Airwave Koala Foil kite surfing kite

WEANING YOU OFF THE TUBE

Airwave Koala is stable, universal, and lightweight. This closed-cell tubeless kite is ideal for twin-tip, foil, snow, and land kiting and kiteboarding.

• ALULA - Simulation Software
• Cord Cut Billow (CCB)
• Easy Relaunch
• Rock-Solid Stability

Optional Accessory

• Airwave Kite Bar

INFO
Technology is moving forward at a pace, bringing some exciting new developments in kite design. Thanks to our cutting-edge simulation program, ALULA, we’re experiencing something of a revolution. Say goodbye to burst tubes, broken pumps and oversized bags, and hello to the Koala. Our new tubeless closed-cell twin-tip and foil kite is super-versatile with great performance and rock-solid stability.

Free flying went through a big change in the ‘80s and ‘90s as paragliders started to outnumber hang gliders. We predict a similar shift in the world of kiting as heavy plastic inflatable tube kites give way to lightweight and versatile foil kites.

The Koala was designed with cutting-edge software and manufactured with the latest materials and techniques. With fast-inflating closed cells, a load-calculated internal structure and a mix of high-tech ripstop cloths it is durable and easy to handle. Re-launching is easy, and a clever drainage system means the water evacuates quickly. Not only does the Koala offer performance, stability and long hang-time potential, but its versatility might just be its killer blow: one kite works for a wide range of wind strengths, so travel is a breeze and luggage space worries a thing of the past. Simple. Just get on out there and have fun!

SPECS

TARGET
The Koala is for open-minded athletes who want to ride the wave of progression. If you have been toying with switching from tubes to tubeless, this is your gateway kite. Bruce’s vision: “It started before I can remember anything. A spark from the first sight of flight. The dreams, the fascinations, and the deep burning desire flooded in. I had to have wings, to float, to soar so I took to the sky at 16 and haven’t looked down since. I remember thinking, why isn’t everyone doing this? It is just so amazing!”

Does this sound familiar? As riders, pilots, and dreamers we have found each other on the water, on top of mountains, and in the sky because we have all followed a similar path. Our passions have brought us together and we share that unique bond. We live to feel that sensation of floating, soaring, drifting, carving, so at Airwave our mission is to make kites that make you feel connected to the air, to the waves, to our dreams.


TOM'S NOTES
When you eat, sleep, and breathe air sports your imagination eventually lands on, “how can I make this feel better?”

After over 30 years designing paragliders, Bruce Goldsmith and the team naturally wanted to apply their know-how to their other love – kites. Passionate paraglider pilots and also kitesurfers ploughed their hearts and enthusiasm into making a great kite. A kite that is not only stable and has great performance, but one which feels great: easy, safe, and fun in all disciplines. And so began the Koala project.

The ALULA simulation software was my PhD project, and it has been paramount in developing the Koala. It has meant we can concentrate on individual characteristics and can test almost unlimited virtual prototypes until we get the results we are looking for. We think with the Koala we have created the most stable foil kite out there! After months of work and re-work, and loads of fun testing the real prototypes, what flew out of the factory is an ultra-responsive, rock-solid, supercharged, foil kite. We can’t contain our excitement. The Koala is our first product. We believe it reflects our passion and feels amazing!

PACKAGE INCLUDES

• Airwave Stickers
• Koala Kite
• Kite Rucksack
• Line Set
• Glider Band
• Repair kit
• Sand/Bar Bag
• Airwave T-Shir
• Manual Card

* Airwave Kite Bar is interchangeable between sizes, one size fits all sizes.

WHAT RIDERS ARE SAYING

Kiteworld Magazine, UK tested a Koala 10
“This kite can really help you up your board-off game – the hangtime performance on tap is excellent.”.

Marc Blanc on lesfoilz.com, France
“The Koala 5 is by far the best performing and most stable foil kite in this size. No collapses, top stability even in a gusty 40 knots”.

Frappat on lesfoilz.com, France
"For me the Koala10 is the best compromise of ease and performance."

Rue de l’air on lesfoilz.com, France
"An easy glider, ideal for turbulent wind"

Lukas Maly, Czech Kite Team
"If you like speed you will like the Koala. With twin-tip and wind around 12m/s, the top speed is over 70km/hr!"

Krzysztof Brighton, Australia
"Tried a XXXX next, just for comparison, easily my favourite inflatable kite of all time, and the koala was a lot lot better on the top end 26knots, it just ate it for breakfast, while the XXXX felt like it was going to fall apart any minute.”

Koala Review – thekitemag.com
"The Koala is by far the easiest foil kite we have launched. It just stays open and rigid in the air. Overall this feels like a very different kind of foil kite. The stability and the confidence it gives you is a major plus."

Kostas Efthimiadis - kite instructor, Greece
"The koala is the best present I ever got, I love the light wind performance as I can go foiling in 2-5 knots”

Jessica – kite instructor, Greece
"The koala is so nice! The stability is insane! And the colours are beautiful. I want to buy one!“

Bastien Stelfies, snowkiter
"We tested the Koala at Col Agnel... It's a really good kite for mountain use"

Krzysztof Stankiewicz, Australia
"First try of Airwave Koala 15m. Amazing! Smooth power delivery and a very nice loop that always generates the right amount of power. Not too slow for a 15m. Perfect Gybes every time. Comes with roughly 24m lines and starts you reliably without a sweat in 9knots on a race foil. Does not become overpowered with speed like a race kite. So quite likely 20knot winds might be doable.."

Andre Danz, Australia
"I had the koala 5 out in conditions from just under 10kn and up to 21kn using my Onda 633. I am stoked with the performance, very balanced, excellent drift, easy relaunch, the depower is amazing unlike other foil kites on the market the power is off instantly there are also no unwanted power spikes in gusty conditions and no overflying. Getting up on the foil is easy and the whole package is confidence-inspiring, I think airwave is going to make some waves in the foil market. I definitely get a 5m and thinking maybe an 8m as well."


Mark Wicks, Australia
At about 12kn. Had a ripper of a session. One mate on an 11m Sonic pretty lit, another (Dave, whom you were in contact with) on a 6m Peak. Me on the 5m Koala. None of us could really believe it was happening. It was a lot of fun to ride and very fast, I was going 17kn upwind on a fairly slow foil (Moses 679) and on the Souls I would probably do 13-16kn at best. I was out for quite a while and the wind kept picking up.Kite Performance: It looks to me like the extra power is generated by the higher aspect ratio compared to the Soul plus the lack of weepage/drainage openings found on the Souls, resulting in more consistently higher internal pressure.This is good from a performance and safety perspective (presumably it will stay airtight for longer when in the drink)The bar is nice and light.I love the lines, much better than the ones on my earlier Click Bar.So, overall, there is a lot to like! If it’s ok I will keep it for a bit longer and pass it onto my 2 mates as well (if they can wrestle it out of my hands!).