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RRD’s latest version of their Big Air kite has undergone significant additional development and testing, with a material change and construction refinements. We delved deeper.
PHOTOS Samuel Tomé
Firstly, please remind our readers what discipline of kiting the Obsession is designed for.
The Obsession has evolved significantly over the years and today it is a pure Big Air machine. Every aspect of its design is focused on helping riders jump higher, stay in the air longer and progress their looping confidence. It delivers explosive lift, exceptional hangtime and a very predictable catch after loops, while still remaining accessible enough for intermediate riders looking to improve their Big Air skills.
An obvious update with the latest Obsession is that it no longer incorporates Aluula. Why the change?
With the Y30 Gold Obsession we wanted to explore the full potential of an Aluula-based platform. It was an incredible project that allowed us to push weight reduction and structural stiffness to the maximum. The feedback was outstanding and it proved how far we could take Big Air performance. For Y31, however, our goal was different. We wanted to bring much of that performance advantage to a wider range of riders while maintaining a more accessible price point and ensuring long-term durability. Modern high-performance Dacron constructions have evolved tremendously, and after extensive testing we found that we could achieve an excellent balance of responsiveness, stability and durability without relying entirely on Aluula. Rather than simply replacing one material with another, we completely re-engineered the construction around Dacron to preserve the Obsession’s characteristic lift, hangtime and looping performance.
So is that the end of the road for Aluula in the Obsession?
The Gold Obsession project gave us an incredibly deep understanding of how different materials influence the behavior of a Big Air kite. Thanks to everything we learned during that development process, we are already working on a future Obsession platform that combines both Aluula and Dacron in a highly optimized hybrid construction. Today we understand exactly how each material responds under load, where Aluula delivers real performance gains, and where a carefully engineered Dacron structure can achieve similar results. This knowledge opens the door to a new generation of kites that take advantage of the best characteristics of both materials.
Did the material change require a lot of R&D and prototypes?
Absolutely. Moving from an Aluula frame back to a Dacron platform is not as simple as swapping materials. Aluula and Dacron behave very differently under load, so every panel, reinforcement and load path had to be reconsidered. We spent many months refining the airframe, canopy tension, and structural layout. The experience gained during the development of the Gold Obsession was extremely valuable and allowed us to transfer many of the aerodynamic improvements into the new platform. The final result is a kite that retains the DNA of the Gold version while offering its own unique character and accessibility.
Perhaps even more importantly, this development process allowed us to build a clear understanding of how to combine different materials efficiently. The work we are doing today on future hybrid concepts is only possible because of the extensive testing and prototyping completed during both the Gold Obsession and Y31 projects.
The shape of the Y30 Obsession changed a lot compared to Y29, whereas the shape of Y31 looks similar to Y30. Did you decide you were already happy with the shape?
Yes. The Y30 represented a major step forward in the Obsession’s evolution and the feedback from both our team riders and customers confirmed that we had found a very strong aerodynamic platform. Because of that, we decided not to make radical changes to the geometry for Y31. Instead, we focused on refining details such as canopy tension, load distribution, and frame balance. Sometimes the biggest performance gains come from subtle refinements rather than a completely new shape. The result is a kite that feels familiar to Y30 riders but offers improved consistency, smoother power delivery, and even greater confidence when pushing the limits.
Tell us a bit more about these refinements.
One of the most important improvements is the optimization of the load-frame structure. We have further refined how loads are transferred through the canopy and airframe, allowing the kite to maintain its shape more efficiently during aggressive riding. We also revised several reinforcement areas to reduce unnecessary weight while maintaining durability. Combined with the updated panel layout and improved canopy tension management, the kite feels incredibly stable at high speeds and during powered takeoffs. The overall package delivers a very direct and connected feel, which is exactly what Big Air riders are looking for.
What has feedback from your riders and clients been like so far?
The feedback has been extremely positive. Our riders immediately appreciated how easy the kite is to trust when sending big jumps and loops. They consistently highlight the smooth power delivery, fast turning response, and reliable catch. Many riders who tested both generations were surprised by how much of the Gold Obsession character we managed to retain in a Dacron construction. Clients are particularly excited about having access to that level of performance in a more affordable package. Ultimately, the biggest compliment we receive is that riders feel confident pushing harder and progressing faster on the Y31.
While on the topic of riders, we have an exciting announcement to share – Andrea Principi has joined the RRD family. He is one of the biggest names in the Big Air scene and we are extremely excited to have him on board. He has already had the opportunity to test the new Obsession Y31 and the feedback was extremely positive. He felt comfortable with the kite and was impressed by its performance, control and confidence when pushing the limits. It was great to see such an experienced Big Air rider immediately connect with the Obsession and recognize its potential.
And when will you be releasing the rest of the Y31 range?
The Y31 collection will be released progressively throughout the season. As always, we prefer to launch products only when they have completed our full testing and validation process. Innovation and performance remain our priorities, so every model is released only once we are completely satisfied that it meets the standards expected from RRD. At the same time, our development team is already working on future generations of the Obsession, as mentioned, including hybrid concepts that combine Aluula and Dacron in the same platform. We believe this approach offers exciting opportunities for the future and represents the natural evolution of everything we have learned over the last few years. We are excited for riders to discover the entire Y31 range and experience the next step in our ongoing development journey. ■
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