Seen on the Generic Foiling Podcast insta feed (from Hood River)



I thought I start a new thread..in case we get near 130.000 views (like the North sonar one )

Haha looks like he's having a great time! What we need is inflatable wings with drastically smaller LE diameters, more durable lightweight materials, and more refined aerodynamics, not more pool toys. Maybe in 2026.!

Well spotted. I'm guessing there will be at few more pocket kite options by the end of the year.
Very keen to see if Ozone release something given their expertise with the XXLite paragliders.

Yes! So good, bring on the pocket wing options and evolution. So stoked to see this concept gaining traction

of course this one will come with typical North marketing terms likw n-weave fabric... "direct-drive geo handle"... what else.. "max-float canopy".. "carbon no-stretch lines" and more of that whatever

Ohhhh, this is going to be huge. Lot's of wingers have zero interest in jumping and just want to moe the lawn or ride swell. This style of wing combined with ML/DW boards makes so much sense. Bagged out canopies should be a thing of the past too. Hopefully cheaper in the long run as well.

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Relapse said..
Ohhhh, this is going to be huge. Lot's of wingers have zero interest in jumping and just want to moe the lawn or ride swell. This style of wing combined with ML/DW boards makes so much sense. Bagged out canopies should be a thing of the past too. Hopefully cheaper in the long run as well.

not too sure about that. as an owner of the BRM parawing, I'm already on the fence about the viability of these things. In Maui or the Gorge, sure, using tiny sizes in nuking winds looks good. but for the rest of us, you're going to need much bigger parawings. and my current experience tells me a regular wing is superior. i think DWing is where these things will shine, not for average wingers mowing the lawn or riding swell. time will tell.

From kitepuertorico IG story: an around the neck - hip pouch it seems. Seems more info coming today

Ah spotted, you ask people not to post thing and next minute here we are. We started on it a while ago as a rescue device to get back to shore if a wing burst, but the use case has really changed lately. We are in the final phases of development of the Tow Kite with production starting soon. It will release March - can't go into to much more as we are still coming up with all the marketing names.

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BrentNKB said..
Ah spotted, you ask people not to post thing and next minute here we are. We started on it a while ago as a rescue device to get back to shore if a wing burst, but the use case has really changed lately. We are in the final phases of development of the Tow Kite with production starting soon. It will release March - can't go into to much more as we are still coming up with all the marketing names.

"can't go into to much more as we are still coming up with all the marketing names."


Can't wait!

I've been super-impressed with North's offerings lately it seems like their product management is on top of things. Their wings look good, their downwind boards look good an I just saw their new Launchpad drop-stitch dockstart launcher, what a clever product! I admit when Duotone broke away I was skeptical of what North would be doing, but it seems like they are on a great track.

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BrentNKB said..
...We started on it a while ago as a rescue device to get back to shore if a wing burst, but the use case has really changed lately. ....

I am hoping for the "use case" for parawings to develop from self-rescue and downwinding and get to at least freeriding. I want something to bridge the gap between a hand wing and a kite. I want to be able to walk from my house to the nearby very compact beach, throw a wing up and go.

I almost never "downwind. I have always "upwinded" with an extended downwind return. It's safer and makes for a pleasant run down to return to the car. Car shuffling and retrieves suck.

I'd be happy to forgo ease of stowing while downwinding for something that is easy to fly and will look after itself while messing around with the waves. The Flysurfer Peak goes fairly close but you still need room to lay out lines and launch and land and all the rest.

I'm thinking slightly longer bridles could be good. Maybe partial double skin (like Flysurfer Hybrid) or double skin tubes like some single skin paragliders. As long as you can hold the inlet to the air the wing will inflate and relaunch.

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Gorgo said..

BrentNKB said..
...We started on it a while ago as a rescue device to get back to shore if a wing burst, but the use case has really changed lately. ....

I am hoping for the "use case" for parawings to develop from self-rescue and downwinding and get to at least freeriding.

To do that it is a different designed kite, which will be the V2 (aiming for Aug). Pep, our designer, has a huge amount of experience with traction kites from his time at Peter Lynn, so we should end up with a very efficient kite.

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FoilColorado said..
Haha looks like he's having a great time! What we need is inflatable wings with drastically smaller LE diameters, more durable lightweight materials, and more refined aerodynamics, not more pool toys. Maybe in 2026.!

Pool toy huh?
Didn't they say that about winging in 2018?
And about kiting,SUP, windsurf,surfskis...
They are already pulling huge DWinders with the "pool toy" V1 and it's barely been released.
I would say it's got legs :)

A couple of interesting pre-release videos on the new North Ranger parawing





I convinced myself to only step into PW scene at V3 of these things, but starting to doubt/rethink haha

I must say putting the bag front and centre of the PW is a really smart move. Fits two PWs (and they encourage to start off with two .. !) and then positioning this as a rescue device / PW for downwinding. The route into this thing is made visible by encouraging wingers to have this on their back, go upwind, deflate and come back. All that's missing in my opinion is the mini pump. Apparently will also come also with the option of a hip pouch.

Super tempted (damn you North )!

The North Ranger is on their website now:
northactionsports.com/products/ranger-parawing?variant=55124072169847&_pos=1&_psq=ranger&_ss=e&_v=1.0