Rider: 14 years of riding
Style: Waves / Ocean
Weather: 12 – 15knts
Swell: Not big enough
Build Quality: Very good
Satisfaction: So far so good
Disclosure: On the team
The wind was light and the swell was small, but still a great day to get the new gear out for a trial.
The Wave is Airush's latest dedicated wave kite, with such a self-explanatory name I can't believe that name has not been overused.
Out of the bag it appears to be well made with a strong looking construction that should help it take a beating. It also has a nice combination of new looking materials which I can imagine helps the strength of the kite.
The wing tips are a bit wider which will help it steer quicker and the leading edge seems quite reasonably small in diameter.
Coming from a North bar that I thought was pretty good, I found the Airush bar better again, being lighter and a bit more user friendly. Loved the easy option of making the bar shorter as well.
Also was very happy to see it had a stopper so you could rest the bar where you liked when cruising along.
It selfed launched easily off the beach and straight away felt stable overhead. I could never give this kite a real work out as the conditions were just not there but it flew nicely and allowed me to hold my ground.
The power seemed moderate for a 12m and the speed seemed right for the size. The few small waves I did get the kite drifted nicely down the line.
So all in all I was very happy with this wave kite, and look forward to flying the other sizes.
And finally a bloody review.
Here's what kite world just wrote.
On the water the Airush is incredibly agile, responsive and always feels impeccably balanced.
It seems to have a sixth sense for what you want to do.
Pull against it and the kite will push forward in the window, ease off and it will drop back.
Where these kites really come into their own is in onshore conditions where you ideally want to take a turn beyond 180 degrees – this lets you!
It leads you into the turn with no yank and just sits there waiting to be turned back up, even with slightly slack lines as you come off the top.
It's basically happy with nothing to do. There's very little surge through the window and it will downloop and spin in an instant.
It's like it's half Razor and half Lithium and somehow programmed to predict your movements.
Although I didn't have it out in its optimum range I can concur with the above to a certain degree although my info is limited.
When you look at it on the beach you think Farq what is this thing? 6 pulleys, weird as bastardised C shape with some depth in its profile.
First time I flew it, no sh1t it was 5 to 6 knots (9m) and I tethered it just to have a good look at it s profile etc. anyhow I thought sh1t this thing wants to fly, and so it did. Then a mate said loop it, I mean I'm talking stupid low winds and it looped so fast I thought I was on a training kite. To gauge how light it was my 4 yr old son was having trouble even keeping his little ozone foil trainer kite in the air.
So it is very light, very agile and very fast. Had it out the next day in stronger winds and yes, very well behaved, constant pull through the turn due to the forward turn built into it though the lithuim DNA. Generates its own apparent wind quite well. But alas I had to give it back and never had it out in its optimum range.
Love someone out there in Australia that has. All the review I read are from Airush team riders in the uk. Not saying that is bad or anything but I'd love to read an independent review off an Aussie rider!
Someone go and demo it will ya! Apparently In its middle to upper she boosts okay as well? Sorry I can't provide more info wish I could.
Rider: 6 years & 100kg's
Style: Everything
Weather: 15knts - 25knts
Swell: knee high to head height
Build Quality: Very good
Satisfaction: Awesome (this is for the 9M)
Disclosure: Have been riding Airush kites for 3 years, dont Ride for a shop
I have been riding Lithiums 8 and 10 for the last 3 years, didnt bother upgrading them last season as felt they didnt improve the kite. Started on the Surfboard 2 seasons ago, n this year wanted something more suited to the surf than the lithiums, so tried the 9m Wave and loved it.
So cant comment on the 12m but heres what I think about the 9m. this thing is exactly how the Kite World mag has descibed it, it still has the characteristics of the lithys that i loved (Power & Lift) just delivered a little smoother. Aswell as that they turn on a dime and are super fast yet will hold up nicely if you want it to. I use to find the 10 lthium wouldnt sit very well you had to keep it moving it when on a wave, and often ment concentrating on the kite more than I wanted to. with the wave i dont really need to think about it as it can just sit, then when I need it it just fires up lively again. When boosting feels similar to the lithys just a little less drift, still reefs me off the water like they(lithys) use to. When unhooking just needs to be depowered a little and stays or goes were u want, as far as freestyle goes I havent had the twin tip out yet, but will do. The bar is just as awesome as previous years but they have added a little divider after the depower strap, which I think helps with untwisting the centre line as found them easier to untwist, swivel is still below the bar.
I have flown this kite in 15knts and 25knts, n have bought this as my big kite and being 100kgs this took a couple of weeks of demoing (cheers Jono @ SCSKCO) to make that decision. The range I will use this for will be 16knts to 22 knots these ranges being the minimums with gust being about 3-4knots above that. when under 16 knts I find it doesnt drift very well, bit under powered and bit awkward unhooking. At its high end when over 22 knts It gets a bit hairy, can still manage it but becomes a handfull. Its sweet spot is in the 18 to 20 range does everything how it should here.
I am still using my 8m lithy (2011) if it gets above 22 knts, will probly keep this for a while until I decide on what to replace it with... Im thnking the 6m wave will be tooo agile, wouldnt mind demoing it though...
