We hopen de ULTRA kites over 2 a 3 weken binnen te hebben. De ULTRA Kite zal vanaf dan ook te testen zijn. Dus hou onze testdag en Pop Up testdagen in de gaten. en we zien je aan de waterkant!
Airush kite designer Mark Pattison began his career repairing windsurf sails. He started working with Airush in 2003 as a design assistant and product tester, and quickly became a key person within the design team. Today Mark and Design Director Clinton Filen are seen as the catalyst that made Airush the innovative company it is today.
Mark is unique as a kite designer with his hands on approach. He doesn’t purely rely on computers to formulate his designs, but is forever testing his latest iteration, tweaking, building and stitching in his quest to perfect the ultimate kite.
Why the Ultra kite?
A new challenge in kite design was emerging as foiling was taking hold and kites required a working wind range well below a traditional kite. One of Mark’s personal quests was also to develop a kite that drifts down the line when waveriding to allow him to sub plane.
Combining these needs with what Clinton calls “obvious evolution” in product design, lighter and stronger kites become constant objectives:
“If you can make a kite lighter, you immediately improve the overhead stability, drifting, turning speed and overall response. And of course we don’t need to discuss stronger!”
What happens when you get two minimalist innovators/design geeks debating the future of kiting?
“Mark is one of the most talented guys I have ever worked with but errs on the ‘extremely stubborn side’. He will spend days telling you how impossible something is to do, and then goes off and does it. The Ultra is such a good example of his genius.”
Solving the problem
Over the last few years, the development in the Load Frame radically increased the durability of Airush kites. As Mark points out:
“We started to see we had redundant materials in the kite, that were adding weight. It was essentially old technology. We could refine our load frame to replace the heavier cloth and reduce weight”
Through a better understanding of canopy tension and the additional stability provided by the Load Frame, the role of struts in stabilizing the kite has also changed significantly.
Despite Airush being the first to release the one strut kite to the market way back in 2011, we didn’t want to start with the same kite and force new aspects into the design. We wanted to start from scratch and make something so much better.
Clinton found the Ultra fit his desire to travel light throughout his extensive world schedule. As he points out, you can have 3 Ultra kites to test in any condition that fit into a single traditional kite bag. The weight saving is more than most boards weigh.
He worked on the ground closely with Mark reporting key ‘real world’ feedback. As a result we’ve learnt that the larger profiles of the first one strut kites didn’t perform as well as we had wanted. We’ve turned the large leading edge diameters and delta shapes into a much more refined profile with a higher aspect ratio.
The shape of the Ultra has a lot of sweep, and a concave trailing edge which really helps keep the angle of attack focused in the center. The resulting shape performs so much better, but the next step was to ensure the kite adhered to the unique “lasts twice as long” Airush mantra.
How is the Ultra different from any other kite?
The Ultra kite incorporates innovative elements to make it the strongest and lightest kite ever made, and it’s all down to the next generation of our unique Dyneema Load Frame layout now featuring WebTech.
The intensively tested solution has taken Technoforce D2, the best strength to weight ratio canopy cloth on the market, and developed an all new Load Frame technology to reinforce the cloth and disperse any stress away from the center.
Lightweight Dyneema yarns have been used in a strong triangular load frame to work as the perfect shock absorbers. Each yarn is capable of carrying a 40KG load and they’re also used in a new WebTech formation that reinforces the kite throughout the bridle and strut attachment points.
The strong spider web effect has enabled dacron to be removed from the design to keep the kite as light as possible. No other one strut kite has such highly specialized reinforcing meaning they might be lighter, but they’re at risk of being less durable.
The result means a 9m Ultra weighs in at around 1 KG less than a 9m Lithium kite, and is so compact that it fits into a shoe box.
Key designer feedback
Having given life to the Ultra, Mark Pattison knows the kite’s features inside out. The benefits he lists for the Ultra come from his own kitesurfing experiences.
When he’s kiting in waves Mark loves the ability of the kite to drift. Being able to dump almost all the power in the kite is a huge advantage for him especially when top turning on a wave, or trying to get the kite to drop him back on the board after a strapless air.
