2009 airush flow

Rider: 95 Kg (intermediate)
Style: Freeriding & Freestyle
Weather: 16 - 20 Knots
Build Quality: good
Satisfaction: 9/10
Disclosure: got a demo from Darren @ Australian Kiteboarding School @ Pinnaroo Point.

My Comments:

My thanks to Darren Marshall of Australian Kiteboarding School for providing me with the opportunity to Demo a 12 metre 2009 Airush Flow at Pinnaroo Point on Sunday 7 September.

My first impression was that the new 2009 flow has no centre strut and that the usual curve has been replaced by a new angular shape that is dramatic but not as marked as the Naish Cult.

The bar and line setup seems to be the same as last years with a long depower rope connected to the centre lines by a single pulley with the rope cleated off on the chicken loop, which makes it easy to adjust the power without having to stretch.
For the harness, the only difference that leaped out at me was the absence of pulleys, Airush have done away with the harness pulleys for this kite in 2009 and gone back to direct connection!

On the water I found that contrary to my concerns that the 2009 flow would not perform as well as last years flow (a kite I loved), that this years flow (in a 12 meter) turns much faster than last years (like a 7 or 10 metre) but is more stable, maybe it is the absence of the centre strut but I have never flown a kite one handed as comfortably as I did on the 2009 flow. I could easily steer the kite one handed and keep it parked in the same piece of sky making small one handed adjustments without having to closely watch the kite – fantastic if you like to adjust your equipment on the run or wave to the kids or girls on the beach before going into a jump! (bar pressure is light but firm)

Jumps and tricks, just as good as or even better than last years flow on which you could do really big jumps with (scary) long hang times.

The 2009 Flow may have slightly less power than last years flow, but I weight 95 Kg, the wind was approximately 16 to 20 Knots and I did not suffer from any lack of power (even for jumps) and did not use any depower on the kite during my two hour session.

I did not think that Airush could better the 2008 Flow, but they have.
Try lots of kites before you put the green in your retailers hands and make sure that the 2009 Flow is on your list.