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Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 2:00 am
by alfredo68
77 kg , 5.2 vader or simil 24 litre surfboard, 11/16 knots. I should go for 12 or 10 metres Ultra?
My next kite down is a 9 m AR wave.

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 8:37 am
by MikeBirt
I would say ultra
12, fast and punchy, 10is too close to the 9...
to get away with he 10 you would need a drop to at least 8 wave...

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 8:46 am
by MikeBirt
DSZ wrote:
Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:52 pm
Thanks Mike. I have 145 lightwind Crazyfly TT but mostly ride surfboards in the 5'8 size fairly wide with smaller kites 185 lbs. The 14 can be a bit much in the surf sometimes. The idea here is to replace the older 14 with something newer for those marginal days when I just want to get out and ride around, even with the TT. I like the general idea of the Ultra but a bit concerned about the stability of a single strut kite in gustier conditions.
Ultra stability not really an issue, but the lithium will function better as a heavyweights boosting kite as if you have the weight it will fly a good way forward in the window...

the ultra is an efficient kite, and its fast, but tat is not what some people want - more so heavier riders, they love power and a good pull against the rail so they can charge. The Ulltra suits people of light foot, not in that it cant keep composure, more that its like trying to hammer in a 6" nail with a pin hammer...
The Lithium is you mallet, and you can hve a lot of fun with a mallet :-)

185 is right on the fence, slightly tipping towards ultra,
I would say that you need to look at your style to decide wether you like a more surgical style of riding (Ultra), or wether most solutions to your technique challenges are solved with the mallet - both are equally elegant solutions in my book :-)

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 12:32 pm
by alfredo68
MikeBirt wrote:
Thu Oct 04, 2018 8:37 am
I would say ultra
12, fast and punchy, 10is too close to the 9...
to get away with he 10 you would need a drop to at least 8 wave...


Thought the same but i was told that the 10 Ultra is very powerfull (and low end in 9 wave is not great

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:32 pm
by MikeBirt
alfredo68 wrote:
Thu Oct 04, 2018 12:32 pm
Thought the same but i was told that the 10 Ultra is very powerfull (and low end in 9 wave is not great
That's true,
There are two main patters in the new V2 Ultra. 9 and downover are the same as last year, but 10 and above are lighter and faster turning designs, so they feel like they have more power (well they do when you move them).

Hence 9m and 10m are quite different.
For me (on foil) the 9 is fast and the 10 is almost bigger than I ever need - but then a lot of people who like power swear by the 12 ultra. I just dont need more power (if I'm honest) than the 9 ultra for foil.

The 12 ultra V2 has a lot more punch than last years, it's faster for the size - (people say half way between last years 12 and 9 in speed) and as such has more punch when you need it.

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:37 pm
by DSZ
These comments are very helpful. Thanks.

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2018 2:18 am
by RadDrDuke
Seabizzle wrote:
Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:55 pm
DSZ wrote:
Wed Oct 03, 2018 4:52 pm
Thanks Mike. I have 145 lightwind Crazyfly TT but mostly ride surfboards in the 5'8 size fairly wide with smaller kites 185 lbs. The 14 can be a bit much in the surf sometimes. The idea here is to replace the older 14 with something newer for those marginal days when I just want to get out and ride around, even with the TT. I like the general idea of the Ultra but a bit concerned about the stability of a single strut kite in gustier conditions.
I have used my 9m ultra in gusty conditions quite a bit over our winter here in Perth. Overall it is solid in gusts, the kite points really forward in the window so gusts tend to pull you forward and add speed as opposed to kites that sit further back and want to pull you off your line. I haven't noticed any deformity of the leading edge even when more powered up and jumping on a twin tip. It's not a kite designed for the best top end but I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised by it's handling at the top end and in gusty conditions.


On another subject i recently went on a trip to a long reef/ point wave. We scored 2 days of solid overhead cross offshore really long down the line waves. I rode the 9m ultra both days and was really impressed with the performance. The drift in these conditions was amazing, I was really able to set the kite and just about forget about it. I could also whip it around and get it really cranking down the line to get around sections. Another big advantage was that I was smoking everyone on the upwind and hence maximising wave count.

I don't mean to be boastful but these days were some of the best sessions of my life and I am very excited about it.

I want to write a proper review of the ultra as a wave kite as I feel I have given it a good run in the surf. It definitely has some advantages and disadvantages over the 3 strut wave kites. I will try post something soon
This is dead accurate. I ride my 9m ultra 2-3x/week, it's awesome. For surf you can rip upwind but also the drift is great as stated above and you can just leave it anywhere and surf the wave without thinking about the kite. I had a killer session this past Wednesday 16-22mph 6 mile downwinder in 4-6foot surf side-shore winds on a 5'4" jimmy lewis, 180lbs, just parking the kite and surfing wave after wave downwind for miles without a care in the world.

This kite is just so sick; super durable (i self launch by pulling the back line and rolling the kite in the sand everytime, and self land by pulling the safety - probably have done this 75+ times with this kite w/no visible wear), flies fast and fun, big wind range, packs so small, drifts like a champ, and has incredible stability overhead.

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:04 am
by Adventure Logs
Looking to get a one or no strut inflatable for hydrofoiling, launching off a boat on a lake. Would the v2 10m be a good choice with winds from 8-12kts, Moses 633, 185lbs?

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:50 am
by Peter_Frank
Adventure Logs wrote:
Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:04 am
Looking to get a one or no strut inflatable for hydrofoiling, launching off a boat on a lake. Would the v2 10m be a good choice with winds from 8-12kts, Moses 633, 185lbs?

I think it would be spot on yes.
You might have a hard time or not possible starting/foiling in 8 knots (use longer lines at least), depending on board and skill etc, but from 9 knots you will be just fine, and riding in 12 knots also no problem :thumb:

With a 12 m2 you would be quite overpowered, and get a lot slower kite, in 12 knots with the 633 - possible but no reason as the 10 would cover much better :naughty:

And when launching (and landing?) from a boat, I think you will enjoy having one strut to keep the kite in position and almost dry :rollgrin:

8) Peter

Re: Airush Ultra: one strut kite that meets expectations of a ram air lover

Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:50 pm
by Windigo1
Personally I use the the 12m in these conditions but I'm heavier and my my lightwind foil is a bit smaller (Shinn P). The 10m would probably work. I get overpowered around 20 knots with the 12m it's still manageable but I have to keep the speed down.