Not to mention when an unexpected gust hits him at the wrong time: the Ultra still shoots forward in the window enough so it doesn’t yank him around too much.
Mark rides the Ultra a size down as it has a lot of power for its size, and the light weight allows it to stay in the sky in lighter winds whereas a kite with more struts would struggle. He finds the huge sweep in the leading edge allows the Ultra to roll over very easily and it doesn’t stick to the water meaning he can relaunch without issue.
The extra luxuries that add to Mark’s experience kiting with the Ultra is the super quick inflation and being able to clip the reversible bag onto his harness giving everything he needs for those epic downwinder days.
As an active traveler and kiter, the Ultra has also become Clinton’s ‘kite of choice’. Now that really says a lot about the kite’s performance characteristics.
At Airush we are always chasing the dream to design lighter kites. The Ultra really focuses on light weight and we’ve learnt so much through the development process.
As our designs evolve we believe the unique technology we’ve developed in the Ultra will eventually trickle down throughout the Airush range. Our kites will keep on getting better one way or another.
Er was een glitch met de link van het filmpje, waardoor de Airush Foil video te voorschijn kwam in plaats van de video van de nieuwe Ultra kite. Ik heb hem nu ook op Kitehigh geplaatst. We hebben hopelijk de Ultra kite binnenkort binnen, en deze zal dan natuurlijk ook te testen zijn op onze Pop Up testdagen.
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. 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 12 /15m For more information and technical details: airush.com/2017/kites/ultra
The word is out! The lightest kite we have ever designed. The all-new Airush Kiteboarding Ultra is nearly 30% lighter than the Lithium making this kite insanely awesome for freeride foilboarding, drift wave riding, lightwind twintip and strapless freestyle while packing down extremely small to perfectly travel with. The Ultra features the Dyneema Load Frame V4 with WebTech and Technoforce D2 making this kite last twice as long! Check out all of the information at: http://airush.com/2017/kites/ultra/
Bedankt mannen! Gezellig dat jullie er waren. We zien jullie op de volgende Pop up Testdag en anders 9 April op de VandenBerg Testdag te Schellinkhout.
Kite-instructeur worden op het mooiste kitestrand van Nederland?
Skyhigh Watersportacademy op het strand van Workum is op zoek naar instructeurs voor komend seizoen (April - Oktober)! Wil jij een te gekke zomer op het strand doorbrengen met een gezellig en hecht team?
Check dan de onderstaande vacature: Als kite-instructeur heb jij ervaring met kiten in alle weersomstandigheden. Heb je een groot verantwoordelijkheidsgevoel, heb je ervaring met lesgeven in de kitesport en /of (water)sport, ben je enthousiast, flexibel en zelfverzekerd. Daarnaast werk je graag buiten, ben je klantgericht en lever je een actieve bijdrage aan een fantastische belevenis voor al onze gasten! KNWV, VDWS of IKO opleiding is een pré.
WERKZAAMHEDEN • Opbouw/afbouw van materialen voor kite lessen • Ontvangen van cursisten • Verzorgen van kite-lessen op verschillende niveaus en aan verschillende doelgroepen • Waarborgen van de veiligheid en kwaliteit • Zorg dragen voor het materiaal; onderhoud, schoonhouden, bijhouden schadelijsten ed.
Heb je interesse, dan horen natuurlijk graag van je. Je kunt ons bereiken via: Tel: 0031 646 222 728 Mail: info@skyhigh.nu
Whoop Whoop, we zijn er weer! Na het succes van onze eerste Airush Kiteboarding Pop Up Testdag op het strand van Mirns, zullen we komende vrijdag 24 Maart op het kitestrand van Vooroever Medemblik te vinden zijn.
Kom langs en test de nieuwe 2017 Airush Kiteboarding range. Hier zal het volgende Airush Kiteboarding Gear te testen zijn:
Kites: Lithium : 9m 12m Union : 9m 12 m Diamond : 9m Wave : 10m Razor : 10 m
It’s quick, it's easy, but always good to know as a first time user to the Airush foil range whether it be on the Core or Team version. Marc Schmid and Julien Kerneur give you a quick tip to your rear wing trim settings.
