Airush One (2012)
The Airush One is a revolutionary breakthrough in kitesurfing because by far it represents the premium hybrid-delta design for 2011. It incorporates a single strut design that brings excellent stability, incredible light wind performance, outstanding ease-of-use and security in a kite that is amazingly trouble-free and enjoyable. Quick and easy to fix with only one strut, getting rid the need for a one-pump system. The One also brags a short and simple V1 bridle and brush of the leading edge, making it almost impossible to trouble your bridle on the wing-tip when things don’t fall into places.
Sizes: 15, 12, 9 and 6m
Suited Styles
• Wave
• Wakestyle
• Freeride
• Light Wind
Overall rating
9.4 in Performance
9.0 in Build Quality
9.5 in Control Bar
9.5 in Depower
10.0 in Relaunch
Furthermore, it enables for a complete flag-out safety system allowing maneuvering the kite when it is totally powerless. With a weight cutback of 25-30% matched to a kite of same size, its precision creates the feel and shifting speed of a small kite, but with muscle and control of a bigger kite. 3 wing-tip modifications set for high, medium and low bar pressure to meet your surfing standard. The One is a kite that both amateurs and experienced surfers can benefit from, for it is not only steady and predictable, but enjoyable and fun as well.
The One has the same canopy outline as the popular Airush DNA that we have started to use in the school for 2011 / 2012. Ultra stable, smooth power delivery, fast turning, monstrous wind range but with even easier water re-launch and more power than the DNA! This kite has in turn become a favorite amongst kitesurfing students and instructors. The kite is a top choice as per constant kite reviews.
The Airush One boasts simplicity and performance in the only single-strut design on the market. The lightweight structure of the One allows for quick turning, ultimate stability, and awesome low end power. Reducing struts not only cuts the weight significantly but also makes the One a super compact kite. This “plug and play” design of the range makes for an awesome package
Conclusion
It was very refreshing to be able to ride such a maneuverable kite in such light conditions. As it moves so well, you can really send and redirect the kite to jump; you have so much freedom and can be really precise with your handling. The kite creates lift through good forward flight rather than just having a big canopy somewhere over your head and then sheeting in for boost. So, the bottom end is incredible, but you can’t have everything. Although there is almost 100% depower on the throw, the top end of the One is reached a little earlier than perhaps you’re used to with your 12 metre hybrid kite. Possibly because of the forces going through the frame of the kite get too much combined with the lack of support in the canopy from any struts? We’re not sure, but what we do know is that in 12 – 16 knots the One is just beautiful. When you unhook the kite drops back slightly in the window and gives you oodles of power for your tricks. As the wind creeps up to 18 knots, unhooking gets full-on as there’s a lot of power in this kite and, as the needle progresses much beyond 20 knots, you’re going to be boosting to the moon, but might have to change down before some other 12 meters.
It is remarkably pleasant to still be pulling out new kites out of their sacks and seeing such variety. This kite is one of those kites that strikes and tells us that there is still more room for enhancement and development left in kitesurfing. Surprisingly, who would have thought that we would be progressing backwards to an old school kite which has one strut, BUT with extreme stability, strong and smooth power deliverance and monstrous wind range? Above all that, the supreme stand out attribute on this kite is mainly focused on its handling and speed. For a twelve meter, it made every experience in kitesurfing worthwhile. If you love hang-time and you seem to be searching for a light wind kite with very easy water re-launch, this new kite model from Airush can make a difference. The One kite has a strong reputation and rapidly become the favorite amongst our instructors and students. Settling with this is a great choice.
For good prices and more information about the Airush One, check out King of Watersports!
A great kite just think Airush made a mistake before the testers verdicts were in as now have dropped from there 2013 line up of kites only in a 16m but now called the Lithium ONE ?? seems like they want to get away from the ONE as must be a re-marketing ploy to trick kiters that its a new light wind Lithium kite.
The 9m is very good in waves need to try the 12m as this could be a good lightwind kite for a 65kg rider in waves with a big board. I feel the 15m ONE or new 16m may just be a little too big and not that ideal for a lightet rider. I think in all honesty if going into waves a 12m is as big as you want to go for turning speed and for the kite to stay in the air. I have 14m are ok in the waves but turning is so slow and one mistake especially in light winds the kite is down in the water in winds from 12knts then its great and not an issue so much but in winds from 10-12knt then it starts to become tricky. These are my own views at my level of kiting in waves which is not at a high level but then again i dont class myself as a complete beginner. Some of the super light wind big kites maybe a good option now as they are light and turn as quick as a 14m but if dropping one of these in the waves which i have seen its most likely to break which i have seen maybe the strong Slingshot construction TURBINE may have a better chance but i am not sure. There is so much area with a 14-17m kites that any wave catching it is mostly likely fatal. Thats the issie with the ONE as only one strut maybe a wave hitting it then its all over BUT with a massive leading edge and easy relaund and better float in the sky and on the water maybe this will be ok. But i have been told other wise that they fall apart but this was the 2011 model and maybe a demo as well used in the waves in Bali.
All the above is my own view from a fair few years of experence on kitesurfing and a 2 years or so limited experence in the waves from Vietnam to Bali. It takes along time to get experence in the waves and i think you allways learn somthing in the waves no matter what your level as the situation is allways changing and waves are pretty different from one place to the next and from one day to the next.
One thing for sure many may say you crazy using a 14m in the waves but this is pure down the line difficuilt i find to cut back as the kite is so slow with a 9m its ideal and think maybe the 12m is possible but then any bigger and is tricky. But if you have light winds for many days and good waves then if you never use a big kite you will never get out there so you need to consider your options and decide for yourself. Sure many will say you should find a new location but as we all know it does not blow all the time in places that have waves. There is alos the option of an inflatable SUP and then just take your 12m and if not enough wind ie less than 10knts constant then SUP instead ??