Airush

At Airush, development takes center stage. Development in everything related to kitesurfing has made Airush great, and they remain committed to it. In the garage of Airush, designers experimented with countless innovative ideas for the kitesurfing sport, and to this day, they continue to push the boundaries of development. But what makes an Airush kite so good? What are the kites made of, and what makes them so durable? Below, we delve into the details of the different materials and technologies used by Airush Kiteboarding.

HO’OKIPA is a unique Ultra PE leading-edge and strut material developed in collaboration with Challenge Sailcloth. The material is 25% lighter and 10 times stronger than traditional materials, resulting in 50% more pressure. Because the leading edge and struts can handle more pressure, Airush has been able to reduce their diameter while maintaining the same stiffness, saving additional weight and reducing kite resistance in the air. This Ho'okipa material provides a chain reaction of performance upgrades to the kites.

• 25% lighter
• 10 times stronger
• 50% more pressure
• HO’OKIPA is used in the leading edge and struts.

Airush's high-quality kite fabric is made from premium material in collaboration with Teijin, a market leader in fabrics for the watersports industry, under the name Technoforce. The fabric has a high-density structure with polyester yarn and a double coating for double ripstop quality. It is protected with a UV-resistant coating to preserve the fabric's color as long as possible. When combined with Airush Load Frame and Web Tech, Technoforce D2 fabric provides the ultimate combination of durability and performance.

The so-called Load Frame is a way to maximize durability without unnecessary weight increase. Strong yet lightweight yarns are used in the frame to reduce frame stress and prevent stretching. Each yarn is made of Polyethylene, capable of carrying more than 40 kg individually. By reducing stretching, the kite will maintain maximum performance over the long term. Furthermore, the frame is also improved by WebTech, which replaces traditional Dacron to a great extent.

Webtech is used in Airush's Load Frame. It replaces traditional Dacron reinforcements by channeling tension across the entire fabric through a network of channels, providing maximum strength to the frame.

It was in 1997 when the founders of Airush, Keith and Karen Baxter, first encountered kitesurfing in Hawaii, their then place of residence. Both Keith and Karen were professional windsurfers. A fellow windsurfer, Manu Bertin, introduced them to one of the first Wipika kites and told them about the potential of the kitesurfing sport. However, there was a small problem with kitesurfing at that time in the eyes of windsurfers – there were few "basic" kitesurfing accessories available. Keith and Karen were captivated by the new kitesurfing sport and realized its potential. They became distributors of Wipika in Hawaii but had a hard time selling the kites. Ultimately, they gave the kites away to influential windsurfers like legends Robby Naish and Pete Cabrinha.

An issue Keith faced with Wipikas was that they were flown only with handles, which meant you could only ride them without a harness. Keith and Karen had been operating a workshop for 15 years where they manufactured windsurfing accessories and became quite skilled. Keith was the first to come up with the idea of a bar for your kitesurf kite, a true revolution. The bar was crucial for the development of kitesurfing because it provided more control and required less effort to ride. Thus, the first Airush kitesurfing product was a kitesurfing bar. Eventually, Karen and Keith sold their windsurfing accessory brand, Hawaiian Pro Line, and started a new brand with a 100% focus on kitesurfing: Airush Kiteboarding.

Under the name Airush, Keith and Karen imported a second and third delivery of Wipika kites, which gradually became easier to sell. To boost kite sales, Airush formed its own kitesurfing team, with Lou Wainman as its first member. During that time, Airush's focus was on developing the best kitesurfing accessories rather than on kite development, which was what most kitesurfing brands were doing at the time. As a result, Airush played a significant role in the development of the kitesurfing sport, as one of the few kitesurfing accessory brands. Airush developed the first kitesurfing bars, foot straps, kiteboards, and fins. This way, Airush continued to evolve the kitesurfing sport. After a few years, Airush introduced the first super simple safety system for two-line kitesurf kites. It was also Airush that introduced the first chicken loop. But why is it called the chicken loop? With the advent of four-line kites, the idea was to create depower on the bar. One of the Airush designers made a hole in the bar, passed the power lines through it, and made a loop at the end. He was excited and said, "Look, you can ride with less power!" To which the designers responded, "We don't need depower; we ride full power. Depower is for 'Chickens'." Hence the name chicken loop.

In 1999, Keith and Karen sold 2,000 Wipika kites in North America. They likely did this too well, as their sales license was revoked by Wipika, who wanted to do it themselves. This was a blow to Keith and Karen. They decided to develop their own kites under the name Airush. Today, Airush's headquarters, where all innovation, development, and research take place, is located in the kitesurfing mecca of Cape Town. The Airush kiteboard team consists of world-class kitesurfers. Alex Pastor and Bruna Kajiya have won the freestyle world championships for men and women with the help of Airush kites and kiteboards.

Airush is not only focused on the development of kites but also on the continuous innovation of kiteboards. Airush Kiteboarding offers a wide range of twin-tip and surfboards, each with its unique characteristics. Regardless of your skill level, style, or preference, Airush undoubtedly has the perfect kiteboard for you. All Airush kiteboards are crafted from the best materials currently available on the market and are versatile, equipped with features that optimize each kiteboard for every riding style. Twin-tips like the Airush Switch have been part of the Airush lineup since 2001, which is a testament to Airush's expertise in this area. Using premium materials such as Paulownia wood and Basalt fabric, Airush kiteboards ensure the highest quality and guarantee years of enjoyment. In all twin-tip models, the rails and inserts are reinforced with ABS, preventing inserts from being pulled out easily. Kiteboards like the Airush Switch and Airush Switch Team feature Flex Tips that absorb chop effectively. Airush continues to innovate, and we look forward to the new innovations they will introduce in the coming years!

Airush has proven to produce kites, kiteboards, and associated accessories of the highest quality that you can expect from a top-tier brand. At Kitemana, we personally test all Airush kites and kiteboards, and thanks to our extensive stock of Airush kites, kiteboards, and bars, Airush products are available for immediate delivery. If your desired Airush kite or kiteboard is not in stock, don't worry; we can always order your Airush product and have it back in our kite shop quickly.

In the Netherlands, you can find many Airush kites at popular spots such as Brouwersdam, Zandmotor (Kijkduin), Vrouwenpolder, Rockanje, Maasvlakte / Slufter, Scheveningen, Rotterdam, Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk, Langevelderslag, Zandvoort, IJmuiden, Wijk aan Zee, Castricum, Egmond aan Zee, Callantsoog, Amsterdam, Den Helder, Texel, Makkum, Workum, Lemmer, Strand Horst, Enkhuizen, Zeewolde, Almere, Muiderberg.