Inside of a Wave 4.5:
Benoît Tremblay has pushed the envelope for a tougher build.
For surfing, I apply the same reasoning. The CA waves works a lot a better with a board that can be used without the kite in the wave conditions (more or less, something like the less powerful and steep the wave, the bigger/more groveler the board has to be). The problem of most surfboards that are dedicated to kitesurfing is that they are too "radical", in the sense that they need too much kite power for my liking. I tend to favour surfboards that I can actually paddle surf in the same conditions. The kite only helps to get some additional speed that helps to jump sections and to ride longer + getting back to the peak very quickly (this is where upwind matters). In the upper wind range (the upper wind range strapless on a surfboard being larger than on hydrofoils), there is however no problem to go out with a smaller board for more strapless freestyle fun sessions (the need for lift is less than for hydrofoils maneuvers).Marc wrote: The Neo and the wave have nothing in commun except that they both are kites. I am not going to comment each kite but how to associate them with a foil. This will be more helpful.
The Neo is a kite that does it all, easy but efficient, with a good lift and big depower, you can ride it with a wide range of foils, freeride, race, wave, etc ... It works with little wing and big wings. No headache and very good to progress with, especially in maneuvers thanks to its good lift.
The wave is a kite for the rider who wants to use the lift of the foil to its max and then forget the kite, this is where it excels. Thus, it must be associated with big winds with good lift (like surfoil wings). In this configuration, this is fantastic, for a rider who wants to do big downwinders and surf the swell as freely as possible, without taking care of the kite with a big windrage, that's perfect. The downside is that it will be harder for hydrofoilers who ride foil with smaller lift and who want to work on maneuvers instead. One must have a good timing and be precise. In addition, with a wing with a good lift, the waves can be used in inland kitesurf spots (small lakes, big rivers) with an easy mind. The Wave is very forgiving and that could be a great + depending on the location one rides.
Here it is. In summary, it depends on what he wants to do with it but they are difficult to compare.
Hi Tomas, my wind range for the 4.5 ... it starts for me at around 22/23 knots steady (66 kg with a firewire sweet potato 5'2) and I have not find the upper limit so far. I haven't tried 40 knots + but I have been riding in 30 + without any problem. I have a 3m which I have not tried yet! (and we have stong winds in South of France!)
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