Best Nemesis 21
Download the video clip of the sub 8 knot kite test here
Best Kiteboarding hit the market earlier this year causing great concern within the kite industry. The reason : Best Kiteboarding sells direct to the end consumer, cutting out retailers. The end result is considerable savings to the end user.
iKiteboarding.com spent some time on a few of the Best kites during the last few weeks.
This kite test started by ordering two kites and a 4 line bar with a spinning leash system from the Best Kiteboarding website. After we completed the order we got a phone call from Best Kiteboarding in the states to confirm the order. The kites arrived in Cape Town, South Africa exactly 6 working days after the order was placed. Impressive.
This review is not going to cover the Bar and Lines or the other Best kite we received, as Best kiteboarding does not sell kites standard with bars. Instead we will cover the other products from this company in seperate reviews.
With the arrival of the Best Nemesis 21 on iKiteboarding.com's doorstep, we decided to do a kite test and see in just how little wind it is possible to get going.
I have used the 21 Nemesis about 6 times over a period of a month in conditions ranging from 4 knots to 14 knots. This kite is most happy in about 8 - 11 knots, although it is entirely possible to get plaining in as little as 5 knots with this kite, and to hold it up till at least 14 knots. Weather you will enjoy kiting in 5 to 8 knots is a different story, but if you really want you can get plaining in 5 knots and have fun in 8 knots upwards.
This kite doesnt exactly turn fast, but it is not annoyingly slow either. The amount of power generated in turns is plenty, and what makes this kite stand out from other large kites is that it has the right amount of front to back line pressure. In light winds the kite doesn't flare easily and you can give it a fare share of back line pressure in as little as 4 or 5 knots. Apart from this the kite has a light feeling to it. You can move it anywhere in the window in very little wind and be confident that it won't drop out of the sky or overfly you because it is to heavy. (As long as you keep the kite moving)
iKiteboarding had two other 20 square meter kites on hand to compare the best with, and we have found that the one brand was too trim sensitive and would stall at the slightest bit of back line pressure, while the other brand would simply not fly in anything less than 9 or 10 knots as it was too heavy and kept on falling out of the sky after repeated attempts to launch it.
This kite has very quickly become a favourite in light winds. At 70 kg with a 142 cm board this is my summary of what you can expect with this kite :
5 - 6 knots : Barely get up and plaining, go downwind. When water starting you will sink into the water and it will be challenging to build up board speed, but once you have board speed you will plain without sinking.
7 - 8 Knots : Adequate board speed, 1m jumps.
9 - 10 knots : This is the start of the fun range of this kite, and what this kite is built for. 3 - 4 meter jumps, wave riding, kite loops are possible. The kite turns considerably faster in these conditions.
10 - 12 knots : High jumps are possible
12 - 13 knots : Start getting overpowered. Time to change to a 16. 14 knots overpowered.
See the video clip and attached pictures. (Note the conditions that the kite was tested in : mist and shiny water in the video clip, and smooth, chopless water in the pictures)