WAINMAN ManiaC LOWDOWN
It’s finally upon us. Wainman’s new C Kite, the ManiaC. Wainman co-founder and company Creative Director Mike Husky gives us the gen. Wainman ManiaC LOWDOWN
(This article originally appeared in the March April 2014 issue of Kitesurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 7 x issues a year!)
WAINMAN ManiaC LOWDOWN
Hey Mike, thanks for taking some time out to talk to us. So, Wainman’s latest offering: the ManiaC. First up – who is it for?
Thanks Alex! I appreciate the opportunity to be able to share information about our new “baby creature” on behalf of Wainman Hawaii. Similar to all Wainman Hawaii products, this one is aimed towards a relatively wide target group of riders. Unofficially speaking the product is aimed at the C kite “maniacs”, which I am confident many still are! In a nutshell, the kite was designed to meet various demands and to blend the unique spirit of the past together with the newest technical advantages using the latest computer aids. Just by looking at it, you can see that the ManiaC is a dedicated C kite and this provides evidence to all experienced riders as to what they can expect from it. At the same time, it was designed by us from day one, using our understanding of designing modern shaped kites and based on the knowledge of their limits – this helped us to surpass all the “imperfections” that we remembered from the older C kites as well.
Can you talk us through why you felt there was a need for it?
As ever there are multiple reasons! Primarily, around our 5th anniversary, we definitely needed to continue with our growth plans and start 2014 in style… Diversification of our current product range with more specialised kite ranges to complement the existing products is a priority. Due to the nature of our flagship product, the beloved Rabbit, we were aware of the lack of particular performance characteristics in certain specialised segments of kiteboarding. For example, it lacks certain professional wakestyle characteristics and flawless unhooked performance. This is the reason why we decided on the company expansion goal with a classic C shape kite – based on our past experience we knew that C shaped kites offer those missing features the best. Additionally there was also a personal ambition of our R&D team. Let’s put it this way: for the first decade all the brands, starting with the very first Wipika company, were producing only C kites. All the brands had at least a couple of different models and pretty much every year they were redesigning them in order to replace them with a better and newer product. So roughly counting, we are talking about 10 brands times 7 years times 4 models, and we end up with at least around 300 inimitable C kite designs, not mentioning size differences! Then suddenly everybody starts to design only SLE kites. A shape revolution caused by the new software release and the physical need of creating something that will not require fins while swimming towards it for re-launching, risking your life when being overpowered, or Arnold`s muscles to hold on to the bar for longer than an hour! Only a few brands decided to carry the C kite product and I admire them and their product designers, as they are definitely the guards of the C kite path. And here we are, trying to prove ourselves, and to prove that despite all great features of the modern kites, classic 4 lines C kites can be also a great modern kite, offering lots of unique features while being as friendly and easy as many modern products.
What was your starting point? Did you begin with the ‘classic’ C kite vibe?
Due to great friendship with Bruno Legaignoux, the inflatable kite inventor, the bow kite inventor, the Wipika and Takoon founder, and due to the long synergetic cooperation in the past between Lou and himself, we had professional access to his great designs and amongst them the great C shapes. All the best C kites that were made were our gateway to creating the modern low aspect all-round kite. When the time came for the reincarnation of the C kite, we reached for the Rabbit files, and tried to achieve all the goals of this new kite project by referring it to the proven Rabbit design. We took the newest member of the Rabbit Gang, the 10.5m Punch, which is the most freestylish out of all the series and based our R&D around it by changing the construction, the shape and all technical parameters.
Ok, so let’s get bit more technical – can you talk us through exactly what you have done in terms of the profile, number of lines, connection points etc etc.
Regarding the ManiaC construction: in order to obtain the most solid and lightweight construction, the Maniac is made of 22 main panels. Five struts and the elbow tipped LE are attached together with round connections and equipped with a single inflation system. On the stock setting, the ManiaC operates on 4 lines only. There are four attachment points for the steering lines in order to customise the speed of kite’s reaction to the bar, and 3 attachment points for the front lines that are there to adjust the feeling of the kite, the amount of bar pressure, upwind performance, depower and the radius and speed of the kite`s turn. Additionally there is an option for the 5th line attachment with the V line connector and aftermarket 5th line kit designed for the ManiaC bar. And each ManiaC size was designed and trimmed separately. There are differences in the profile, constructional tubes proportions, speed of turning and the amount of the pull on the bar in order to create the complete line of kites and avoid the surprise when switching to a different size. As far as ManiaC performance: it has superb re-launch characteristics by pulling one of steering lines when it is leading edge down in the water. The kite is quite quick and reactive to the bar, yet very stable and predictable. The bar pressure is moderate and can be adjusted. For a C kite it really has plenty of depower and, most importantly, it flies where it should in the window in order to provide the freestyle slack and also the hang-time boost!
