Foil board or big kite for light winds?

[NHKitesurfer]

I am at a cross roads trying to decide between a foil board or big kite for the light wind days we experience during the summer months. My largest kite is a 12m and I weigh 205# - the kite gets me going when it's blowing close to 15 using a big board. I'd like to get out on the days when it's blowing less than 15 and need to decide which will be best.

It seems like everyone is going to the foil boards these days but its not that simple for me. The place I frequent the most in the summer is a bay and has shallow water and the foil may be a nightmare. It would be great in the deeper water ocean but the wind has to come from the right direction to make that work.

The other fly in the ointment is I snowkite and a big 18m kite would be nice on the light wind days.

What are others thinking? Have any of you been in the same situation as me? Did you say F%$# it and just buy both?

[IanNJ]

I used to live in Greenland by the hampton inlet and kited there often. You could use a foil there at high tide. And in the deeper part a tAd north...on NE and SE days you can ride the ocean. I am 198lbs as of yeater day

I use a 12m and LF foil board in 10-14mph... I have no issues with lack of power... I posted a thee part series of the learning curve for guys who can ride and are curious about the learning curve http://newjerseykiteboarding.com/kiteboarding-reviews

[revhed]

Did you say F%$# it and just buy both?

YES!
Life is short, play hard, often!
KBHFing will give you a great challenge and the payoff is HUGE!
Do your research before you invest.
R H

[deniska]

It seems to boil down to your style preference..
90% of people I see on those foil boards tend to just mow the lawn, looking cool, floating above water in 10kts with a 9 meter kite.
With a big kite you can still do some boosting (not high but with decent airtime), learn / practice hooked or unhooked tricks, etc. All done in very safe environment - low wind and slow kite.
I tried my first back roll, front roll, board grab, dark slide, aerial downloop transition and unhooking on Zephyr (most in 10-13kts wind).

[Johhnn]

Foilboard.

I'm 175 and never use larger than a 12 m foil kite. If the kite just barely hangs in the air, it's enough. You will have plenty to learn and enjoy as you work on foilboarding.

And Revhed's got it: just keep accumulating gear. It's all good and life is short.

[senorparker]

Since the desire to snowkite is one of your criteria, I would get a big kite. I added a 17m to my quiver at the beginning of last winter. It has doubled my amount of snowkite days.

[Bille]

How about , going for a Large kite ; then going and Building your own foil-board ?
There are plenty of directions on the foil forum to make your own hydrofoil
with good probable odds for success .

Or "Used" both ; i seen some Good deals on used stuff !!

@ Johhnn

...

I'm 175 and never use larger than a 12 m foil kite. If the kite just barely hangs in the air, it's enough. You will have plenty to learn and enjoy as you work on foilboarding.

...

There is a BIG difference between 175-Lb , and 205-Lb ; i also weigh
205.


Bille

[tkettlepoint]

will let you know I have a 7m,10,12m on its way and will be riding a foil this spring. And like bill said I also in the 200+ range.

Last year 14m and my light wind board. ( directional custom) I could ride in fresh water not salt water in 10knots, having fun in 12knots. this year my goal is 6-8knots on a 12m with a foil. I will have lines from 16-28m long also , my quiver will me a 7m-10m-12m

If my foil doesn't work I'll just make a fatter wing for it for lighter wind.

Terrie
www.jellyfishboards.com

[POACHER]

Big kite is my vote.

Today's 15m or 17/18m light wind specific inflatables are excellent.

[nicor]

I say big kite too. At your weight it has some usable range. I'm about 178 and my 17m was good to about 8-15 knots. But really uncomfortable any higher.

Foils looks cool , but tricky, also kinda awkward to transport. They always have broken down unless you got a truck