THE BRAND
Airush Kiteboarding was born on the shores of Maui in 1999 as one of the first brands in the industry. Focusing on accessories at first, many of the legends such as Lou Wainman, Rush Randal, Elliot Leboe and Mauricio Abreu flocked to Airush to help develop the next generation of products. This DNA of research and development still exists today. Since then, Airush joined the powerhouse watersports group, Starboard, and their elite brands of Starboard Windsurfing, Stand Up Paddle, Surf, Apparel and Severne Sails. The mantra of the group is to focus on product development, innovation and quality – bringing inspiration to wind and waves. Delivering industry firsts and patented technology by all of these brands while filling the needs of every discipline of riders. Brand Manager, Clinton Filen, heads a team of passionate visionaries who strive to create product for the riders enjoyment while pushing the boundaries of design, durability and performance.
BRAND HQ
With ample wind, immense swell, and the whole spectrum of conditions, Cape Town, South Africa has become one of the most iconic locations for kiteboarding globally. For Airush, it is home and where all aspects of the brand are created from product through to marketing. Located on the coast, Airush Headquarters is a one-of-a-kind facility where an idea can be built, tested, changed, and tested again in a matter of days, not weeks. This instant feedback gives the Airush brand a unique advantage to continually strive to produce the most ideal and innovative products on the market. Although Cape Town is a fantastic hub for the brand, Airush finds that it is essential to stretch out and prove their products globally. During the year, you will find prototypes being tested through Spain, Brazil, Thailand, Australia and even in Bali, Indonesia which kite designer, Mark Pattison, considers his second home.
WHAT’S NEW
For 2016, Airush Kiteboarding is excited to announce the next generation Dyneema Load Frame. The next generation Dyneema Load Frame takes the biggest innovation in kite construction to a whole new level and is combined with the Technoforce D2 by Teijin, for the ultimate mix of durability and lightweight performance. The focus is to take the stress and load away from the canopy and onto the Load Frame featured on all of our kites except the DNA. A stand out product for Airush is the all-new UNION kite which has been the magazines favorite for all-around advance performance. This kite is so versatile for riders looking to enjoy the surf, loops n’ boosts, and freestyle/wakestyle. A perfect blend of comfort and performance.
Then for 2016, the Airush range features Collections, an industry first to organize products into key categories that fit the riders style. The Progression Series is geared towards the first time kiter, ideally for riders learning their first sweeps and getting totally hooked onto the sport. This range is based off of Airush’s extremely successful products to give the rider equipment they can grow into instead of growing out of quickly. The next level is the Core Series. This Collection features products that are primarily focused on the all-around rider – whether it be freeride, big-air, freestyle or waves. The Team Reefer series showcases the desire to connect more strongly with the environment and reflect the values of pushing the riders abilities. Then the Team Black series brings Airush’s premium Freestyle and Wave technologies to the rider who wants the lightest and most responsive products on the market delivering no compromise. There is also the Diamond Series which is a range of products by Airush and Bruna Kajiya with the idea to create a collection that offers a combination of all disciplines with female specific attributes. Then finally the 6 Knots + Race and Lightwind Collection encompass a range of products designed with flatwater and lighter wind conditions in mind.
BRAND GUIDE 2016 // AIRUSH KITES
LITHIUM
As the do-all kite in the Airush range, the Airush Lithium Kite has been proven to meet the requirements of riders looking to do a bit of everything from freeride, jumping, looping and waves. With amazing park power, stability and ease of use, the Lithium is the ultimate all-round kite. The focus of wingtip and strut layout in conjunction with the Delta Hybrid design insures the quickest response throughout the air as well as instant relaunching capabilities. The next generation Dyneema Load Frame takes the biggest innovation in kite construction to a whole new level and is combined with the Technoforce D2 by Teijin, for the ultimate mix of durability and lightweight performance. For wave performance, this optimized weight is essential for improved drift stability, while the load frame makes all the difference when additional durability is required.
