As long-time satisfied users of North Kiteboarding equipment, we eagerly awaited the new North 2020 kite for testing. The idea that legends like Nick Jacobsen and Jesse Richman ride it, and that the North Orbit 2020 itself is the "King of the Air 2020," was enough to get us excited.
We must mention Duotone (the company Boards and More), which manufactured kites for North until 2019 when the two companies split. Since then, the North Northsports Group has operated as a separate company with its own unique products. While Duotone kept the kite lines they had developed until then, North created a completely new line of products that are currently serious competition on the market.
North also hired the famous kite designer Pat Goodman as the chief designer for the new gear. Given his history at Cabrinha, many expected the new North equipment to share some similarities. For this test, we received a 12m² North Orbit—a kite perfectly suited for the summer mistral conditions at our kite spots in Dalmatia. The kite arrived in a compact, robust bag nearly identical to those used by Cabrinha. You can see the high-quality materials and ventilation holes designed for better drying and airing of the gear.
According to North's website, this kite is categorized as a Freeride/Big Boost machine—a kite for massive jumps, which it proved by winning the Red Bull King of the Air 2020.
According to North specifications, the wind range for a rider of approximately 75 to 80kg is:
It comes in three colors: red, yellow, and green (the version we tested). The kite uses 4 lines and its high-aspect design strongly resembles the Duotone Evo or Rebel.
The bar is very simple, without extra elements like stopper balls or Y-distributors; just clean lines and color-coded ropes for better visibility during setup. Elements of technology used by both Cabrinha and Duotone are visible, making the bar easy to use from the start. The reinforcements and details are very similar to previous generations of North kites, giving a sense of "déjà vu." Interestingly, the inflation valve also serves as the deflation valve and is identical to the one Cabrinha uses. The quality of the lines, pigtails, and the canopy material is at a high level, consistent with what we've seen in previous generations of North gear.
After a very quick inflation and simple setup, the kite was in the air. The first thing we felt was how light it was on the bar and how agile it was in the sky. Comparing it to the DT Evo or Rebel we usually ride, there was no contest—and compared to Cabrinha, it's not even close. This kite is much lighter on the bar and significantly more maneuverable.
The wind was about 15 knots, which was sufficient for a 90kg rider. We immediately noticed its responsiveness because it uses direct lines instead of pulleys. What surprised us even more was its upwind ability (pointing). The angle is very sharp, and I would say it goes much further upwind than some kites we’ve ridden before. Due to its ease of use and great upwind performance, this kite is also a good choice for foiling for someone who wants one kite for both disciplines.
Jumping is another story. Here, it is similar to a Rebel—very controlled, soft, and high jumps where performing downloops or loops in general is a breeze. It’s no wonder it’s the primary choice for the legend Nick Jacobsen. The kite dominates in these scenarios; you know its position at every moment, and the bar pressure remains light (which might occasionally be a challenge for beginners regarding orientation).
Overall, due to these characteristics, we would say this kite is intended mainly for intermediate to advanced riders—riders who know exactly what they want from a kite. In any case, it’s an interesting product and the quality we expect from North. We look forward to new improved iterations of this model and are curious to see the direction North will take.
