What’s the difference between the Airush Ultra v5 and the Ultra Team v5?

At first glance, the Airush Ultra v5 and the Ultra Team v5 look nearly identical. Both are lightweight, single-strut kites designed for foil, freeride, and surf. Both aim to fly forward in the window and create efficient power in marginal wind. Both share the same DNA in outline and overall concept.

The difference comes down to how each kite is built and how that build translates into feel under load.

The Ultra v5 is built on Airush’s Originals platform. That means a traditional Dacron leading edge paired with a TECHNOFORCE D2 canopy. It’s designed to be light, steady, efficient, and durable. You pump it up, launch it, and it does exactly what you expect. No drama. No surprises.

The Ultra Team v5 moves into Airush’s Team Series construction. Instead of Dacron, it uses Ho’okipa Ultra PE material in the leading edge, along with Load Frame technology. That lets the front tube run at higher pressure and use a slimmer diameter without getting soft or bending under load.

In simple terms, the Ultra v5 feels balanced and progressive, while the Ultra Team v5 feels tighter and more immediate under load.

That structural difference is subtle on paper.

It is not subtle once you’re riding.We’ll get into what that actually feels like in the next sections. For now, just understand this:

They share the same blueprint.
They are built with different materials.
That changes how much the frame flexes when power moves through it.

What are the Construction Platform Differences between the Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5?

Let’s put them side by side.

Now let’s talk about what actually matters inside that chart.

The real shift is the leading edge material.

Ho’okipa Ultra PE is significantly lighter and stronger than traditional Dacron. Ultra PE fibers are engineered for extremely high tensile strength relative to weight. That allows Airush to reduce the diameter of the leading edge while safely increasing internal pressure.

What does that mean in plain terms?

✔ Thinner tube.
✔ Higher pressure.
✔ Less distortion when the kite is loaded.

The Ultra v5 stays with Dacron for a reason. Dacron delivers a balanced flex pattern, proven long-term durability, and a lower cost entry into the airy single-strut category. It is predictable. It is stable. It works.

The Ultra Team tightens everything up.

Neither platform is a downgrade.
They simply represent two levels of structural refinement built off the same blueprint.

Geometry and Design Intent

Here’s where things stay the same.

Both kites use:

• Single strut architecture
• Medium aspect ratio profile
• Forward-flying characteristics
• Tensioned canopy designed for light wind drive

Both are meant to:

• Generate usable power without heavy bar pressure
• Sit forward in the window
• Drift cleanly in surf and foil situations
• Relaunch easily despite being weightless

The geometry stays consistent across both models. What changes is how rigidly that geometry holds its shape once you apply load. Where they start to separate is in how much the frame flexes when you load it.

The Ultra v5 allows a slightly more forgiving flex pattern through its Dacron leading edge and pulley bridle setup.

The Ultra Team v5 tightens everything up with:
• Ho’okipa stiffness
• Higher inflation pressure
• Direct bridle input

That shift changes how input transfers from your hands into the canopy. We’ll unpack what that means for feel, power band, and turning in the next section.

For now, the structural distinction is simple:

→ The Ultra v5 is a highly efficient single-strut platform built for accessibility and balance.

→ The Ultra Team v5 takes that same platform and sharpens it for riders who want more immediate response and reduced deformation under load.

Where This Comparison Fits in the Airush Lineup

This comparison does not replace that guide. It narrows in on one decision inside the Ultra family.

For this article, we are isolating Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5 Ho’okipa specifically.

What does the Ultra Team v5 Ho’okipa leading edge actually change on the water?

In that conversation, Rygo (Ryan Golovsic), a long-time gear reviewer and experienced foil rider, sits down with Abby Vandenberg, who rides the Ultra Team as her primary kite for kite foil freestyle and strapless surf.

We’re not speculating about how the kite feels. We’re listening to two riders who actively use this platform in technical disciplines where precision actually shows up.

Now let’s talk about what changes once you’re riding.

