According to the manufacturer Ozone, the Fusion project was "launched five years ago with the aim of pooling existing expertise from the production of foil kites, tube kites, paragliders and wingsuits and taking wing design to a new level". The result is the Fusion, a wing model which, even at first glance, has a completely different design to other brands and models.
On land
The Fusion has installed an additional layer of cloth below the actual flying cloth. This is intended to prevent turbulence below the leading edge, which should result in unbeatable flight stability, higher top speed and better angles on upwind and crosswind courses. In terms of weight, this concept has no disadvantage on the scales - at a measured 2.74 kilos, the 5.0 size we tested is absolutely competitive. However, at 1999 euros, the test model is also very expensive. To inflate, you open the zip on the underside to gain access to the two valves - here, Ozone relies on the "Boston Valve", which has also been used on the brand's kites for many years.
Four small air inlets have been installed on the underside of the flying cloth, which are responsible for pressure equalisation within the chamber. Because water can also penetrate here during take-off and crashes, there are small outlets on the trailing edge of the wing where the water can drain away again. The two fixed carbon handles offer good grip comfort and are positioned correctly on the centre strut. The additional grip on the front tube is stiff and comfortable, but rather small in size. Overall, the wing has moderate cloth tension on the upper side. However, the profile is designed to be flatter in comparison, which should benefit the top speed. The scope of delivery includes a leash with hip belt and a matching rucksack.
We also present the Ozone Fusion V1 Wing in a short clip on our YouTube channel. Click here!
On the water
Anyone who fears that the chamber of the Ozone Fusion Wing will fill up like a leaking freighter before take-off can rest assured. Although some water does enter the chamber via the small air inlets, this quickly flows out again through the outlets on the trailing edge when the wing is lifted, so that there are no noticeable weight disadvantages during normal, rapid take-off. Before taking off on the foil, the wing with its flatter profile appears somewhat more agile and less stable in flight. It therefore helps if you already have some appropriate starting and pumping technique to take off quickly - the Fusion is not an absolute powerhouse for light winds. As soon as you are on the foil and the speed increases, the wing begins to show its strengths: It then increasingly stabilises, is extremely controllable and also nice and steady in the hand and takes off with considerable top speed.
The faster you get, the better the strengths of the Wing come into play
On the cross and in strong gusts, the pressure point remains as if nailed down, no fluttering or buckling disturbs the silent flight. The possible angles on upwind and downwind courses are also impressive, and the Fusion is very efficient in this respect. Because the handles protrude only slightly from the centre strut, the handling is very direct. However, this also means that you have to grip a little more precisely in manoeuvres in order to hit the handles cleanly. Keyword manoeuvres: The Ozone Fusion Wing also shines across the board here: The flat profile in combination with the slim wingtips results in very easy handling - the wing rotates quickly and can be guided with pleasingly low air resistance when manoeuvring upwind - so fast turns and jibes can be strung together in a matter of seconds. The Ozone Wing would also be predestined for jumps and freestyle rotations due to its high speed potential, but whether the chamber system can forgive heavy impacts in the long term should at least be left with a question mark. In any case, you should avoid longer swimming sessions and heavy washes in the surf - this is because the aforementioned air intakes allow noticeably more water to penetrate than in normal use on flat water, which is then noticeable when launching. However, the Wing is ideal for downwind sessions in the swell: it drifts neutrally and without any disturbing life of its own and its great performance ensures that you can quickly cross back to windward after the wave ride.
Ozone Fusion Wing - the conclusion
The Ozone Fusion Wing plays in the Champions League when it comes to speed and control. Anyone who likes to accelerate with small, fast foils, race with a harness or effortlessly string together fast foil manoeuvres will love the Fusion. As a wing for foil beginners, it lacks some light wind power, so you should pump the Fusion actively and with technique and, above all, use it with small, fast foils. The wing is absolutely great for downwinding in swell. Due to its design, the Fusion makes less sense in surf waves.
Top speed, upwind, control, manoeuvre handling
Light wind power
No window, suitable for surfing
