AQUA INC AIR RIDER 14’ TEST REVIEW
AQUA INC
AIR RIDER 14’0
TEST REVIEW
Verdict
The Air Rider we tested carries quite a unique shape despite its familiar 14’ x 28’ dimensions. At times, it is a very fast board and in its element in demanding conditions, especially dead downwind For flat water racing or touring a flat-rockered variant is also available. For BOP-style surf riding it’s a real blast and it shines when you catch a wave to the beach. A well presented, capable board with some excellent options and features.
Overview
Unboxing the Air Rider is a bit of a treat. Ours came with the optional slick wheeled -backpack and tough sea worthy leash, and stowed in the pockets were shaped glass fin, pump and orange fibre glass paddle. The board itself has lots of features: the comfortable deck pad (no rough diamond notches here) has a decent tail kick and you get a front D-ring (for tow-assists or ‘tying off’), cargo bungee up front, FCS camera mount and a padded carry handle. About that fin – we like it – orange (Aqua Inc is Dutch), deep, raked back, and unlike many repurposed longboard fins it looks like it belongs on a 14’ and is ready for some heavy water.
Brand Claim:
Our Team is part of the passionate stand up paddle board movement taking out the exciting sport to new extremes in performance paddle surf, racing and recreation. Our main target to provide affordable, High Quality and durable Stand up Paddle boards for SUP lover, surfers and pro’s. A board you can enjoy for a long time.
Performance
Once inflated, your eye is drawn towards the nose rocker on the Air Rider. There’s quite a lot of it and it’s a permanent fixture – the board is not especially bendy for an inflatable. At 320 l the volume is massive and so this board sits on the water; as a tourer / fitness board it prowls around easily. 28” is not narrow but the 6” ride height does require you to do your part in balancing; it’s a consideration when you’re paddling in cross-winds and chop as those high sides and nose will feel everything. Sling the Air Rider into a straight downwind run though and standby to be impressed: it feels light and leaps forward and you won’t stuff that nose. We were loving life on a downwinder across Newquay Bay to Watergate – and when we hit the head high surf on the landing beach it picked up a set wave and cruised from way out back all the way to the beach in style. If you need an iSUP to work on a paddling programme, improve fitness, ride some downwind bumps and ride in and out through beach surf, the Air Rider comes recommended. If you need a dedicated inland racer or expedition board for variable winds check out the flatter version. You can’t fault the fit and finish of this tough board and its accessories; leash, fin, braze ons, it’s all built to take a tumble. This is a lot of product for not a lot of cost.
OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TEST:
Aqua Inc Air Rider 14’
Fanatic Allwave VNT 8’9
JP Foil Pro 7’0
Loco El Diablo 8’2
O’Shea 10’8 HDX
Red Compact 9’6
Red Whip 8’10
RRD LongSUP 9’8
Starboard Longboard 10’0