Windsurf MagazineGA POISON 5.2 2022 TEST REVIEW

GA POISON 5.2 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

This Mk 3 Poison represents an impressive step forward for the new season, putting GA right into the performance mix with the best. Super lightweight and neutral when parked, it combines bottom end punch and connection, with top end stability and control.

THEY SAY

“With an updated profile, reworked skin tension and a Kevlar line in the trailing edge the Poison provides incredible dimension stability, speed and controllability in a huge wind range.”

WE SAY

In 2022, the Poison enters its third season of production, sitting alongside the all-round (and windowed) Cross wing as GA’s “feather-light performance” wing. A lot of work and development is said to have gone into its design, with a new outline, shaping and construction, targeted towards those that demand acceleration and upwind performance in instances such as catching waves. Inflation to the recommended 7-8 PSI is quick and simple, with a single bayonet inflation valve on the main strut, feeding the central strut via an adjoining tube. And a neat addition for this year: on the other side of the central strut, there’s now a dump valve for quick deflation, the simple shoulder bag supplied providing plenty of room to house the wing, however hurried your pack-down is. The handles have been reworked for the new season too, with a much firmer form and a carefully repositioned neutral handle on the LE strut. There is then a single front hand handle for simplicity, complimented by three for the back hand to determine the power delivery required. The leash supplied is made from elasticated Dyneema and was the right length for most, albeit a common comment was the desire for a buckle incorporated at the wrist cuff, for easy single hand fixing.

Once inflated and flying, the first impression of the Poison is that it’s incredibly light and balanced – a fact confirmed as it tips the scales at just 2.22 kg, making it the lightest on test here. It’s impressive as the construction of the Poison hasn’t been compromised, with all the reinforcement and Kevlar abrasion patches you’d expect. Instead, GA has attributed the weight reduction to the adoption of a new Dacron material from Dimension Polyant.

Powering easily, it is a very different prospect to its predecessor, its relatively low aspect and medium-tight canopy powering well to provide good bottom end power, the handles offering plenty of connection and feedback. It also has much more capacity for pumping, the medium dihedral shaping and prolife in the canopy’s leading edge helping to provide the punch and response to encourage an active riding style. Accelerating positively in the hands, there is plenty of stability to the Poison’s flight, its structure assured by inflating to the upper limit of its recommended PSI. Pointing upwind efficiently, it is also fast on all points of sail, the wing easy to depower in an instant, thanks to the multiple back handle options. The handles themselves are in exactly the right place and are comfortable during long periods of use, striking the right balance between tempered softness and direct control. This quality is all the more apparent when parking the Poison during transition, a downwind pump, glide or wave ride. It just sits so beautifully, the neutral handle in just the right place so that the GA floats perfectly behind you. With improved structural stability and straightforward handle positions, the Poison’s wind range is impressive, giving it plenty of appeal, from the novice to the advanced rider.