R1 V5

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO COVID-RELATED CONSTRAINTS NOT ALL COLORS AND SIZES ARE AVAILABLE. PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE PLACING AN ORDER.

Product description
After a full four year development cycle and over 50 prototypes, the all new R1 V5 has shed any hint of freeride DNA to become an all-out, pure hydrofoil racing machine. 

Capable of the highest speeds at super aggressive riding angles, as well as the most efficient transitions when fractions of a second count, all elements of the new design help to ensure you maintain as much momentum as possible in all situations.

IKA Formula Kite registered product for 2028 Olympic cycle
Designed purely for hydrofoil racing PERFORMANCE
2 and 4 line designs in the range
Incredible angles and riding speed up- and downwind
Low lift overhead allowing for high speed and super fluid tacking manoeuvres
Light bar feeling / steering pressure helps save riding energy

10, 11, 14, 15, 19 & 21m:  True 2-line tech with reduced line plan. All sizes with 65 cells now feature true 2-line technology with only A and B line levels. Less bridling means less drag, allowing the kite to drive further forward in the window for greater speed and higher angle potential.

8 & 9m:  4-line set-up for stronger, gustier conditions. The smallest 8m and 9m sizes have retained 4-line levels (A, B, C & brake) using a different planform with lower aspect-ratio and cell count (51 cells) based on previous well-proven R1 designs.

Kite only package includes:
R1 V5 race kite with all bridle lines

Bag, control system, lines etc. have to be purchased separately if needed
Ozone Closed Cell Compressor Bag (highly recommended)
Ozone Bar Foil Race V5
Ozone Lines Race V2 Set (2x 300kg, 2x 200kg)
Ozone Race Kite Tuning Kit (R1 V5)
Ozone Short Safety Leash V2

Committed performance
Every aspect of the R1 V5 design is focused on maximising true race performance with low overhead lift. The potential momentum loss through tacks is now absolutely minimal for pro level racers. 

The faster you can ride, the more the kite wants to go upwind and, as it does so, feels lighter and easier to control at the same time. 

Tuned to navigate courses with more efficiency and control allows the conservation of energy that could make all the difference to results across long days packed with multiple races. 

Finding your “sweet spot” in a locked-in race position is intuitive and easy with the ability to play with angles or speed depending on your lines and tactics. 

Rider weight optimised sizing
Riders can register 4 kites in their quiver for each IKA race event. The biggest kite allowed in men’s racing is 21m, while for the women it’s 19m. Both sexes can then choose one size from each of the remaining size groupings to make up their 4-kite event quiver: 15/14, 11/10, 9/8m.

Our decision to create an 8-size range gives riders who aren’t carrying as much body weight the option to choose to ride with slightly less power in the 4 sizes they can register for each event

The men nearly always opt for the biggest sizes possible and use their added weight and strength to take advantage of the extra power – so their quiver for an event would usually be: 21, 15, 11 & 9m.

But for women, or more lightweight riders, we’ve added in the 14, 10 and 8m sizes as further options to help all racers make the best choice for their weight or style.

True 2-line tech with reduced line plan
The 10, 11, 14, 15, 19 and 21 metre sizes (all with 65 cells) now feature true 2-line technology with only A and B line levels. Less bridling means less drag, allowing the kite to drive further forward in the window for greater speed and higher angle potential. 

Reducing the line levels to only A and B along the chord, in combination with a highly complex internal structure to distribute loads, the R1 V5 features the least amount of total bridle line length we’ve ever used on a foil kite. 

The thinnest and strongest Technora bridle line material on all sizes further contributes to overall drag reduction. 

Chordwise fibreglass battens on 2-line sizes(10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21M)
On sizes 10m through to 21m the chord profile is reinforced with lightweight fibreglass battens to distribute load whilst maintaining the shape of the profile during angle of attack changes and turbulent airflow. This drastically improves overall performance as the foil remains true to the designed shape.

Small sizes retain 4-line set-up for stronger, gustier conditions
The smallest 8m and 9m sizes have retained 4-line levels (A, B, C & brake) using a different planform with lower aspect-ratio and cell count (51 cells) based on previous well-proven R1 designs.  When nuking conditions strike and it’s time for ‘survival mode’, four lines with a more active feel of sheeting input offers maximum stability and control.

Profile development
New profile sections were especially developed for 2-liner technology.

While we kept the cell count and planform very similar to the V4 design, we extensively focused on maximising the potential of the profile section of each size to work in harmony with the 2-line bridle layout. 

Analized in CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations and tested under real competition conditions by the world’s leading racers, we worked on creating the least lift possible at the lowest angle-of-attack – especially when moving the kite up and overhead during tacks.

Expert riders will now make their manoeuvres with a more fluid motion, allowing them to come out of transitions at high speed with very little lost momentum.

Yet the R1 V5 also delivers constant pull on up- and downwind angles, is capable of being ridden at more aggressive angles and with greater speed, while still feeling stable in dirty, gusty winds.

The end result is a racer’s dream – giving the confidence to take the biggest kite size possible for maximum straight line speed and the highest angles, without feeling compromised during manoeuvres.

Leading edge profile battens
The Leading Edge is reinforced with flexible lightweight plastic battens to maintain the shape of the profile during angle of attack changes and turbulent airflow. This drastically improves overall performance as the foil remains true to the designed shape.

Rigifoil technology
Rigifoil battens are sewn in between the leading edge profile battens to maintain optimal profile shape at high speeds.

Preventing the canopy material from indenting between the ribs, the leading edge section is now as clean as it would be if there were twice as many ribs, without actually adding the complexity of full length ribs.

(For the perfect performance-to-weight ratio, the 19 and 21 metre models feature Rigifoils only to the last inflation valve towards the tip. Not adding the rigifoils to the tip sections of these two biggest sizes reduces the chance for the tips to roll / fold in during very light wind manoeuvres.)

Mini Ribs
Mini Ribs are sewn into the centre of each cell along the trailing edge of all sizes. These are designed to minimise the ‘ballooning’ deformation effect of the trailing edge, creating a cleaner surface for the air to release from the airfoil.

Proven, lightweight canopy materials
As on the V4, the best performance balance for weight, feeling and longevity comes from a 20D (35g) upper and a 10D (27g) lower surface canopy material. These materials have been used extensively on our Ultra Light kites and paragliders since 2011.

Triple Transverse Sail Shaping 
Triple Transverse Sail Shaping on sizes 10m-21m running along the leading edge creates a cleaner surface on the most important area of the aerofoil. The result is less turbulent airflow and longer skin adhesion, which positively affects the lift-to-drag ratio, increasing overall performance.

New valve design
Finally, faster inflation and a better seal are the important finishing touches offered by the new valve design.