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Old 09-23-2004, 01:35 PM
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Default SURF EXPO 2004 - BEST


Heading back into the show to checkout more 2005 Kiteboarding Gear.


And on to Best Kiteboarding ...


Click for more information: http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/



***CLICK HERE FOR FULL SIZE***


The Best Kiteboarding Booth complete with Best Girls. Shannon Best indicated that he expects to substantially expand the Best Kiteboarding retailer network through lots of prospects that got in touch during the show. At present, Best has over 125 retailers and schools in 30 countries. Which for a six month effort is pretty good.



The Best kites, the Grunt, Tempest Snow Kite, Nemesis and Yarga.



Water photo credits to Best Kiteboarding. The Nemesis underway. Speaking with Shannon Best, the Nemesis is a high performance, high aspect kite (AR 5.6 to 6.4), with a large wind range and an extended hang time. It has a steady solid pull that is great for wake-style and no whip tricks.



Shannon handle passing the Yarga. He is actually ABOVE water, he only looks like he is below the surface (so I got carried away in Photoshop!). The Yarga (meaning "flight" in Oz Abo speak), is a light and lively mid aspect kite with speed. The tight turning radius makes it a good choice for kite loops and wave riding. The kite points very well close to the wind.



The Grunt ripping along the Bahamian Flats. The Grunt is a stable, responsive lower cost option in the Best kite line.


Best is also coming out with the Tempest Snow Traction Kite and both foil and LEI trainer kites. Quoting ... "Finally a kite you can use on the snow and the water! We have taken our already proven inflatable kite design’s and tricked them out for the snow. Reinforced leading edge to guard against slams and ice, stopper balls in each valve and an over sized dump valve for easy setup and pack down. But even with all these bells & whistles, the Tempest's medium aspect ratio design is light weight and high performance for water kiting too! Plus, we have added our 5th line system for easy relaunch and added safety. So what are you waiting for? Grab a tempest, get out and enjoy the winter season , whether it's on the snow or that water!"



The Best Pro Series has been heavily reworked and now includes a Airex-B6 Core top and bottom with unidirectional cloth per Thomas Gaehwiler in Best R&D. It also includes 16 ounce BI-AX and TRI-AX cloth both top and bottom. Thomas tells me that kiteboards normally break around 600 lbs. in load testing and wakeboards at about 1000 lbs. The new Best Pro Series breaks at 1200 lbs.! The board weight has been reduces as well with the 130 cm weighing in at 5.6 pounds. Even lighter boards are in the works.



The New Best Drive kiteboard series. Quoting ... "Get ready for the ride of your life. Best is now proud to introduce the Drive series of boards. Using a different construction, we are able to design a board that’s light, strong and has specified flex areas. By being able to do this we have created a board series that climbs up wind, maintains a faster average speed and grips the water through even the strongest of gusts."


The new Float kiteboard series, quoting ... "Want a bigger board but don’t want to compromise performance? Well we have the answer, Best introduces the float series. We have taken our battle tested shapes and added nearly one whole inch to the width of these boards. By increasing volume to the width we are able to still get the same incredible handling features without creating drag and bus like handling synonymous to larger boards."


There was action going on over at the half pipe with these midget scooters. This guy was nailing some air, before he punched a hole through the ramp on landing!



Boards, accessories and clothing at the booth. NOTE: the kiteboarding "Pseudo GOLF BAG" at the center of the display to help you grab the stoke , ideally without excess baggage charges on airlines. The pulley bar shown to the lower left comes with a sheeting or trimming system and has a quick release setup above the harness loop. I believe it also has a swivel as well.


The Best Carbon Swivel Bar.


Andy Hurdman Passes


The New Grenade quick release system control bar with and a high capacity swivel. This bar will come with two different sized chickenloops and two depower line lengths.


A closer view of the chicken loop/QR assembly. The small stainless steel ring shown is for easy connection to the rider's handle pass leash. Also, the chicken loop has been reinforced to reduce the chance of pinching on to the harness hook (that can REALLY hurt!).


The QR activated, just slide it up!



Velcro retaining pin assembly to be attached to the chicken loop or to the spreader bar.


The Best Pulley Bar

Well, it wasn't quite just about gear at the Best Booth.
There was also the ... DUNKING TANK!


First, the Best Girls had their go with the water and flying baseballs ...


Yaaaahhh!


***CLICK TO SEE A SEQUENCE OF PLUNGING BEST GIRLS***


set it for 1 second delay, hit loop and play in the upper left. The Best Girls will dunk all day for you, technology is amazing!


Shannon hanging around in the Gorge

NOW ... see Shannon Best get his!




***CLICK TO SEE a sequence of Shannon BestBested by a little girl with a mean throwing arm!***


See Shannon fall and fall, just hit loop and away he goes ... splash!!! You'll notice a cute little girl in the sequence. This young lady is the daughter of Best's girlfriend and has a lethal pitch. She managed to sink Shannon twice while a slew of older guys MISSED! His girlfriend even sent him for a freefall swim as did Andy ("Airhead"), over from the UK. I started to have doubts about the outcome for Best from the session as competing manufacturer rep's lined up out of sight to have a toss. Well not really, but the crowd did get a kick out of the dunking tank and splash downs.



Gavin, media and event coordinator for Best, supporting the troops.


Gavin and the Best Girls go on walkabout down the green shag road.


Is there less gravity in the Gorge or just more wind, hmmm

Be sure to visit the Best Kiteboarding website for more product information at: http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/


Wait, there is a grievance to be filed by ...

the first runner up in the BEST Fish contest. He looks pissed too, got some nasty looking fish lips there fella. Is there a bang stick in the house?



G'nite from Surf Expo, more to come ...





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Old 11-30-2004, 08:30 AM
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