What Sets the Psycho Apart? The Tech Behind Its Explosive Boost and Hangtime

The Vision Behind the Psycho

The goal was clear: create a big air kite that offers explosive lift, extended hangtime, and effortless control. With big air kites taking various forms, Naish focused on creating a design that delivers exceptional performance while remaining accessible to a wide range of riders.

“Many brands have focused their big air kites into things that are fast, twitchy, but cater to high level competition riding in strong winds. While this is great, and we had a few prototypes down this path, 95% of riders were jumping bigger, landing softer and looping more confidently on the path we ended up going down. The Psycho is designed to give all riders confidence to push their limits.”

Key Features & Performance

Explosive Lift & Extended Hangtime

The Psycho’s solid five-strut design and high aspect ratio provides a kite that is super rigid, flies fast and generates a lot of float. The profiles used are quite shallow, providing excellent drive and upward lift, while the wide span ensures extended hangtime. This combination allows for softer, more controlled landings, especially during heli loops, where the kite stays straight above your head when coming down, creating extra lift on landings.

Optimized Materials for Maximum Performance

A stiffer Dacron than the standard Q-series kites is used, providing greater structure in the high end, ensuring the kite never deforms, and holds the same arc in both 10 knots or 40 knots. The Quad-tex canopy, which is very stiff, enhances the rigidity and less flutter. Additionally, TLS500 bridle lines offer exceptional strength and abrasion resistance, ensuring reliability and confidence in every session.

Bridle System for Structure and Stability

The Psycho's bridle system has additional points from the Nvision version, providing increased structure and stability. The design ensures even load distribution, making the kite feel well-supported whether sheeted in or out or through any turns/twists the kite will make.

Who is the Psycho For?

While the name may suggest a kite for the fearless, the Psycho is designed for a broad range of riders.

“The way we describe the kite is that it is catered to riders of all levels, honestly from just past beginner, all the way to pro level. Even those who aren’t ‘psycho’, to tap into their full potential,” Ewan Jaspan explains. “The kite has such good hangtime that it gives riders extra time to focus on what needs to be done in the air. I would say the rider who will benefit from the kite the most is someone looking for their new highest jump at any level, or someone looking to throw their first kite loops or rotations, as the kite builds confidence with ease. It’s built to help anyone push their limits with confidence.”

Whether you're an intermediate kiter working on higher jumps or an advanced rider throwing big loops and rotations, the Psycho provides the stability, lift, and predictability to progress.

Rider Feedback & Testing

Extensive rider feedback played a crucial role in refining the Psycho’s final design. Testers praised its ability to maintain lift and control even in turbulent conditions.

“The Psycho never drops out of the sky like some high-performance kites do. You can always trust it to provide a soft, controlled landing.”

Balancing Performance for Every Rider

Designing a big air kite that delivers both massive lift and extended hangtime comes with its challenges. The biggest hurdle? Striking the perfect balance between performance and accessibility. Riders have different preferences when it comes to kite feel and responsiveness, so creating a design that caters to a wide range of styles—without sacrificing top performance—was key. The goal was to ensure that not just elite riders, but anyone looking to progress in big air, could take full advantage of what the Psycho has to offer.

The Design Team’s Favorite Feature

When it comes to standout qualities, Ewan Jaspan agrees: the Psycho’s reliability.

“The feeling of trust I get from the kite is incredible. I know exactly what it is going to do, and when I loop the kite, I know it will catch me every time, allowing me to focus on learning a new trick!”

Ready to Go Big(ger)?

The Psycho isn’t just about sending it, it’s about doing so with confidence. Whether you’re aiming for your biggest jump yet, dialing in technical kite loops, or simply looking for a kite that offers superior hangtime and control, the Psycho is built to help you improve your riding.