North Orbit Ultra

There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding the launch of the new 2027 North Orbit Ultra. Those who frequent the top spots probably spotted a few prototypes floating around – which we even got to try ourselves! The launch was pushed back and was tied to last-minute material upgrades – adding yet further to the intrigue surrounding the kite. But it is officially here, and we had the chance to test multiple sizes across a wide variety of conditions.

The North Orbit Ultra stays true to its roots as a 5-strut, full-throttle Big Air machine. The biggest news is the introduction of their new frame and struts material: N-u80. Without getting too geeky, this high-performance material reduces weight by roughly 50% compared to standard Dacron while offering substantially higher stiffness and improved torsional flex. The canopy is crafted from a durable triple ripstop and the kite comes loaded with all the premium details and strategic reinforcements we have come to expect from North. The airframe features a remarkably thin leading edge and a pulley-less 6-point bridle system, alongside back-line adjustment options to fine-tune turning speed and bar pressure.

We had a full testing schedule, but as soon as the delivery arrived, we headed straight to the beach that very afternoon. In hand, the kite feels ultralight, and once inflated to pressure, the ultra-stiff frame becomes immediately apparent.

Our first session was on the 8.1m in wind better suited for a 10m, but we decided to throw it up anyway. Even in these underpowered conditions, the kite reacted quickly and precisely. What truly caught us off guard was the vertical lift on our very first jump. It took a few jumps to adapt to the vertical pull, and if you’ve followed our reviews over the past few years, you’ll know we’ve said something like this about only a handful of kites.

The hangtime proved insane for light-wind conditions, retaining that classic, intuitive Orbit DNA, just lighter, livelier and sharper in every metric. We only spent 20 to 30 minutes on the water that afternoon, but every single jump was higher and longer than we anticipated given the lack of wind. We left the beach eager for a ton of wind to give the 8.1m the conditions it truly deserved…

Luckily, the past month has brought strong, near-daily wind, so a couple of days later we faced around 35 knots, and the session lived up to its promise. While the low-end performance was surprisingly good during our first test, the high-end is where the Orbit Ultra truly reveals its identity. The kite has light bar pressure and it is fast and reactive without feeling twitchy. The feedback through the bar provides total control and a direct, seamless connection to the kite at all times. In these powered conditions, the jumps were massive, delivering explosive vertical boost and extended hangtime. Even when we mistimed our pop, the kite was forgiving enough to yank us skyward regardless.

When it comes to kiteloops, the Ultra inspires absolute confidence. The kite pivots effortlessly and the whole motion feels natural and controlled, which creates a sense of safety and, in our case, encouraged us to push our riding harder. We also have to mention the second lift, one of the kite’s key features. After powered loops, when we swung under the kite and had to bring it back to the front, it delivered big extra lift, and when combined with a well-timed gust, resulted in exceptionally long, floating glides.

After that session, we rode a few more on the 8.1m and the 9m, and the feeling was always similar: the kite kept asking for more. More variations, more inverted tricks, longer board-offs. The more we pushed the Ultra, the happier it got. And the magic about it is that somehow expands what you think you’re capable of in Big Air, offering the confidence and performance to take your riding to the next level.

Who is the Ultra for? It’s a dedicated, uncompromising Big Air kite, built for riders chasing ultimate performance: the last meter of height, the last few seconds of hangtime, one more rotation or any other edge. Those riders will benefit most, so, from intermediate to pro, the Ultra stands as one of the new benchmarks in the Big Air discipline.