the belief that we needed a solid five strut design to handle extreme winds, but in further adapting the transversal shaping technique that features in our other recent kite designs, like the Zephyr, Reo, Edge and Enduro, we were able to better manage the tension we put into our canopies without needing such a heavy structure.
WHAT YOU FEEL
- Absolute control with super clean handling
- Good response allows the rider to feel where the kite is without looking
- Comfortable front line pull through the harness to maximise edging load
- Very responsive, whippy steering to maximise lift as well as looping potential
- Superb acceleration as the kite turns tightly around its wing tips
- The confidence to pull kite loops immediately and on instinct
- Reliable and quick climb through the window after a loop
- Fingertip control to zig-zag the kite through the sky for perfect landings from height
- Light steering feel, ideal for long sessions in strong or light winds
WHY YOU FEEL IT
- Ultra-X high-spec design
- Rigid, lightweight Aluula air frame delivers benefits in both strong and light winds
- 16 point bridle connection – every segment seam has a bridle line attached
- High-strength, no-stretch Technora bridle line is narrow in diameter and low drag
- Transversal shaping results in very clean and efficient canopy
- Rigid sail battens on trailing edge minimise sail flutter
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