CLOUD E4 KITE

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!

Video description of the E4 material / performance updates

Video description of the E4 material / performance updates

Many more videos on gear setup, tuning, and riding fun...

​​​Performance Definition:

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 of​all 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.

Testimonials:

I’m still flying my D->E quiver, and still totally in love. And totally amazed the seams, ...

... bladders, and valves are still solid after all these years. You make really really great kites.

Hey Greg - I just have to say your kites and bar are amazing.  So much better than ...

... the _.  Its like i am driving a porsche and have instant control and constant acceleration/deceleration at my fingertips.  I never feel like i “lose the kite” at any point like i did with my _.  You really have done a fantastic job.  Well done.  Well f***ing done. 

Hi Greg,  I wanted to tell you how much fun I’m having kitefoiling on my ...

... Clouds - so stoked!  This year I am really settling back into more regular riding and I am just smiling! I wanted to say I loved your recent video explaining some of the D to E bridling changes - I for one love the E bridles on my Ds, just so smooth through the power stroke, just the right amount of bar pressure for me and so fun to down loop now.  Now having the E bridles and seeing your video, I see how I felt with the D bridle I got maybe a touch too much of a power surge for my taste at the engagement point in the bar throw (I did learn to use that point for feedback), and sometimes that was for me a bit of a handful in really gusty conditions. Now with the E bridle it is just buttery smooth - thank you for such wonderful kites and the option on the bridle upgrade!! And it’s great to have the tuning options - 4th knot for foiling and 2nd for surfboard for me are perfect.  Loving the CCS too - very nice bar feel and very clean and clever release mechanisms.  Please also extend my thanks to Kainani on her fantastic how-to videos on YouTube - her guide to learning footswitching on foil was gold for me in understanding how to try and approach this (still working on them myself but they are coming along).  Can’t wait to get into tacking!   Thanks for all you’ve done in developing these awesome kites and CCS!

Just wanted to send you a note to say how much I am loving my Clouds and bar...

...My riding has really progressed this spring in no small part thanks to how great they are to fly and the confidence they inspire in the rider. I also NEVER want to go back to a traditional bar/chicken loop setup. My previous bar feels like a lead weight nowadays! I've also been amusing the local community with my kite sizing choices - often trying to get out with the absolute smallest kite possible. Last week I rode the 8m in probably 6-10knots, while other foilers were on 12m inflatables up to 15m ram airs. I've also found that the 4.8m is perfect as soon as I see a twin tip rider on a 15m or smaller. Anyway, thanks again for making such great gear. 

I just wanted to let you know that I am loving the Clouds. So fun to fly. After six sessions ...

... I am already doing things I could never have done without them and I know that I have only scratched the surface. Thanks for making such a great product!

I have had a couple days riding the new E kite.  And I love it!  My impression is ...

... that the pull is much smoother at any position in the window.  The bar pressure feels less as well.  __ took out the converted 13.4 today and she was amazed.  She particularly noticed the lower bar pressure.  The high bar pressure on the big kite was always a problem for her.  So you have done it again, maestro!  I also love my new bar.  Simple, light and versatile .  Don't see how you could improve on it.  Thanks for the great equipment.

First I want to tell you Cloud kites have really advanced my progression. The Clouds ...

... are so fun and responsive it’s impossible to go back to flying anything else. I only wish I had gotten them sooner. I have made tremendous progress and they are truly a joy to fly. 

Your kites have contributed to my enjoyment and progression in kiting and foiling more ...

... than any other piece of gear. Your continued enthusiasm and work on improvement is only surpassed by your commitment to your customers. Providing the bridle update for a very reasonable cost is an amazing service that I cannot imagine any other company in the industry matching. Well done! I am committed to clouds now and in the future.

I feel like every once in a while I have to write just to thank you for inventing/innovating ...

... the Clouds. I had another incredibly fun afternoon yesterday on a 4.8 in 16-22 mph while other foilers were struggling with 7s and 8s and the twin tip guys were on 12s. These kites have brought a lot of joy into my life, and I’m continually grateful.

I’m sure you have heard it hundreds of times but I just wanted to drop a quick note to ...

... say how great my first ride with my 6.2 was. Only flew it with a surfboard today so I could really focus on the kite. Awesome! So so pumped I finally pulled the trigger on your creations. Can’t wait to fly the rest of the family and start rockin the hydrofoil with finesse.

Aloha Greg!   I can't even express my gratitude for you and your creation!!!!  The ...

... Cloud is EVERYTHING I've ever dreamed a kite could be….  AMAZING!   Biggest grin on my face every session!   I am soooo honoured to be part of the family….  You've changed my life….  Peace, Love, and Joy to you and your family!!!

Hey Greg.  It’s been awhile since I’ve wanted to write you a little note but somehow ...

... havent been able to find the time. Let me start with a big thank you. Ive been kiting for as long as i can remember and somehow, you’ve managed to bring back that feeling of cramps in my jaw because of a HUGE smile on my face. So so happy!!!  Everything from the simplicity, cleanliness, attention to detail and understanding of what matters that is pervasive throughout your designs is truly refreshing.  My first ride with the cloud was like a revelation. I thought there is finally someone who gets what’s fun in kiting. Small, efficient lightweight designs allow the rider to get the most out of what’s important, in french: “faire des ronds dans l’eau”... Loosely translated as not taking anything too seriously and having a blast on the water. I think overall, I’ve doubled the time i spend in the water with your gear from what i did previously (probably 5 hours yesterday).  Over a few more rides, I thought how crazy it is that every kitedesigner and kitebrand out there has not changed what they are doing and basically copied everything from BRM. Ive always thought that the kite industry as a whole hasn’t evolved as fast as I expected given the amount of talent involved, but I’m thrilled to share that I think you’ve broken with the establishement and so much for the better.  Then, I also got my wife hooked as well as got my kids out on it. So basically in a few weeks, we’ve tested it out on a twin tip (not much), a surfboard, and foils and the cloud has behaved so beautifully in every situation. Im still learning and tweaking the setup for the foil but that’s my favorite by far. Finally, and this is coming from a guy who used to be a complete workaholic, I love the philosophy you seem to bring to your business approach. Growth or willingness to please your clients can sometimes get in the way of enjoying the ride and you seem to have struck and maintained the right balance.  There’s no purpose to this email apart from congratulating you for having developed   products I love, and i hope you keep doing what you doing.​

I've been foiling for a few days now with my cloud kites and I can't tell you how pleased ...

... I am with them!  I have been kiting since the early days of kiting and I feel like your Clouds are what a kite should have felt like since the beginning!!  So simple, so light and so responsive.  So thank you for the great work and I hope to kite with you some day.