Also I have been riding the AIRUSH Cypher Active 5'8 when demoing, and have also purchased this, which is an awesome board, I think this is part of the reason I can use a 9m as my big kite. I havent had the twin tip out with this kite yet but think will be able to get out at about 18knts
So to conclude I am realy happy with my Purchases to kick this season off so bring on the wind and swell.
One thing I really liked about this kite was it is one of the only innovative new designs in 2013. It seems most others have just tweaked their designs and for the better I presume.
But this really is a very different idea. Not out of the box here comes a bow kite revolution, but it is at least trying something quite different. When I saw 6 pulleys I thought Farq this ain't going to work, be as spongy as hell. Nah, not even close. Not sure how the Airush engineers did it, but the feeling it light but direct and their is little delay. Infact it is the fastest turning kite I have ever been on by a country mile for a 9m. Infact it is so fast it is kinda silly! Lol. But it doesn't race to the edge of the window, it just turns fast. Sits back where it should for a wave kite.
As a side note, in the above review. I'm almost 100 sure you could take the 9m at your weight well beyond 22 ( I suppose you are on the cypher though). Even at 75 I had the feeling I could get this kite in the high twenties. Then again I like to be powered. Also I feel the sweet spot would be much greater than 2 knots. But that's what you think so that's fine, up to each rider I suppose. One thing all the reviews by the team rides say is it has a huge sweet spot and behaves consistently.
If they made a 10 I'd be in, 12 to big for my main kite, 9 to small for down here. Next year maybe.
In reply to eppo, the sweet spot probly is a bit bigger probly 18 to 22. this is with about 4 knt higher gusts. have had it out at 25 with gust up to 30 and it was do able, but wasnt comfortable.
nicor I havent tried the smaller Cyphers, havent even seen them, have seen the 510 and it is huge.
I usually devour these reviews avidly so i thought it's time i gave a bit back and did a review myself.
I'm an experienced , averagely talented waverider in WA who loves good kit.
I like stuff that's functional and makes me look better than i really am.
Currently riding RRD religion MK1's which i've really enjoyed but am looking to update.
I'd recently tried the MK 3 religion's but honestly couldn't pick a big difference, or at least enough to splash the cash so i thought i'd try some other kites. I never really had problems going upwind on the MK 1 which was a major criticism of them and never found them gutless. The 10m has a tendency to backfly in light winds when choked but otherwise they're a great kite.
In 12-20 knots and waist high waves i tried the 9m on a demo 6'0 North Pro.It probably wasn't a good idea to change 2 things at once and overall it wasn't a great session.(The pro's not for me)
Build quality was good - kite seemed pretty lightweight. No large inflation valve was a shame. I didn't like the long bridles which seem to me a risk for getting wrapped around wingtips. Bar was good and depower function easy to operate. Kite was easy to launch and fly. It felt very direct and nimble and was easy to fly on autopilot. Depower on the wave was good although there was a tendancy to backfly if the wind was light coming out of a transition. Apparently this kite wasn't trimmed quite right so this may no longer be an issue.
Overall it didn't seem to offer anything over the Religion and in fact felt quite similar to me. In my hands neither kite seems to drift particularly well. The only kite i've tried that does that is the Reo although i still favour the feel of the religion overall.
I think i'm going to demo a drifter and if that doesn't float my boat stick with the religions
Just wondering if you tried jumping this kite?. Interesting review mate, and a decent one thanks.
I find if you use the large inflation end that covers the entire valve it goes up pretty quick.
Agree on the drift of the REO. Haven't flown a kite that drifts like the REO.
Must be good to realise the kite you are on does the job just fine. Stick with em I say.
I'm interested to demo the obsession actually ( more my cup of tea).
Hi Eppo,
I haven't jumped the religion meaningfully (small transition manoeuvres only).
I try to stay on the water as much as possible after breaking my ankle badly a few years ago.
Interestingly it was on an Obsession (prob MK1) which was a serious jumping machine.
OOPS - my mistake. This thread isn't about Religion's.
I didn't jump the Airush Wave either.
Zippedude
Dont worry abouts the jumping aspect - its designed as a WAVE kite....
Those who are up to date would already know that you can now buy a kite model specifically designed for your intended style...
and yes any kite will jump well with a jump specialist flying it...
Actually the team riders all mention its ability to jump as well, hence they say the wave title is a bit misleading. Hence why I asked. Very lithuimy in the jump but when it has a bit of wind in it, just wondering when this kicked in as I had it out in less than deal wind.
Select to expand quoteeppo said...
If they made a 10 I'd be in, 12 to big for my main kite, 9 to small for down here. Next year maybe.
When I demoed the 9 Wave, I laid it over my 10 Reo - kites were much the same size but with different profiles.
With all the pulleys & long bridles it looked a bit messy when setting up but once in the sky the kite defiantly has some merit.
The 2014 Wave is on my demo list along with the new Reo & Noise PRO.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Pull against it and the kite will push forward in the window, ease off and it will drop back.
Dont you just love it when you read this.
The way all kites should be.
(well not really theres plenty out there that like other options but this is mine).
