In Focus: Airush 2018 Product Overview
Features / Sat 16th Dec, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
Brand to 3 x World Champion, Bruna Kajiya, the Airush Kiteboarding Collection fuses our passion for innovation with the demands of the most discerning riders. As always, our focus remains on creating the perfect kiteboarding experience through testing and innovative technical design, while always maintaining our demand for the highest level of craftsmanship.
Razor
Working closely with World Champion Alex Pastor we focused relentlessly on fine-tuning the performance characteristics of the Airush Razor. Even while specifically focusing on mind-blowing pop, unhooked ability and kite looping, the Razor also features an incredible wind range and ease of use, way beyond the expectations of a purist freestyle kite. The all-new Airush Dyneema Load Frame V4 featuring WebTech has enabled us to further increase the strength of the Razor, without an increase in weight.
WebTech expands our exclusive Dyneema Load Frame throughout the high load areas; like the wingtips, by utilizing the web fibers to absorb high loads, increasing the durability and response rate of the kite further.
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For more information about the Razor 2018 and its features, please click here
Wave
New Wing Tip Design, precise steering and superb drift characteristic
The 2018 Airush Wave kite delivers further refinement to the dedicated wave purist or surf freestyle rider. One of the key aspects of the Wave kite is the unique ability of the kite to engage smooth power delivery and precise steering. Whether far back in the window during a powered bottom turn in onshore conditions, flying far forward in the window in offshore conditions, or at a high angle of attack: the Wave delivers. The redesigned wingtip enhanced these capabilities and avoids the wingtip “flaring” when over sheeted, preventing the kite from dropping back in the window. The all-new Airush Dyneema Load Frame V4 featuring WebTech has enabled us to increase the strength of the Wave further, without adding extra weight.
WebTech expands our exclusive Dyneema Load Frame throughout the high load areas, such as the wingtips, by utilizing the web fibers to absorb high loads, further increasing the durability and response of the kite.
For more information about the Wave 2018 kite and its features, please click
AP Bar
The key philosophy of the AP BAR was to create the most minimal design possible that focuses purely on function and bomb-proof durability. As freestyle and wakestyle riders, these philosophies are crucial for equipment that is constantly being used and abused while riding hooked or unhooked. The AP Bar features a 19mm reduced diameter bar that enables the rider to maintain a solid grip through the most powerful moves and landings. As this diameter bar is fully customizable, the bar can be cut and adjusted to meet a smaller width if needed.
Although the bar comes stock with a medium sized chicken loop for everyday riding, the AP Bar included an easy to install XL chicken loop strictly for unhooking. A shorter bar throw with a clean freestyle trim strap system gives the AP bar enough range
while still retaining function. While doing big kite loops or pop and slack tricks, it is essential for lines to be as strong as possible. With the AP Bar, a 400kg tested line with extensions has been installed to make this bar extremely durable and versatile.
A new freestyle leash designed with our team addresses and fixes some of the major problems that unhooked riders experience during their sessions. An overall longer length leash makes multiple passes and throwing the leash over-head even easier. The use of a larks-head attachment onto the chicken loop or 5th line replace the usual metal hook which prevents unwanted openings or breakage that can occur during missed tricks. It also is a lot easier on the riders’ hands when grabbing. Lastly, the end of the leash features a swivel to easily unwind the leash, which prevents coiling, and breakage.
For more information about the AP bar and its features, please click here
Livewire Team
The Livewire Team is the high-performance freestyle machine used to dominate many a podium by Alex Pastor. This board is designed with the high-performance freestyle rider in mind, focusing on the perfect balance of weight, rocker, flex, and response. Featuring a bottom shape with Triple Rocker Channel Tips in conjunction with the highest rocker in our range, this board is a competition machine to help you cut through your heats with ease and style.
The Livewire Team is the first board to be ridden with our groundbreaking Nano Rod Technology, 3mm carbon rods embedded within the pressed core in an arc formation. After being tested with great success on this board the technology was passed on through the range. This new technology combined with a full biaxial carbon torsion control construction increases overall durability, ensures high torsional flex, and improves recoil response and impact absorption, all while keeping the board light underfoot. All these aspects combined with an optimized 3D deck allow the Livewire Team to have insane amounts of pop and assist fast rotations during complex maneuvers.
