Description
The
2011 Argo is a medium-low aspect kite designed for super stability with
auto relaunch, excellent for waves, learners, pros, free riding and
light to strong winds. With even more wind range and unbeatable upwind
performance.
The Argo is the most tunable kite available giving
riders the ability to make the kite suite there rider level and
style. If you have tennis elbow, this kite can have the lightest bar
pressure available, if you like strong bar pressure with plenty of
feeling and punch, this is also the kite for you, if you like medium or
medium light bar pressure without loosing turning speed this is also the
kite for you. Settings are clearly explained and labeled on the kite
wing tips.
Features
Auto Relaunch
The leading edge has been curved
to allow the kite to easily turn onto its side for easy auto relaunch.
For beginners and schools using the Argo we have found students and
beginners progress many times faster because the kite will often turn on
its side and wait in the edge of the wind window unpowered ready for
the rider to relaunch the kite.
Super Stability
The Argo has the greatest
stability and is easier to control in all wind conditions with much less
chance of overflying the kite above your head or the kite falling from
the sky because of its low aspect design. A low aspect design also gives
better light wind performance and grunt, stability and float.
Massive depower
The bridle has been designed to
give maximum depower and full bridle support if the bar is let all the
way out. This is great for beginners as letting go of the bar or
depowering the bar can quickly depower the kite by 99% without having to
pull a depower strap. The Argo is also excellent for riding in the surf
because of the light wind grunt as well as the total depower available
when on a wave and the fast turning speed. You can kite loop without
being pulled of your board when depowered and power up when needed.
Feedback
from riders is they are flying upwind on 9m argos while others on 7m
kites are being blown downwind. ( recent Indio wave trip )
Amazing Power and Grunt
With
the lower aspect design, the kite generates a lot more power and
turning for its size, as an example the 13.5m Argo has the same grunt
and pull as a typical older 16m bow kite, but turns like a 12m bow kite
and de-powers more than most 12m bow kites. Having a light wind kite
that you can kite loop and throw around in the waves is a better options
than a large 16m slow turner. We have riders using the Argo 13.5 in 8
to 10 knots.
Feedback from riders is they are going upwind on 9m
while others on 10m, 11m, + kites are struggling in the lighter winds. (
Recent Indio Wave trip and Kite Masters freestyle comp Argo got 1st
place )
Boost and Turning
The Argo is excellent for
jumping. The low AR design makes jumps floaty and landings soft. You can
jump higher in lighter winds and land softer.
The adjustable turning speed can be set from slow, med, to fast which is great for the pivot turns needed for wave riding.
Upwind Performance
We designed the profile of the Argo to have the best upwind performance possible in light, normal and strong winds.
Wind Range and Sizing
The Argo is available in 7m 9m 10m 11.5m 13.5 and 17m Light wind
We have made the 11.5 13.5 17m extra grunty from with faster turning and lots of depower when needed.
Because lower aspect kites have a lot more grunt we found that:
13.5m Argo has the almost the same power as the 16m Griffin and turns + depowers more than a 12m or less bow kite
11.5m Argo has the power of a 13m or 14m Griffin and turns like a 10m
10m Argo has the power of a 11.5 Griffin and turns like a 9m
9m Argo has the power of a 10m Griffin and turns like a 8m
7m Argo has the power of a 8.5 and turns like a 6m
Wind range depends on the settings and the weight of the rider and board sizes.
For a 80kg rider using the default settings 26 AC on a average twin tip 136 or surf board
For a 75kg rider or less would get away with a few knots less.
New 17m Light Wind Argo.
We have just finished a few months refining the17m version of the Argo.
Designed to be a faster turning super stable light wind kite. The
bridle has been optimized, the leading edge and profile has been thinned
to sit further forward in the wind window and generate more power. The
17m had been designed to be a grunty light wind fun kite with faster
turning and lighter bar pressure. A 85kg rider on a 6ft surf board can
get going from 10 knots. Light riders with larger boards can get going
from 8 knots. Good top end and lots of depower.
13.5m 8 to 20
knots. On a surf board 80-85kg you can get going in 11+ knots to 19 is
its ideal wind range, you can hold up to 23+ knots if you want to. The
13.5 Argo has the power of most 16m kites and some 18m kites but feels
like your riding a fast 12m kite. Heavy riders are putting away their
slow turning 16m kites for a Argo 13.5. For a light wind kite or a large
persons kite the Argo 13.5 is an excellent choice.With a light wind
board and 30m lines riders are using the 13.5 in 8+ knots. See video
below.
11.5m 12,13 up
to 26knots comfortably, This is a great all round sub 27 knot kite.
