Hadlow Pro Kite Review: Airhead Surf Diary
Dan Sweeney Airhead team rider sent us his view on the Hadlow Pro kite 2008….. I have not checked spelling so hope its all ok…
So over to Dan Sweeney…….
“Well I have been raving and waiting for flexifoil to bring out the kite that Aaron (Hadlow 4x world kitesurf champ) has been using for the 2007 PKRA world tour, and well here it is and man…what a kite!
The kite has been made for intermediate to expert riders wanting a kite to perform in all areas from big kiteloops and unhooked new school tricks wanting to take kiteboarding to a new level and bringing the sport forward like Aaron has!
As I took the kite out of its box when I and Andy got down the beach, I could tell it was going to be awesome!
The kite has a very nice colour scheme and cool graphics on the wingtips with the kite size, and S for the 7, M for the 9, L for the 11 and XL for the 13 obviously meaning small, medium, large and extra large. This is a nice looking extra to give it a distinctive look. The one pump system is great as it nice and simple with arrows on the valves saying if it’s the dump or in value, also Flexifoil have put the dump valve on the right hand side wing tip so you can roll the kite up in one.
The leading edge of the kite I have to say is super thin for fast turning and quick through the loops, also making the kite so fast is the huge wig tips for fast response.
The hadlow pro has two flying settings, the “ah 6th line” mode or the standard 5th line mode, Aaron currently uses the bridled 6th line system, as it offers loads or power and bigger more powerful kiteloops and less depower and simplicity as you only have 4 lines and no “total depower” but using a handlepass leash.
I would recommend the 5th line mode as in high winds you have the 5line for safety and relaunch, where as the ah pro mode, can be harder for relaunch as your on four line and there isn’t very good safety unless you are very confident with using a handlepass leash attachment. The only alterative on the ah pro setting to the handlepass leash would be to clip your leash to the “oh shit” handle which is not 100% reliable. Some times realauch may occur to be a little bit harder as it’s such a thin leading edge but I didn’t have any problems and found it was keen to get back into the air!
Bar:
The ah pro bar is just awesome in my eyes with every thing you need on the bar for what you will be using it for but simplified.
The Chicken loop is a great size for unhooking and hooking back in with ease, a handlepass leash attachment ring (out of the way of the bar just above the chicken loop) the standard flexifoil release which is still working great, fithline ring, stopper ball for when unhooking to keep the chickenloop solid, PU covered chickenloop line which comes standard this time which is great as you wont have to replace the line, super grippe bar colour coded for left and right, floats on the bar leader lines for when performing handlepassses such as front mobes(not trying them yet though!) the leash tends to get raped round the bar end and when you let go sends you kite into a death spin!(the floats will prevent this happening) Also followed by “oh shit” safety handles. 22meter lines which are a perfect length for mega loops, handle passes also super strong lines which will defiantly won’t snap! Plus if your riding other flexifoil kites such as the ion 2 the bar woks perfectly as the day the 11 demo hadlow pro came it was blowing 28knots + so I took the ah pro bar out on my 6 meter ion 2.
Over all I was seriously stoked with this kite as there is nothing you can complain about and the kite is just incomparable to other kites! If you’re doing kiteloops and wanting to take your riding to the next level this is the kite for you!
With a combination of super fast responsive turning from the high aspect kite with huge wing tips for big jumps and kiteloops with a well made bar with everything you need to take kiteboarding to the next level I truly believe this is the best kite I have ever used and would recommend to every one at the intermediate to expert level.
Overall this is a truly well thought out brilliant product ready to show riders every where what kitesurfing is all about!
Get out there and try one for your self.
By Dan Sweeny- Air-head team rider and soon to be riding the hadlow pro model.”