In years past, kite development was fast. Every season, we saw new and exciting changes in gear. Sometimes, it was a massive leap in performance, and other times, we had leaps in safety or comfort. A few years ago, progress slowed down significantly, and you could anticipate big leaps every five years or so with incremental improvements year to year.

Now, the best and latest developments revolve around materials like ultra-pe fabrics. Aluula kites, and specialty fabrics like the Airush Hookipa or the North N-Weave are now staples in the kite industry. Some brands use proprietary materials, and others use a mixture of both.

These materials do a lot for gear and the right person but have limitations and drawbacks. For one, they are costly, and not everyone can afford a premium kite like this. The good news is that not everyone will benefit from these kites.

There is a time, place, and some considerations around the discipline, conditions, and rider level. This article will cover what these materials do for you and your kite and when you should consider upgrading.

Why is Aluula so expensive? All ultra Pe Fabrics are costly for brands to manufacture and produce. Because of this, the cost is reflected in the price of the equipment. These kites are designed to perform at the highest level for the best athletes in the world and promise to significantly improve your average rider's performance.

Do I need Alulla to ride better? No traditional materials work amazingly. Your average rider will not be held back in any way using a Dacron kite. New riders who will be extra hard on their equipment are better off with traditional materials for their first year or two of riding. You won't have the experience to reap the benefits of the specialty materials anyway.

Will Alulla make me a better rider? The answer is not black and white; it depends on a few things. Experienced riders will benefit more than beginners. Specialty kites with materials like Alulla or Hookipa can be designed in ways that are not achievable with standard materials. This means someone focused on waves or big air can use a kite optimized for their discipline. In light wind applications, everyone benefits. These kites are lighter and faster, so we can ride in less wind.

Are Alulla kites more fun? You can expect these kites to feel lighter and perform like a smaller kite. A 17 meter will feel more like a 14 or a 15, and a 12 will feel closer to a 10 regarding turning speed and response. Because ultra Pe materials are stronger, designers can do things like make the leading edge narrower on big kites. This makes them fly faster in the wind window and pivot or turn better. With a faster kite, you can expect faster jumps, a better catch after a loop, more apparent wind in light wind, and better drift, thanks to the lighter weight. Each kite will show its true benefits depending on the discipline the designer is building it for.

Is Alulla good for Big Air riders? Alulla or other specialty materials like Hookipa will significantly improve the performance of a big air kite. Big air kites usually have five struts to enforce against the heavy conditions they are used in. This means they can be heavier, and this is reflected in the bar feel. The unique materials allow for higher psi and less weight. You can expect your big air kite to maneuver faster for loops, catch faster after loops, and have a lighter feel. Higher psi leading edges allow a faster flick to get higher jumps and better-performing loops.

Is Alulla good for kitesurfing? Ultra PE materials will improve the kite for wave riders. The lighter weight means kites will drift better when surfing down the light or directly at the kite. The higher psi will allow more response and better pivotal turns on the equipment. Many wave riders will set their kites up to oversheet when pulling the bar in. This stalling effect allows them to do better top and bottom turns on the wave. An ultra PE kite will float and pivot better when executing this.

Is Alulla good for all-around kites? This is the one area where the benefits may or may not matter as much. All-around kites will perform better for all the same reasons big air or wave kites do. The difference is that you may not need the performance boost. If you're not doing big jumps, big kite loops, or advanced riding, you do not need an advanced kite. All around, kites already perform so well. Our take is most riders do not need to upgrade. Performance riders who want the best of the best and high-level athletes should consider the upgrade.

Is Alulla good for kite foiling? Yes, high-end materials enhance single-strut kites. These kites benefit from the extra support provided by the higher PSI leading edge. Designers can refine the bridal geometry and maximize the flight characteristics needed for advanced kite foil maneuvers. Beginners and light foilers will benefit from kites that don't fall out of the sky as easily in light wind, while advanced riders can pinwheel their kites or practice difficult tricks that require a lighter, faster kite.

We use Allula interchangeably with all ultra-pe fabrics, but any new material will achieve similar benefits. The strength-to-weight ratio offers many benefits, such as the ability to achieve a higher PSI on the leading edge and unique designs only achievable from these materials.

Lightweight kites: These materials are significantly lighter than Dacron or traditional materials. Lighter kites feel faster, drift better, work better in light wind, and are more useful and fun.

Stonger kites: These materials can hold a higher PSA than Dacron. This means designers can experiment with the diameter of stufts and the leading edge or the bridal geometry. That's fancy talk for exciting new shapes and maneuverability. A good example would be the Airush Lithium with Hookipa. The team edition uses a narrower leading edge and a different bridal configuration. The Team edition rides upwind better, jumps better, and feels like a smaller kite with an improved wind range. Any kite will benefit if the designer builds around this benefit.

Longer-lasting kites? If properly cared for, these kites and wings will last longer. Some materials require more care than others, and that is a consideration. Woven fabrics like hookup are low maintenance and can be treated like Dacron, while fabrics with lament must be packed away dry and exposed to limited sunlight. Some wings, like the Airush Freewing AIR, have ultra-pe woven into the canopy to increase the lifespan significantly.

The team at Elite Watersports has been testing all the new materials each year as this technology evolves. We're stocking many new kites from Airush, North, Naish, Core, and Ozone. We love the light wind and big air kites in St Petersburg, Florida, but we get to try them all. If you have any questions about the latest tech, call us, and we can help you decide what model and materials are suitable for you.

The expert team at Elite Watersports is here to serve. If you have any kiteboarding related questions call us. We can build custom kiteboarding packages, book kiteboarding lessons or simply offer helpful advice. We're your one stop shop for kiteboarding knowledge.
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If you need help deciding on your first kiteboarding kite give Elite Watersports a call. We're happy to set you up with your first kiteboarding kite.
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