Rider: 70Kg advanced
Style: Freeriding, Surf, Wake, Freestyle
Weather: 17-23
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure: shop rider for KSS Altona




The 2012 Nirvana is Liquid Force's answer to an uncompromised explosive C kite, which is still accessible to all kinds of riders. The kite has a pure c shape with a ultra stong construction for taking a beating while learning your new freestyle tricks. Coming off the Hadlows I found this kite a bit softer and a tad slower in comparison, which I preferred. The relaunch for this kite was super easy; the tips fold in allowing the kite to catch air. I found the kite had a tendency to flip over because of their being too much tension on the 5th line, a self rigged stopper ball would easily stop that. For unhooking this kite excelled, giving you loads of tension to pop but dies out quickly too allow for the pass. Looping was great, it completed a large turning axis rather then a quick pivot. All in all this kites suited to freestyle orientated riders more than anything begin able to take a beating but is accessible to riders just interested in taking their riding to the next level.

Hehe changed the name because last year's HiFi flopped. Anyone ridden these compare with 2009/10 HiFi/HiFiComps?

KSSA - by slower you mean sits further back in window or slower turning? Or both?

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1likeBJ said...

Hehe changed the name because last year's HiFi flopped. Anyone ridden these compare with 2009/10 HiFi/HiFiComps?

KSSA - by slower you mean sits further back in window or slower turning? Or both?

Rider: 85Kg advanced
Style: Freestyle & freeride
Weather: 17-23
Build Quality: 8/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Disclosure: Not affiliated with any shop/brand. I hate more kites than i like, but i like my Torches.

I rode the LF Nirvana 11m at the KSS demo day recently and i'll say it's a damn sweet kite. I spend most of my time on Torches and found the Nirvana very easy to tune in to.

It's a little slower to turn than i'm used to in an 11m kite, but once you commit to the turn it comes around promptly in a nice outside-the-tip radial turn. Whilst hooked in it sits midway forward in the window, but as soon as you unhook it drops back nicely and waits for you to load up against it. I've no idea if there are turning speed adjustments on the kite, but it felt like it was set up for freestyle leaning towards wake, with the slight delay in turning response perfect for catching a pass and recovering before you plow the kite into the water.

The bar pressure was different to what i'm used to with the Torches. Even compared to my 2011 Torch 11m which is renouned for being a little on the heavy side, the Nirvana 11m was about the same pressure wise but seemed to wear my arms out a little quicker than i would have expected. Where is the bar pressure on the Torch feels almost linear with bar throw, the Nirvana had moderate bar pressure as soon as you pulled it off the top stopper.

Unhooked, the Nirvana was a champ! It really powers up nicely when you charge in with a bit of speed, and will continue to pull reassuringly even after you've left the water. It does slack off nicely at the apex of your pop, and then the lines tension up again giving a really nice smooth landing. It took me a few cracks to get used to it's characteristics but found it very predictable and smooth; not violent at all.

I also had a chance to demo the Envy 12m and the NRG 10m, all of which are very different kites. If you're a freestyler then i'd recommend trying the Nirvana and the NRG, and if you're a heavyweight freerider then try the Envy.

Thanks to Steve and Harry at KSS Altona for giving me a crack at their entire demo fleet that day. The big surprise for me was how much i liked the Fluid Ego 2012. Very highly recommend giving one a try as you might be surprised at how much you like it!

Rider: 67kg advanced
Style: Wake Surf and Park
Weather: 23-30 Head high+ waves side side on 9m Nirvana
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: KR employee and LF rider

I've been on the 2009 Hifi Comps because I really liked that years kite now I'm on Nirvanas. The Nirvana is a step in the right direction and if your riding a Hifi and should def give it a go. Very impressed with the tweaks they have done. The kite loops with a little more little more power and recovers quicker. Only rode it for an hour in flat water the slack is a little more than the hifi's making passing more consistent. Relaunch is easier and the below the bar 5th line is good if you dump your kite in the surf. New soft bar ends are a plus when your in bigger surf and the nose of your surfboard hits your bar. I've had about 5 hours on the new 9m in waves and very impressed. I rode a skim in about head high waves and the kite stayed where I wanted it to even when I rode at it and a little behind it. Rode unhooked on about 5 waves and it stayed put even after a few turns. Kite feels a tad slower but thats what I prefer. You can rig the kite for more or less bar pressure. The Nirvana won't pull you off the wave like other C's because of the amount of depower throw you have at the bar. Huge step up from the previous Hifi's.