Size:8m
Rider: 65kg
Style: Surf
Weather: 17-29 knots
Turning Speed/ Responsiveness : 5/5
Bar pressure: Medium
Stability: 3.5/5
Drift: 4/5
Build Quality: 4/5
Satisfaction: 4/5
Disclosure: Work at Ocean AddictsMy Comments: After reading heaps about the new 2014 Park, I was super keen to get out there and get on it myself. The condition were not ideal, it was super gusty and a lots of water moving...I knew if the kite went well in these condition it will kill it in everything else. The initial feeling that I got from the kite was really positive, it was very fast and responsive, it went everywhere I wanted it to and I felt as though I had total 200% control over it at all times. It handled the gusts really well and had a good feel on the top-end side of things. I was riding the kite fairly de-powered most of the time and was very surprised on how well it flew whilst de-powered. Unlike most kites it did not effect the turn-ability and responsiveness of the kite too much at all. The only area that I felt it had room to improve was in the stably, it was a bit jumpy and twitchy at times, however when flying any kite in these conditions, it is expected. In the surf the drift-ability of the kite was near perfect. It flew downwind fantastically without back-stalling or flying past the edge of the windows. Once un-hooked it just sat there and let me ride at right at it. Overall it was a sensational kite to fly. Ticked all of the boxes. The good thing about the park is that it works well as a fee-ride/ freestyle kite too. For the crew looking for a 1 kite that does a bit of everything without compromising much, this would definitely be one to try!
Cheers,
Marcel
Ta for the review.
Here are some more if crew are interested from the kiteforum.
kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2382453
Yah after down winding into he surf last weekend on the dice I gotta that the park turns so much easier with a lot less input whilst depowered or drifting, this is one aspect where the park excels.
The kite may perform better if you pumped it up rock hard.
It looks all droopy like my weiner after 20 beers.
What about the bar? I had the park from 2011 through to the 2013 model, the bar was really poor compared to other brands and that swivel lasted all of 10mins unless you soak it in hot water every night, im on the dice an the edge now, park definetly wins in the low end dept against the dice.
I have ridden the Park 2012 and the bar is not very good. Come on Naish get a Better Bar.
Anyway can someone tell me the wind range of a Park 10 metre. It seems a bit vague on the Naish site.
The Naish bar is a super simple clean bar, previous years have suffered from a hard grip but it lasts. This year they changed to a softer grip with memory foam on the top of the bar so it takes a set to your grip and reverts back to the original shape a few seconds after you let it go. It really is a great bar system now!
For those of you who dont like the swivel it has been updated, it can handle sand better now. if you are seeing twists in the lines is quite simple to reach up and un swivel them as the kite is so stable.
Its really simple to keep these things working with a few simple steps (this should be done with any swivel)
when running out your lines give the swivel some turns to free it of sand.
before launching turn the swivel again to free it up from being in the sand.
rinse through with fresh water after use and turn the swivel to relieve any sand.
This seasons Park is in my top 3 list this year, its super fun to fly with enough rawness to it that will give you some excitement. Naish have finally made the "C" kite heritage shine through on this kite!
A swivel that works all the time, no problems...all good, been hearing that one for a while now.
Give me full control of spinning my lines out thanks, rather than be slave to some rotating mechanism i can't reach on the fly.
The red 5th lines, wrap thingy...yeh that has always given me the shts, but as arloj said, its no probs with the iron heart, just gotta have a quick look which way and turn the other...
And I rotate, loop whatever on every tack, always getting those lines in a twisted mess.
But all that aside, no way would I make a wing choice on a bar set up. I'd either learn to live with it or use another bar.
The wing is paramount!!
Yeh I'd love to try the Park and compare, it sounds a ripper and is getting some great reviews here and abroad.
Lastly I know a lot of guys knock the old ozone bar, but seriously it is still my favourite, so simple, no fcking about to unswivel with non reachable swivel that will undoubtedly/ eventually fail and no stupid 5th line wrapping it ass about a High Y point. Chuck it in suicide and go...each to their own.
I like the Naish bar, what's so bad about it? I agree with the comments on the north setup. The plastic bits on the end of the bar don't instill much confidence and it's not easy to self land with the splitter half way up the kite. Who uses the bloody swivel anyway? On any kite?
Also I don think this years park flies much different to last year. But they got rid of the hard grip which rips your hands a bit.
I use the 2012 Naish Bar. The original swivel is crap and I updated it with the Wainman swivel, which is so much better. OK, it is an extra investment but I do not buy new bars every year. I rather replace the lines. Beside the swivel it is a good bar with one of the best QR in the market.
