DESCRIPTION
For high-speed performance, efficiency is key. We’ve engineered Mode, our high-speed performance wing, with high tensile strength N-Weave 45 X-ply reinforced woven fibre airframe and Matrix N-HTRS canopy for the most efficient power delivery on the market.
Developing these new material technologies has allowed us to create a stiffer, lighter and more durable wing without geometric compromise (and without the high-performance price tag). N-Weave 45 reduces structural deflection and transfers wind energy into greater forward speed, explosive boost and hangtime for freestyle tricks.
We’ve specifically designed our new low-stretch, low-deflection Matrix N-HTRS high-tenacity canopy material to manage the added tension of the N-Weave 45 airframe, further increasing the wind range, and holding its shape in all conditions.
The Mode has a fast, VMG-optimized design, which lets you sail closer to the wind, on higher upwind angles, and reduces your need to tack or gybe. We designed the Mode primarily for high-speed performance, but the stiffer airframe also translates into unprecedented loft for higher jumps and forward momentum on landings.
With incredible high-end stability, the 3.5 to 4.8m are ideal for use in stronger winds, while the 5.5m and 6.8m are optimised for greater power in lighter air.
The wing has a balanced lower aspect ratio with rounded wingtips to reduce tip strike, and the new panel layout delivers wingtip stability and increased tension under load.
Featuring Carbon GripLock rigid micro-trim control handles for immediate response, and gybe-friendly window positioning.
Surf Handle
The front handle goes pretty much unchanged. If you're familiar with North wings, this is going to feel right at home for you. It's a nice, cushy, easy-to-grab handle with plenty of room if you have gloves on. It's got a little knuckle scuff guard underneath. It's fairly stiff for a handle that's not a hard handle, and it's easy to control the wing when you're luffing it.
Wrist Leash
It's just your standard wrist leash, but it does come included so you don't need to pick out another leash. This one does the job.
Inflation System
The Mode Pro uses the typical North Boston style valve with the hose end connection, so you don't need any kind of special valve adapter for this. It just plugs right into your hose end. It's got a nice, big dump valve, so when you're packing up for the day it empties out really quickly.
There is also a valve on the strut, so you have the option for isolated inflation that allows you to pump up to different pressures. On this wing, both the strut and leading edge take 7 PSI so, unless you want to soften the leading edge, you can just pump up with the One Pump system and leave the hose clamp open. If you did want to isolate the bladders, you can pump them up independently or use the clamp to lock out the bladder after pumping up so that one stays inflated if you do happen to have a bladder issue.
Handles
On the strut we have our large, long hard handles. These do look a lot like other iterations of the North hard handle, but this one actually has a carbon beam in the middle, so these are quite a bit lighter weight. This has helped reduce the overall weight of the wing and has it fly a little bit nicer off the surf handle. It's not a surf wing, but sometimes you want to surf, so having a bit more surf performance and a more stable luff, especially in lighter winds, is key, and they were able to do that with the carbon handles.
They're very comfortable and ergonomic, and you can hold them anywhere without a death grip. You can fingertip these and find that perfect position to balance the power how you want, depending on what the wind is doing and your personal preference. They're impossible to miss during a jibe or a tack or any other trick where you need to reach blindly for that handle.
Harness Line
I am riding a harness line with this, and a lot of other people will be as well because it is a wing that likes to go fast and ride with power. If you're only riding for a short time that's no big deal, but if you're going to go out there and ride all day long, it's nice to have a harness line so you can take some of the strain off your arms.
