More fancy new materials:

Anyone see anything about weights anywhere? I really liked the Nova but as tad heavy for a lighteight

Mike looking super stoked about the new material and wings! North is ramping up!

Excited to try out the Mode wing. The up-charge is only $300(USD)more than the Nova, about the same price as the light wing wing.

Nice to see new materials being introduced without crazy prices! I would gladly pay $300 more if it means the wing lasts longer.

kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=north-2023-mode-high-speed-wing

Says the new material is 40% lighter, but given that the material is only applied to a small fraction of the sail, I have to imagine the actual weight savings are much smaller. Pricepoint is compelling and I like the size gaps, but very curious to know what this thing actually weighs. The swiss cheese windows are dumb.

Are they using standard canopy material?

For high-speed performance, efficiency is key. Featuring 3x stiffer and 40% lighter N-Weave technology, for greater forward speed, explosive boost and hangtime.

Sizes:4.2m | 5.5m | 7m2023 DesignFeatures:N-Weave Technology: High Tensile Strength Woven Fibre40% lighter airframe for easier handling in all conditionsReduced structural deflection and highly efficient power deliveryHigh-end stability and greater power in lighter airVMG-optimized designRigid GripLock handlesRace-window positioning.

Introducing N-Weave TechnologyHigh Tensile Strength Woven Fibre3 x Stiffer40% lighterUltra high resistance against deformationMaximum strength with minimum weightStretch resistance, cut resistant

Sorry about the formatting, but according to this, the whole wing appears to be made of the new material.

Looks like a bargain though I'd say the jury is still out on the composition of the sailcloth. Great to see some competition, who can't help but chuckle they chose gold for the color of Aluula?

I got good vibes from North on their AWSI clips online.
This is all speculation but wish they had gone for 5m rather than 5.5m.
My Nova 2021 at 4.2m feels a bit lackluster sometimes for our regular 12-15kn seabreeze, but my 5.8m PPC feels gigantic. (70kg)
I'd like a 3m Nova 2022, a 5m Mode and a 6m Nova light wind... Assuming they are all good.. haven't tested.. just becoming a fanboy.

Was doing some googling and found this.. shows the expected wind ranges for the sizes and maybe some other info..
issuu.com/watersportsworld/docs/north_my23.1_brochure_w_rrps

As I understand from the video the N weave is just the frame so strut and le? no mention about canopy anywhere unless I'm missing it?

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Powis said..
Was doing some googling and found this.. shows the expected wind ranges for the sizes and maybe some other info..
issuu.com/watersportsworld/docs/north_my23.1_brochure_w_rrps

Here is the Duotone dlab

So it looks targeted at higher wind for its given size. Normally I'd be excited by a wing that has a range that preferences down to that 10kn region for versatility, but this is about performance I suppose. Keen to hear some reviews.

Do we know if this is the same shape as the nova and just the material is different or is it a different shape as well? I am a fan of the North wings, I have used extensively the Older Novas in a 5 .0 and 3.5 I like everything about them. I recently used a 5.0 Nova with the solid handles and really liked the handles but found the wing to feel a bit Soft and "damp" in its handling.
yesterday I tried the lightwind Nova 7.0 and really enjoyed that, a very different wing that pulled like a truck!!
I prefer my older novas handling to the new ones, I think it's the square wingtips that give it the Softer damper feel? My new favourite 5.0 is the Dakine cyclone, love it.
I am wondering if wings will go towards a higher aspect outline again as we all get better at this relatively new sport. The same as has happened with foils.
I am watching this new North wing with interest as the materials involved will HAVE to get better but the square wingtips are making me feel cautious of jumping in and ordering some.

Shape looks different.

New N weave designer notes:

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leepasty said..
As I understand from the video the N weave is just the frame so strut and le? no mention about canopy anywhere unless I'm missing it?

I haven't seen any mention about the canopy material ether. I suspect the stiffer frame should help some with canopy stretch but I don't if anything else is is incorporated to slow the bag out

What's concerning with North is after trying their North Nova 2 and Nova light wind, they are sub-par wings.
They seriously need to get the design right before rushing new materials to the market.
Just look at Fone, they are continuously refining their amazing Strike wings with 50+ prototypes to get the best design possible, before considering new materials. Not going to spend 3k on a new materials wing with a poor design, the wing needs to be excellent at flying first.

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Alysum said..
What's concerning with North is after trying their North Nova 2 and Nova light wind, they are sub-par wings.
They seriously need to get the design right before rushing new materials to the market.
Just look at Fone, they are continuously refining their amazing Strike wings with 50+ prototypes to get the best design possible, before considering new materials. Not going to spend 3k on a new materials wing with a poor design, the wing needs to be excellent at flying first.

Care to elaborate on what you don't like?

Yes please elaborate.
New Hood river AWSI video from Wingman with more on the Mode. Later in the clip he says it was his favourite race wing of the weekend, that he tested.

Found the Mode page and full insight video:
northkb.com/products/mode-wing
Now for real world feedback and testing..

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JohnnyTsunami said..

Alysum said..
What's concerning with North is after trying their North Nova 2 and Nova light wind, they are sub-par wings.
They seriously need to get the design right before rushing new materials to the market.
Just look at Fone, they are continuously refining their amazing Strike wings with 50+ prototypes to get the best design possible, before considering new materials. Not going to spend 3k on a new materials wing with a poor design, the wing needs to be excellent at flying first.

Care to elaborate on what you don't like?

I tested a V2 5m on the weekend and I was surprised how heavy it was. It lacked any sort of feel and backwinded too easily.
On the plus side the handles felt good. I tested it back to back against the Ensis Spin (also with fixed handle) and it was chalk and cheese in terms of feel. Neither one is overly light but I could easily live with the Spin.

