Manufacturer:

Flysurfer

Model:

Voodoo

Sizes:

7m, 10m + 14m

Type Of Kite:

Water Re-launchable Foil

Introduction:

The flysurfer voodoo is marketed as a multi purpose kite, suitable for water, land and snow use. This kite differs from previous FS models with the introduction of 'Multi-WAC' a sytem to allow the user to tailor the kite to their preferences. I bought this kite on the recommendation of a friend who had been lucky enough to try it at the product demo, and the product description made it sound perfectly matched to my needs.

Packaging, Style + Construction:

I'm not really one for describing the various merits of manufacturers bags, so all I'll say on the VOODOO bag is that its the standard FS affair, expandable with a zip and a pocket to attach your kiteboard to helping you to keep mobile, all part of the foil flying ethos. It fits all my kite junk in so I cant really complain.

The bar is a carbon affair wrapped in colour coded neoprene on the top & botton, left and right hand sides. This is useful when handlepassing and riding blind as it ensures you grab the correct side of the bar. The bar is quite small, something. I like as I cant really stand excessively long bars as they get in the way during freestlye. Running through the centre line slot is the safety leash, this connects to your spreader bar and allows for multiple spins. The trimmer is a pull/pull system, initially I was a little sceptical of this system after having clam-cleats on my last 2 depower kites but it dies allow very fine adjustments to be done easily on the move.

Moving up, one can see the kite is on 3 lines, presumably to give less drag and help avoid tangles (more on this later). The lines themselves are split into sections, allowing you to add/remove sections according to the windspeed and required power level. At the kite, the lines connect to the WAC trim options. Put simply, the front bridle connects to a knotted line, moving the bridle larkshead along the knots alters the ratio of angle of attack/camber adjustment. A similar system on the brakelines adjusts how much of the trailing edge is deformed to turn the kite.

The kite itself has a surprising lack of bridles to its structure, flysurfer having done most of the work with internal bracing. There are no C lines to speak of, instead replaced with an ingenious pulley system. 2 pulley blocks control the AoA, while at the wingtips there are pulleys to pull in the tips to create a rudder effect and alter the wingtip surface area. The bridle lines dont connect directly to the kite, but to small links of line, creating engineered in weak points and helping to prevent tearing  to the foil.

On the front of the kite, there are two valves to inflate the kite, while next to these are two zippers. You can leave these open to create an open foil, or zip them up for the water. On the valves are two grabstraps to help you inflate the kite during preinflation or if launching directly from the water. At the tips are velcro sealed openings to empty out the sand, and on the trailing edge are the popoff valves. These are 2 strips of plastic which spring open in the event on a crash, preventing overpressure in the foil tearing the cells.

The planform of the kite is a curved leading edge and straight trailing edge. On the T.E. are the fabled 'jetflaps', a flysurfer invention allowing crossventing of the top and bottom wing surfaces. This is claimed to improve lift and stability. The wingtips are very strongly curved downwards compared to the mild 'C'  shape in the rest of the canopy. Looking at it, I have to say flysurfers kites are very 'chunky' looking lately, and the voodoo is no exception. But that thick profile is a hint at the lift on offer, and when viewed in the air the kite looks very sleek indeed.

KiteATB:

The voodoo needs a minimum of 10 mph to take off, it will inflate in less but wont leave the ground. The kite really switches on above 12mph, with that certain feeling that seems to be engineered into every FS kite ive flown. Its hard to describe but flysurfer kites seem to benefit most from clean, precise bar imputs, the voodoo responding best when sheeted in a little to speed up the turn, then sheeted out to the sweetspot or further to increase forward speed of the kite. Even fully sheeted out the kite still has a respectable rate of turn, and when flown well you can literally spin it on the spot, fly it backwards and anything else you could do with a kite on handles. The kite is exceptionally agile, also impressive is the way the kite responds when sheeted in and out. Sheeted out there is noticable forward acceleration, the kite rocketing forward to the edge of the window. Sheet in and the grunt comes on progessively and precisely matches your imput on the bar. The voodoo feels like a scalpel in response compared to other previous generation foils. Only the very best inflatables turn faster, and not by much.

On the board, the real fun starts at 14mph+, the kite nicely powered for land use on the stock settings at my weight (circa 12 stone). This kite is FAST with a capital F take your hands off the bar and the kite stays where you leave it, very reassuring. In stronger winds the kite auto zeniths. Bar pressure is very light on stock setup, after coming from a frenzy this was a shock initially, but the feel is there and benifit is less strain on your arms making for longer sessions. For myself, initally I was overflying the kite, never seeming to keep up with it. Relaxing, taking a step back and feeling the kite through my fingertips revealed the delicate nature of the voodoo flying style, be confident and aggressive but with a light touch and the voodoo truly shines.

Jumping:

But the important bit... What does she jump like? Pretty damn good actually. Pull the bar in and BOOM! Up you go. The pop is very good on this kite, boosting you up to 2 metres plus every time with ease. Learn how to hold the power and the results are startling, the voodoo feeling like a grenade launcher as you rocket up time and time again, grinning like a madman. The glide isnt as good as on a frenzy, but not far off if you use the bar well in the air to get the most out of the kite. But the voodoo is far easier to jump, both consistently and to a good height.

Water Use:

When kitesurfing I've used the voodoo with my 175 olry, which meant I could get planing and hold my tack in 12mph. At the other end of the scale it took about 16-18mph to get going on a friends airush misfit 120, but a combination of fast kite and fast board was too much for my beginner kitesurfer brain . In high winds on the water it can be difficult to keep up with the kite when its sheeted out, as it accelerates very quickly. The remedy for this is to add a little WAC -, slowing down the kite as well as giving it a lot more grunt. The level of pop also goes through the roof...

Relaunching is basically foolproof. In light to meduim winds, let the kite onto its safety and it flips over. In stronger wind, gently pull a leader line to steer the kite to the windows edge and off the water. Even waterlogged the kite will get up, and drains in about 2 mins in the air. It really does bounce off the water.

The only real problems I've had with the kite is wear on the pulleys, there is a very small tolerace between the roller and pulley block so it clogs easily. But i seem to kill pulleys on all my kites so it could just be me.

My other complaint is that the centre line is too big, it chaffs the safety and wears through quickly (I wore one out in 2 weeks). This is easily enough stopped if you use thinner line, like the one used on the psycho 2 this isnt life threatening, its simply the sleeve around the line wears exposing the core, meaning you are still in control of the kite.

In summary, I'm deeply impressed with this kite. Its more exotic brother, the psycho 2 may have stolen some of the limelight but the voodoo is a fast, enjoyable stable and high performance kite suitable for people who want 1 or 2 kites to use on any surface, in any conditions. Add extensions if you need more power as some feel the kite doesnt pull much for its size and you'll be rocking. Another masterpiece from the FS stable.

Reviewer:

Bushflyer @ Foilzone.com

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