Tell Me About It: RRD Addiction AP04

Where have Andrea and the team been working on it?

One of the key elements of the Addiction project has been the testing and development process in Sri Lanka, where RRD has its kite production facility. Having the factory right where the prototypes are being developed changes the entire R&D process. We weren’t simply testing a kite, going back to Europe, discussing what could be changed, and waiting weeks for another prototype. We could test, analyze, modify and test again. Every session gave us new information. Every detail could be questioned. Every small imperfection could be addressed. We were able to fine-tune the kites down to the smallest details, working directly with the production team and modifying prototypes almost immediately. Leading edge tension, profile, bridle configuration, panel construction, bar feeling, turning speed, power delivery, stability – everything was analyzed. And then tested again. This created an incredibly fast development loop between Andrea, our R&D team, and the factory – test, modify, test again, and repeat. For two months, this was the Addiction project.

Andrea is known for pushing gear to its limit. How crucial was his involvement in the development of the kite?

The secret behind the Addiction isn’t simply one material, one profile or one component. It is the amount of development behind the kite. Since Andrea joined the RRD team, the project has been developed through an extremely intense exchange between rider feedback, engineering and testing. Every prototype has been pushed. Every detail has been questioned. Every improvement has had to prove itself on the water. For Andrea, this was one of the most exciting aspects of joining RRD: “When I joined RRD, two things really fascinated me: the technology and the research and development behind the brand, and the durability of the products. RRD products are extremely durable over time and, for me, this is very important. I don’t only look for performance. I also want equipment that lasts. This is something RRD has always worked on.”

What can your customers expect from the Addiction performance-wise?

Andrea is not ready to reveal everything yet. But he is willing to give us one clue. “One of the secrets of this kite is the work we did on the leading edge, especially on the upper section. We worked to create a relatively flat profile in this area to generate more lift and more hang time, while maintaining extreme high speed during maneuvers.” That detail alone tells you a lot about the Addiction philosophy – more lift, more hang time, more speed – but without creating a kite that feels complicated or demanding to control. The entire kite has been developed around this balance: power and control, speed and stability, performance and intuition. Because a truly high-performance kite shouldn’t force you to think about the kite. It should let you think about the move.

And are you happy with how THE process went and the final product?

The latest testing session in Sri Lanka was decisive. After two months of intensive development, Andrea and our team pushed the final prototypes hard in real conditions. But this time, the process was different. The factory was right there. The people who build the kites were right there. And every time something could be improved, we could go back to the prototype and work on it immediately. We could literally take the kite apart, adjust it, refine it and put it back on the water. This allowed the team to micro-tune the Addiction to an extraordinary level, working on details that would normally be extremely difficult to change during a conventional development cycle. The final sessions in Sri Lanka were therefore not simply about testing whether the kite was good enough. They were about making sure every single detail was right. And after two months of development, testing and refinement, the decision was made that the Addiction is ready for production.

When will we see the Addiction hitting our beaches?

It will be available in the coming months. A completely new Big Air kite, born from an intense R&D process between Andrea Principi, our development team and our kite factory in Sri Lanka, available in an advanced Aluula construction for maximum performance and a Light Dacron construction designed to bring much of that performance at a significantly more accessible price. Fast. Powerful. Intuitive. Durable. The Addiction isn’t about adding complexity. It’s about taking everything we and Andrea have learned, analyzing it, testing it, changing it and testing it again until every detail works together. Two months, hundreds of adjustments, countless sessions, one goal – build the kite we wanted to ride ourselves. And now it’s almost ready for you. ■