The comparatively new water label Tahe emerged in 2021 from the merger of the outdoor brand Tahe and the water sports brand Bic. The Aria Air 6'2 model with a volume of 140 litres is primarily intended to give beginners an easy start to wingfoiling.
On land:
With a retail price of 1099 euros, the Tahe Aria Air is within the normal range, as is its weight of 8.21 kilos (WING measurement). The length of 188 centimetres (6'2) is moderate. A non-slip pad has been glued to the deck. The scope of delivery includes three foot straps with moderate padding, but which score points with solid double screw connections. A bag, a repair kit and a matching leash and pump are also included. There is a large carbon plate in the underwater hull, which can hold the foil and also has a handle for carrying the board. A glued-on rubber edge at the rear is designed to prevent the round edges of the inflatable board from getting too tight during the planing phase.
We also present this board on our YouTube channel. Click in!
On the water:
The Tahe Aria Air is stable on the fairly wide deck, and even heavy riders (>80kg) have enough stability on the Tahe Aria Air to make their first attempts at flying - with a little practice. During the start-up phase, the Aria Air has pleasingly little drag, and even with a passive riding style, the pull of the wing is converted into speed above average for an inflatable concept, so that nothing stands in the way of a relaxed take-off. The position of the foil box is suitable for mounting most foils on the market - we used foils from RRD (Blaze 1850, Dynamic Alu 1700) and the Axis HPS 980 with a surface area of 1300 cm2 for the test. The standing position on deck also fits well, but the straps are quite wide, which means that small feet get a little less support in "barefoot mode".
In the air, the board hangs comfortably on the foot and feels quite compact, but the round edges and wide nose produce noticeable resistance when unintentionally touching down. On the other hand, the wide deck offers plenty of space for manoeuvres, providing a suitable platform for those who want to learn their first jibes, turns and foil manoeuvres such as 360s. Thanks to the acceptable weight of the board, you can even do your first jumps. Another positive aspect is that the board is not spongy even under the feet of heavy wingers (>85 kilos), but is always sufficiently stiff.
Tahe Aria Air - the conclusion:
The Tahe Aria Air is a well-equipped, stiff wingboard for beginners and intermediates. It provides a lot of safety and gets up to speed well above average for an inflatable. From the first take-off to foil manoeuvres such as jibes and 360s, the board is a good companion. If you are a more ambitious foiler and also want to hone your jumps and first freestyle tricks, the concept, which is designed more for intermediates, may quickly become a little too clunky.
Equipment, gliding
Loops quite wide
