Competition Big Air • ALUULA Gold • Five Struts • Extreme Megaloops
North’s fastest and most reactive Orbit, engineered with an ALUULA Gold airframe for extreme height, high-speed loops and maximum powered control.
The 2025 North Orbit Ultra is the premium, competition-focused version of North’s iconic five-strut Big Air kite. Its high-modulus ALUULA Gold airframe allows North to reduce the diameter of the leading edge and struts, creating a faster, more forward-flying kite with direct steering, explosive vertical lift and rapid recovery after committed megaloops.
This is not simply a standard Orbit made from more expensive cloth. North combines the ALUULA structure with Micro-Strut Geometry, a Response five-point performance bridle, weight-saving reinforcements and linear competition sizing. The result is the sharpest and most technical Orbit in the 2025 range, developed for experienced riders chasing extreme boosts, doubles, board-offs and powerful loop-based Big Air tricks.
Choose the Orbit Ultra if you already have confident kite control and want the fastest, most direct and most performance-focused Orbit available. The smaller-diameter ALUULA airframe flies quickly through the wind window, sits farther forward and turns steering input into immediate acceleration. This gives advanced riders the speed and recovery required for powered megaloops, doubles and technical Big Air combinations.
Compared with the standard Orbit, the Ultra is faster, more reactive and more efficient, but it has a smaller margin for incorrect input. Compared with the Orbit Pro, the Ultra’s stiffer ALUULA frame allows an even thinner leading edge and struts, producing greater flight speed and a sharper, more connected feel.
The Ultra also carries more pull through a loop than the standard Orbit. That extra energy helps advanced riders generate powerful competition-style tricks, but riders learning their first loops may prefer the calmer, more confidence-building response of the standard Orbit or Orbit Pro.
All three 2025 Orbit versions use a stable five-strut Big Air platform, but their airframe materials, bridles, sizing and riding characteristics are different.
Uses a durable N-Dure2 Dacron airframe. It has the largest steering sweet spot, three steering-impulse settings and the most forgiving handling. It is the best value for general Big Air, freeride and loop progression.
Uses an N-Max2 polyester airframe that North lists as 8% lighter than standard 156gsm Dacron. It adds weight-saving construction, a five-point bridle and linear competition sizing for faster, more technical performance.
Uses North’s stiffest and most premium ALUULA Gold airframe. The material allows the smallest leading-edge and strut diameters, producing the fastest forward flight, most immediate response and most powerful competition character.
North describes the Ultra’s airframe as 13–18% lighter, not the entire assembled kite. Additional reinforcement means total kite weight is not dramatically different across the Orbit range. The main gain is increased stiffness and reduced airframe diameter.
The high-aspect profile flies forward efficiently and climbs rapidly during takeoff. When loaded with a strong edge, the Ultra generates immediate vertical lift for high, competition-style boosts.
The reduced leading-edge diameter lets the kite accelerate through the turn and recover quickly. Loops are fast for a five-strut kite but retain meaningful pull rather than becoming a low-power pivot turn.
After completing a loop, the Ultra drives forward and climbs quickly. This supports dependable catches after megaloops, doubles and inverted rotations when the kite is sent with sufficient height and correct timing.
The rigid ALUULA frame and five-point bridle transmit steering input immediately. The rider receives clear feedback through boosts and loops instead of an overly soft or disconnected feel.
Five struts and the additional central bridle support help the thin airframe hold its intended shape when heavily loaded. This gives advanced riders confidence when edging hard in strong or gusty conditions.
The Ultra sits forward in the wind window for efficient upwind tracking and reduced drag. This helps riders hold an edge longer, manage power and recover ground between jumps.
High-modulus ALUULA composite is used throughout the leading edge and five struts. Its rigidity allows North to reduce airframe diameter while retaining the structural support required for extreme loads.
Five reduced-diameter struts support the canopy with less aerodynamic drag. The configuration combines high-wind stability with faster turning and forward flight.
Five leading-edge attachment points support the thinner airframe and stabilize the center of the kite. The competition bridle is tuned for rapid control, direct steering and reliable shape retention.
North’s High Tenacity Ripstop polyester canopy balances low weight, tear resistance, shape retention and low porosity for consistent performance under repeated Big Air loading.
