Evo Tech talk

In this Tech Talk, we sit down with Sky Solbach to go behind the design of the new Evo for 2026, a kite that’s built its reputation on versatility, and continues to evolve with subtle but meaningful refinements.

From Freeride progression to confident jumping, Wave riding, and even light wind Foiling, the Evo has always been about accessible performance across all disciplines. For 2026, Sky and the design team focused on refining that feeling.

Here’s Sky Solbach, breaking down the thinking, the changes, and how the Evo continues to define what a true all-rounder should feel like.

The Evo is a very accessible kite for anyone looking to ride a Twintip and get really good jumps, Freeride, and even go into the waves or ride some Freestyle.

For 2026 we've managed to make some good improvements to the kite, especially in the bigger sizes. In these bigger sizes, we've reduced the sweep angle, which makes the kite a little bit more lively, this gives it a little bit crisper bar feel, and smoother turning.

We worked on the tip tension in the tips of the bigger sizes, so they have really smooth turning, and this also sped up the turning speed. The Evo has really accessible performance. It's not a beginner kite, but it is a kite that can give you a great introduction into kiteboarding.

If you are just learning, you can learn on an Evo. It has really good sheet and go and a lot of easy characteristics that make it easy to get into the sport. But it's a kite that you can continue to progress on, even once you are an intermediate or even an advanced rider, because it has really great handling and jumping abilities. You can ride it on a Twintip powered up and get really good vertical lift, and it just has really accessible performance for pretty much anyone who's into Free-riding, riding a Twintip, jumping, and even riding in the waves.

You can even ride it on a Foil in light wind. The Dacron construction of the Evo lends itself really well to being very comfortable. It's a kite that's not too aggressive, but still has a sporty feel.

»We've made some changes to the kite this year to make it feel more lively and more intuitive through the bar, with really good sheet and go. With the Dacron construction, it's a very comfortable kite. It has very accessible performance for anyone who's into Freeriding, Waveriding and Foiling, it's the kite that you can do everything on.«
— Sky Solbach

We've made some changes to the kite this year to make it feel more lively and more intuitive through the bar, with really good sheet and go. With the Dacron construction, it's a very comfortable kite. It has very accessible performance for pretty much anyone who's into Free-riding, Wave riding and Foiling, it's the kite that you can do everything.

The Dacron construction makes it very easy, very comfortable and very accessible, compared to the SLS or even the D/LAB Evo. This original is more based on comfort and accessibility, being a very easy and intuitive kite to ride. It's not going to feel quite as aggressive or quite as sporty as the SLS, and it's not going to give you that top-tier performance of the D/LAB, but it is going to be a very comfortable, easy and intuitive kite to use.

For this year, we have an alternating colored Dacron leading edge with stripes, a new look for 2026.

With the new tip geometry and reduced sweep, you are getting more performance than last year, with really smooth turning and intuitive handling.

So that's the updates of the new Evo for 2026 in the Original construction, it's a great all-round Freeride kite that you can use for riding on a Twintip and jumping. You can ride it with a Surfboard in the waves, or even go foiling with this kite. It's just a great all-rounder. I think you all will really enjoy it, and I hope to see you enjoying it on the water.