The new Flysurfer Psycho4 offers the ability to depower the kite through modifying the projected area of the kite on demand.  Through using a foil wing the kite can be modified to create a more C shape on the canopy curve which modifies the projected area.  The benefit of adapting the canopy means when the kite is depowered you still have a positive feel through the bar even at maximum depower on the kite.  This means the Flysurfer Psycho4 now offers a three level depower system for controling and depowering the kite.  We have a video from Flysurfer illustrating how this is achieved.

North Kiteboarding has a new video for the 2009 Rebel and we have it here for you to enjoy!  The new North Rebel 2009 is sporting a 4 strut design with the 5th line offering leading edge support giving the kite a much flatter profile.  Despite the kite only having four struts there is not much fluttering of the canopy in the video and it remains rather tight and in shape.  North is supplying this years Rebel with their 5th Element bar.  Watch the video yourself to form your own opinion on the new direction of the four strut Rebel from North!

Ocean Rodeo have released some photos of their 2009 line up of products.  The new Ocean Rodeo Rise 2009 is continuing with their Venturi technology they released last year.  The kites are featuring a similar pattern design as they did last year.  There is an update to the range of boards including the Zen, Mako, Mako Wide and Mako Surf.  All the boards are seen featuring the new Ocean Rodeo Bliss pads and straps which from the photos we can see has inbuilt air cushioning in the heel.

We have photos of the new North Rebel 2009 and North Vegas 2009!  The new kites have had some significant changes to previous years.  The Rebel is now a 4 strut kite, despite this the canopy through the middle of the kite still looks smooth.  There is increased reinforcement on the leading edge of the kite and an external one pump system.  The North Vegas 2009 has a deeper profile and more swept wing tips for turning speed.  From some angles it is nearly looking like a hybrid at this stage.  North have altered the Vegas 2009 to make it suitable now for 3 styles of riding and the ability to set your depower range to suit your style.

Skywalker Kiteboards have been busy this year polishing up their graphics on their boards.  The new graphics are stunning, however we are still waiting on information related to the board sizes, weight and improvements over the previous models.

BEST have stepped up this year with a few changes to their kites, however most noticably to their bar.  The new BEST 2009 kite bar will feature a "jerk off" style release with leash attachment point.  A number of brands have upgraded to the "jerk off" style release over 2007 / 2008 as a more universal approach to safety.  The safety on these releases can be pulled with either the left or right hand and are easy to access when needed, no longer requiring you to feel around and find a "trigger" or "loop."

HQ have quietly released their new website, which also features the new and released HQ NEO!  The range of HQ Power Kites seems to be growing with the new Crossfire II, however it isn't about to stop there.  Now that they have Tom Bordeau designing for HQ there is a new Race Kite being designed, however there is possibly a new Intermediate kite being worked on as well.  The new website may be just a hint of the new direction HQ is taking, where previously it paid very little attention to its online presence.  We also have a copy of the new and first video of the HQ NEO in action and use.

Eclipse has been producing a new bar for 2009 as an upgrade to the previous model.  The new bar still features the same quick release setup on the chickenloop as previous, however from the diagrams it looks a little more refined.  The new bars for 2009 are going to be below the bar depower trim, not above!  They are also using a new sliding stopper system similar to the BEST stopper ball for 2009.  We have a photo of the bar showing the new bar ends and below the bar setup.

New photos of the Best Waroo 2009 and Best Nemesis HP 2009!  BEST have updated their kites for 2009, with the new look being an evolution on the existing look of the past few years.  The new kites feature a nice pattern throughout the coloured part of the kites giving them a fresh new look which many will appreciate whilst still keeping that BEST identifyable look about their kites.  It has been mentioned that the new Best Nemeis HP 2009 will retail for 20% more then the previous model.  This could be related to the price of the USD, which may result in a significantly lower increase for those who are purchasing the kites in other currencies.  BEST are also introducing their new "twister" technology this year to their kites which allows segments of the cuban fibre to "twist" when you are turning the kites giving it a better feel.

Liquid Force have produced their new Havoc for 2009.  The kite still sports their traditional logo through the top main section of the kite.  They have some nice large 3D bumpers on the leading edge over the segmented joins of the kite.  The re-enforced stitching is also quite noticable.  The kite features an external one pump system.  The wingtips are an interesting shape, with an attachment directly in the middle point of the wingtip.  The paneling on the kite runs down to a trailing edge that runs horizontal between the last foot of the struts.  Overall it seems the Liquid Force Havoc has received a very nice update for 2009.