You don’t feel material.
You feel feedback.

One of the first things they both describe is how immediate the Ultra Team feels compared to the standard Ultra.

When you sheet in on the Ultra Team, it responds instantly. There’s less transition between input and pull. The canopy feels engaged right away. RYGO puts it simply. "The Ultra Team amplifies everything good about the Ultra.”
The base platform is the same. The response is amplified.

On the Ultra v5, power builds smoothly. It feels progressive and forgiving. If your timing isn’t perfect, the kite smooths that out.

On the Ultra Team v5, the response feels more connected. There’s less cushion between your hands and the canopy.

That difference shows up clearly in three riding situations they discuss.

1. Driving through turns

RYGO talks about something foilers immediately notice: a consistent power band through the entire turn. When you drive the Ultra Team across the window, it holds tension through the whole arc. It doesn’t soften mid-turn and then re-engage. The pull stays connected.

On the standard Ultra, the turn feels round and controlled.

On the Team, it feels sharper and more deliberate.

You are not gaining raw power. You are gaining continuity in how that power carries through movement.

2. Creating apparent wind in marginal conditions

Abby mentions her largest Ultra Team is an 8 meter, and she’s comfortably riding it in 11 to 12 knots on her foil setup. RYGO, who weighs around 190 pounds, talks about riding a 10 meter in similar wind after actively working it off the beach.

The Ultra platform already has strong low-end efficiency. The Team version tightens the feedback loop when you actively fly it. When you pump it and build speed, it reacts immediately. It rewards movement.

The standard Ultra still performs well in light wind. It simply delivers that power in a smoother, more progressive way. If you like working the kite and feeling instant return from your input, the Team feels precise.

If you prefer something that naturally smooths out your input, the Ultra feels more relaxed.

3. Stability when the wind turns serious

Abby also rides her 5 meter Ultra Team in 30 to 50 knot conditions on the Oregon coast. Single strut kites are often labeled as light wind tools. The Ultra Team challenges that assumption. Under heavy load, it feels composed. It stays structured instead of softening.

The Ultra v5 handles wind well and drifts cleanly.The Team feels more planted when fully powered.

That matters if you are riding powered surf lines or pushing foil transitions in strong conditions.

Is the Airush Ultra v5 enough for light wind foiling, or does the Ultra Team v5 extend your range?

This is where people start convincing themselves they “need” the Team.

Let’s slow that down.

The standard Ultra is already built for light wind efficiency. Airush markets it as a foil, freeride, and surf tool for a reason. It flies forward in the window, generates clean low-end power, and doesn’t feel heavy in the air. It works.

In the video, Ryan and Abby both make something clear without saying it directly: the Ultra platform itself is strong in marginal wind. The Team version doesn’t magically create wind. It changes how efficiently your input translates into usable pull.

That distinction matters.

Abby rides an 8 meter Ultra Team in 11 to 12 knots on foil.

Ryan, at roughly 190 pounds, talks about riding a 10 meter in similar conditions after actively working it.

Those numbers are impressive, but they don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re riding:

• Efficient foil setups
• With experience
• Actively flying the kite

The Team version rewards that active style more aggressively. On lighter wind days common along the Florida Gulf Coast, that difference in response can become noticeable.

Here’s the real difference in light wind:

⤷ The Ultra v5 generates usable low-end power with a smoother build. You can park it slightly more. It helps you get going without demanding perfect timing.

⤷ The Ultra Team v5 responds faster when you pump it. When you’re building apparent wind, it converts movement into forward drive more immediately.

If you are a rider who likes to:

✔ Work the kite
✔ Fly it dynamically
✔ Adjust timing mid-transition
✔ Feel constant connection

The Team feels more efficient in your hands.

If you prefer to:

✔ Set it and ride
✔ Let the foil do the efficiency work
✔ Keep input relaxed
✔ Minimize corrections

The standard Ultra is already more than capable.

Wind range charts matter, but real-world feel under marginal pressure often matters more. It’s about how the kite behaves when the wind is barely enough.

