Flexifoil Ion 4 Kitesurf kite 8.5 m Flexifoil Ion Four 2009

Global launch Flexifoil ION 4 May 2009

Flexifoil have been designing, producing and flying kites for over 35 years, and so in turn we know what needs to be put into a kite
to make it successful. Our build quality is legendary, and we are proud of the fact that our kites will fly as well in their hundredth
flight as they did in their first.

THE NEW ION4 FLEXIFOIL *

Flexifoil Ion 4  SIZES & COLOURWAYS

• Green (7m2 & 12.5m2),
• Blue (8.5m2 & 14.5m2)
• Red (10.5m2)

Flexifoil ION 4 overview

C-Kite Performance with Hybrid Depower. Flexifoil's R&D team have taken the knowledge learned from developing the HadlowPro09 to create the Ion4 for you with specially selected advancements. The Ion4 offers intermediate to advanced riders a rock solid kite, with fantastic stability and direct feel that will give you tremendous confidence on the water. You will experience performance created using unrivalled technical aspects from the HadlowPro09 including the same 6 strut layout but with the benefit of hybrid style depower. You'll feel supremely confident on the Ion4 and it will help usher you to greater levels of competency whatever riding style you prefer. The Ion4 offers an even greater range of wind conditions than its predecessor and size for size you'll find more power with solid driving turns making for great powered kite loops. It has been designed with unhooked riding in mind and offers incredible grunt and pop whilst showing an amazing ability to eat gusts.

The Ion 4 is available from May 2009 in five versatile sizes - 7m, 8.5m, 10.5m, 12.5m and 14.5m offering you a size for all wind conditions.

4 and 5-line options on the bar give you two differing configurations (freeride and freestyle) to suit your riding style and local conditions.

Performance fetures

New 6 Strut Layout Pattern
The Ion4 strut design has been modified to give the kite an extra strut to match that of the HadlowPro09. The centre of your kite is the most important part for generating power so the benefit of this modification is that it keeps your central aerofoil top-surface-clean for efficient power generation.
The 6 strut layout pattern has had a marked impact on the efficiency of the aerofoil and turning sections of the kite helping to improve the feedback you get from the bar as the kite has a more direct feel - this direct feel enables you to instinctively feel how the kite is reacting and where it is in the sky. Optimised Leading Edge Tube A newly stiffened leading edge has lead to increased structural stability whilst still remaining aerodynamically efficient. This will provide you with no deformation in the kite's canopy giving better gust control and a direct, solid feel. Refined Aerofoil Shape The new centre section of the kite (developed in parallel with the design work on the Hadlow Pro Kite) gives even better upwind performance and ensures the kite drives all the way through the turn producing the constant pull required for predictable kite loops. Simplified Bridle System To increase the Ion4's efficiency, the new simplified bridle system leads to reduced drag with less chance of tangling, more depower and a faster driving turn.

Multiple Front & Rear Tow Point Connections. This feature allows you to adjust your Ion4 to suit your riding style with the benefit of different turning speeds, increased or decreased bar pressure and a choice of where the kite sits in the wind window to control grunt, pop and upwind ability. Use tow point ‘2. FS' to give the kite more grunt for wake style riding and heavier riders. Use the front tow ‘1.FR' for more depower and better upwind capability making it
suitable for wave riding, general cruising, high winds and gusty conditions. Anti Flutter Trailing Edge Battens Toughened and flexible battens are sewn into the trailing edge near the wingtips. Reinforced with Dacron® they create a stiffer trailing edge and a clean release for turbulent air passing over the wingtip to reduce drag and provide an increased turn speed.

Teijin T9600 technology

All canopies of water kites in the current Flexifoil range including the Ion4 are carefully constructed from world renowned Japanese milled Teijin T9600 material to give you the peace of mind of a durable, long lasting fabric with the best available coating and optimal UV resistance. 110 micron TPU Bladders Flexifoil is proud to use 110micron TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) bladders (as opposed to the standard 90 micron) giving you the peace of mind of having a more puncture resistant and durable bladder in your Ion4. Molten Bladder technology 2009 continues to see the introduction of improved bladder welding techniques to Flexifoil water kites. The new welding process has been tested up to a sweltering 120 degrees centigrade to make sure it will stand up to extreme conditions felt in the world's equatorial kitesurf locations. No matter where in the world you choose to fly you will feel confident in the bladders. Increase Protection, Reduced Weight With each new release of kite, Flexifoil work on improving the reinforcement of your kite to protect it on the beach. The R&D team have succeeded in reducing the weight and bulkiness of the Aerodynamic Bumper Strips developing them to be as low profile as possible to keep the kite fast and light with no minimal extra drag whilst protecting the kite on the beach. Solid & Stiff Wingtip Construction You'll find an increased diameter of the leading edge tube at the kite wingtip to give a more rigid structure making the kite much less likely to deform whilst turning. With the kite holding its shape better you get a much more direct and responsive feel. You also benefit from the wingtips being fitted with a small webbing strap that prevents the flying lines from getting caught around them.

Construction Features

Rigid Strut The struts are mated to the leading edge tube with webbing reinforcement strips giving you millimetre perfect construction, improved strength and increased rigidity in the kite frame. Reinforced Dacron 175 Leading Edge Tube Dacron® 175 is the most stable material our team have found so far being resistant to stretch in multiple directions over the life of the product and very resistant against the rough beach environment. Reinforced Nylon patches around all leading edge segments increase the stiffness and strength of the tube to help soak up a few slams and maintain the shape of the aerofoil to maximise power. Dacron Reinforcements Dacron® reinforcements support the front and rear attachment points ensuring the load is spread evenly through the kite. The Flexifoil Dacron® cage reinforces the high loaded areas where the struts and leading edge meet the canopy keeping the kite light whilst still retaining strength. EZ Single-point Inflation As with all Flexifoil kitesurfing products, the EZ single-point inflation system increases the speed of kite setup getting you out on the water in less time. Wingtip Dump Valve This gives you a quick and simple pack down by dumping all air out of the bladders as the kite is rolled up. Standard Flexifoil Features

ALL IN ONE BAR

Performance Features

Bar ergonomics Our proven soft and comfortable grip has a textured finish to provide grip when you need it. It also features ergonomic bar ends to provide a solid connection point improving the overall feedback from the kite whilst turning. The soft over-moulding protects your hands when kite looping and enables easy line storage on the bar. Proven QUICK release system The simplest yet most push-away safety release system on the market. The primary release cover is always where you would expect to find it - just above your chicken loop so it's quick and easy to find and activate. The simple reconnection process is intuitive, possible to do under the water and with experience - one handed! Centre line wear indicator When the outer Dyneema® line fails due to wear the inner red line becomes visible. This internal line has enough strength to enable you to comfortably make it back to the beach even if you are a long way out. Leader Line Floats Protect your hands and make the bar easy to find after stacking it! V-Core The Ion4 bar is fitted with the Flexifoil V-Core the angled hole in the bar through which the centre line runs to vastly reduce centre line wear and help lighten the turn. The VCore also allows you to turn and sheet-in at the same time.