GEAR: UNIK ARAMID 2026 & STRUTLESS ARAMID 2026 – LIGHT WIND REIMAGINED

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Kite foil

01 september 2025 0

Two new kites that turn the 8–12 knots window into a full-send session. Patrice Guénolé explains the origins, philosophy, and technical choices behind this double launch.

“Doing in 10 knots what you love doing in 25/35 knots is possible. But you need kites designed exactly for that, not just cool kites for cruising around. The Unik Aramid 2026 and the Strutless Aramid 2026 were born from this idea.” Patrice Guénolé

INTERVIEW WITH PATRICE GUÉNOLÉ

A new range at the heart of performance

Q: Where do these new kites fit into the GONG range?

A: This marks the birth of the Team range, between the Perf range (in Dacron) and the Team Pro range (double-skin Aramid). We kept the best of performance and reliability, without the ultra-innovative extras of the Pro Team kites. We wanted to make a bold move by launching two one-strut lightwind kites, perfect for showcasing the qualities of Aramid: extreme lightness, responsiveness, stiffness, and durability.

From freerace to fun

Q: What’s changed compared to previous generations?

A: The old Unik was easy, with a lot of torque, but not really trick-oriented. The Strutless was pure freerace. For 2026, we’re flipping the script: no more just blasting long speed runs. We want air time, send loops, crank radical transitions, without disappearing miles downwind. It’s about acceleration and then boom: full send!

This program is fun, lively, without the heavy downsides of long swims or painful postures. The goal is simple: in 8–12 knots, we want to do the same tricks we love on a twin tip in 25 knots. The same stoke, just with the right toys.

A program built for play

Q: What’s driving this new lightwind vision?

A: The reality is simple: flying full speed in 10 knots is cool, but after 10 years of that, you crave more tricks, more fun, more crashes, more laughs, more banter with your buddies.

Full-speed kite foiling on a race foil or with an overpowered foil kite is awesome, but if the wind dies or you mess up, getting back is a nightmare. Physically, it’s brutal too.

Here, we’re talking about riding like on a twin tip within 500m of the shore, going for one move after another, finding that strong-wind feeling. But with the chill, forgiving vibe of lightwind.

Kitesurfer: Thomas, GONG staff, on his Sway Wood Flex, Unik Aramid and FeelX bar.

Two distinct characters

Q: What’s the difference between the Unik and the Strutless?

A : Unik Aramid 2026: Single inflatable strut, stable central profile, strong low-end power, instant handling, tight pivotal turns. It’s the torque monster: lots of grunt, perfect for linking maneuvers, super easy relaunch, works equally well for foiling or twin tip sessions.

Strutless Aramid 2026: No inflatable strut, but comes with a removable fiberglass batten that cuts drag by 30%. Result: insane glide and massive hangtime. Less low-end grip than the Unik, slimmer profile, higher aspect ratio, but once you speed it up, the glide is pure magic. A kite real pilots will go crazy for.

Under the hood

Q: What are the key innovations?

A: Ultra-light Aramid leading edge (≈ 2× lighter than standard Dacron fabrics). Aramid delivers huge stiffness while allowing just the right amount of twist. We’ve re-centered the surface, slimmed the tips of the kite, and built short, thin bridles without pulleys.

On the water

Q: And how does it ride?

A: Direct lift, big hangtime, but with kites that stay agile. Clean loops, smooth and manageable pull.

The Unik pulls hard at low speed, with a very familiar bar feel and record-breaking relaunch.

The Strutless shines with glide: light, feline, slim, yet brutally effective in this new program.

Q: What are the ideal sizes?

A: For foiling, 9–11m² is the sweet spot. You’ll fly in 6–8 knots and ride solidly up to 15 knots. You can go bigger (12–14m²) if you know it’ll stay under 10 knots and you want extra power and hangtime without working the bar constantly.

Above 10–12 knots, you can also flip the script: grab a mini-kite with a strapless board and a foil for playful carving. That’s also epic, and these Unik and Strutless kites are even better at it thanks to their lightness and agility.

For twin tip, 12–16m² rides almost like a 9m three-strut in loops and tricks, but in way less wind. You’ve got the drive to edge and pop, and the centered canopy not only gives more hangtime but also more useful traction that you can turn into acceleration. Pure stoke while everyone else is hesitating to rig.

Kite foiler: Malo, GONG team rider, Fronteira HDCC, HM85 mast, Aramid proto kite, Ypra Freestyle front wing and Freestyle stab.

Lightwind efficiency

Q: How do they hold in ultra-light wind?

A: They stay in the sky incredibly well thanks to their weight and shape. You can mess around with the board without worrying about the kite overhead: it’s locked in and stable. You don’t have to do a thing.

And if you slip up? One downloop and you’re back in business. Their ability to recover is insane.

Q: What about relaunch?

A: From 6–8 knots, you’re guaranteed to relaunch. With good technique, they relaunch in any position, on the tip, from the back lines, no problem at all, thanks to how light they are.

Product philosophy

Kite foilers: Patrice and Thomas in Unik and Strutless Aramid test session.

Q: Why such a low price for such a costly kite to produce?

A: Direct-to-consumer = no added margins. We always offer factory price × 2 + taxes. That comes out to around €1,000 retail for these top-end kites. Competitors using traditional distribution would be well over €2,000, even close to €3,000, often from the same factories, with the same materials. Buying GONG is a smart move: performance, durability, low depreciation, direct relationship, and shared values.

CONCLUSION

Unik Aramid 2026: agility, simplicity, stability, easy relaunch, low-end grunt.
Strutless Aramid 2026: unmatched glide and hangtime, insane low-end, maximum freedom

Two different but complementary ways to turn lightwind into a truly fun playground, with distinct feelings and philosophies.