Utilizing our new ABS reinforced insert 2.0, a thicker core and more reinforcement underfoot, your boots have a complete connection to your board. With so much focus on durability and quality, the Livewire is the only board on the market with a two-year warranty that covers the use of boots/bindings.
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For more information about the Livewire Team board and its features, please click here
Livewire
The Livewire is your tool for all forms of freestyle and wakestyle mayhem. Its features keep its positioning strong as the go-to board for boot enthusiasts. The HD Grindrite sintered grind base and Triple Rocker Channel Tips, in conjunction with the highest rocker in the range, making this the most aggressive and durable freestyle and wakestyle board in our range, ready to tackle both the beach and the cable park.
New to the Livewire is the groundbreaking Nano Rod Technology, 3mm carbon rods embedded within the pressed core in an arc formation. This new technology increases overall durability, high torsional flex, recoil response and impact absorption giving a more refined feel underfoot. When combining this technology with the 3D deck and Carbon Torsion Control, you get an amazing and harmonious flex pattern that cannot be compared to any other board.
Utilizing our new ABS reinforced insert 2.0, a thicker core and more reinforcement underfoot, your boots have a complete connection to your board. With so much focus on durability and quality, the Livewire is the only board on the market with a two-year warranty that covers the use of boots/bindings. New for 2018.
https://vimeo.com/226779064
For more information about the Livewire board and its features, please click here
Apex Team
The Apex Team is our premium freeride/freestyle crossover board. Coming from the same roots as the Apex, the Apex Team combines the traditional construction and shape with our high-performance carbon fiber torsion flex technologies. Not only is this board built with a full carbon construction, it also features our Nano Rod Technology – the biggest innovation in twin-tips since the wood-core.
The Airush Nano Rod tech utilizes 3mm diameter carbon rods embedded through the paulownia wood core in an arc formation. This allows the board to have amazing torsional response and strength without the need to change core thickness or add excessive layers of the composite. The Apex Team is our lightweight high response all-around freeride/freestyle machine.
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For more information about the Apex Team 2018 and its features, please click here
Switch Team
With the same amazing freeride performance as the Switch, the Switch Team offers a new lightweight carbon construction. Combining this carbon construction with the Multi-zone Biotech Core, this multilayer construction creates a consistent density from the natural material, taking the standard Switch model to new levels, creating an extremely responsive freeride board when loading, popping, landing, and cruising.
Featuring the full flex-tip technology found in the Switch, the Switch Team also features our full carbon torsion control lay-up construction. The full carbon torsion control construction brings all the best elements of a high-performance carbon fiber competition board into our all-round freeride machine.
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For more information about the Switch Team and its features, please click here
Diamond
It’s versatile female-specific performance with a wide wind range with short bar throw with light bar pressure
The Diamond Kite features a refined profile and balanced configuration that appeals to a broad range of users, from performance freestyle and wave riding, and it’s still stable and user-friendly enough for intermediate riders. The unique shape is light on the bar, with a short bar throw ideal for shorter riders. Even the lightest of riders can easily get the kite to the edge of the window in stronger conditions.
The all-new Airush Dyneema Load Frame V4 featuring WebTech has enabled us to further increase the strength of the Diamond, without an increase in weight.
The WebTech expands our exclusive Dyneema Load Frame throughout the high load areas, such as the wingtips, by utilizing the web fibers to absorb high loads, further increasing the durability and response.
For more information about the Diamond 2018 and it features, please click here
Diamond Bar
The most versatile bar on the market combining multi-functionality with streamlined performance. The bar as a reduced diameter ultra skinny grip as well as a bombproof build, incredible attention to detail and reliability.
We looked closely at the specific needs of female kiters which led to the development of the Diamond Bar. Focusing on the more compact control setup with a smaller chicken loop and the shorter trim line we were able to keep the depower strap easily within reach, which is absolutely critical for riding comfortably and safely.
Although the Diamond bar is smaller (42-48cm), this bar is designed around the Diamond Kite which responds perfectly to this size. A reduction in grip diameter that mimics the AP Bars grip size is extremely beneficial for those with smaller hands and ensures a more comfortable feeling while riding.
For more information on the Diamond bar and its features, please click here
Diamond Team
The Diamond Team expands the women’s board collection with wakestyle performance in mind. Having taken Bruna Kajiya to her second World Champion title, Airush decided to release this board to elevate female riding.
