The Big Picture | Airush

Talk us through the brief for the 26-27 collection – what was the thinking behind it?

We wanted to take what already works across the Airush range and push it further through improved performance, durability and ease of use. The main focus was an obsessive level of refinement.

There are some significant developments this season, particularly with the Razor, the completely re-engineered twintip range, and the return of our boots and bindings. We’re also introducing the new Lithium and Lithium X, so there’s a lot happening across the collection. We’re finalizing our high-performance kites, the Lithium Air and Lift Air, which will launch in spring, and we’re really excited about those too.

The common thread is making the equipment work better for each rider, whether that means more control, better response, easier progression or simply gear that lasts longer. That’s very much connected to our By Innovators For Innovators philosophy.

The Razor is one of the most established names in the Airush range. What has changed with the v11?

The Razor is still fundamentally a competition-oriented freestyle C-kite, so we didn’t want to change its character. Instead, we focused on refining the things that make it so effective. The key areas were weight distribution, canopy balance, pop, slack and recovery. The v11 feels more balanced throughout the maneuver, delivering explosive pop, improved slack and faster recovery for smoother, more controlled landings. It remains a direct, precise five-line kite with dedicated freestyle and wakestyle tuning. The DNA is very much Razor, but the overall experience is more refined.

Explain a bit more about what that refinement means for freestyle riders.

For advanced freestyle, timing and line tension are everything. We wanted a cleaner separation between the initial pop and the slack that follows it. The lighter, more balanced construction allows the kite to load efficiently before takeoff, then move forward and recover tension more quickly after the trick. That gives riders more time and freedom during handle passes and technical maneuvers, while making the landing phase more predictable.

We also had to make sure we didn’t take too much weight out of the kite, as freestyle kites can become less stable when they get too light. That’s why we decided to keep the Load Frame – it gives us the right weight distribution while adding canopy stiffness and durability. The kite is still aggressive when you want it to be, but it’s more composed and controlled throughout maneuvers.

Moving on to your twintip range – it has also been completely re-engineered. What was the objective here?

We wanted a much clearer performance structure across the twintip range. Rather than simply making incremental changes, we looked at the shapes, constructions and tuning of each board and challenged what the rider really needed from it. The result is a range that moves logically from comfortable freeride progression through Big Air and into dedicated freestyle and wakestyle. Each board has a clearer purpose, while sharing the same Airush approach to durability and performance.

How would you describe the key boards in the range?

The Switch is our accessible, comfortable freeride twintip. It’s designed to make riding easy and enjoyable, with a progressive single concave, thin rails and a step-down rail for control. The Apex moves into powered freeride and Big Air. Its double basalt construction, channels and center spine give it a responsive feel while maintaining strength and durability. The Apex Team takes that concept further with a lighter, performance-focused Carbon Basalt construction, developed around our Big Air team for more explosive pop and responsiveness. At the other end of the range, the Livewire and Livewire Team are dedicated freestyle and wakestyle platforms, with a focus on grip, pop, durability and high-performance riding.

The Diamond is also part of the updated range. What makes it different?

The Diamond is designed specifically around the needs of smaller riders. It has a narrower outline, softer flex and narrower stance, while retaining the performance characteristics needed for freeride and freestyle. The basalt fiber construction gives it a good balance of lightness, reflex and durability, so it isn’t simply a scaled-down board. It’s specifically tuned around the rider profile.

What’s new with the boots and bindings for this season?

We’ve focused on comfort, support, durability and creating a solid connection between the rider and the board. The Element remains the more ergonomic, support-focused binding, while the Boost keeps things simple with a lightweight construction and single Velcro closure. The Ether is our dedicated freestyle boot, combining a lightweight Fly-Line construction with a supportive high-cut design, rubber heel lock and comfortable EVA footbed. Overall, it’s about offering straightforward, reliable options that complement the boards.

Going back to your kite range, what can you tell us about the Lithium v15?

The new Lithium is a significant evolution of one of our most established freeride platforms. The biggest change is the new seven-point fixed bridle. We’ve optimized the bridle connections around the most important structural seams, allowing us to increase the stiffness of the kite without adding expensive or less-durable exotic materials. This gives the kite a more direct steering response while supporting the canopy more evenly. Combined with the refined three-strut delta-hybrid platform, it delivers faster turning, increased depower, and improved high-wind stability.

We’ve also spent a lot of time refining the canopy curve to maximize hang time without compromising the structure. It still has that intuitive, forgiving Lithium character, but there’s more response and performance available when you start pushing it harder, including faster and more controlled kiteloops.

And what about the Lithium X?

The Lithium X takes the Lithium concept and makes it particularly accessible to schools, newer riders and high-use environments. Durability is a major part of the design, with reinforced construction throughout, but we didn’t want that to come at the expense of performance. It features a new six-point adaptive fixed bridle, with reinforcements in key areas to make it exceptionally durable while still performing across a wide range of conditions. The result is a stable, forgiving and easy-to-use kite that can grow with the rider.

Finally, the Magnum Bar is getting a new colorway. Is this purely a visual update?

The Magnum v2 is an evolution of our premium all-around control system, with the new colorway giving it a fresh identity for the 26-27 range. Technically, it remains focused on clean, reliable control, with an Auto Untwist center fitting, ceramic-bearing Quick Release and dual PU-covered depower main lines. It’s also compatible with the Razor as a fifth-line bar. The new Ice Blue and Teal colorway brings a fresh visual treatment to the system while fitting naturally into the broader collection.

Looking across the collection as a whole, what are you most excited about?

Probably the fact that it feels like a much more complete and refined collection. We’re not looking at individual products in isolation. The kites, boards, bars, bindings and boots are all part of the same riding experience, and we’re trying to make that experience more intuitive, more durable and more performance-focused.

The new collection has some genuinely new technology, but it also represents a lot of refinement. For me, that’s the exciting part – taking proven Airush platforms and finding meaningful ways to make them better, rather than changing things simply for the sake of having something new to sell.

Please summarize what can riders expect from the 26–27 collection.

The new range brings together the new Razor, updated twintips and accessories, along with the latest Lithium X, Lithium v15 and Magnum v2. Across the range, the focus is on refining proven platforms, introducing meaningful performance improvements and creating a more cohesive riding experience. Following this, we’ll continue the development into spring 2027 with the new Lithium Air and Lift Air, extending that focus on durable lightweight performance and progressive kiting styles. Ultimately, it’s a collection built around the same idea we’ve always had at Airush: innovate where it matters, build products to last, and make the time riders spend on the water better than ever. ■