Recently bought an airush 05/06 switch 150*43 board and have had several sessions on it, here is my background and stats. 70 kilos, intermediate rider, into second season riding all last season a 160*38 directional from Cabrinha called the spoiler as my beginner but more surf orientated board and now also ride the switch for light wind days and an 05 underground flex 122 when the conditions are right (awesome board btw), so anyhow that’s were I get my comparison from.

As was stated bought the switch for light winds as my 160 is actually a narrow board with the rocker all the way from tip to tip ,very flexy for going over the breaks and sharp edges for the carves. Hmm which board was I reviewing again.. oh yes back to the switch.

The impetus to buy the switch came from being down the beach on a light wind day and another dude was riding an airush exile with his 10 meter halo and cruising along while I struggled on my 160 and 16 meter. So dropped into an airush dealer and checked out the exile and then was shown the switch which was on special – it took me some procrastinating in the shop at the time to which board I should get, from first time on the switch the board feels very skatey and pretty much it is – at least compared to the spoiler, even taking in regards to the fact it has four fins on the heel side of the board and the normal two fins on the toe side, its great for just cruising, its a solid constructed board with little flex which is good for light winds but horrid for anything with chop as the legs take a beating. I have had some very nice cruizy sessions on it just going up and back on my 16 meter in winds as low as 10 knots and still able to go upwind. (As I got to the beach that day everyone else was packing up their 14,16,19 kites and going home) So it’s serves its purpose rather well.

Not too sure it would make a great learning board because of how skatey it feels and because of the fact it doesn’t like chop or waves of any sort which might limit a learners session to only the smoothest of conditions but after saying that if over 80 kilos it might have the flex it needs for a comfy ride.. Overall I am happy with it and it does what its intended to do although I do sometimes think the exile might have been a better choice for the few extra dollars because as I recall it had more concave (the switch has an oval concave shape which is probably why its so skatey), Had much more flex, was more wider and less length (would fit in the car boot) anyhow if your looking for a light wind board hope this is some help.

25 people have viewed this thread. Wonder how many were Airush distributors!