The Ozone Afterburner is a significant step above the Pocket Rocket V2 if your priority is speed, upwind performance and powered riding.
But for Canterbury/Lyttelton use, I’d choose between them based on how you intend to ride.
Afterburner vs Pocket Rocket V2
| Afterburner | Pocket Rocket V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-end power | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Upwind | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Top-end | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Speed | 🏆 Exceptional | Excellent |
| Tacking | 🏆 Exceptional | Very good |
| Gust handling | Excellent | Excellent |
| Downwind/swell | Excellent | Excellent |
| Stash/redeploy | Very good | 🏆 Easier |
| Learning/progression | More demanding | 🏆 Easier |
| Long upwind/downwind missions | 🏆 Best | Very good |
| Everyday freeride | Excellent | 🏆 Best |
| Canterbury | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
The Afterburner as a high-aspect, speed-focused parawing, with essentially the same low-end power as the Pocket Rocket V2 but substantially greater high-end control and upwind performance.
The big difference
Pocket Rocket V2
The V2 is the better all-rounder. It has a reduced aspect ratio, good low-end grunt, easy handling and very good upwind performance. Ozone has also made it easier to stash and redeploy than the previous generation.
Think:
launch → foil → go upwind → tack → go downwind → stash → redeploy
It's forgiving and versatile.
Afterburner
The Afterburner is more like a race/freeride performance machine.
Its high-aspect design keeps the canopy extremely clean and stable when powered. Ozone specifically designed it to go faster and harder upwind, while retaining similar low-end power to the PR V2.
Think:
launch → get powered → point high → accelerate → cover huge distances → massive downwind run
The Afterburner is particularly interesting because its overhead drive makes tacking easier, and its high-end stability allows you to keep pushing the foil when the wind increases.
For Canterbury
This is where I think the Afterburner becomes very interesting for you.
Canterbury winds can give you exactly the conditions where its strengths matter:
- variable/gusty wind
- strong wind pulses
- need to work upwind to get back
- harbour swell
- long downwind runs
- relatively high-speed foil riding
If you're riding Lyttelton Harbour or the Estuary and want to do serious upwind/downwind foil runs, I'd take the Afterburner.
If you're primarily doing shorter sessions, learning parawinging, frequent stashing/redeploying and general freeriding, I'd take the Pocket Rocket V2.
For an 85 kg rider
The 85 kg rider, I'd be inclined toward:
Afterburner 4.0-ish / equivalent size for powered Canterbury riding, with a smaller size for stronger days.
However, I would not choose the size purely from the rider weight. The Afterburner's exceptional top-end means you can run a relatively small wing and still have plenty of drive.
My verdict for you
If you already have good parawing skills:
🏆 Afterburner
It's the one I'd buy if the goal is maximum performance in Canterbury, particularly Lyttelton Harbour.
If this is your first serious parawing:
🏆 Pocket Rocket V2
It's easier to manage and stash, while still having excellent upwind performance. Ozone itself positions it as the "do-it-all" parawing for all levels.
The interesting part: the Afterburner isn't really replacing the Pocket Rocket V2. Ozone is positioning them as two different personalities:
Pocket Rocket V2 = do-it-all freeride,
Afterburner = maximum upwind/speed and long-distance riding.
For Canterbury riding both are great:
- I'd personally go Afterburner if you're already competent with parawings.
It better suits doing big laps of the harbour using the strong, gusty conditions and the kind of upwind → downwind riding that Lyttelton is good for. - I'd recommend the Pocket Rocket V2 if new to parawings, or doing more dedicated downwind runs, where upwind legs are easy to do .
