So I've been putting the Matrixx III through the paces the last few weeks. Conditions have run the gamut from smooth wind to trashy wind, light to strong; landboarding to kite skiing. I figured I'd share what will probably be final thoughts for a while for anyone curious about the performance of the kite.

When I heard they were moving to a higher Aspect Ratio for the Matrixx III, my original thought was that it was going to be a hybrid between the Zeekai and the Matrixx II - kind of like the Matrixx II and Zeekai having a baby. And while that may be true to a certain degree - the Matrixx III is certainly faster in all regards than the Matrixx II - the more I ride it, the more the Matrixx 3 feels like a closed cell version of the Montana 9. Which, in my mind, is a huge compliment.

In terms of Aspect Ratios, the Matrixx III (AR 5.25 - 5.5 depending on size) is a closer match to the Montana IX (AR 5.0 - 5.3) than it is to Zeekai (AR 6.8 - 7.1) or even the Flysurfer Speed 5 (AR 6.15). This translates into a kite that has excellent turning speeds, stability, and user-friendliness within it's peer group of closed-cell foil kites. The turning speed of the Matrixx III is on par with the M9, which is quick for a foil kite. It also has the light bar pressure of the Montana, which I personally like. The Matrixx 3 brings all the stability benefits of a closed cell kite, and while the pop feels slightly less aggressive than the Montana IX, the float and hangtime seem better.

In my initial report, I commented that the things that stuck out to me were the speed of the kite, its stability in gusts, its excellent lightwind ability, and its superb hangtime/float. After getting quite a bit more time on it now - in all the different sizes from the 9m to the 18m - those sentiments haven't really changed.

The kite has a reassuring feel to it. I have had a chance to get the kite out in conditions with some sharper gusts, and while it is not not collapse-proof, it does a good job. I feel like I spend less time looking at the kite, wondering what its doing. It just seems to stick wherever I put it. I also feel like I'm sticking more jumps, which may be attributed to its precise feeling. When you put it all together - it all adds up to a confidence building kite that will have you expanding your boundaries. At least it has done that for me. Ultimately the desirability of the Matrixx3 over some other kites like the Speed5 and Chrono2 will come down to personal preference (and cost). If you are willing to sacrifice a little bit of speed and upwind ability to have a quicker turning kite with lighter bar pressure and good stability, then the Matrixx III is going to be a great choice.

Tom Bourdeau, the designer of the Matrixx III and Little Cloud Paragliders, is known for designs that focus on high performance thru simplicity and maximum fun. The Matrixx III has his DNA written all over it and seems to epitomize these concepts. It is a sportier, snappier version of the Matrixx II that is just a delight to fly and will generate grin-inducing jumps in every size.

I hope some of you other guys get a chance to try one. Probably my favorite HQ design to date - they really nailed it on this iteration and I'm looking forward to hearing other people's response once they get a chance to ride it.

Cheers,

Nate