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Sizes Available: Mast 90cm, Wingspan 54.6cm
Sizes Tested: Mast 90cm, Wingspan 54.6cm

Naish Says:

Developed by the Naish team, the Thrust KS 1 Foil is fast and stable, inspiring confidence yet delivering plenty of straight line mojo. The kite-specific flat main wing planes up quickly for smooth take-offs, and situates itself naturally in the water for a balanced ride – it tracks beautifully thanks to a rudder integrated into the stabilizer (rear wing), and moves upwind and downwind with ease. The long fuselage adds more stability, and Naish’s unique stabilizer adjustment system allows the entire set up to be optimally tuned for individual riders. The long (90 cm) extruded alloy mast can be retrofitted to any style box system. This deceptively clean design has dominated our side-by-side testing, and the Naish team of riders is growing every day as more people try our foil.

Visit for more info: www.naishkites.com/product/thrust-ks-1-foil

Tkb Says:

Of the two Naish wings that we rode in this year’s Freeride Test, the Thrust KS1 was the all-around kite freeride foil that plants itself comfortably in the middle of the road on control, speed and carving. Compared to the other WS1 low aspect Naish wing we tested, the KS1 foils up at a faster speed that is about middle of the road and is definitely easy enough to reach lift even while underpowered.

We found the KS1 falls on the stable end of the spectrum with regards to input and response which is particularly helpful when accessing the higher-end speeds of this wing. The tail section/stabilizer is attached to the back of the fuselage with two bolts that offer some room for adjusting the pitch of the rear wing. While this can be used to modify the amount of lift and dictates your foot placement and weight upon the board, we found the setting right down the middle to be the most efficient and balanced.

The KS1 with its high aspect and fairly flat camber feels right at home screaming upwind and making large carving turns. The mast at 90cm is the ideal length for an upwind machine of this nature, allowing you to point high and rail against the wing’s efficiency and cover some ground while keeping the wing in the water. The 4-bolt mast plate gives you tons of options for mounting to different boards or using a track system to dial the foil’s placement exactly where you want it. The aluminum mast and glass wings are both stiff and efficient and felt durable at a reasonable weight. If surf and carving at the speed of swell and waves is what you are looking for we recommend you try Naish’s Surf Thruster wing as an alternative or the WS1 for progression, but if you want speed, straight line performance and stability, then the KS1 would be a great choice.


 

Want more gear reviews all in one place? Read detailed and objective reviews on the 30 kite models and 33 board models that Tkb and freeride testers reviewed for the 2018 Freeride Gear Review Guide.