The new What’s in a Name? movie is the biggest video feature to come out of Airush Kiteboarding since 2014.
Rather than just produce a film to serve product campaigns, we wanted to create a complete movie involving every aspect of Airush to tell the story of the brand itself.
Filmed in the three locations of Cape Town, Mauritius and Brazil, the sixteen minute feature is a beautifully shot masterpiece and a true testament to the Airush brand. The movie showcases the utmost talent of the riders and what they are truly capable of, but also the people that brought the project to life.
DIRECTORS Bas Koole & Ydwer van der Heide
DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY Bas Koole & Ydwer van der Heide
CREATIVE DIRECTIONS Ydwer van der Heide & Clinton Filen
Featuring Alex Pastor Anthar Racca Bruna Kajiya Carl Ferreira Julien Kerneur Oswald Smith Reider Decker
SOUNDTRACK INTRO / Sean Koch Trio - “Welcome To The Light” (composed and written by Sean Koch, published by Budde Music) SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA / Kyle Watson - “Toys” SOMEWHERE IN BRAZIL / Two Strokes - “Paradise” BACK IN AFRICA / Sean Koch Trio - “Flow” (composed and written by Sean Koch, published by Budde Music) DIAMANTE EM BRUTO / Los Tacos - “Mira Mira” DUSK TILL DAWN / Sean Koch Trio - “Lift You Up” (composed and written by Sean Koch, published by Budde Music) THE MEXICAN / Super Unknown
It's no wonder why Airush Kiteboarding is based in Cape Town. These conditions are perfect for testing all types of kiteboarding products. In Episode 2, Board Designer Clinton Filen hands over a few his shapes to team rider, Carl Ferreira, to take out for a test mission north of Cape Town, South Africa. The new Cypher is amazing but as usual its all about looking forward and developing some insane boards for the future!
This is the launch of The Airush Diaries. Going behind the scenes with Team Riders, Testing, RnD and More.
We are launching this new youtube channel with the Send Me A Switch Competition.
All you need to do is go to www.airush.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and subscribe to our Newsletter. On March 9th, 2017 we will randomly pick and announce the winner of a 2017 Airush Switch Twintip of your size preference.
Airush is kicking off the first day of 2017 right with this teaser of their upcoming Airush Kiteboarding video! Keep an eye out for the full feature releasing soon.
Airush Kiteboarding kicks off One Ton For The Planet initiative. Did you know that for every Airush Board and Kite we sell, we plant and nurture a mangrove tree to maturity? Each of these Mangroves can potentially absorb over one ton of CO2 over 20 years!
Airush has one of the deepest kite lines in the industry with seven distinct models that target specific riding styles and skill levels. Besides overviewing the company’s 2017 kite offerings and comprehensive surfboard line, Airush’s Marc Schmidt answers our questions about the brand’s new two-pronged approach to foilboarding.
This year Airush has a three-prong approach to the freeride/surf market with the Lithium, Union and Wave kite models. How is each of these kites different and what type of riding is each targeted for?
The Lithium has been our centerpiece for all freeriding. As the world’s favorite freeride kite, this delta-hybrid platform boasts all-around, hooked-in performance. It excels in cruising, boosting, old school freestyle, and wave riding. As a lower aspect design, the Lithium has the most parked power out of the three kites. This makes it a favorite for everyday riders who are not necessarily moving the kite aggressively to generate power when they need to.
The Wave kite has always been designed around surf riding. Naturally, it was made to be extremely fast in the window to generate speed and to maneuver as quickly as you do in the critical areas of the wave. The Wave has a finer leading edge yet overall lower aspect planform design. This allows the kite to shoot forward for riding upwind and drop back in the window to increase drift stability while riding towards it on a face of a wave.
