RRD Gold Obsession

The RRD Obsession has been a staple in the RRD lineup for many years, evolving through different disciplines, from freeride to freestyle to Big Air. For this Y30 collection, the Obsession has been refined as a pure Big Air kite, crafted with Aluula, and it has been reborn as the Gold Obsession. We were incredibly fortunate during our test period – the kite arrived just as a perfect weather window opened up with steady 30-knot winds forecasted for the next few days. The excitement was palpable and we headed straight to the beach as soon as the kite was delivered.

The Gold Obsession comes in a spacious, well-designed bag with ample room for all your session essentials. Upon unpacking, the first thing that struck us was how lightweight the kite felt, thanks to its Aluula frame. The kite features a 3-strut delta design and its construction is everything we’ve come to expect from RRD: robust, with reinforcements in all the key places and a sleek eye-catching color scheme. For those unfamiliar with Aluula, it replaces traditional Dacron in the leading edge and struts, significantly reducing weight and greatly enhancing stiffness. Last year, RRD introduced some wings built with Aluula and we were eager to see how that expertise translated into a Big Air kite.

As soon as we pumped it up, the hybrid layout caught our attention. The leading edge and part of the struts are primarily built with Aluula, while the tip sections and most of the struts feature RRD’s RECTEX Dacron to introduce some flex. The canopy is made from Technoforce D2 ripstop. Strategic reinforcements and load diffusers are added in key areas and rounding out the construction is a wide one-pump inflation system and ultra-thin bridles, which contribute to the kite’s efficiency and ease of use. Our first session took place in perfect conditions with strong sideshore wind and plenty of big kickers to play with. From the moment we launched the kite, its speed and directness were immediately noticeable, alongside a medium bar pressure. This direct feeling is a hallmark of RRD kites thanks to their legendary “rigid thread lines” and combined with the Aluula frame offers an amplified result.

If we had to sum up the Gold Obsession in three words, it would be: Lift for days. In fact, “Dude, it lifts!” became the first words of every member of the team after our first outing. Normally, experienced kiters can predict their jump height as soon as they leave the water, but the Gold Obsession consistently delivered an unexpected extra boost. The kite turns quickly yet remains highly manageable, with linear power delivery that performs exceptionally well across both the low and high end of the wind range. It’s one of those few kites that you feel completely comfortable with within a minute. You always know where the kite is, the power delivery is intuitive and the direct feeling we mentioned earlier gives you instant confidence to push your riding to new heights. While the kite is fast, it’s not intimidatingly so. Kiteloops are smooth and pivoting rather than having aggressive yank. This allowed us to add rotations and board-offs to our tricks with ease. But the biggest highlight? You guessed it… more lift! The way this kite climbs back up after a loop creates that incredible second lift, making it perfect for heliloops and extending your hangtime. More airtime means more fun.

After that first epic session, we had the chance to test the kite in a variety of conditions over the weeks, from light winds to gusty, overpowered days. The Gold Obsession handled gusts with ease. Even in dropping winds, the kite continued to perform admirably, maintaining its signature lift and fast-turning characteristics making it ideal for Big Air tricks that you might hesitate to attempt in full-power conditions.

The RRD Gold Obsession is a kite that will appeal to Big Air enthusiasts and freeriders alike. Its combination of massive lift, extended hangtime, instant confidence and ease of use makes it a standout performer. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned “almost-pro”, this kite will help you progress your riding and reach new heights, literally! If you’re serious about Big Air, the Gold Obsession deserves a spot on your must-test list. After all our sessions with it, we always returned home with a huge smile on our faces, and that’s the best endorsement we can give.