RAZOR
The 2016 Airush Razor keeps the dedicated C-Kite feel and performance that wakestyle and freestyle riders demand. The focus was on increasing the performance characteristics, specifically mind-blowing pop, unhooked ability and kite looping. But the Razor also has great range, along with comfort for everyday freestyle riders. The next generation Aramid Load Frame takes the biggest innovation in kite construction to a whole new level and is combined with the Technoforce D2 by Teijin, for the ultimate combination of durability and lightweight performance. Considering size specific changes for 2016, the 5.5 m has been refined to add better stability and gust response by lowering aspect ratio and increasing profile depth. A new 15m size has also been added; this extra-large size has been tweaked to have lower weight by optimizing the size of the reinforcement panels and the LE diameter with the result that it feels like a smaller kite.
UNION
By starting from scratch with the all-new kite model for 2016, the Airush Union Kite sets out to unite the key Freestyle characteristics of the Razor, with the key characteristics of Airush’s Wave kite and the Freeride abilities of the Lithium. The next generation Dyneema Load Frame takes the biggest innovation in kite construction to a whole new level and is combined with the Technoforce D2 by Teijin, for the ultimate mix of durability and lightweight performance. For wave performance, this optimized weight is essential for improved drift stability, while the load frame makes all the difference when additional durability is required. The result is a superbly balanced kite that excels in the broadest range of conditions, satisfying your demands no matter what the discipline.
WAVE
The 2016 Airush Wave Kite introduces a new level of refinement for this groundbreaking design. The unique design was engineered specifically for the wave enthusiast, this enables the kite to fly forward in the window when required, keeping the rider deep in the pocket, steering immediately no matter where it is in the window, then sitting back and drifting in the turns when more stability is required. Refinements in the chord length, wingtips and canopy layout make for a smooth power delivery and fluid steering consistent across the range, while the V3 bridle system maintains even tension throughout the kite enabling perfect steering even when depowered and sheeted out. The Wave responds perfectly to rider input and allows you to get into the perfect position on the wave, no matter what the wind conditions, taking your riding into a new realm. And the Wave is equipped with the new Dyneema load frame.
BRAND GUIDE 2016 // AIRUSH BOARDS
SWITCH
There’s a good reason why the Switch has been Airush’s best-selling twin tip board year-after-year. It’s an incredibly versatile and comfort-oriented twin tip they make and the 2016 Airush Switch can be enjoyed by all riders — from beginner to advanced. The 2016 model offers a reduced weight for a more precise feel, a new 3D deck for optimized flex, and a wider outline for enhanced upwind performance. The 2016 Switch Board includes the 2016 Airush AFT Strap and Pad System, Premium G-10 Fins, and molded ergonomic board handle and hardware. It also includes the extremely comfortable AFT strap and pad system.
COMPACT
The 2016 Airush Compact is designed to be the ultimate all-round wave board to perform in real world conditions. The outline features a relatively far forward wide point which has improved the drive through the bottom turn, while the more pulled in nose has ensured you do not lose any of that classic Compact throw around factor. The V bottom in the tail area allows for smooth rail to rail transitions, while the wider nose area and flatter entry rocker and tail rocker of the board (compared to the Converse), helps increase planing speed over flat sections, maintaining the low end of a much longer board. The Patented Active Construction has proven itself as the absolute benchmark in surf constructions, with the lightest weight possible achieved through the Active Stringer and Flexible Carbon Sandwich Construction.
APEX
Suited from intermediate to advanced aggressive riders, the 2016 Airush Apex delivers a unique combination of high rocker, increased width, and Airush’s new Venturi Concave. Additionally, this state-of-the-art board utilizes an asymmetrical 3D deck shape, which – when all put together – ensures a more balanced response, enhanced user-friendly feel, and added comfort while riding at high speed. The 2016 Apex Board includes the 2016 Airush AFT Strap and Pad System, Premium G-10 Fins, and molded ergonomic board handle and hardware.
CONVERSE
The 2016 Airush Converse is Airush’s dedicated down the line shape, developed without compromise to destroy any wave you put in front of it. The Patented Active Construction has proven itself as the absolute benchmark in surf constructions, with the lightest weight possible achieved through the Active Stringer and Flexible Carbon Sandwich Construction. The high tail rocker works together with the . hip section and the rounded pin tail to maximize the maneuverability enabling massive off the top snaps and tight driving bottom turns. The higher entry rocker through the nose enable the Converse to fit vertically into the steepest wave section and combines with the narrower nose width, to pull the nose around when setting a rail in a bottom turn or driving a more powerful full rail top turn.
