Argo Wave and Freeride 2012

The 2012 Argo is a medium-low aspect kite designed for super stability, smoothness in the gusts, auto re-launch, controlled pivotal turning and massive wind range. Excellent for waves, learners, pros, free riding and light to strong winds. Now with even more wind range and unbeatable upwind performance. 

The Argo is the most tuneable kite available, riders have ability to adjust the amount of drift, bar pressure and turning speed to suite the rider level and style. Settings are clearly explained and labeled on the kite wing tips.

Argo 2012 Discussion Forum - Buy Online
 

Features

Auto Relaunch
A combination of the leading edge curve, bridle design and bar setup allows the kite to easily turn on its side, move to the edge of the wind window and sit there waiting for you to relaunch. The 2012 Argo is one of the easiest kites to re-launch on the market. For beginners and schools using the Argo we have found students and beginners progress many times faster. In the surf the quick and easy relaunch often saves the kite from the onset of waves.

Super Stability
The 2012 Argo medium aspect design gives the kite excellent stability in gusty winds and prevents the kite from over-flying. A lower aspect design also gives better light wind performance and grunt, stability and float.

Massive depower
The 3 point bridle has been designed to give maximum power and depower. This is great for riding in the surf without being pulled off your board. Beginners can also let go of the bar and de-power quickly depowering the kite by up to 98% without having to pull a depower strap. The Argo is also excellent for riding in the surf because of the light wind range as well as the total depower available when on a wave and the fast turning speed. You can kite loop without being pulled of your board when depowered and power up when needed.
Feedback from riders is they are flying upwind on 9m Argos while others on 7m kites are being blown downwind. (Recent Indo wave trip) 

Amazing Power and Grunt
With the lower aspect design, the kite generates a lot more power and turning for its size; as an example the 13.5m Argo has the same grunt and pull as a typical older 16m bow kite. It turns like a 12m bow kite and de-powers more than many older 10m bow kites. Having a light wind kite that you can kite loop and throw around in the waves is a better options than a large 16m slow turner. We have riders using the Argo 13.5 from 10 knots.

Feedback from riders is they are going upwind on 9m while others on 10m, 11m+ kites are struggling in the lighter winds.
( Recent Indo Wave trip and Kite Masters freestyle comp Argo got 1st place )

Boost and Turning
The Argo is excellent for jumping. The low AR design makes jumps floaty and landings soft. You can jump higher in lighter winds and land softer.
The adjustable turning speed can be set from slow, medium, to fast which is great for the pivot turns needed for wave riding.

Upwind Performance
We designed the profile of the Argo to have the best upwind performance possible in light, normal and strong winds.

Center less Strut Design
Griffin Kites were the first to design centerless strut kites, giving better performance.

No Battens!
Invented by Griffin Kites, the 2012 Argo is designed with reinforced batten free layered Dacron striped trailing edge, This removed flutter in the kites and makes the kite much more durable if dumped by a wave. Kites with battens are hard to fold up and often get damaged when the fabric bends and the batten does not. 

Wind Range and Sizing

The Argo is available in 7m 9m 10m 11.5m 13.5  and 17m Light wind.
We have made the 11.5 13.5  17m extra grunty from with faster turning and lots of depower when needed.
Wind range depends on skill level, any rider should never go kiting in winds they are not used to. Beginners should never go out in strong winds and winds past their comfort level. The 7m can handle 40 knots with an experienced rider. A beginner should not go out in strong winds.
Because lower aspect kites have a lot more grunt we found:

13.5m Argo has the almost the same power as the 16m Griffin and turns + depowers more than a 12m or smaller bow kite
11.5m Argo has the power of a 13m or 14m Griffin and turns like a 10m
10m Argo has the power of a 11.5 Griffin and turns like a 9m
9m Argo has the power of a 10m Griffin and turns like a 8m
7m Argo has the power of a 8.5 and turns like a 6m

Wind range depends on the settings and the weight of the rider and board sizes.
For a 80kg rider using the default settings 2 B on a average twin tip 136 or surf board
For a 75kg rider or less would get away with a few knots less.

17m 3rd generation Light Wind Argo.

We have just finished many months of refining the 2012 17m version of the Argo. Designed to be a faster turning super stable light wind kite with much easier relaunch. The bridle has been optimized, the leading edge and profile has been thinned to sit further forward in the wind window and generate more power. The 17m was designed to be a grunty light wind fun kite for free ride and waves with much faster turning and lighter bar pressure and more bottom end. A 85kg rider on a 6ft surf board can get going from 8 knots. Light riders with larger boards can get going from less. Good top end and lots of depower. Range 8 to 15 knots.

13.5m 11 to 20 knots. On a surf board 80-85kg you can get going in 11+ knots while 19 knots is its ideal wind range. You can hold up to 23+ knots on this kite. The 13.5 Argo has the power of most 16m kites and some 18m kites but feels like your riding a fast 12m kite. Heavy riders are putting away their slow turning 16m kites for a Argo 13.5. For a light wind kite or a large person kite, the Argo 13.5 is an excellent choice. With a light wind board and 30m lines riders are using the 13.5 in 8+ knots. See video below. 

11.5m 12,13 up to 26knots comfortably. This is a great all round sub 22 knot kite. Plenty of grunt similar to a 13m bow kite but feels like your flying a fast 10m kite. It is a good heavy riders (85kg-120kg) all-round kite with range 14 to 25 knots. It's fast enough to do kite loops and powerful enough to be a lighter person's light wind kite (60 to 80kg).

10m 14,15 to 28 knots. This is most kiter's 80kg to 90kg all round 1 quiver kite. Just the right size to rip up the waves and the right amount of power and depower to handle the best wind conditions. Range 13-14knots right up to 28 knots.

9m 14,16 to 34 knots. The 9m is a great lighter persons kite. For under 75kg riders this is often the largest kite they need as it has the power of most 10.5m kites with massive depower but feels like your flying a 8m kite. For most 80 to 90kg riders the 9m is a good stronger wind kite 17 to 34 knots

7m 16,17 to 40 knots. The Argo 7m handles a lot more wind than the 2011 or 2010 Argo and is a great strong wind kite. 
 

One kite Quiver
90kg and more = 11.5m Argo
80kg rider = 10m Argo
75kg and less = 9m Argo

About line lengths
Line Lengths are 21m + 4m extensions. 

Longer lines
For beginner/learner Schools: Adding the 4m lines will give you more power through the turns and slow down the turning of the kite and also give better light wind performance.

Shorter Lines
More depower, less bottom end wind range, more top-end wind range, faster and punchy turning and power, much better for waves, kiteloops and stronger winds. 

Argo Settings Guide
The 2012 Argos setting have been simplified,
Turning speed setting ( slow to fast),
Bar pressure setting (Medium to heavy 1,2,3 )
Drift setting ( forward to back A,B,C)

The designers favorite all round setting is Fast turning and 2 B