Target: Designed for competition freestyle, power freeriding and unhooked waveriding.

The Torch flies quickly through the air and will depower easily with a quick check of the board edge. The power is delivered smoothly, with depower similar to a bridled kite by virtue of the kite's ability to fly fast. Hooked in or unhooked, the riding is effortless and precise. The position of the struts makes the kite stiffer in the air, for an even more precise handling.

The new Shift Control System is set up to support the arc and to provide easy water relaunch and excellent feel. New elements for 2012 are: a new covered single-line depower, above-the-bar trim adjustment and a new, comfortable color-coded EVA grip.

The Torch is equally at home winning heats on the world stage, as it is ripping up your home beach. The 2012 Torch features refinements to all elements of the package: new bar, reinforcements, strut positions and a shorter arc.

Design Characteristics:
* Precise bar feel
* Fast response flying
* Unmatched unhooked pop
* Solid power through the turns

Sizes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

DESIGNER'S NOTES

What's New: This year the idea was to make the kite more stable and to add stiffness to the arc. To do this, we looked to the success of the Park and shortened the entire arc and moved both side struts down. This allows the center of the kite to be more full. The lower strut allows for a stiffer profile on the wing tip, making the kite more rigid in the air.

The Result: You get a kite that has a crisper feel in the bar and is more responsive to bar input. This makes overpowered riding smoother. The turns are also better, as the kite shoots back up faster in the kite loop, providing extra pull to land without making a hole in the ocean.

Features

• C-SHAPE

This proven airframe design delivers maximum pop and lift. The non-swept outline aligns the center of effort with the tow point for perfect loading through the canopy at all times, resulting in power through the turn.

• POWER FOIL CANOPY

The Power Foil Canopy has horizontal seam shaping instead of vertical, which makes the canopy looser than with Geo-Tech construction. The result is a kite that creates more instant lift.

• EVOLUTIVE PROFILE

The profile's depth and shape evolves along the airfoil. The center sections generate power and speed. The tips are fast turning and minimize drag. This creates a fast flying, stable kite with less back stalling.

• DIRECT RESPONSE STEERING

The angle-of-attack on the wing tips has been increased to keep them more actively engaged. When bar input is added, the wing tip instantly reacts and produces drag, while the opposite wing tip instantly accelerates. This allows the kite to turn quicker.

• RADIAL SEGMENTED C-SHAPE

Radial Segment C-shape generates the c-arc using short linear segments to accurately form the kite"s arc.

• RADIAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION

All wing tips are designed with seams running parallel to the load generated by the flying lines. These seams carry most of the load, and spread it higher into the canopy. This construction avoids fatigue on the fabric and in the wing tip area.

• OCTOPUS INFLATION SYSTEM

This proven, quick and easy single-point inflation system creates uniform pressure in the struts and leading edge. The Naish exclusive one-way internal valve ensures that the pressure in the struts does not change during turns.

• SOLID FRAME CONSTRUCTION

Every strut is attached to a frame of heavy duty Dacron that is then sewn onto the canopy for unmatched resistance to wear and heavy loads.

• SHIFT SYSTEM PLATFORM

The Shift System has the 5th line locked in one direction (at the split of the front line) so that it can only be pulled from the rider's side. This depowers the kite instantly. It also supports the arc, allowing the Torch to have a small leading-edge diameter for superior performance.