2012 Switch Nitro 12M

Rider: 82kg, 142x 42 underground TT 05 model
Style: Freeriding, freestyle
Weather:8-15 knots
Build Quality: 8/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: Team rider for switch, I have not been byast to the switch brand but I know others will say I have-try the kite for yourself..

My Comments:
Hi all, my first review here as i report from my hospital bed after an appendectomy.

I am currently a team rider but have no byas towards the brand for this reason, Simply stating the facts.


Weight - 82kgs
Board - Underground FLX 05 model 142x42 (piece of **** board with no concave whatsoever, and a pretty useless upwind board..
Wind - 8 Knots to 15 knots gusty

I have ridden North Rhino 06 14m, North Rebel 07 12m, Slingshot Fuel 08 12m, Naish Cult 09 12m, Flexifoil ION4 2010 12.5m.

Looked into switch kites as I believed many kites in the market were way overpriced and was recommended by a team rider for switch, Didnt really expect too much of the kite for such a cheap price as I also went for the team member setup.

Ordered the kite online and to my dismay 3 days later it arrived- Awesomely fast for something so big!

On first impressions of the kite, (pumping it up on the grass as I couldnt wait for wind), the kite looks solid, a different thinner style leading edge then im used to which rolls up weird as it has a flattish profile, nice reinforcing on the wingtips and scuff guards on the kite, makes it look mean. the kite did hav a strange profile to what I am used to but overall it looked good with fairly simplistic graphics.

Control Bar is really nice and reinforced with metal parts where some companies still have plastic ones that tend to get sundamaged, The loop looks a little oversized but has a great safety system that seems to work well.

Maybe Time to hit the water?

OK so I rocked up at the beach not really intending to hit the water as it was only averaging 8 knots and I just wanted to have a fly.
Got the kite up in the air and my first thoughts were what the hell is this kite doing? on further investigation found it to just be the wind dropping in and out..
At the lower end of the wind range the kite seems to have a bit of power but not really want to sit right ( cant expect too much at 8 knots) once it picked up to 10 knots it basically filled out a bit better and sat well, on first feel it felt like my naish cult a lot especially with the way the bridals are set up.
Kite turned slow up to about 10 knots( as expected) and once the wind got going at around 10-15 kts the kite really got some good fast turns going.

With the wind at around 10 knots gusting to 15 i really didnt feel the kite was producing much power, didnt think it would be enough to get back upwind too easy.

Well I was wrong, as soon as I hit the water the kite seemed to almost generate its own power and kept me going, upwind angle was fairly impressive considering the lack of wind. I could comfortably go out and back to the same spot in 8-10 knots, quite impressive so far.

Turning the kite on the water i found the kite to be fairly reactive with plenty of pull through the turns as long as you keep that bar pulled in.

Jumping felt a bit strange but after a cuple of attempts i got some decent air which was quite impressive for such marginal conditions, I think it will perform well in the jumping area of 15-20 knots..

unhooking i found to be really good, the bar pressure is fairly low which makes unhooking quite easy, (see how it goes once i get a windier session though).
I really was sceptical of such a big chicken loop but it helps when hooking back in as you have a lot to grab onto. leash system works well same as the naish system. Kite relaunched well didnt take much to get it back up.

All in all I found the kite to be a great all rounder for freeriding, could be ok for freestyle but probably lacks a bit for explosive pop..guess thats where the combat comes in. I am looking to get a board from switch when they come out and see how that goes, the prototypes look awesome.
Pretty keen to get a race board also with this kite hopefully switch decide to do one in the future, I believe the nitro would be good speedwise.

Basically if your looking for a kite that gets you on the water early, both upwind and jumping, this is the best ive found so far, look forward to seeing future models of the kite after some r&d, pretty good though for their first designs.

see you on the water!

cheers for the pics pedley, agree with you on the longer lines setup, im gonna try the 3m extensions on it and try to get hld of another 3m extension too as i like having around 25m lines, the boost was pretty surprising considering the light wind, only thing is the kite was a bit oversheeted in light wind of 8 knots..

how have you found the other sizes of nitro?

Does the Nitro have adjustable bar pressure?

Pics are from a previous post I made so maybe not the best.






Depower is above the bar using a simple cleat, simple but effective.

The safety system is a mini fifth line (SS ring in the middle of the chicken loop) connected to the swivel (and two front lines) pretty standard really. There is also and option to flag to a single front line either by grabbing the flagging handle (centre right of the second picture) or by directly connecting your leash to it if that takes your fancy.

More pics and words on the bar here

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Review/Switch-control-bar/?SearchTerms=Switch,kites,bar

Peeps,

Whats the main difference between the Method and the nitro please from anyone with the experience,

I have been accepted into the Switch Fold, team rider for Margs area,

95kgs, like to kite in the surf, ride straped surfboards cause I like to boost big.

So should I go Meothod or Nitro, Apperciate advice.

^ Jared, that is a difficult question because we all kite different and expect different things from a kite.

I have had 5, 7, 9 & 12 Methods for nearly a year now and more recently bought a 16R Nitro.

I haven't flown any of the smaller Nitro's so can't comment from personal experience on them but the Methods are an awesome wave kite, with great upwind ability and instant relaunch, that still jump very well.

I am not really in to boosting these days as I ride strapless 99% of the time when on a surfboard and usually try to get away with the smallest kite that will get me back up wind so I am not very powered when on a wave, the Method is great for this because when worked they generate heaps of power but it is easy to switch off the power when on a wave.

From what I have been told the Nitro's jump better and are still great in the waves but although relaunch is fine it is not as quick as the Method.

It seems you like a more powered, boosting style so maybe the Nitro may suit you better but if you want to focus on waveriding I would go the Methods.

At 95kg, strapped and kiting down Margs way you wouldn't have much use for a 5 but I would consider a 7, 9 Method and 12 Nitro quiver, this is what a friend overseas has and he seems to think it works well as he can still do some huge boosting on the 12 Nitro but mainly use the Methods when waveriding.

IMO if you are into waves, live in WA and want to fly Switch the 7 Method is a must have kite for you quiver.

I have a 10m nitro. Well built kite,heaps of grunt.Great kite for jumping with good hang time.
Im looking to get a 9m method for the waves
Can afford to get a full quiver compared to most other brands.
Ive had the nitro for a couple of months and cant really fault it.

I recently purchased a second hand 11M switch combat including bar it was $500. I already own cabrinha contra, switchblade and crossbow kites and have been a one eyed cabrinha kiter for five years. Having taken the switch out a few times now I am very impressed and seriously considering also adding a nitro to the quiver. Its fast, points upwind easily (the size of the wind window catches you out when you fiorst take it out) I out pointed and out sped yesterday a liquid force envy 12 and the latest north 12.