Behind the Design: Manu & Reno on How the Juice D/LAB Redefined Light-Wind-Performance.

Manuel Zwinz:
As many may know, the Juice D/LAB design is based on the Evo D/LAB. It uses the new D-Tx leading edge and strut material but features the same six-point bridle and seam construction as the Evo D/LAB. I want to focus on the comparison between the Evo D/LAB and the Juice D/LAB. The main difference is that the leading edge on the Juice D/LAB is even smaller than on the Evo D/LAB. That means, for example, the Juice D/LAB 14 meter has a smaller leading edge than the Evo D/LAB 13 meter. This is because the Juice D/LAB 14 is designed for lighter riders, riding in very light wind. On the other hand, the Evo D/LAB 13 is better suited for slightly heavier riders going out in stronger conditions.

Of course, as you go up in size with the Juice D/LAB, the leading edge diameter increases to give more stability and stiffness for heavier riders. But the Juice D/LAB is always optimised for light wind. Since it’s a complete redesign, it’s hard to point out just one change, but one major shift is the aspect ratio. It’s lower now, which may seem counterintuitive—typically, a higher aspect ratio means higher performance. But through testing prototypes, I found that reducing the aspect ratio gave me a lot more agility, turning speed, and a better overall riding feel. And surprisingly, I didn’t lose performance—if anything, the low-end performance feels even better than before.

It feels lighter on the bar and has less of that grunty pull compared to the previous model. Sitting slightly closer to the edge of the wind window, it delivers improved upwind performance and more vertical lift when jumping. On the previous version, more of the power pulled you slightly more of a downwind direction, so you had to edge harder to drive upwind. With the new design, that energy is redirected forward and upward, making it easier to convert power into speed and height. It’s also important to note that the Juice D/LAB was developed and tested at air pressures of 10 PSI; reaching the correct pressure is key to unlocking its full performance and handling.

Reno Romeu:
I was recently on a kite trip, riding the Juice D/LAB 14-meter with a foil. I’m not exactly sure how many knots there were, but the water was glassy—it was the lightest session I’ve ever kited in. I started in conditions where I wasn’t even sure if I could ride. The wind kept dropping, and I remember looking at the water thinking, “There’s no way I can still kite.” But I just kept going—it was really impressive. It’s the same feeling I had going from the previous Evo D/LAB to the new one. We used to have a lot of power in both kites, which is good for light wind because you need something to pull you. But now, thanks to the lower aspect ratio and thinner leading edge, you get even more performance, especially upwind.

You can feel it right away: the kite flies upwind so well, and that gives you better vertical jumps too. That’s what I love about the Juice D/LAB—it’s not just a light wind kite that makes the session possible, it’s a kite that gives you performance in light wind. You’re not just riding back and forth—you can actually have fun, improve your tricks, and keep progressing. It brings everything together for a more enjoyable light wind session where you’re still learning and pushing your riding.

Manuel Zwinz:
Let’s talk sizing. The Juice D/LAB 14-meter is really made for lighter riders—say 75 kilos and below—in very light conditions. It’s also great for foiling, where that ultra-small leading edge gives you incredible performance. If you’re lighter, you don’t need as much rigidity in the kite. As you move up in size, stiffness and stability increase, which becomes more beneficial for heavier riders. That’s why we recommend choosing your size based more on rider weight than wind strength, since all the sizes are built specifically for light wind. Another interesting point: a lot of our big air riders have been gravitating toward the Juice D/LAB for training. In slightly stronger winds, the kite is incredibly floaty and lofty, which makes it ideal for practising board-offs, flips, and rotations. What really impressed me is how well the kite handles when the wind picks up.

I think that comes down to the six-point bridle and the fact that we can pump it to 10 PSI. We were in Cape Town on a test trip, and Ross-Dillon Player was out riding the 14-meter. The wind picked up suddenly, and he just started doing loops—and the kite handled it no problem. So the Juice D/LAB has an amazing range. It covers everything from super light wind to moderate wind conditions, where you can still push it and have fun. I think that’s what makes it so great, especially for heavier riders. For example, I’m 73 kilos and riding a 12-meter in 20 knots. A rider who’s 90 kilos won’t get the same performance out of a 13-meter Evo D/LAB, but they can take a 15-meter Juice D/LAB and get a similar experience to mine on the 12. And when the wind is really light, they can size up to the 17 and still have fun in all conditions.