The ‘freestyle’ side of the sport has become more diverse in recent years – with ‘freestyle’, ‘wakestyle’, ‘big air’ and ‘megaloops’ all now becoming popular aspects of freestyle. Was the ManiaC designed with any of these in particular in mind and is it better in some of these departments than others?
Yes exactly, that`s what happens and that`s great because all those different and sub-specialised aspects of sport carry lots of fun and solid endorphins. At the same time, offering three different freestyle kites in a product range would definitely be too much and what more it could even create some mental problems due to hard purchase decisions. I am joking of course, but yes this is the reason why we decided to make the ManiaC a versatile freestyle product to be operated by all of those different enthusiasts who very often blend all the styles together anyways. This is how the ManiaC is and we are proud of it. It is a versatile product that is aimed for those advanced freestylers and won`t limit any of them, even if they take the professional route.
Will your ‘average’ freestyler want to get involved with the ManiaC or will they be happy on the Rabbit Series?
Well, let me put it this way, the Rabbit is definitely a great and very versatile kite that provides freestyle attributes, but combines the natural freeride spirit, and therefore offers additional fun factors. This includes a superb low-end, very fast turns, greater depower, crazy accelerated jumps and a solid package of wave-riding attributes. The ManiaC is aimed to be the ultimate freestyle machine that is going to bring positive vibes also to advanced freeriders as it is a very obedient and airtime-stable kite, and can be utilised in the waves too. So I would say – if you feel like your biggest drive is exploring the perfect flats, flying unhooked, throwing crazy tricks and making all your the cable-park mates super jealous – then definitely go for a ManiaC. If you want to throw loud kite-loops and horizontally travel football fields in the air go ManiaC as well. If you love overpowered situations and crazy air gliding after sending yourself there from the board`s edge, go with the ManiaC. So pretty much if you have a tiny bit of freestyle maniac in yourself, then definitely try flying this kite and you will be amazed by how a modern C kite flies!
You’ve recently signed up Leander Vyvey, are you keen to begin making an impression on the competitive scene with the ManiaC or was he involved in R&D with you?
In Wainman Hawaii, the team is the important department of our company. It is made of multiple personalities and always welcomes new talented members and, to be diplomatic, lets go of those who feel like they belong elsewhere. Leander is a great person with many interests, a fine young gentleman with lots of kiteboarding experience and still many great years in front of him. His energy and enthusiasm to the sport made a great impression on all of us and so we are proud to have him on board. As far as the global competitive scene it will be up to him whether he will decide to go back there. He has to decide if he wants to attain the highest trophies due to the advantage of using the ManiaC kite now, or whether he will focus on brand promotion and travelling to events to provide input to the company branding division. What is interesting is Leander joined us when the ManiaC development process was at the finishing stage and we had the final prototypes determined for production. It was exciting to hear that his fresh feedback was very close to what ours was. Seeing that somebody as experienced in freestyle as Leander right away judged the kite to be the most comfortable freestyle kite he had have ever flown made us all very happy.
So, a dedicated ‘freestyle’ kite, any plans for a dedicated ‘wave’ kite?
And how is development of the Rabbit Series 3.0 coming along?
Presently we are at the testing stage of development and finalising the new Rabbit models for the Rabbit Gang 3.0. The entire series is being refined again in order to bring it closer to perfection. All that we loved in Rabbits will stay there, and additionally improved features will provide heaps of joy to all their owners, once again making sure the Rabbit Gang is the “all-round” symbol of the industry. As far as new products, last year we introduced the Rabbit School Edition (RSE) which has
a continuous growth and presence in selected professional schools around the entire globe, and right now we are premiering the modern C kite ManiaC collection. Without “categorising” the new design into a riding style, I have to admit that your intuition is on point and there will be another kite introduced into the Wainman kite range… Without going into any details though, I can only reveal that we are currently moving from the conceptualisation stage into prototyping. Similar to every new product developed at Wainman Hawaii, the number one priority is the final product and not a specified release date, so when the time arises for sharing: you guys will be the first to know! Thank you once again for having us. Aloha.
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