Yeh the wainmen swivel is a good one I agree, but still seizes from time to time.
Who uses a swivel? Those that do more than mow the lawn I would say, or downloop down the line on a SB. The guys I ride with are lucky to have an untwisted line within 50m of riding.
Don't knock the north bar terry, its absolutely fine, a well engineered piece of equipement, just like the Naish bar, just have to learn how to use it and work within its limits.
If the swivel is not completely blocked you usually do not have to reach up to it. It is sufficient to twist the depower lines with one hand
in the right direction to put pressure on the swivel and then it usually rotates.
I usually ride at St. Peter Ording in Germany (PKRA venue) and that beach has super fine sand, almost dust like. After a day on the beach sand is in
almost every corner of your car, your ears,...
The Naish swivel (2012) could not cope with that. The Wainman swivel works very well. I usually dunk that part of lines when I am out on the water after
it has been lying in the sand. It usually rotates without any issues and seldomly gets stuck. And then I get it rotating like described above.
If we are now talking about swivels, then the Cab one on the chicken loop is hands down the best my a mile, your mini fifth even un-twists.
well i got to demo the 2014 park yesterday (10m) from kite addiction, wind was horrible at around 16kn although i could still have some fun on the TT
really smooth power delivery, having no pulleys really cleaned the performance up to be more stable although i loved having the 'hold on for life' feel the 2013 had. if i had to describe the kite in one word it would be smooth.
bar design is awesome, they've gone back to the clean simple bar with minimal designs unlike last year which began to flay from all the raised triabl moulding design. apart from the bar everything is the same, including the swivel - i made sure it was clear of sand and after a few rolls i was back to manually twisting.
another great improvement was i couldnt backstall the kite, last year if you unhooked in some cases it would stall, however i tried choking the kite/unhooked an it just sat there.
I feel the sweet size for this kite would be the 8 or 9 but thats my opinion, daniel says he thought the 8 was awesome.
i had the park from 2011 through to 2013. the 2014 is great but if you have a 2013 id hold on to it..
Cheers
I ended up buying an 8m and 11m Naish Park recently after an extensive search for a new quiver. I have owned Parks since their inception and have always found they matched my style better than the others. These days I ride 90% surf and 10% freestyle. During my search I test rode the North Evo, Neo and the BWS Noise Pro. Although I felt the North range had the best quality product, in the end the kites had to many bells and whistles. They are a heavy kite with heavy bar pressure. I also like to be able to reach the middle lines separately to self land as I ride solo mostly. Simplicity has always been what I look for in a kite and the Park and the Noise Pro fit that bill perfectly. I felt the Noise tipped the scale for wave riding. It is such a light kite this year, it wants to lift off the beach even in the slightest of winds. Without a doubt it drifted the best, however I have always thought that this design characteristic is in its element in cross to cross-off wind conditions. East coast is mostly cross-on as most will know. For me turning speed is paramount in cross-on conditions. I only went for the Park in the end as I still love a good flat water sesh and the Noise does not have any 'load and pop' traits....which is tribute to Dano's design essentially. The Parks have always been weak in the low-end market...every year they say they have increased the bottom-end but I never felt the results. I can say they have succeeded with the 2014 Parks however. I desperately wanted a 10/7 combo but found the 11m turned at an increased speed to last years equivalent model. In addition to this, at 15kts on a run-out tide (typical wind speed in SE QLD) the 11m is kick ass for power and pop. I read somewhere that the turning speed was sluggish on the turning lines factory setting; I also felt this was the case and switched it too the shortest setting where it has stayed since my second ride. Turning speed on both the 8 and 11m is now optimum for me in the waves. The kite hasn't back-stalled and folded up yet even unhooked. The older models front line swivel did seize up after about 7-8 months.....I always wash mine with fresh water. The 2014 swivel looks more robust however it has never been an issue to me at all. Just loop it the opposite way....as a suggestion of course. Overall, the Park is simple, light and quick and can take a beating in the surf as well....Give it a crack at your local if your looking for an all-rounder.
Cheers.
Hey guys
I am planning to buy Park's too but not sure what combo to get?!
Currently riding Torch 2008 12/8 combo....I am 65kg/143 lbs and riding 134/40 TT. Riding mostly from 12 to 30 knots...:)
What would you get?
@riddim : Can you tell me what is you weight so I can compare if i need smaller / bigger combo?