That's right the nova 2 is ncredibly heavy. Lacks responsiveness, slow to react to gusts. Harder to handle in gybes due to weight and profile.
The windows are totally useless where they are placed.
The handles are way too long and could be shorter.
Low recommended psi didn't make sense.
A hard pass for me on waves.
The Takuma RS on the other hand is heavy-ish but is an excellent wing compared to North.

I would like to see a pistol grip on the front handle like the new Slingshots HH or Takuma RS.

I wonder if you can make a spacer to change the angle of the forward handle.

I wonder how long until we see the 3Di technology make it into the North wings. You'd think North would be on the leading edge given their relationship with North Sails and the years of experimentation around making sails light while still retaining their shape and durability. I guess I expected more "trickle down". That being said, this new wing looks pretty nice and I wouldn't mind giving it a go.

North does indicate that the Light Wind and the Mode have a different canopy material from the normal Nova

Can someone confirm if this is just Cuben Fibre ? Tuckers video is making me think that's all this is.. If it is.. That's 15 year old tech eeekk. I guess props to Ocean Rodeo for making the first 3Di raw wing. Beating Norths at their own game

The tech vid on the material

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King Crash said..
Can someone confirm if this is just Cuben Fibre ? Tuckers video is making me think that's all this is.. If it is.. That's 15 year old tech eeekk. I guess props to Ocean Rodeo for making the first 3Di raw wing. Beating Norths at their own game

Not sure what you mean - I don't see a single "3Di" wing on the market or at AWSI. North's 3di amazing sail tech actually makes sails already pre-shaped with the proper draft on a giant 3d mold. Some cool youtube factory tour videos if you're interested. No wing uses this tech.

There is dyneema, and x-ply, and that is all the exotic materials I know of in wings. Dyneema is a brand name for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

Aluula is a brand name for coated dyneema by Ocean Rodeo. They also now make an uncoated/less coated version - the black material on their new wing tips that they say is less stiff - so the gold coating does add mechanical properties to the dyneema. Dyneema is "cuben fibre," which is a brand name.

This North stuff appears to be more basic dyneema - at least to my eye it looks like raw dyneema similar to the color of the raw dyneema lines.

The new OR canopy materials sure looks like "cuben fibre" /dyneema, but it's unclear through the jargon what it really is.

X-ply is clear mylar with strands of one of several materials: aramid/kevlar, polyester, dyneema, etc. laminate to the clear mylar.

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King Crash said..
Can someone confirm if this is just Cuben Fibre ? Tuckers video is making me think that's all this is.. If it is.. That's 15 year old tech eeekk. I guess props to Ocean Rodeo for making the first 3Di raw wing. Beating Norths at their own game

Not sure what you mean - I don't see a single "3Di" wing on the market or at AWSI. North's 3di amazing sail tech actually makes sails already pre-shaped with the proper draft on a giant 3d mold. Some cool youtube factory tour videos if you're interested. No wing uses this tech.

There is dyneema, and x-ply, and that is all the exotic materials I know of in wings. Dyneema is a brand name for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

Aluula is a brand name for coated dyneema by Ocean Rodeo. They also now make an uncoated/less coated version - the black material on their new wing tips that they say is less stiff - so the gold coating does add mechanical properties to the dyneema. Dyneema is "cuben fibre," which is a brand name.

This North stuff appears to be more basic dyneema - at least to my eye it looks like raw dyneema similar to the color of the raw dyneema lines.

The new OR canopy materials sure looks like "cuben fibre" /dyneema, but it's unclear through the jargon what it really is.

X-ply is clear mylar with strands of one of several materials: aramid/kevlar, polyester, dyneema, etc. laminate to the clear mylar.

Select to expand quote

JohnnyTsunami said..

King Crash said..
Can someone confirm if this is just Cuben Fibre ? Tuckers video is making me think that's all this is.. If it is.. That's 15 year old tech eeekk. I guess props to Ocean Rodeo for making the first 3Di raw wing. Beating Norths at their own game

Not sure what you mean - I don't see a single "3Di" wing on the market or at AWSI. North's 3di amazing sail tech actually makes sails already pre-shaped with the proper draft on a giant 3d mold. Some cool youtube factory tour videos if you're interested. No wing uses this tech.

There is dyneema, and x-ply, and that is all the exotic materials I know of in wings. Dyneema is a brand name for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

Aluula is a brand name for coated dyneema by Ocean Rodeo. They also now make an uncoated/less coated version - the black material on their new wing tips that they say is less stiff - so the gold coating does add mechanical properties to the dyneema. Dyneema is "cuben fibre," which is a brand name.

This North stuff appears to be more basic dyneema - at least to my eye it looks like raw dyneema similar to the color of the raw dyneema lines.

The new OR canopy materials sure looks like "cuben fibre" /dyneema, but it's unclear through the jargon what it really is.

X-ply is clear mylar with strands of one of several materials: aramid/kevlar, polyester, dyneema, etc. laminate to the clear mylar.

Nearly my man - You are right, in no moulded wings. These hopefully aren't too far away given 49ers are on them and now windsurfing. 16's, 18's and now moths have been using them for a while. Only a matter of time.
Your list of cloth missed taffeta which the latest x-blend from PPC contains. Taffetas are much better for longevity than a straight x-ply. The x-ply you're noting is a CZ from Dimension Polyant, this would be technora and kevlar mix. Taffeta provides longevity and better laminar flow when you don't need a fold patch.
Given Norths sold the Cuben factory in 2015 as 3Di raw superseded it, I'd expect to see at least the 3Di Poly version used. Sort of disappointed that this isn't raw.