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It’s exciting to see brand-new freestyle gear being released given how the industry has been so focused on Big Air in recent years. Aaron Hadlow talks us through Harlem’s latest freestyle offerings which bears his hallmarks.
Photo Aris Giannoukos
How do you think this new freestyle gear will be received by the market?
The response has been really good so far. I expect it to be well received from a large part of kiteboarding fans, especially those who have grown with the sport for many years. Freestyle has had a huge part to play in kiting and many people still love the discipline even if they no longer do it or try those types of tricks. There are also some core riders that love it and I am really happy to give back and try to inject a bit of life back into freestyle.
What have you taken from your years of freestyle experience and put into this gear, and what did you want to do differently?
Freestyle is usually most enjoyed in lighter, more constant winds so I wanted to make the bigger kites more user friendly and to work better in these conditions. The Hadlow Pro saves so much weight, in turn improving low end and handling. The combination of the kite and board is also key, it makes a huge difference to have this package. Like all the products we are currently making, the two products really complement each other and make the other one shine.
The new technology available at Brainchild Production is the main change. This style of kite is proven from the past 10 years of working with Ralf Groesel to create the best C-kite; that combined with the new materials brings some new properties that really brings this kite into the modern era.
How much input did Ralf have on these new products?
I work directly with Ralf on all boards and kites, I have been testing with him for the past 12 years developing the C-kite at first and then later progressing on to other models. There is a great understanding and this really helps validate our gear. I am very excited and made the choice to continue working with him at Harlem because he is creating new technologies that I believe will really be outstanding in the industry. On the board side I have more responsibility but the ideas originate together as we really try to make both the board and kite get the most performance out of each other.
Tell us about the construction details of the Hadlow Pro. What materials did you decide to use for it?
As on all our current kites, it features a PROWELD leading edge, so no stitching. It keeps the C structure solid although the Dacron is soft for a dampening effect that helps slack. We also have Mylar struts that are laminated, making them lightweight and stiff for a solid 5-strut frame. Lastly, we used newly developed canopy material Flight-X, light in weight and a softer material then in our other models – again, something that helps the slack.
And what construction and materials does the Descent incorporate?
The Descent board is thicker, stiffer, and has a bit more rocker for wake style if we compare it to the Ascent for instance. We use two types of carbon in the center of the board to reduce flex and torsional flex. The tips taper to glass fiber – this gives complete control for edge release, essential for a perfect pop.
Remind our readers of the sustainability advantages of producing the Hadlow Pro at Brainchild Production. And where is the Descent made?
Brainchild is in North Macedonia so transport to our HQ is one point. The factory itself is powered by solar energy. Within the factory they use digital printing, meaning colorless materials are the only stock necessary. Colored ripstop for example takes much more resources to produce. The other upside is less excess material and waste.
Our boards are also made in Europe, we are always working with our partners to reduce waste and make sustainable packaging.
Given that so many of Harlem’s team riders are Big Air competitors, how much feedback were they able to give you?
It is a totally different discipline and the Hadlow Pro is very specific for freestyle. I mainly took my own knowledge and years of riding C-kites into consideration and took responsibility in that aspect. The response has been amazing. I am so happy to have a dedicated freestyle setup I can use and I am glad to bring something new and exciting to freestyle.
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