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About the Airush Vapor III
Airush say that their 5th line equipped flatter canopy Airush Vapor III is the most direct handling Kitesurf kite they have produced yet. It spans the void between their full on C kite, the Generator, and their Airush Flow all-rounder kite. The Airish Vapor III promises to offer the direct, dynamic feel and performance of a potent C kite and the rollover relaunch and depower that kitesurfing has come to expect from high-depower bridled kites.

Setting up the Airush Vapor III Kite
Airush’s trigger activated quick release (more on that in a moment) is back in on the Airush Vapor 3 bar’s chicken loop and the clam cleat trimmer resides there also. You can leash up for unhooked riding, to the 5th line or to the rear line. Other than that, the 5 line cleat bar is a very simple and uncluttered. The one pump was very welcome since the waves were cranking and the rigging options are simple and restricted to the front lines.

Airush Vapor 3

The Airush Vapor III on the water
We had initially wondered if the quick release trigger could be falsely activated when scrabbling to hook back in after unhooking, but in practise it’s just not an issue. The trigger releases pretty effortlessly when the chicken loop is held taught, but when the CL is grabbed, it moves up against the trigger and prevents unwanted release. Reassembly is quick even with numb fingers.

Into the waves and we straight away felt the Vapor III to be a powerful Kitesurf kite when stood back to back against other high depower kites. It is not over sensitive to trim and thus keeps driving hard and so it was winning the upwind tack against the other kites at our wave spot time and again. It is said to lack a little a little less grunt than its predecessor, the II, but that feels to be a relative term and the III was delivering constant, useable power that could be spilled off at the bar.
Tucking into the waves, we discovered the incredibly tight but tough turning radius of the Vapor III.

The kite turns extraordinarily firmly, but delivers extreme power as it does it’s far removed from the slippy slidey type turn you will have grown to loathe. We unfastened and went along the line on a bunch of waves and it felt principally the same as when it was hooked in. The stability of the kite in the surf area is reassuring ; it inspired us to take more possibilities freefalling into waves and chancing last gasp downwind floaters. Thanks to the supportive fifth line and 2 point front line connections, the cover was noticeably immune to the jelly-fishing that was influencing other kites on the water at the time. Boosting with the 10m was an electrical experience and is certain to inspire anyone that thinks they’ve hit the boost button too many times to think again. Sure you will get more hangtime from a bow as an example, but it is that catapult to the ether you will be after not the glide.

We especially loved the unfastened behaviour of the VIII. Though the kite depends on its front lines to keep things neat it rides well with stress in the back lines and unfastening needs no real adaptation. The power came on fast and the bar felt light in our hand once we’d released our edge.

Pros:

Picking up the bar and relaunch after botched attempts is terribly favourable, and along with the lively performance and all round stability, it’s a kite that makes trying new stuff fun. A gigantic performer that may appeal to all but the meekest of riders. Straightforward bar is good ; tight, powered turning ; extraordinarily stable running downwind ; bar feels nice and light for unfastening.

Cons:

Some riders could be used to even larger depower at the bar, and lighter bar pressure than the VIII can offer. Riders who like a robust, engaging kite in the sky instead of a passive wing to pull them around. This is a really nice wave riding machine that delivers power when you want it.

Twin tip riders will adore the weightless ‘dead space’ that comes after the gigantic pop.