The Union combines a lot of characteristics of the Lithium, Wave and Razor to give a kite that is ideal for freeride, wave, and wakestyle. Its higher aspect C-shaped layout allows the kite to sit further forward in the window, ideal for those looking for a kite that is lighter in feel, more direct, and has more top end in wind range. The kite is a natural progression for intermediate to experienced riders.
In the surfboard department, how should a rider choose between the Converse, Compact and Cypher lines of boards, and what type of rider should go for the Slayer?
We try to make our lines very clear and defined and use three shapes to attack the most common conditions found throughout the world. The Converse is the classic shape in the range. It has the highest rocker and most narrow outline and enjoys a faster, larger wave with top to bottom style of riding. The Cypher has the flattest rocker and widest outline in the range. This shape creates a lot more speed which is ideal for onshore and sloppier, smaller waves. It is also perfect for riding in underpowered conditions utilizing the more parallel rails compared to the Converse and Compact. The Compact is our most popular board in the surf range and is classified in an all-around style. A perfect combination of rocker and width, the Compact can be used in overlapping conditions of the Converse and Cypher.
The Slayer positions itself entirely separate from the Surf range. Its focus is towards strapless freestyle in flat water conditions — usually in lagoons, sounds, lakes, rivers, or bays that are not blessed with waves. Its shape and wide deck makes the board extremely easy for first time or avid strapless users.
What’s new in the twin tip department?
Within the twin tip range, we have kept the model range overall unchanged while focusing on the refinement through our flexes — specifically in the tip flex which is where you will find a lot of the performance and comfort. The most exciting boards for us are the Switch, Livewire and Diamond. The Switch is the longest running twin tip in the kiteboarding industry. For over 15 years, this board has been refined to perform in a wide range of freeriding conditions. Whether cruising, carving medium chop, boosting, or kitelooping, the 2017 Switch with updated independent flex tips and carbon torsion control provides smooth and harmonious flex throughout the board, perfect for small-medium chop and all-around riding.
The Livewire is the workhorse in the twin tip range. Designed with 2016 GKA Rider of the Year, Alex Pastor, the board is perfect for freestyle and wakestyle performance. For 2017, we have increased core thickness between the feet for less flex which is ideal for boot riders, while adding tip flex allowing for beautiful release when loading the board for pass tricks. The ABS inserts featured on the Livewire make the connection to your boots bombproof; we are the only brand in the industry with a two year warranty covering these inserts.
The Diamond board has had a major work over with 2016 World Champion, Bruna Kajiya. The board has changed in tip shape, making it a bit more narrower — this allows a more snappier feel and the ability to hold the board down more in overpowering conditions. The board comes in a 131 and a 134cm length giving smaller women riders the choice to still use a board with performance characteristics. Tell us about the new foilboards — you’re offering a carbon and aluminum model straight out of the gate? What is each foil designed for: going fast or slow carving freeride?
The foilboards have been broken down into the Airush Core and Airush Team Foilboards. The Airush Core Foilboard has a larger platform for standing and stability, a higher volume, easier subplaning conditions needed as a beginner, and a very forgiving bottom shape which reduces drag when you are touching down. This greatly helps the beginner or everyday foiler who is looking for the easiest and most fun board to use while freeriding.
The Airush Team Foilboard is specifically designed with high speed racing in mind. The torpedo-style hull and narrow outline is strategically designed for racers who are angled quite close to the water at ridiculously fast speeds.
The Airush Core Foil corresponds well with the Airush Core board; it is one of the lightest and most responsive aluminum foils on the market. It’s great for first time foilers, but it will progress you beyond just your first rides. The foil has a unique rear wing trim adjustment, allowing riders to trim their ride to their abilities. Moving the rear wing forward makes it extremely easy and stable for first time users while adjusting the rear wing back allows the foil to gain more speed for experienced users.
The Airush Team Foil is our premium freerace foil that is built around a prepreg carbon mast and wings along with a titanium stiffening rod throughout the fuselage. The Team Foil layup is designed on minimal torsion and maximum rigidity for the perfect high speed freeride foil.
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