Tell Me About It: RRD Religion Y31
How do you improve upon a long-standing, popular kite? RRD talk us through the process they went through to release the latest version of their Religion wave kite.
Photos Samuel Tomé
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How do you improve upon a long-standing, popular kite? RRD talk us through the process they went through to release the latest version of their Religion wave kite.
Photos Samuel Tomé
RRD are FIRM fans of Cape Town. Did it once again prove the right spot for redesigning the Religion?
Every year, the RRD wave team heads down to Cape Town, South Africa – the ultimate playground for testing gear in real-world, hardcore conditions. It’s where wind, waves, and raw power come together, and it’s the only place that truly lets us push our kites to their limits. This year, our mission was clear: take the legacy of the Religion Y30 and raise the bar once again with the all-new Religion Y31.
And how much has the new version changed compared to the previous one?
After the huge success of the Y30, we knew we had to keep the same DNA: the kite is available in two technologies – Aluula and Dacron – giving riders the choice between ultralight precision and bombproof reliability. But the Y31 is not just an update; it’s the result of months of relentless testing, tuning, and fine adjustments carried out by a dedicated crew.
Who was the crew involved in this latest iteration?
Our core team in Cape Town – Carl Ferreira, Ralf Bachstuster, and RRD designer Werther Castelletti – spent weeks on the water, going through endless sessions in every condition possible. From side-off reef breaks to gusty onshore sessions, the kite was meticulously tested, tweaked, and trimmed to the millimeter. Every bridle length, every connection point, and every tension adjustment was checked, re-checked, and fine-tuned.
Was there anything they particularly focused on?
One of the main focuses this year was experimenting with new bridle systems. Small details make massive differences in how the kite reacts when you’re deep in the pocket of a wave, driving off the rail, or throwing a vertical turn under the lip. The new setups were designed to deliver the perfect balance between direct response, drift and stability, so that the rider always feels fully connected to both kite and board without any compromise.
And was the team happy with the result?
Cape Town gave us everything: nuking 40-knot days, playful waist-high walls, and double-overhead bombs. And the Y31 delivered in all of them. The result? A kite that feels perfectly dialed in for surfing, with buttery smooth drift, lightning-fast steering, and absolute precision when you need to punch out a bottom turn or line up a vertical hit. ■
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