The E4 is the biggest update to the Cloud kite in the last six years. It enhances the Cloud’s characteristic that most uniquely sets it apart from other kites - a super light feel with crazy-fast responsiveness. This is a part of what makes the Cloud such a joy to fly and gives it unmatched performance at radically lower power ranges.
The E4’s enhanced responsiveness is the result of a hybrid of all-new materials fine-tuning different flex characters across the kite. The center section and wingtips utilize the lightest and stiffest material yet found specific to the Cloud’s tiny leading edge diameter. The sections in-between utilize the lightest and most flexible material suitable for the range of inflation pressures. Together, the Cloud E4 is lighter, more stable, and even higher performance responsiveness. We hope you’ll love it as much as we do!
CLOUD E4
PERFORMANCR DEFINITIONS
Agility
The first word that came to mind was responsiveness. But to include the light, lively, playful spirit of the Cloud I think agility is the best single word.
I love seeing a rider’s eyes light up from their first launch. The more this greater speed and precision is experienced the more it’s appreciated. To the extent that anything less isn’t fun.
All other kites feel lifeless in comparison.
Depower
Comparisons in depower can be made between different kites. All are within a range that I feel defines our sport.
Even kites considered high depower pull us along regardless of how we sheet the bar. Sending the kite we are pulled through a bottom turn, up into a waterstart and boosted skyward.
Getting mercilessly flung as beginners we learn to ride within the limits of our gear. In the absence of alternatives we accept the performance defining our sport as its come to feel natural.
The Cloud’s radically greater depower range does not fit this definition. No other kite gives power control of this kind. CloudRiding is perhaps a different sport.
I’m not suggesting more or less depower is better or worse. I feel how much depower is desirable depends on our individual riding interests.
If your preference is full-time pull a race kite may be best. The Cloud performs so differently that all other kites from race to wave all feel about the same to me. My preference is for the absolute riding freedom unique to the Cloud.
Drift
The Cloud has always been a reflection of the riding of my family, friends and myself. It was originally developed as a freeride/freestyle surf kite.
I’ll never forget the first session in on-shore surf thinking to myself that the Cloud drifted so insanely much more than any other kite that a new word is needed to describe.
Drift performance is not limited to surf.It offers new opportunities with greater control to the entire riding experience ofall riding styles.
Can you imagine loosing control of your car as you make a turn? There’s no reason to accept loosing control of your kite as you ride downwind.
Far beyond simply keeping our kite aloft, maximum drift gives us control for performance handling rather than slack lines in gusty, variable winds, transitions, freestyle & surf. The greater speed & glide of hydrofoils compounds the benefits of drift.
KITE SPARE PARTS
