Naish Boxer SLE 2007 Review
The 07 Naish Boxer SLE Diary
A different kind of kite review.... with fits of blabbering n stuff.
Reviewed by Eric Aardema - Photos by Skip Schott and Eric Peet
I am a super lightweight rider, weighing in at mere 145lbs. I am NOT a techie guy so you won't find any techno talk here....just a super stoked review on what I have experienced flying the boxer 9m. I am not a team rider or shop rider or anything like that. I am writing this review cuz I am sitting inside, jonesing to ride, and it's snowing out...so this is a close as I can get to kiting today.
I have logged about 10 sessions on the 9m. I have experienced the full wind range of this kite from light air and big boards (15kts) to heavy air and tiny boards (25kts+). Bar settings in 1.1 and 2.1. Big waves, small waves and flat water. Naish calls this kite an all terrain kite, which I think is a perfect way to describe this kite. The 9m boxer SLE is a perfect Michigan kite for any rider. Especially for lightweights! It's got huge range!
----------Life before Boxer------------
I would always get over/under powered on my c kites and have to come in and change up or down a size. I hated this, because all of my buddies were ripping on xbows and not having any issues, while I am crying for momma wishing the wind would settle a bit, or cursing up a storm cuz I didn't have enough juice. The guys on the bows just never seemed to have any issues at all...ever. I was envious.
After reading the reviews that Matt and Skip wrote on the boxer 9m earlier this season, I lost it and dropped the cash on a new kite, without ever trying one out, it just sounded like the right thing to do. I was frustrated with the current brand I was riding and wanted a better solution to my problems. For some reason I was never really pumped on the cab Xbow...why I do not know....it just looked kinda funny to me, but guys who had them were full on ripping! There had to be something really sweet about those kites or the fellas wouldn't be riding them.
The Naish Boxer looked more like what I wanted to see in a kite, plus it's a Naish product, the brand has been around for decades and has THE BEST rider in the world running the company. Made good sense to me.
For those of you who don't know me...I am tight Dutchmon, who likes a good deal....so to shell out full retail for some crispy new kites is a really big deal. Dutchies don't like to part with their cash. But I had to, my fun factor was at stake.
---------Life with boxer----------------
So I got a demo 9m from the shop to use until the new ones came in, I am very grateful for this, thanks Mackite and Joe B.
First flight -
Nervous! I had never ever flown a bow style kite up until this point and didn't know what to expect.
I LOVE the onepump feature, such a time saver and back saver.
The bar setting was rigged 1.1, which had ZERO bar pressure and a super responsive feel, but you had to be on your game so you didn't dump the kite by diving it too hard. I liked the 1.1, but wished it had a little more direct feel to it while riding waves.... for waves, it felt a little loosey goosey. The 1.1 has that nice good ol C kite feel. After a few reaches back n forth and a jump or two, my riding and confidence instantly changed from nervous and hesitant, to full on charging down the line and boosting some big jumps without fear of taking a beating. The kite jumps similar to a C, not quit as vertical as the C, actually I think I need to work on my timing and technique more to really reach full jumping potential of this kite. The hangtime is much greater than the C, which I like, cuz you can glide downwind. I was really pumped and surprised on how quickly the kite turns. It pivots very quickly, no sweeping turns like C...soooo much quicker...all kites should turn like this! This is one of the greastest features of this kite for me personally.
In the really big puffs, I still had some issues with the depower and was wondering if it would be better to try the 2.1 setting. I didn't change it, I just went on as if I didn't have another option and played with depower strap...much better once I pulled it in a bit, but on 1.1 the kite can feel a little big at times in the big gusts.
Sessions 2-5 on the 9m had good waves and steady wind (20kts)...perfect! Still using 1.1 bar setting. I have never had some much fun and excelled so quickly in the waves as I have since I've been on the 9m. I could lacerate any wave face I wanted at any time. On waves the kite just sits and waits for rider input...pull in and get speed to get on the wave...push out and wait for the peak to set up and then pull in and lacerate the face...crank the bar super hard without fear and bottom turn in the flats (I still can't stay on a wave yet) and kill the next section...it's so fun and so easy to ride in the waves with the boxer. I could chicken jibe the big close outs and float over them if necessary....all without the fear of getting worked and paying the price. If I blew a move and the kite fell out of the sky...a simple pull on either side of the flying line and I was back in the game...no more swimming and dreading the relaunch. Even when it fell trailing edge down...pulled on the centerlines and BAM hot launch, without the huge drag downwind. No worries. Pretty slick!
Session 6
Went out on a super gusty day in HSP. Really good guys were lit on 9's, and big guys lit on 12's...so I was a bit nervous to be on a 9 myself...I'm tiny...was wishing for 6m....used 1.1 setting and pulled in depowerstrap. whoa momma...this kite is feeling powered...big floaty jumps....and getting way scary gusty on the outside....I rode this session with the stopper disengaged and a lot of times the bar was right at or above the stopper...it was cranking...super gusty side off, but the waves were SICK. Kite performed very well in what I would call "the upper wind range" of that kite...in 1.1.
Even in the largest puffs, scared out of my mind that I would get vaporized and fly away, the kite was stable and friendly. Just watch the bar movement when you wipe out...it turns so fast you can get supermanned if you pull too hard on the bar and loop the kite accidentally like I did once or twice. Yikes.
More great days sessioned and more lessons learnt.....
Shop called got new kites...SUPER stoked...Got out in St Joe on a really solid thick windy day out of the WSW. I'd say 20-25kts and higher....12's were the call for the big guys and they were juiced boyeeee. I was again nervous, thinking maybe the 6m is the call, but I had the 9 on the beach all ready to go and since guys on 12's were makin it work I thought I try the upper wind range of the kite.
I used 2.1 setting for first time. WOW what a difference that makes...HOLY SHNIKEEEES....Gust? what gust are you talking about?... overpowered? NEVER. Breakthru session! Freaking out at the ability to fully rip into a toeside turns in the hugest gusts I could find...the kite would just respond immediately and behave so nicely. Ripping down the line, cranking kite as hard as I can, throwing buckets off the top of the wave. This can't be happening, but it is, I am kiting like I always had imagined, and confidence is building. I am not sketched out looking to the outside and seeing the ubergusts....I haven't even got near the stopper ball yet..this is so sweet....I have so much range...when will I ever use my 6m that I just got?
Wind is backing a touch and Skip has brought the camera out...hmmm...kite is super pivoty in turns, lets see how this thing kite loops...FLING...BAM...WOW...that was flippin sick....just a slight steady pull on the backhand and you are going around for the ride with the kite completing the loop before you hit the water...sweet! It works! I did a kite loop on a 9m and didn't die! Fully tripping out and very stoked I chucked some more...WOW I love this kite. I bailed out totally on one jump...lost the bar...braced for serious beating and was surprised when the kite slowly floated to the side of the window, I pulled the bar back to me and voila...riding again. I could go on and on and on about it....
To sum up, the Naish Boxer SLE is what I have been wishing for in a kite. I am super stoked and can't wait until the next session on it. I would recomend the Boxer to anyone, beginner thru advanced. I would recomend that lightweight riders use the 2.1 light bar pressure setting in heavy and or gusty winds....the range is incredible and you will feel much safer and more in control on the water. 2.1 heavy is burley.
Eric A.
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