Few thought that it was possible, but North has succeeded. In discounting the skeptic's views, North produced a high performance C-Kite design, with all the perceived safety and depower benefits of the new Bow kites. The North design team has achieved what no other manufacturer has even tried – they met the new market demands with a whole new design based on the existing foundation of a conventional C-Kite.

North made their first major step forward for 2006 with their new Cam Batten Technology. These 13 ultra-light battens distributed along the leading edge keep the profile shape uniform and stable throughout a wide range of wind conditions and sheeting angles.  Your kite will fly right through gusts and holes without jerking you around.  The designer can add a deeper profile for increased low end power and hangtime, but the Cam Battens keep it all under control.  They also eliminate stall and reduce the drag of the kite.  This means more lift, and very direct bar-to-kite response, which is sorely lacking in the Bow-kites.

However, just as the CamBattens' stability makes for a more powerful kite, it also allows for more depower. The CamBattens actually allow for more angle toward depower, where as most C-Kites don't have the canopy stability, nor the innovative wingtip  design to do so (see Trim Tips below).

North's Cam Battens are made of S-Glass, vinylester resin, and a slightly reduced fiber/resin ratio -- the perfect ingredient list that just happens to be the lightest and simplest to achieve the aerodynamic benefits in the new Vegas.

You have to hand it to North -- the Vegas was very well thought-out. All elements and features of the new '06 Vegas were designed seamlessly together and the North Trim Tips were no exception. North's wingtip design on the '06 Vegas -- the Trim Tips -- feature an angled tip, that, when initiated from the bar to depower, actually rotate instead of simply tipping forward as is with most kites. This rotation, working together with the CamBattens to provide stability, achieves comfortable depower assurance for the rider looking for maximum depower.  The angled tip effectively moves the front attachment point higher up the leading edge, without bridles.  This concept is illustrated in the graphics to the left.

In order to integrate the new Cam Battens at the seams where the middle three ribs live, North did a rib re-design. The new Vertex HexRib resulted, an innovative rib with a slight bend at the canopy attachment point that allows the CamBattens to create the correct entry curve in the profile. This new rib design, in conjunction with the Cam Battens, provide a perfectly smooth shape from tip to tip.

North also delivered all the other superior quality, safety, performance and convenience features as you would expect to come from a North kite...

• Self Rescue Handles: Wingtip loops for simple bodydrag rescues

• Kook Proof Connectors: For simple line-to-wingtip attachments

• NKB Deflator Pin and wing-tip dump valve: For quick deflation

• Ballistic Snakeskin Canopy: Bomber strength canopy material for increased protection & durability.