With over a year of development, the Diamond Pro takes a lot of the components of the hardcore Livewire into a design specifically for lighter riders with narrower outlines and stance, and a softer flex pattern. Featuring a full carbon deck combined with our groundbreaking new Nano Rod Technology, the Diamond Team gives female riders the benefits of perfect torsional responsiveness.
The Diamond Team is an industry leader as the only female board on the market with a .4mm HD Grindrite sintered grind base for insane durability at the beach and at the cable park.
For more information about the Diamond Team board and its features, please click here
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Lithium Core
The most premium construction in the Lithium range, the Lithium Core uses the Teijin Technoforce D2 Double Rip Stop Canopy and our exclusive Dyneema Load Frame with WebTech, a combination that making this kite by far the strongest kite we have ever designed. For riders who spend countless hours on the water, the Lithium Core construction is ideal.
The Single Point System on the Lithium Core features an XL Boston Inflate/Deflate valve making inflation effortless. While the V3.2 Bridle improves the steering when overpowered or sheeted out, ideal for Wave riding or riding more powered up. The focus of wingtip and strut layout in conjunction with the Delta Hybrid design to ensures the quickest response through the air as well as an instant relaunch. With amazing park power, stability, and ease of use, the Lithium is simply the perfect kite.
For more information about the Lithium Core and its features, please click here
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The Union III
The all-new UNION III has been re-designed from the bottom up to improve key areas. The UNION III delivers even more lift and hangtime when going for Big Air, along with quicker and more responsive steering. The shape has been refined to sit slightly further forward in the window whilst retaining the light and ultra-responsive steering.
A new wing-tip design prevents back stalling while the increased linear power delivery has made it even more suitable for freeriding, freestyle and wave riders alike.
The UNION III is the natural step up for the Lithium user looking for increased jumping performance and quicker depower response, or for the freestyle rider wanting unhooked performance with the usability of increased depower and a more forgiving feel.
For more information about the Union III and its features, please click here
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Ultra
The lightest kite we have ever made. (The 9m Ultra is NEARLY 30% lighter than a 9m Lithium), it lasts twice as long (New V4 Dyneema load frame featuring WebTech) and is perfect for Freeride Foil, light wind, and strapless riding.
Five years after introducing the first single strut kite on the market, we introduce the all-new Airush ULTRA. With the radical growth in Hydrofoil riding, the increased trend in strapless drift style wave riding along with the constant search for a kite that flies in lighter winds, the demand for a new generation of kite is clear.
The ULTRA introduces a new breed of the lightest and strongest technology ever developed.
For more information about the Ultra 2018 and its features, please click here
https://vimeo.com/210390285
AMP II
The AMP II’s incredible new shape combining performance and early planning with a high-speed rocker for maximum speed and high curve outline for maneuverability.
The AMP II was developed directly from our favorite dedicated all-round surf shape, combining a flat rocker for high speed and control, with a higher curve outline to optimize the maneuverability.
The narrower tail is ideal for kiting, as it maintains control at high speed while the wider center and fuller nose work with the at rocker to optimize the low wind performance.
The bottom shape features a double concave bottom center section to absorb chop and offer a smooth ride. The winger channels introduce more rocker into the tail section for snap off the top, while keeping a fast rail rocker for the drive through the bottom turn.
The AMP II is the ultimate blend of drive and maneuverability, ideal for less powerful surf and onshore days. Ride it one size smaller for higher wind and at water boosting or one size bigger for surfing and kiting crossover. The AMP II sets a new paradigm in smaller wave performance but will surprise you in all conditions.
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For more information about the AMP II and its features please click here
Converse
The converse is has a dedicated down the line shape with high rocker design for a maximum snap and narrow width for maximum control.
The Converse is Airush’s dedicated down the line shape, developed without compromise to destroy any wave you put in front of it. Remain true to its roots for over a decade.
The high tail rocker works together with the three quarter hip section and the rounded pin tail to maximize maneuverability, enabling massive off the top snaps and tight driving bottom turns. The higher entry rocker through the nose enables the Converse to t vertically into the steepest wave section.
When setting a rail in a bottom turn or driving a more powerful full rail top turn, the narrower nose width pulls the nose around just when you need it.
As the longest of the Airush surf range, the additional rail length enhances stability at speed, making the Converse ideal for bigger and down-the-line waves, while the narrower width also suits high wind conditions.
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For more information about the Converse and its features, please click here
Want to know more about Airush products, please click here
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.
