Why the 2026 Reedin SuperModel A.F.T. Is Better Than Ever | Designer Interview

Introduction

Kevin: Sometimes people underestimate the SuperModel. Do not forget about that kite. It is an amazingly good kite.

Hello everyone! It's Kevin Langeree, and thanks for tuning in to another Reedin Designer Talk. Today we're talking about the new SuperModel A.F.T. We'll cover what's new, what A.F.T. means, and why this kite performs the way it does. And of course, joining me is the designer himself, Damien Girardin. Let's get straight into it.

Who Is the SuperModel For?

Kevin: The SuperModel has been part of our lineup since the very beginning of Reedin, and it's been a huge success all over the world. No matter what discipline you ride—freestyle, freeride, big air, waves, or foiling, the SuperModel does it all.

Damien: When I hear you say, "The kite does it all," it reminds me of where the idea came from. It was inspired by the way you've always kited and traveled. You want one kite that works with your wave board, your twintip, your foil... whatever you're riding that day.

Take Cape Town, for example. One day it's perfect waves, the next it's flat water. You don't want to switch kites every session. You get comfortable with one kite, and it should work in every condition.

I've always called you the "Super Kiter." You ride everything, just at a higher level. If we could build one kite that worked for you in every discipline, we knew it would work for everyone else too.

That was the goal seven years ago when we started. It's the same in Maui- not every day is a wave day, but you still want one kite and simply switch boards depending on what you feel like riding. (Although, pretty soon we might not even be switching boards anymore—but that's a conversation for another day.)

Is It Just Marketing?

Kevin: I love your excitement, and that's what gets me excited every time we develop a new SuperModel. But every year people ask, "There's no way you can keep making it better. Isn't this just marketing?"

Is that really true?

Damien: No, not at all.

Since we started Reedin, we've always said that if a product already exists, there's no reason to make it again. We only launch a new version when we're genuinely excited because we know it's better.

What Is Aerolite Frame Technology?

Kevin: SuperModel A.F.T. is the new thing, but what happened to H.T.F.?

Damien: We developed a new leading edge material called Aerolite. It's very lightweight, but what really matters is how it flexes. It's a high-tenacity polyester weave, and that gives it an incredibly fast rebound.

Kevin: And what does that mean when I'm flying the kite?

Damien: Last year we used H.T.F. construction, with a stiffer center section and more flexible wingtips to encourage twist during turns.

The beauty of Aerolite is that one material now does both jobs. Because of the weave, it twists really well for turning, but thanks to the high-tenacity polyester fibers, it's also very stiff in bending. So you get the stiffness we wanted through the center and the twist we wanted in the tips, all from one material.

Kevin: So it keeps the profile stiff but still twists when I steer?

Damien: Exactly.

It also absorbs less water than many other materials, so if you drop the kite, it stays lighter.

Aerolite is one of the biggest reasons this kite has taken such a big step forward in flying characteristics. It's a premium material, but we've still managed to keep the kite at a very accessible price point.

Kevin: Would you say it's the best value kite on the market?

Damien: Without a doubt.

Design Goals

Kevin: This is the seventh SuperModel we've built. Every year we improve it, but what were the biggest goals for this version?

Damien: Last year's kite made a huge leap in turning performance, and we were really happy with that. So this year we didn't want to change the turning characteristics.

Instead, we focused on making it even more forgiving. We rebalanced the bridles to increase depower, making it easier to handle gusts, and we also concentrated on reducing weight.

Saving Weight

Kevin: The new kite feels incredibly light in the air. What did you actually change?

Damien: Working with Brainchild on our other models showed us what's possible with lightweight construction. Those are some of the lightest kites in the industry, and that made me ask how much weight we could remove from a traditional sewn kite.

I went through every single component—there are hundreds of pieces—and questioned everything. Why is this patch here? Is it still necessary after twenty years of kite design?

Sometimes the answer was no. Changes in stitching or construction meant we could eliminate parts.

We also reduced the number of panels, something we started with the HyperModel and continued with the WhisperModel. On the SuperModel, we were able to eliminate a wingtip panel, which saves weight by reducing seams, reinforcements, and glue.

Kevin: But the first question people ask is whether removing material hurts durability.

Damien: That's why you have to do it intelligently. You can't simply remove things—you have to understand why they're there in the first place. If they no longer serve a purpose, you can safely eliminate them without affecting durability.

Why Does a Lighter Kite Matter?

Kevin: Why should riders care if the kite is lighter?

Damien: A lighter kite improves performance in several ways.

It stays in the air better in lighter wind because there's less weight pulling it down. It also has less rotational inertia, so it changes direction faster.

Kevin: So what do I actually feel as a rider?

Damien: You'll notice the kite responds more precisely. When you send it for a jump, it gets into position faster and gives you a more immediate lift.

Kevin: So does that mean I'm going to jump higher?

Damien: It's certainly easier to access that performance. A lighter kite is simply more efficient. Less energy is spent supporting the kite's own weight, so more energy goes into lifting you.

Better Second Lift

Kevin: Does it also help keep you in the air longer?

Damien: Yes, and that's mostly thanks to the new bridles. Part of making the kite more versatile was improving that second lift everyone loves.

Kevin: That's one of my favorite things about the SuperModel. You come down, do a heli-loop, and you almost go straight up again. Those extra seconds in the air are incredible.

Big Air Performance

Damien: During our recent photoshoot, Parker—one of the best big air riders in the world—was naturally focused on the MasterModel because that's our dedicated big air kite. But after riding the SuperModel he came back saying, "Wow, this kite is amazing for big air too!"

Watching him ride and nail his tricks, we already knew it had the performance.

Kevin: That's funny because people sometimes underestimate the SuperModel since we also have high-performance kites like the MasterModel and HyperModel. I'll say it again: Do not forget about that kite. It is an amazingly good kite.

Damien: You jumped 33 meters on it, so it definitely has serious big air potential. It's probably also the easiest performance kite you'll ever ride.

Ease of Use

Kevin: That's exactly why I love the SuperModel.

The ease of use is incredible. You can hook in with your eyes closed and always know exactly where the kite is. The balance of bar pressure is spot-on—not too heavy, not too light.

It's easy to control, especially in stronger winds, and that confidence makes it easier to try new tricks and push your jumping because you know the kite will do exactly what you expect.

Conclusion

Damien: I couldn't have said it any better.

Kevin: Damien, thanks so much for walking us through all the new design features of the SuperModel A.F.T.

See you next time!

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