A forum dedicated to Hydrofoil riders
-
Bletti
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:13 am
- Gear: Slingshot Rally 10m
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
1 time
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby Bletti » Sun Dec 24, 2017 10:15 pm
Anyone getting a 3, 4 or 5m switch element 6 single strut kite for higher wind foiling? I can't decide which size I should get for 20+ kts. They are a pretty good price!
I have a Cloud D 13.4 and Cloud D 8.0 so i'm leaning towards a 4m Switch Element (depending on reviews) for a 3 kite travel quiver (with 5 and 7m kites to plug the gap when I'm home).
-
Eltreato
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:35 am
- Local Beach: Acadia, 3rd Ave.
- Favorite Beaches: Manzanita
- Gear: old junk
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
47 times
-
Been thanked:
22 times
Postby Eltreato » Mon Dec 25, 2017 4:23 am
No but I would have considered a 9m had they not designed them as 5 strut kites.
-
plummet
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 6819
- Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:25 pm
- Local Beach: EE
- Favorite Beaches: NZ
- Style: Terrain riding
- Gear: Old wornout ozone.
Plummet hydrofoil and mutant
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
11 times
-
Been thanked:
224 times
Postby plummet » Mon Dec 25, 2017 4:35 am
Under 8m I recon need a 2m gap. So 6m then 4m.
For me 20-25 knots 6m is ideal. I don't step into my 4 until 25+.
PS. I'm not on ozone not switch.
-
3InletsWindsports
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:52 am
- Local Beach: Shallow Inlet, Corner Inlet, Andersons inlet.
- Favorite Beaches: Shallow Inlet, Point Danger.
- Style: freeride
- Gear: Zeeko
- Brand Affiliation: Zeeko importer in Australia
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
7 times
Postby 3InletsWindsports » Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:33 am
Considering that once the wind is over 14-15 knots,
Any kite will not be so hampered by weight.
Then 3strut kites are no longer a problem.
So why not keep the inherent advantage of the extra struts when going below 8-9 m
-
Eltreato
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:35 am
- Local Beach: Acadia, 3rd Ave.
- Favorite Beaches: Manzanita
- Gear: old junk
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
47 times
-
Been thanked:
22 times
Postby Eltreato » Mon Dec 25, 2017 4:24 pm
3InletsWindsports wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:33 am
Considering that once the wind is over 14-15 knots,
Any kite will not be so hampered by weight.
Then 3strut kites are no longer a problem.
So why not keep the inherent advantage of the extra struts when going below 8-9 m
I was wondering the same thing. Why didn't they make the bigger sizes single struts instead of 5 strut? I will never buy a 5 in any size for foiling. That said I expect they will make Heliums to fill this void, though I have literally been waiting years for this and have since moved on to other brands.
-
foilonfoil
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 579
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:31 am
- Local Beach: Belmont Shore, CA / Hood River, OR
- Favorite Beaches: Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA / Benicia, CA / Sail Bay, San Diego, CA / Hermosa Beach, CA
- Style: Kitefoil
- Gear: Flysurfer Sonic Race, Core Section V1's, MikesLab Foil, Camet Boards.
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
2 times
Postby foilonfoil » Tue Dec 26, 2017 2:38 am
My only complaint with the Cloud was the trailing edge flap flap flap when the wind picked up. Without struts to help with stability, the trailing edge flapped like a flag. In higher winds I much prefer 3+ struts.
-
Bletti
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 376
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:13 am
- Gear: Slingshot Rally 10m
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
1 time
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby Bletti » Tue Dec 26, 2017 8:15 am
3InletsWindsports wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:33 am
Considering that once the wind is over 14-15 knots,
Any kite will not be so hampered by weight.
Then 3strut kites are no longer a problem.
So why not keep the inherent advantage of the extra struts when going below 8-9 m
There are foiling conditions where my 3 strut 5m will barely stay in the wind ( I figure I need about 17 kts to foil with my 5m 3 strut Switch Element 4) that the same size or a slightly smaller 1 strut or no strut kite will better respond and still give enough looping power to get going, thus the desire for a single strut kite. In smaller sizes with less fabric I'm not sure 3 struts are needed.
-
OzBungy
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 2757
- Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:35 am
-
Has thanked:
6 times
-
Been thanked:
220 times
Postby OzBungy » Tue Dec 26, 2017 9:29 am
I might buy a 3m. I'll wait until the the small kites exist and there's a bit of knowledge about them. I already have a 5m Element, which is very nice.
I have to admit I've bought a few Switch kites because they're so cheap and there is little risk in buying them. There's a 30 day return policy and the kites have been pretty nice so far. So far they have been very good.
Switch might have to bring out a short bar for the tiny kites. The Element 5 5m flies very well on a long bar. I just have to point the bar and the kite instantly goes where I want it. If I make a mistake I can get spanked hard. There's a lot of energy in a fast flying kite in strong winds.
-
max
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 653
- Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2002 1:00 am
-
Has thanked:
9 times
-
Been thanked:
11 times
Postby max » Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:18 pm
foilonfoil wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 2:38 am
My only complaint with the Cloud was the trailing edge flap flap flap when the wind picked up. Without struts to help with stability, the trailing edge flapped like a flag. In higher winds I much prefer 3+ struts.
Are you referring to the C5 clouds? Which sizes?
The D clouds are a different breed with regard to flapping . . . by that I mean . . . they do not
-
foilonfoil
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 579
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:31 am
- Local Beach: Belmont Shore, CA / Hood River, OR
- Favorite Beaches: Crissy Field, San Francisco, CA / Benicia, CA / Sail Bay, San Diego, CA / Hermosa Beach, CA
- Style: Kitefoil
- Gear: Flysurfer Sonic Race, Core Section V1's, MikesLab Foil, Camet Boards.
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
2 times
Postby foilonfoil » Tue Dec 26, 2017 5:51 pm
max wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 1:18 pm
foilonfoil wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 2:38 am
My only complaint with the Cloud was the trailing edge flap flap flap when the wind picked up. Without struts to help with stability, the trailing edge flapped like a flag. In higher winds I much prefer 3+ struts.
Are you referring to the C5 clouds? Which sizes?
The D clouds are a different breed with regard to flapping . . . by that I mean . . . they do not
Thanks for the info - Yes the C's and good to know about the D's... I will try a D out sometime.
Return to “Hydrofoil”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Baidu [Spider] and 26 guests