Airush Ultra Team DS v5

Living just 50 meters from the brand-new Airush HQ definitely has its perks, especially when it comes to testing their gear and staying connected with the team. For this particular test, we had to be patient and wait for the right conditions, which in Tarifa is what locals call a “no-wind day.” Ironically, those days often deliver a short window of six to nine knots of gentle onshore breeze, the ideal playground for the new Airush Ultra Team DS v5, their high-performance lightwind machine specifically designed for foiling and marginal conditions.

The Ultra has long been a go-to choice for a few kite schools in Tarifa on those marginal days. It’s light, powerful and available in sizes up to 17 meters, ideal when the wind barely fills in. But the Team DS is a different beast altogether. Right out of the bag, the first thing that caught our eye was the double-surface design (yeah, we probably should have guessed from the “DS” name). It runs from the leading edge to the canopy, something you don’t often see on tube kites. The idea is simple: reduce turbulence and smooth airflow from the leading edge to maximize efficiency. Naturally, we were eager to feel how that translated on the water. Speaking of the leading edge, the Team DS features Airush’s latest H2 Ultra PE material. This cuts weight by an impressive 30% while allowing for a noticeably thinner leading-edge diameter. For the canopy, Airush uses Teijin D2 fabric along with one of their signature features: the Load Frame. For those unfamiliar, it’s a network of ultra-high modulus yarns that takes on the primary loads across the canopy, improving durability and, frankly, giving the kite a pretty cool look. Thanks to the single-strut design and high-end materials, the kite feels exceptionally light; our 9m test model weighed in at approximately 2.3kg. We might be geeking out over the construction, but we know most foilers appreciate these technical details. Enough of the specs though, let’s get into the water review.

As we arrived at the spot, we saw a couple of foil kites on the water in less than 10 knots of wind. After pumping the Ultra Team DS and feeling the incredible stiffness of the leading edge, we had to launch it from the center of the wind window. Once up, the kite sat there perfectly without any drama or tendency to backstall. Even walking into the water, the kite’s responsiveness was obvious with small bar inputs translated instantly, with a very direct feel. For the waterstart, a couple of eights weren’t quite enough to get us up on the foil, so we had to use a few loops to get moving. What we noticed immediately is that the kite flies quite far forward and maintains consistent power throughout the entire turn; there is no softening mid-loop, just steady pull. The low-end efficiency is seriously impressive. The kite reacts immediately to both steering and power input, with light bar pressure and constant feedback no matter where it sits in the window. What we truly loved, however, was the feeling while riding upwind. The upwind angles are huge, but the real highlight was the silence. There is zero flutter, even when moving the kite aggressively across the window. Combined with the light wind, it created a beautiful, silent cruising experience. In these marginal conditions, we found the kite to be incredibly responsive and capable of generating apparent wind with ease.

Once we were a few kilometers upwind, it was time for the moment of truth: checking the drift and downwind performance. Once again, no surprises, in a good way. The kite drifted effortlessly, to the point where we could ride unhooked for long stretches while picking off small swells. Even when we let it drift into awkward positions, a simple loop was enough to bring it back into place with ease. For those looking to add some spice to their sessions, the kite also jumps well, providing nice lift and enough hangtime to keep things fun even in such light conditions. One last thing: relaunch. We crashed it on purpose in deep water to test it. With the wind at the surface being practically non-existent, pulling simultaneously on the back lines did the trick and after two or three solid pulls, the kite was back in the air!

So, is this just a one-trick pony for foilers? Not at all. The Ultra Team DS also proves to be a solid low-wind option on a twintip. Who gets the most out of it really comes down to size choice. In the smaller sizes, up to around 10m, it’s ideal for riders who enjoy foiling in light wind but also want the versatility to switch to a surfboard when the breeze picks up thanks to its drift and flying capabilities. In the larger sizes, it’s perfect for those chasing every first knot: riders who want to get going as early as possible on a foil and then seamlessly transition to a twintip as the wind builds slightly. In short, it’s not limited to one discipline, the Team DS adapts well depending on how and where you want to ride.