Predictions for Ram Airs in 2020

[grigorib]

...

Check out how he assembled the pads/straps on the board. That guy doesn’t have a clue about many things, does he?

[jatem]

In 2020, a few people will use the peak 4 on hydrofoil, and they'll wonder why they ever put up with their sluggish heavy inflatable.

[longwhitecloud]

I saw the first ever one in the surf this year (first one I have seen for years anywhere), a flysurfer. It soon landed in the water, half an hour later was dragged up the beach after being submerged for some time.

Luckly the rider was wearing a yellow fluro lifejacket with the neck piece and whistle to keep them safe. They really looked the part out there, you just knew to trust they knew what they were doing.. no worries there!

Outstanding.

[cwood]

Souls now outnumber LEI's in our locations on most days. Almost 3 to 1 in most cases. With foiling I see more tube self rescues than with foil kites....may be the skill levels of the riders and their choices however. Self rescuing an 18 to 21 m foil kite is nasty, a 6 to 12m relatively trivial if you know what you are doing.

[foilholio]

Big foils have a lot of room to fill up with water.

[drsurf]

Once you've tried a Peak4 with a surf foil everything else seems so ordinary. Sure you can drop them and they might not relaunch, but they are easy to wind up and swim in with. Easier than a self rescue with a deflated LEI kite.

However I've only ever had the 3m Peak4 in the water. It's only happened a couple of times because it's so fast coming from other kites or larger Peak4's that you need to adjust to the speed and turning but then it's bliss. Oh and once another kite took it down because the kiter said the kite was so small he didn't see it!

My 5m Peak4 has never been in the water and it's my most used kite. Not only have I not got it wet but nor has anyone else who has flown it. The other 5m Peak4 kiter at my beach hasn't got his wet either. They are just so easy to keep in the air compared to LEI kites that they inspire confidence and in really light gusty wind they are the only kite that will stay airborne. The ability to fly in 3-4 knots as claimed by Flysurfer is true. With a LEI kite you'll end up swimming at that wind speed.

[cwood]

Once you've tried a Peak4 with a surf foil everything else seems so ordinary. Sure you can drop them and they might not relaunch, but they are easy to wind up and swim in with. Easier than a self rescue with a deflated LEI kite.

However I've only ever had the 3m Peak4 in the water. It's only happened a couple of times because it's so fast coming from other kites or larger Peak4's that you need to adjust to the speed and turning but then it's bliss. Oh and once another kite took it down because the kiter said the kite was so small he didn't see it!

My 5m Peak4 has never been in the water and it's my most used kite. Not only have I not got it wet but nor has anyone else who has flown it. The other 5m Peak4 kiter at my beach hasn't got his wet either. They are just so easy to keep in the air compared to LEI kites that they inspire confidence and in really light gusty wind they are the only kite that will stay airborne. The ability to fly in 3-4 knots as claimed by Flysurfer is true. With a LEI kite you'll end up swimming at that wind speed.

yes, the LEI swimming we see are "fall out of the sky" situations. Even the small Souls are staying in the air and if you can work em and loop em then the fun continues.

[downunder]

Once you've tried a Peak4 with a surf foil everything else seems so ordinary. Sure you can drop them and they might not relaunch, but they are easy to wind up and swim in with. Easier than a self rescue with a deflated LEI kite.

However I've only ever had the 3m Peak4 in the water. It's only happened a couple of times because it's so fast coming from other kites or larger Peak4's that you need to adjust to the speed and turning but then it's bliss. Oh and once another kite took it down because the kiter said the kite was so small he didn't see it!

My 5m Peak4 has never been in the water and it's my most used kite. Not only have I not got it wet but nor has anyone else who has flown it. The other 5m Peak4 kiter at my beach hasn't got his wet either. They are just so easy to keep in the air compared to LEI kites that they inspire confidence and in really light gusty wind they are the only kite that will stay airborne. The ability to fly in 3-4 knots as claimed by Flysurfer is true. With a LEI kite you'll end up swimming at that wind speed.

yes, the LEI swimming we see are "fall out of the sky" situations. Even the small Souls are staying in the air and if you can work em and loop em then the fun continues.

And that situation is just like Ive described before.

Light wind is the only option for some, I understand that. Personally, so many other things to do when is light.

Used to enjoy light wind tho.

Using a Peak, first, one needs a surf conditions. Second, one should be a skilled surfer. Which 99% of Euro kiters are just not.
I recon 90% of Australian kiters are not that good kite surfers on a SB, not to mention surf HF.

Of that 10% that kite surf with a SB, only a "hand full" can do a strapless trick. Any trick.

So, what are we actually talking about?

0.9% of foil surfers overtaking the World )when LEIs cant fly)?

Nor seeing that happening, sorry.

[grigorib]

Once you've tried a Peak4 with a surf foil everything else seems so ordinary. Sure you can drop them and they might not relaunch, but they are easy to wind up and swim in with. Easier than a self rescue with a deflated LEI kite.

However I've only ever had the 3m Peak4 in the water. It's only happened a couple of times because it's so fast coming from other kites or larger Peak4's that you need to adjust to the speed and turning but then it's bliss. Oh and once another kite took it down because the kiter said the kite was so small he didn't see it!

My 5m Peak4 has never been in the water and it's my most used kite. Not only have I not got it wet but nor has anyone else who has flown it. The other 5m Peak4 kiter at my beach hasn't got his wet either. They are just so easy to keep in the air compared to LEI kites that they inspire confidence and in really light gusty wind they are the only kite that will stay airborne. The ability to fly in 3-4 knots as claimed by Flysurfer is true. With a LEI kite you'll end up swimming at that wind speed.

I flew 9m Peak3 with 633 Moses wing in OBX last June when everyone left water and it wasn’t the first time flying Peak but it was first time foiling with it. I had it on 30m long lines which might have been a mistake and it did stay in the air - I know I can keep it flying in 2 knots, however Peak turning speed was horrific and I’m used to fly the kite a lot while foiling. Any suggestions on line length or technique?

[kitexpert]

And that situation is just like Ive described before.

Light wind is the only option for some, I understand that. Personally, so many other things to do when is light.

Used to enjoy light wind tho.

Using a Peak, first, one needs a surf conditions. Second, one should be a skilled surfer. Which 99% of Euro kiters are just not.
I recon 90% of Australian kiters are not that good kite surfers on a SB, not to mention surf HF.

Of that 10% that kite surf with a SB, only a "hand full" can do a strapless trick. Any trick.

So, what are we actually talking about?

0.9% of foil surfers overtaking the World )when LEIs cant fly)?

Nor seeing that happening, sorry.

Very true. When you read this forum you could think hf surfing with Peaks is significant segment of kiting. In reality it is one of smallest, niche of the niche.