In Focus: Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2018 Product Overview
Features / Thu 18th Jan, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
Founded in 1995, Liquid Force quickly became the leader in wakeboard products and apparel. Soon after in 1999 Liquid Force entered into kiteboarding and became the benchmark in design and product progression.
Liquid Force is dedicated to relentless innovation, progressive design, maximum functionality and unparalleled quality.
Here it is… the Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2018 product overview
Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2018 Kites
NV
Easy – Responsive – Stable
Departures from the norm and ‘out of the box’ thinking are what bring strides in next-generation product development. The challenge with this philosophy of thinking and development is to retain all the special characteristics that 7 years of Envy development has achieved.
We have reached a point where the Envy is one of the most user-friendly, versatile, kites on the market and now the 8th version of the Envy has finally arrived!
Not only does the NV have a new name moniker, but also utilizes a completely new profile and airframe geometries.The most noticeable change is in the wingtip geometry. This drastic change has produced prolific improvements in kite input back to the rider, allowing the rider to focus on what is in front of them and not what is going on above them in the kite.
Another benefit of this shape is the reduction of wingtip flaring, allowing the kite to move faster through the wind window and reduce light wind back stalling. The leading edge diameter has become more tuned in shape by reducing the diameter in key areas. Reduction in LE shape adds in speed across the wind window and makes for a fluid turning radius.
The NV V8 utilizes a new bridle schematic that includes a V load transfer connection. This connection eliminates canopy distortion and creates a more stable bridge of bridle connection points supporting the LE. The NV still retains its legendary stability, its easy to predict on/off feel and bombproof construction, while holding the position as one of the most versatile cross condition and riding style kites on the market.
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From pro freestyler to wave seeker, or the weekend warrior, the NV will perform beyond expectations.
For more information about the NV 2018, please click here
Wow V3
Precise – 3 Strut Design – Surf Specific
Whether attacking your favorite break or traveling to far off destinations to chase that perfect wave, the last thing you want to think about is your kite. The Wow V3 provides a harmonious relationship between rider and kite that keeps the focus on the wave and not on flying the kite.
The Wow V3 continues to offer an effortless power band while sheeting, lighting fast bar response, deliberate input back from the kite and extended down the line drift, inspiring confidence in all wave conditions.
Improvements this year include a refined bridle schematic that utilizes a flying line design to eliminate unwanted leading edge weight, in addition to increasing depower range which assists in situations ranging from getting over white water walls to scrubbing speed to stay in the critical section of the wave. Fine tweaks in the leading edge to trailing edge profile increased the pivot radius offering precise maneuverability.
Though the Wow is our wave weapon, don’t let that hold you back from your favorite freeriding pursuits. The same traits that make the Wow the perfect wave magnet also makes carving a slick on a twin tip to flying above the chop on a hydrofoil fun and easy!
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For more information about the Wow V3, please click here
Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2018 Twintip Boards
Echo
Profiled – Channeled Wood Flex Tip Core – Grind Base – High Rocker
From competition to creative free riding, Brandon Scheid is the landlord of the current wakestyle movement. Brandon has been working with master shaper Jimmy Redmon to create a board that will both lock on a slider and delivers an explosive pop off the water.
The new 2018 Echo exceeds the standard and will take your riding to the next level. New for this year is the addition of the LF Flex Tip technology to the channeled, profile wood core. This allows for the tips to flex deeper on presses without sacrificing the centerboard stiffness required to generate pop and handle hard landings.
The addition of the Liquid Force Grind base adds durability not just for hitting rails and sliders but also for coarse sand launches. All blended with the proven triple concave to fluted channel bottom contour, high rocker and sandwich construction, a recipe for the purest of wake style circles.
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For more information about the Echo 2018, please click here
Benchmark
Profiled Wood Core – Women’s Specific Tuned Flex – All Around Rocker
There is no question that a 10-time World Champion knows what is needed in a board to reach the highest level of competition.
Gisela Pulido and her father Juan Manuel have been perfecting her perfect ideal twin tip for years. With the added knowledge of LF’s extensive board engineering team, Gisela finally says the board of her dreams has been created.
The Benchmark incorporates a rocker line, flex pattern, and outline that the most demanding gals will enjoy, while at the same time forgiving enough to inspire progression.
Utilizing the same core profiling technique as the Echo, the Benchmark has been created with a solid wood core that has a single concave to channel tips that smooths out the harsh chop and makes upwind pointing simple. Rounding out the board is a sandwich glass construction and capped with Liquid Rail for durability.