Plenty of grunt similar to a 13m bow kite but feels like your flying a
fast 10m kite. It is a good heavy riders 85kg-120kg all round kite 14 to
29 knots. Its fast enough to do kite loops and powerful enough to be a
lighter persons light wind kite 60 to 80kg.
10m 13,14 to
29 knots This is most kiters 80kg to 90kg all round 1 quiver kite. Just
the right size to rip up the waves and the right amount of power and
depower to handle the best wind conditions 13-14 to 28 knots.
9m 14,16
to 30 knots. The 9m is a great lighter persons kite. For under 75kg
riders this is often the largest kite they need as it has the power of
most 10.5m kites with massive depower but feels like your flying a 8m
kite. For most 80 to 90kg riders the 9m is a good stronger wind kite 18
to 28 knots. Best not to use over 35 knots.
7m 16,17
to 33 knots. The Argo 7m is a good lighter persons kite under 80kg in
medium to strong winds or teaching and learning kite. Being a
medium-lower aspect grunty kite the 7m generates a lot of power, If you
are a 80KG rider wanting a strong wind kite that can handle 35 to 45+
knots then go the Chimera 8m or 6.5m over the Argo 7m.
Please note that a low aspect kite like the Argo performs excellently
in light to medium-strong winds ( ideally 9 to 30 knots ) and offer
better light wind grunt, better stability, easier relaunch and plenty of
depower. Low aspect kites are not the best very strong wind ( 40+ knots
). If you are after a kite that performs excellently in strong to
insane winds 35 to 45+ knot winds you should go the Griffin 7m or 9m.
For this reason I often suggest the Griffin 7m kite as a strong wind
kite ( 18 to 40+ knots ) and a Argo for the less insane winds (10 to 33
knots )
One kite Quiver
90kg and more = 11.5m Argo
80kg rider = 10m Argo
75kg and less = 9m Argo
If the bridle is set too far forward ( AD or 36 or more ) the kite will
not be as solid in strong winds. For strong winds use 26 BB
About line lengths
Line
Lengths are 21m + 4m extensions. For beginners/learners Schools: Adding
the 4m lines will give you more power through the turns and slow down
the turning of the kite and also give better light wind performance.
Waves
and kite loops + intermediate to pro shorter lines give faster turning
and more depower in the turns, faster through the wind window and great
for kite loops and wave riding.
Argo Settings Guide
The Argo is the most adjustable kite ever designed. Our goal was to
design a kite you can tune to suit your preferences, but be simple
enough to use out of the bag without any fussing around. The Argo gives
the best performance from learning to advanced, wave riding and free
riding. The Argo comes with default setting in green which will suit
most riders. Settings are clearly marked on the kite.You should only use
ONE of the below settings. If you use settings other than below the
kite may not perform as well. Settings options and what they do are
printed on the kite.
Default Turning + 2 6 A C
A good all round
setting, very stable, plenty of depower and power, good for kite loops
and jumping and medium-lighter bar pressure for the long kite sessions,
fast turning for wave riding, huge wind range.
Note: our riders have discovered a much better all round setting, see below:
BEST ALL ROUND SURF + UNHOOK AND FREERIDE SETTING (RECCOMENDED)
We
have spent a lot of time riding unhooked in the surf to find the best
surf setting. After a lot of testing we found a setting that makes the
argo perform even better for all round and surf.
BB36 for medium bar pressure (turning speed set to default)
BB26 for lighter bar pressure (turning speed set to default)
This gives an all round performance increase of 30%
You can unhook without having to depower the kite, turning, upwind, stability and wind range is all improved.
30% better light wind performance
30% better upwind performance
20% better turning and looping
This is the designers and most riders favorite setting - All round wave free ride and cruising kite looping and jumping
No Wind Setting
On the 13.5, when the wind has
died, but your desperate and want to get the most power possible in the 8
or more knots of wind try:
AA46 default turning setting, only to be used in under 14 knots
Argo vs Griffin Which to get?
The Griffin and Argo are very different kites.
For schools and learners I would say go the Argo as
it offers easy relaunch because of the curved leading edge and is super
stable because of the low aspect design which deliveries a kite that
will make you progress much faster.
For Freestyle and Wave I would also say go the Argo
as it performs excellently for upwind and down the line wave riding as
well as unhooked riding and has plenty of turning speed and depower and
grunt for aggressive wake and wave riding. And if your learning a new
trick the auto relaunch will help you progress faster.
For Strong winds and huge boosts 25 to 40+ knots go the Griffin
For normal winds average 10 to 27+ knots go the Argo
Put simply, if you want a kite for over 30 knots go the Griffin, if you want a kite for under 30 knots go the Argo