Includes: Wing, Wing Leash, Bag, Compression Strap, and Repair Kit
A wing with power when needed and a sweet spot so generous it makes hard things easy. Maximum low-end to get you up on the foil earlier. Top-end performance that lets you exploit gusty conditions. Engineered to feel light in your hands, the 2023 Nova’s progressive swept outline and refined profile section makes it easier to handle and more stable when riding. Your front and back arm pressure is even, not backhand-heavy. The wingtip geometry and balanced dihedral also prevent oscillation side-to-side when gripping the front handle, riding downwind swell, surfing, or simply walking towards the water. The new draft-forward curvature in the profile section generates more lift in the front of the wing. This makes transitions smoother so you can glide through turns effortlessly, and when combined with improved canopy tensioning, boosts Nova’s low-end power. A stiffer, more responsive airframe means the canopy stays clean through a wider wind range. North minimized flutter and created a clean trailing-edge release with reduced drag. Then, to ensure the wing remains stable and comfortable in overpowered conditions, North tapered the leading-edge diameter, concentrating the stiffness in the LE centre and allowing the reflexed wingtips to dump excess power. Master of the upwind, glide through tacks, float through gybes, and lofty jumps with bonus hangtime. Whatever goal you’re chasing, the Nova will send you there faster.
Waiting for wind? The all-new Nova Light Wind has the power to unlock borderline sessions, lift you up instantly in the lightest wind and keep you on the foil for longer. Its deep profile and ultra-stiff frame provide the most efficient power delivery per m2, carrying you through the lulls and converting the slightest puff into powerful forward momentum. Engineered to feel as light as possible, the Nova Light Wind has balanced load distribution and lift for easier gybes, tacks and low-speed transitions. Rigid GripLock micro-trim handles deliver a more immediate response. Its refined compact outline and rounded wingtips help reduce tip-strike, and the manageable span width is tailored to fit every rider. Go by height to choose just one Nova Light Wind size for your quiver, and end the wait for wind.
Structurally Balanced Freeride Shape
Engineered for stability in gusty winds, the Nova's progressive swept outline makes it easier to handle and more stable when riding.
Less shoulder, more sweep and more aggressive turn-in at the wingtips give the wing its stability. When you’re riding, your front and back arm pressure is even, not backhand-heavy. The wingtip geometry and balanced dihedral also prevent oscillation side-to-side when gripping the front handle, riding downwind swell, surfing, or simply walking towards the water.
Maximum Low-End Power for Instant Up & Go
For 2023, North refined the profile across the canopy - shifting the maximum profile thickness or draft further forward.
It's now more in line with the wingtips, which helps to generate more lift in the front of the wing. The increased curvature in the profile section gives the Nova maximum low-end power, and instant up & go. Changing how the air-foil shape/section profile develops across the span of the wing has made the wing smoother to ride, because more curvature at the front of the profile allows for a more forgiving angle of attack. North moved the centre of lift further forward ensuring there is always a smooth laminar flow attachment from the LE to the TE (no turbulence)– so the wing retains lift through all angle of attack changes. It’s more user-friendly and has a generous sweet spot. This means fewer micro-adjustments in your hand positioning and a lighter feel with uplift for effortless transitions. When you do a tack, it pulls upward and enables you to glide around effortlessly without any tail drop. It also contributes to the Nova’s excellent loft and hangtime
Stiffer, More Responsive Airframe
To counteract the greater canopy and frame stiffness and to ensure the wing remains stable at the top end, North tapered the leading edge diameter further to the wing tips.
How they're tapered makes the LE stiffer in the center and allows the tip to reflex and dump any excess power. The tapered wingtips also reduce the swing weight of the wing. It reduces drag from the wingtips, which also helps with the stability. And allowing the tips to bend slightly, keeps the trailing edge tight. The tension of the trailing edge and overall skin tension gives the wing more low-end power. But then on the high end, the ability of the tips to reflex away allows that excess power to bleed off. So you actually have a bigger wind range now than in 2022.
Cleaner Canopy and Trailing Edge Tensioning
The stiffer, more responsive airframe and tighter skin tensioning mean the canopy stays clean through a wider wind range, with increased bottom end power.
North minimized flutter and created a clean trailing edge release with reduced drag. From front to back and from wing tip to strut, everything's tight. TE TENSION. To increase the trailing edge tension, North uses a sailing term called take-up. Basically, where it's loose, they pull the seam together to take out that excess shape where it's flapping. It's like dressmaking, you know, like making your pants fit. They do that in the software, rather than manually, so they don't get a hook in the trailing edge. A hook in the trailing edge creates drag, making a wing very backhand heavy and stall a lot.
Revised Panel Layout
In the rear panels, the seams run in the load-bearing direction from wingtip to strut, while in the front it runs vertically, helping retain the wing's true profile shapes.
The new canopy layout gives more stiffness to the canopy and allows the load to be transferred through the canopy more evenly.
Lighter Materials for Reduced Overall Weight
North chose a lighter-weight bladder materials, and strategically double-layers this in load-bearing areas, such as the handles, valves, nose, and wingtips.
Double layering has been around since the get-go with kites, but winging creates more wear on the bladders, because of the direct load where your hands are. North used two-ply bladders in the Nova before, but they were able to reduce the size of the double layers significantly to lighten the load, by strategically targeting areas where the bladders need more reinforcement. The new tensioning in the TE requires just a two-ply of canopy and string for support, replacing the Dacron tape and EVA battens that were providing structural strength in the 2022 Nova TE.
New Wide Angle Window Positioning
New strategic positioning helps you see down wind and improves safety on the water, while keeping weight to a minimum.
Intuitive Rigid GripLock Handles
Rigid GripLock micro-trim handles for immediate response and intuitive transitions. The rigid handles radically transform the way you ride, with instant control and reduced hand-fatigue.