For lighter riders on efficient foil gear, the Ultra v5 may already deliver everything needed.
For heavier riders, aggressive flyers, or riders pushing technical foil tricks in marginal wind, the Ultra Team can feel like it squeezes more return from the same breeze.

Choose the Ultra v5 if:

• You value smooth, progressive power delivery
• You prefer slightly softened re-engagement
• You want efficiency without maximum feedback

Choose the Ultra Team v5 if:

• You actively fly the kite to generate apparent wind
• You want sharper bar response
• You notice subtle differences in tension continuity

How do the Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5 feel for strapless surf and foil freestyle?

Both kites were designed with foil and surf in mind. That’s their foundation. The difference shows up in how they respond when timing and precision matter.

For strapless surf and down-the-line riding

Strapless riding exposes drift and placement immediately. You’re often moving toward the kite with slack in the lines, relying on it to sit forward and stay balanced without constant correction.

Both the Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5 drift well. That’s part of the single-strut character. They’re light in the air and comfortable sitting forward in the window, which supports surf-style riding naturally.

Where they separate is in re-engagement.

On the Ultra v5, when you sheet back in after slack, power returns smoothly and progressively. It feels controlled. That softness can help during wave transitions or small timing mistakes.

On the Ultra Team v5, power reconnects faster. When you pull the bar after drift, the kite tightens immediately. The response feels more direct. Abby rides the Ultra Team for strapless sessions because she wants that clarity. When she backstalls the kite or plays with it in the window, she knows exactly where it is.

⤷ If your surf style is fluid and relaxed, the Ultra v5 already supports that beautifully.
⤷ If your surf style is aggressive, with tighter carves and quicker redirection, the Ultra Team feels more locked in when you reapply power.

For kite foil freestyle and technical transitions

Foil freestyle shifts the focus from drift to timing. Tacks, foot swaps, rotations, and transitions expose how cleanly a kite maintains tension through movement.

In the video conversation, Ryan points out something subtle but important: the Ultra Team carries a more consistent power band through the turn.

On a foil, if power drops mid-arc, you feel it instantly. The Ultra Team tends to maintain tension through redirects without that soft fade. That makes technical maneuvers feel predictable because the pull doesn’t fluctuate as much.

The Ultra v5 still turns smoothly and predictably. It just delivers that power with a slightly softer curve.

For riders who tune line lengths and adjust setups mid-session, the Ultra Team’s direct feel can make those adjustments more noticeable. Small changes in input translate clearly.

If you’re refining timing and still progressing through foil freestyle, the Ultra v5 can feel more forgiving.
If you’re already consistent and want sharper feedback through transitions, the Ultra Team rewards that precision.

It’s about how cleanly power carries through motion.

Still not sure which one fits your riding style?

At this point, the difference should feel clear.

The Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5 are not competing for the same rider. They’re built on the same platform, but they reward different inputs and riding styles.

If you’re still deciding, here’s the smartest move:

Talk to someone who rigs these kites, rides them, and sees how different riders actually progress on them.

The goal is to match your riding style with the right response profile.

Final Summary: Airush Ultra v5 vs Ultra Team v5

The Airush Ultra v5 and Ultra Team v5 share the same core platform. Both are lightweight single-strut kites designed for foil, freeride, and surf. Both drift well, fly forward in the window, and perform efficiently in marginal wind.

The difference is response.

The Ultra v5 delivers smooth, progressive power with a balanced feel. It forgives small timing errors and transitions calmly through turns. For riders who value efficiency and a slightly softened response, it already performs at a high level.

The Ultra Team v5 tightens that same platform. It reacts more immediately to input, carries tension more consistently through turns, and feels more connected under load. Riders who actively fly the kite and want sharper feedback will notice that precision.

This decision is not about skill level. It is about riding style. One smooths input slightly. The other sharpens it.

Both models are proven performers. The right choice depends on how directly you want your kite to respond when you apply input.