North uses fractional sizes below 9m so each step produces a more consistent change in projected power. This helps competition riders choose a precise size as wind strength changes.
The refined arc and aerodynamic profile-transition panels create a smoother entry from the leading edge into the canopy, reducing turbulence and improving flight efficiency.
Lightweight internal bladders reduce unnecessary mass in the inflated structure, helping the kite accelerate, steer and recover more efficiently.
North reduces excess inflation-system hardware while maintaining efficient airflow between the leading edge and struts for fast single-point inflation.
| Model | Airframe | Struts / Bridle | Riding Character | Choose It If... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orbit | Durable N-Dure2 Dacron | Five struts with forgiving performance bridle and three steering settings | Stable, predictable and confidence building with a large steering sweet spot | You want excellent Big Air performance, easier loop progression, everyday durability and the best value. |
| Orbit Pro | N-Max2 polyester airframe, listed as 8% lighter than standard 156gsm Dacron | Five struts, Micro-Strut Geometry and five-point competition bridle | Faster and more technical than the standard Orbit without the full ALUULA price | You want competition-oriented performance and lower weight while retaining a slightly more manageable feel. |
| Orbit Ultra | Premium high-modulus ALUULA Gold | Five Micro-Struts and Ultra-specific five-point Response bridle | Fastest, sharpest and most powerful Orbit with direct feedback and rapid recovery | You are an experienced rider prioritizing extreme boosts, powered megaloops, doubles and maximum responsiveness. |
| Size | Manufacturer Wind Range | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 5.9m | 21+ knots | Extreme-wind Big Air and expert-level short-line loops |
| 6.6m | 20–38 knots | Very strong-wind boosting, megaloops and technical doubles |
| 7.3m | 18–37 knots | High-wind Big Air with added lift and loop power |
| 8.1m | 16–36 knots | Versatile strong-wind competition and powered loop sessions |
| 9m | 14–33 knots | Core Big Air size with a wide powered performance range |
| 10m | 12–31 knots | Moderate-wind boosting, added float and powerful loops |
| 11m | 11–29 knots | Lighter wind, heavier riders and longer hangtime |
| 12m | 10–27 knots | Lower-wind Big Air, freeride and maximum low-end coverage |
Windance lists the complete North size range: 5.9m, 6.6m, 7.3m, 8.1m, 9m, 10m, 11m and 12m. Wind ranges are starting guidelines and will change with rider weight, board size, water conditions, line length, skill and riding style.
The Orbit Ultra includes 2m Pro Line Extensions. When added to the standard 22m North Navigator line configuration, they create a 24m setup that gives the kite a larger flight window and more time to develop lift for maximum height.
Riders prioritizing the fastest possible loop and recovery may prefer the standard line length or a shorter competition setup. Short-line megaloops require advanced timing, sufficient height and expert-level kite control.
Yes. The leading edge and all five struts use premium ALUULA Gold composite. The canopy is North’s N-HTRS High Tenacity Triple Ripstop polyester.
It uses a five-strut platform with reduced-diameter Micro-Strut Geometry. This gives the canopy the support required for powered Big Air while reducing drag compared with a conventional five-strut airframe.
It is not recommended as a first kite. The Ultra’s speed, direct response and powered loop characteristics are designed for experienced intermediate through expert riders. The standard Orbit or Reach is more forgiving.
The Orbit Pro uses North’s lightweight N-Max2 polyester airframe. The Ultra uses stiffer ALUULA Gold, allowing North to reduce the leading-edge and strut diameters further for faster flight, sharper response and greater efficiency.
Not necessarily. North’s 13–18% figure refers to the airframe. The complete kite requires additional reinforcement, so North states that total weight is not dramatically different across the Orbit range. The primary benefits are stiffness, reduced diameter and faster flight.
It has two adjustable steering settings. The lighter setting reduces steering effort and uses more bar travel, while the direct setting produces firmer feedback and a shorter depower stroke. Overall, the Ultra feels direct and communicative rather than exceptionally light.
Choose the standard Orbit for forgiving Big Air progression and durability. Choose the Orbit Pro for lighter competition performance at a lower price than ALUULA. Choose the Ultra for North’s fastest, most direct and most performance-focused 2025 Orbit.
