Airush 2004 : Driven

2004 refinements; Shaping Technology
This year has seen a real shake-up in rocker line refinement. As kite efficiency increases so do the demands on board designs. As a result Colin has balanced the need for efficiency and control to match the performance changes in kite design. The result is a smoother; more rounded feel with greater power range. There is no stick, trip or drag, as these new shapes are each finely tuned to deliver the highest level of performance, comfort and trust.

	Sectional Rail Uplift; 2004 sees a new rail profile that significantly enhances control at high loading whilst also increasing efficiency and drive. A slight raise of the rail before the very edge allows critical rail pressure to be dampened, thus maintaining stability when pushed past normal design limits. The rails profile is sharpened, giving a more direct and responsive bite with a highly efficient water release.
	4th Dimensional fin shaping; All new 2004 series boards have undergone an intensive fin development program. With kite, board and rider ability rising sharply over the last few years Airush has tested countless CNC milled G10 prototypes to obtain optimum outlines, flex, thickness and profile for each style of board. The result is greater efficiency, less drag, smoother control under load, and better stability. G10 material is used throughout the fin range providing a very strong and durable fin that holds up very well to the normal wear and tear of kiting in shallow areas.
	Segmented Rocker Profiles; Used mostly in the wider twin tip boards the segmented rocker-line is seen as a scoop or scallop to the central section of the board. Although angular in appearance it makes a massive difference to the way the board behaves when edging. The central section of the board has a flatter rocker promoting early planning, upwind efficiency and speed, whist the outer rail section retains increased rocker for maneuverability, rail projection, drive and clean water release. Not only is there an astounding amount of low end power drive from this rocker that helps you get edging up to 4 knots earlier than normal, but it has removed the traditional numb feel of conventionally shaped wide twin tip boards.
	Airush Footstraps In 2003 the footstraps proved to be the most comfortable and secure in the industry, they have seen further development this season through a combination of design refinements and material engineering making the Airush 2004 footstraps more comfortable and effective than ever before. The asymmetric strap is unutilized on all the twin tip boards giving the ultimate in contour comfort, while the standard symmetrical model is used on all directional and bi-directional boards to allow the rider to switch stance.
	3D-Footbed 2004 sees the introduction of the 3d-Footbed. Each 3D-Footbed is custom shaped and contoured according to rider comfort requirements and the style of the board. For Boards that are ridden with greater loadings the 3D-Footbed is thicker, contour sculptured, with bridge support, and heel cushions, giving increased padding for shock absorption and maximum comfort. On the more technical, freestyle boards we use a slightly thinner 3D-Footbed for a more direct connection to the board and to allow easy access to the footstrap for board off moves.

Flex Control
Each board has a specific construction and lamination lay-up according to its desired performance character. The largest boards have an EPS foam core whereas many of the smaller boards use a solid PVC core which when combined with specific reinforcements, allow the board flex to be controlled exactly. Flex control keeps the rails and fins gripping hard under heavy load, helping smooth the ride through pressure spikes when loaded to critical limits.

McCulloch Biography

Colin is trained as a composite materials engineer; a qualified military helicopter engineer specialized in gas turbine engines and airframe structures. His last military project was a full composite aircraft the EH 101. He has a long and successful background making specialist professional shapes for many of the UK?s top kiteboarders. Like his counterpart in Kite design, Ben Severne, Colin?s standard of riding is both versatile and extremely talented. As a result he has an intuitive grasp of the shaping process, with the ability to shape and interpret the results first hand. In the UK Colin provides boards for over half the professional kiteboarding tour, a testament to his versatile shaping ability.

Jimmy Lewis and Svein Rasmussen

Hawaiian Jimmy Lewis is the man behind the Wakestyle boards and Svein Rasmussen has updated the innovative and best selling Square One.

Together these guys have been through countless prototypes, and made the final 2004 selection with the help from the entire Airush team. With testing taking place in Australia, the UK, Spain, Thailand and Hawaii, Airush presents the most complete range to date. From the Square Two the new standard in light wind and intermediate performance, to the smallest and most radical mainstream board on the market, the 90cm long Misfit, Airush covers a huge range.

Airush HQ is situated on a wake cable park for initial testing and is a quick ride from the main production facility. This has enabled Airush to develop and present new construction and production process techniques, delivering boards to a standard that the best custom shops find hard to match.