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For more information about the Benchmark 2018, please click here
Drive
Efficient Shape – Progressive Performance – Wood Core
Engineered to transform a kiter’s riding in a short period of time, the Drive packs a potent, empowering punch. Offering the ultimate value to performance ratio, the Drive features many of our most advanced technologies and is optimized specifically for progression, staying upwind, jumping, and doing air transitions.
Highlights include a single concave bottom shape, a wood core construction, Liquid Rails for durability and timeless earthy graphics.
For more information about the Drive 2018, please click here
Carbon Drive
All Terrain Performance – 100% Wood Core
The Carbon Drive shares the same core configuration as its standard construction brother. A simple all around outline with a single concave 100% wood core makes this board an all condition kiteboarders dream!
The Carbon Drive is the first of its class in the affordable progression kiteboard category. Carbon construction offers weight reduction while at the same time adds a precise and lively feel. From first time rides to sky-high jumps the Carbon Drive will never let you down.
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For more information about the Carbon Drive, please click here
Lunar Lander
Light – Smooth – Fast
Driving off of the amazing sensations created on the water from the other boards in the Liquid Force Hippy Stick lineup, the Moon Patrol, and the Space Craft, we are proud to present you the all-new Lunar Lander. The Lunar Lander is the brainchild of longtime team rider Jason Slezak and LF’s engineering wizard Peter Mehrhof.
Longing for the same plush ride, edge control, and displacement of water on landings from the double concave of the Legacy, Jason and Peter drew inspiration from progressive powder slashing and slope carving snowboards and transferred the most desired components from the frozen water realm of the mountains to the liquid realm of the oceans, lakes and rivers for your creative kiteboarding enjoyment.
The Lunar Lander carries with it all of the great performance benefits of its parent board, the Legacy. The double concave to progressive rail concave bottom shape, centerline tapered carbon reinforcement, and full bottom sheet vector net carbon weave lamination provides a butter smooth ride, precise flex, and lightweight lively feel that is sure to put a gigantic smile on the face of everyone who rides it… even the most skeptical of kiteboarders.
The full nose, directional outline, asymmetric rocker, and deep “v” tail shape all wrap up this new and exciting addition to the LF Hippy Stick family for your shredding, slashing, and wave bashing enjoyment.
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For more information about the Lunar Lander, please click here
Libre
Light Wind Rocker – Easy Riding – CNC Contoured Core
Free yourself from the light wind doldrums! If you think about kiting at the first sign of the leaves moving on trees, the slight flutter of a flag or the hint of breeze at your local sensor, the Libre will make your ambition of being the first on the water a reality. Be the only one kiting when the wind is simply not windy!
The engineering of the board is 100% dedicated to light wind. From the low entry rocker to the soft manipulative flex, the efficient side cut shape will get you on the water faster and more often. Light wind specific features, such as an offset stance and shallow bottom concave, round out this ultra-lightweight gliding machine.
For more information about the Libre, please click here
Liquid Force Kiteboarding 2018 Foil Board
Galaxy Foil Board
Ultra Light – Foil Specific – Connected
Dedicated hydrofoil performance, combined with revolutionary construction, highlight the Liquid Force Galaxy.
Some may argue that the board is not as important as the foil. However, we believe that the interaction between; board, foil, and rider are critical to the performance and experience of riding a hydrofoil. No detail was overlooked or compromised in the design and engineering of the Galaxy Hydrofoil Board.
The Galaxy’s precision engineered details offer the highest performance characteristics for your hydrofoil. A forgiving outline, combined with a unique forward placed double concave hull design, allows for easy on water tracking as well as during planned, or even unexpected touchdowns. The beveled rail design aids in heeled over, chop deflection, keeping the board in line with the foil trajectory.
The “feel good” concave deck affords the rider detailed control via the ability to translate foil feedback more rapidly and precisely. Rider adjustability and set up preference is important to us. The Galaxy affords this with the use of a track mounting system for dialing in the placement of the foil, a full coverage comfort EVA deck pad complete with kick tail for the strapless rider, and performance tuned insert configuration options for; single strap, inline double straps, or triple strap configurations.
All this in a unique molded lightweight and durable honeycomb carbon construction that is proprietary to Liquid Force.
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For more information about the Galaxy Foil Board 2018, please click here
To check out more products by Liquid Force Kiteboarding please click here
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.
