Tell Me About It: Harlem Flow
Aaron Hadlow from Harlem Kitesurfing gives us the lowdown on the latest addition to their kite range: the Flow, designed for wave riding but also ideal for foiling and freeride.
PHOTOS CRAIG KOLESKY
THEKITEMAG ISSUE #67
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Aaron Hadlow from Harlem Kitesurfing gives us the lowdown on the latest addition to their kite range: the Flow, designed for wave riding but also ideal for foiling and freeride.
PHOTOS CRAIG KOLESKY
It’s great to see a fresh wave kite as we felt it’s been a neglected market sector recently. Did it feel like the right time to add a wave kite to your range?
We are in a unique position where we are building our product portfolio from the ground up and continuously expanding our range. We see three main styles of kites: 5-strut Big Air for boosting and performance, 3-strut all-round kites geared towards Big Air and performance, and 3-strut all-round kites oriented towards wave and freeride, alongside more niche designs like the freestyle Hadlow Pro and lightwind-specific kites. As a kitesurfing brand, we believe waves remain an essential part of the sport. Plus, the handling characteristics of this kite translate incredibly well into disciplines like foiling and freeride, making this type of kite a very natural and important addition to our lineup.
With Harlem’s vast knowledge of kite design, what performance attributes did you want to prioritize for the Flow? Was weight saving a priority?
With our construction techniques and material choices, weight saving comes naturally – just like with all our other products. The main focus was on the handling characteristics. The kite has a low aspect ratio and a super compact design, which allows for tight, responsive turning. Its agility and the ability to place the kite exactly where you want it are key, especially across a wide range of wave conditions. It’s also very forgiving and smooth, with an easy, intuitive feel in your hands – making it highly accessible and effective in many different conditions.
What materials and tech did you go for?
The leading edge features a PROWELD technology for added structural stability, with Dacron material to ensure the kite doesn’t feel too harsh, especially in gusty conditions. The laminated Mylar struts are both super lightweight and rigid, helping to keep the frame in shape and the profiles clean. For the canopy, we use the same material as on the Thrive and Peak: Twincross FlyLite. We’ve seen great results with it, so it made perfect sense to continue using it on the Flow. Like all our models, the kite is digitally printed and sustainably made in Brainchild Production, in Europe.
Tell us about the bridle system you’ve used.
As this is a completely new concept and design, it also features a new 8-point bridle configuration. This includes a floating tip pulley, which allows that section of the kite more freedom to move. In turn, this improves turning agility and helps with precise positioning, especially when de-powered.
Is the Flow suitable for kiters just getting into wave riding or who also want to use it when the waves aren’t firing?
Yes, for sure. I was actually surprised during testing – I was blown away by the handling. It’s incredibly smooth and easy to use, suitable for riders of all levels. It also jumps surprisingly well and very easily, without needing much technical input. Because it’s so forgiving, it smooths out gusty conditions and is, overall, just a really fun kite to ride.
Will you be bringing out a surfboard to go along with the Flow?
Yes, we are working on an all-round hybrid surfboard. The aim is to make it fun and versatile across a wide range of conditions. We focused on making it fast, with tight turning, while still delivering a comfortable ride. It follows a more traditional shape, but is slightly shorter and wider, with added volume. There are many factors that go into designing a surfboard – arguably even more than a twintip – so finding the right balance was a challenge. But we’ve reached a point where I’m really happy with it and excited to release it. ■
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