Here is a review of the Nova 2 having ridden it for a little while now. This is based around the 12m which has rear lines that attach directly to the kite so the review may vary to a 9m. I tested a 9m, but only did so right in the beginning so I won’t comment on it because as I’ve got used to the 12m more and more I found the perception of the kite changes after riding it for a while. I’m not an outstanding rider so this is very much from an intermediate perspective.

First off, kite quality – great across the board as you'd expect. Beefed up, good quality kite materials and top notch in every respect. Heavier than some of the other bows and seems to be more beefed up than the cabs. Some may see the heaviness as a con, personally given the fact that you ride bow kites twice as much as C’s because you get more range out of a bow, I’d say this is definitely a pro. One pump is definitely a-grade on this. You can get your struts really hard and this would be enough to convert even hardened anti-one pump candidates.

Kite bar is absolutely brilliant – usual assortment of standard items, colour coded lines, bar line holders etc. Works well for unhooked riding, has a spinning leash and is probably the best bow bar on the market in terms of practicality and the way it works. Works with a cleat on the chicken loop and although I don’t personally like cleats, this works very well. It has a plastic tube that the line runs through which prevents you getting your fingers caught when they are in the centre of the bar, surprised this isn’t standard on most bars. Things I didn’t like – the balls on the cleat are a little small so when you have it max powered and have to depower it, it’s hard to get a grip in cold weather if you don’t have your leash attached to it, but it is possible. Most people will have the leash attached there so it should not be an issue. Donkey dick comes off, so take it off and replace it with a cable tie or donkey dick on the harness itself.

The big thing, what’s it like to ride – Firstly, to kill the whole bar pressure issue up front, to be honest, coming from a 2-1 bow, when I first got on the kite I found it very difficult to feel what the kite was doing. I was expecting this though, because a couple of people warned me about it. It’s not that it was unfeelable, but it lacked the sort of feedback that the bar pressure of the other 2-1 bows gave you and although I could feel what it was doing and where it was, I had to concentrate. I found difficult in forcefully throwing the kite around without looking at it and found myself riding with my hands in the centre of the bar because the bar pressure is so soft that once or twice I almost looped the kite and didn’t notice. This changes progressively and by the 3rd or 4th session you’ll find you’re already throwing it around and by the 10th session it seems to be back to normal again. I think a lot of people that complain about the light bar pressure and lack of feel need to take the time to get used to the kite and you’ll find out it’s actually a big benefit later when you’re out on the water for 5 hours and your arms don’t feel tired. As I have got used to the kite, I now have exactly the same feedback as before, with the added benefit that the bar pressure is so light I can pull the bar in with 1 finger. Turning speed is superfast and would have no problem keeping up with comparable c kites. Definitely the big improvement over the slow turning bows of 06.

Rangewise, it has great range and its on a par with any of the other bows on the market. Irrespective of the bows, I’ve found the range to be pretty much the same. Some have a little more low end but the actual range in knots is on a bar. You can get all the way from around 12-30 without a problem. It does lose a little steering as you get to the upper end of the range, but it’s not drastic or problematic, but it is noticeable and I’ve found the same with all the kites I’ve tried.

Kite has loads of pop and is awesome for jumps, and feels similar to jumping a C but has the added benefit of the glide. Test it out and you should get an idea. Only thing I've heard the C kiters complain about is the bar size which is large for those used to very small bars.

Gust control is great and works like any of the other bows. If you've ridden one, I don't need to tell you about it. I tend to move the stopper out the way when I am riding gusty conditions, but this is one of the few kites I have found where the stopper doesn't affect the 100% depower if you pull the safety. You can lock the stopper like a c kite and you're still 100% safe. If you have a 1-1 bow with a bar you're unhappy with, I'd recommend this one to solve the problem. I think you can even buy the conversion separately.

All in all, it’s a great kite, and its definitely as good as any other 07 bow. The best is awesome a subjective issue so I’m not going to do a ra ra thing about this and try convince you its better than any other 07 bow, because it just turns into a long a vs b debate. I love the kite and don’t regret getting it and I’ll be looking at the 08 nova 2 when I buy my next kite. To put it into perspective, all the people I have given it to try have liked it as well so I’d add it to the list of kites you test if you are planning on a kite this year.

tried the 9 any more yet?
wind range?
is it a goodie?

Unfortunately the 9m wasn't mine so haven't had a chance to ride it again because I only have the 12m, but a couple of guys I know who have the 9m swear by it. Wish I could help more, but I don't want to feed you crap. Probably best to give it a test run and judge for yourself. Only word of advice is the bar pressure is light so it takes a little getting used to, but when you do get used it to, its a different world of kiting.