Windsurf MagazineFREEWING AIR V2 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

FREEWING AIR V2 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

A year older and sitting under a new brand banner, the Air V2 remains a very capable wing, with plenty of useable power and practicality, particularly for the novice or progressing rider. And at £799.00 it represents good value for a well-made product.

THEY SAY

“The FreeWing AIR V2 is now more stable and stiffer, offering more reactivity, acceleration and speed.”

WE SAY

The Air V2 remains current in the lineup for this season, and whilst its design hasn’t changed, the branding around it has! The Starboard and Airush Kiteboarding alliance in winging has given rise to its own brand – FreeWing, with all current and future wings coming under the one umbrella. The Air V2 is now complimented with two other wings in the range – the super low aspect Go for the progressing rider, and the Nitro for the experienced, with its lightweight woven composite sailcloth, ‘Hookipa Ultra PE’. When testing the Air V2 last year, we summed it up by saying it posed a “definite step forward in development … retaining the low PSI mantra of its predecessor, yet [possessing] many tricks up its sleeve to make it a real performer on the water”. So, one year on and the PSI of 5 that’s recommended for this 5.0m wing seems even more extreme, in a fast-moving sphere where most brands are gravitating towards higher PSI ratings. The alternative techniques employed for promoting wing structure and stability include super wide-diameter struts, in both the leading edge and centre strut, plus plenty of tension in the Y-handles joining the two. It has quite easily the lowest aspect ratio outline of the whole test group, largely down to its elongated boom strut length, which itself plays host to five handles – an almost excessive number by today’s standards. Optimum inflation pressure is easy to achieve by all, the Air V2 being the only wing on test with a push-in valve connector, the air then filtering through to the central strut via a single closeable hose. The leading edge has a medium dihedral profile with plenty of play in the loose canopy to permit a deeper camber as a gust hits.

On the water the Air V2 has a unique feel and nature compared to the younger design concepts and wings out there, yet it remains relevant and user-friendly for the progressing rider in this new sport. Firstly, it is easy to fly the wing free from the water’s surface, its low aspect outline keeping the wingtips clear, no matter how unsteady you are as you get to your feet, or how basic your pumping technique is. The long central strut means that the Air provides plenty of useable feedback and leverage in the lightest winds, the loose canopy letting the lungs of the wing grow and keeping it driving forward. There is definitely some built-in flex to the Air’s structure, which can be felt as you pump it to get going, yet it seems to help the cyclic method, springing the wing away from the rider’s body again to maintain distance. Once going the Air is balanced and dependable, the handles providing the adaptability to cater for varying rider sizes and power demands. Cruising comfortably, the elongated windows in the canopy remain some of the best around, providing good visibility downwind, and eliminating the need to reposition the wing to

check for hazards prior to manoeuvre. In transition, the Air is easy to lift high above the head, the wind blowing under the leading edge and making it weightless so that the rider can concentrate on the board’s change in direction. The wrist leash supplied is an excellent elasticated Dyneema cord and is just the right length for this 5.0m wing, something that FreeWing refine and tailor for each wing size in their range. And what a range it is: seven different sizes and four different colourways – enough to suit all tastes. After a session, the Air is easy to pack down quickly, with a dump valve on the central strut and a large zippered roller bag, big enough to house the pump too.

THE VERDICT