The two long handlebars are wrapped in a soft EVA grip for comfort, and enable you to slide your hands into optimum trimming positions to control the wing’s pitch, yaw and roll, while keeping your body positioned perfectly over the foil. More freedom in your hand placement lets you choose the best feel based on the conditions, your arm length, and your body size. For 2023 North introduced an alternative handle accessory in the carbon wing handles. These can be retrofitted to all of North's rigid handle wings. The Carbon handles lighten the weight of the wing and improve reaction. Where alloy would bend slowly, carbon has a much quicker reaction, like lightning. So, the carbon handles also make your riding experience a more reactive.
Dual HyperFlow Inflation Valves
There are two main valves, one on the LE and one on the strut, with an interlinking valve and hose. This enables you to inflate the strut to a higher pressure than the leading edge.
N-HTRS High Performance Canopy Material
The Nova is constructed for a new high-performance, high-tenacity ripstop (N-HTRS) canopy material, with a lightweight and durable Dacron LE and Strut.
Strategic STPU Scuff Protection
North identified the areas of greatest wear and tear on wings and added strategic reinforcement. For 2023 they also introduced small STPU bumpers on top of the leading edge for added protection when the wing is upside down.
Comfort & Security
The water resistant custom-moulded EVA knuckle guard under the front handle protects your fingers from abrasion when depowering. The Nova comes complete with a wrist wing leash, for fast wing retrieval.
The high-quality elasticised webbing leash with bungy cord core provides greater forgiveness and helps to soften the jolt when your wing escapes. A waist belt with wing leash and optional quick release board leash attachment is also available as an accessory.
Durable Dacron Frame and High-Performance N-HTRS Canopy
Chasing a stiffer rig, North used an ultra-strong high tenacity Dacron for the inflated structures, resulting in less deflection and movement and a stiffer overall frame during flight. The lower stretch material keeps the shape clean and undisturbed under load. North also built stiffness into the design through the load distribution on the frame when in use. The canopy is constructed using North High Tenacity Ripstop (N-HTRS) polyester yarn canopy material for lightness, high tear strength, and longevity.
Kevlar Strut Connection
A biaxial kevlar fibre layer provides internal strength and reinforcement to the connection at the XL-T Joint between strut and leading edge. It is bias cut, so it can flex around the curvature of the strut, with a tight and accurate fit.
Super-Efficient Power Delivery
The Nova Light Wind has a deep profile and stiff frame to enable the most efficient power delivery per m2. North's main focus for the Nova Light Wind design was to get you up and riding, without needing to pump hard. To get you up on the plane and keep you there as long as possible, through even the zero knot lulls. The framing of the wing is very stiff and reactive. When you pull with your back arm, the wing delivers direct power and drives you forward.
Rounded Wingtips for Reduced Tip-Strike
The Nova Light Wind has a compact outline with rounded wingtips for reduced tip-strike. The lower aspect ratio and reduced span width means you're less likely to catch a wingtip in the water. The curvature in the wingtip means that if you do touch the water, only a small part of the wing tip will make contact. This creates less drag and improves your chance of recovery.
Rigid GripLock Micro-Trim Handles
Radically transform the way you ride with increased control and reduced hand-fatigue. The rigid trim handles offer an immediate, direct response and balance adjustment. The two handlebars are wrapped in a soft EVA comfort grip. Their length lets you slide your hands into optimum trimming positions so you can instantly control the wing's pitch, yaw and roll, while keeping your body positioned perfectly over the foil. More freedom in your hand placement allows you to choose the best feel based on the conditions, your arm length, and your body size, and makes transitions more intuitive.
Refined Design
North stripped all the scuff guards, used the lightest bladders, and engineered this wing to feel as light as possible. While there will always be size and weight limitations on such a big wing, how it weighs on the beach is not a representation of how it flies on the water. The Nova Light Wing handles like a much smaller wing.
Balanced Load Distribution
Balanced load distribution and lift for easier jibes, tacks and low-speed transitions. North concentrated the weight in the center of the wing, keeping the tips and canopy light for effortless maneuvers and a low swing weight.
Pair with an Efficient Hydrofoil Wing with a Low Stall Speed
With a wing of this size, you need to make your transitions at slower speeds. When paired with a bigger hydrofoil in lightwind, you'll have more time on the foil. A low stall speed helps you to maintain lift through the lulls.
Choose Only One Wing Size
You only need one Nova Light Wind Wing in your quiver. The span width is tailored to be manageable for different riders, so choose the wing best for your size. The 8m is suited to a heavier rider while the 6m is suited more to a lighter rider. Every size is optimized for maximum low-end ability.
Aerodynamic Trailing Edge
Travel upwind easily. North's trailing edge technology creates a better laminar airflow and more direct exit for the wind compared to a tight trailing edge. Testing has showed that if a wing has a tighter trailing edge it creates a hook, which gives more backhand pressure, but also wants to pull you downwind instead of progressing you forward.
HyperFlow Rapid Inflation/Deflation System
High volume single point inflation system with larger diameter inlet/outlet hose for rapid inflation and deflation. The bayonet style main inflation valve is compatible with most pumps - no adapter needed.
Durable Dacron Frame and High-Performance N-HTRS Canopy
Chasing a stiffer rig, North used an ultra-strong high tenacity Dacron for the inflated structures, resulting in less deflection and movement and a stiffer overall frame during flight. The lower stretch material keeps the shape clean and undisturbed under load. North also built stiffness into the design through the load distribution on the frame when in use. The canopy is constructed using North High Tenacity Ripstop (N-HTRS) polyester yarn canopy material for lightness, high tear strength, and longevity.
Stiffening Seams
Additional seaming in the wingtips helps to stiffen the frame.
