Lightwind Kiting Options

[Onda]

If you want to learn to foil, don´t try it in very light wind as this makes it much more difficult. You don´t want to focus on keeping your kite flying while messing around with that new foil thing. The wind should be strong enough to let your kite fly without really caring for it.
When you don´t go out in too light winds, you don´t have to care about relaunch properties of foil kites. They simply won´t drop into the water. The same is true for LEI kites. Simply resist the longing to try it even though you know better

[ScoopZ]

What is your riding goal for those 10-15 conditions? Getting upwind? mowing the lawn?

Most people mow the lawn on a hydrofoil and at my spot limited foot change ability. You could consider a 7-8 year old race board (North 69/RRD K race) or sector 60 at a quarter of the cost of a foil. Near enough similar upwind gains in these conditions. The bonus is you can progress foot changes much faster before hoping onto a foil soon after. I have a sector 60, dug it out of storage after years and i'm matching positions with the guys on foils in >10kts of wind. By modern marketing standards "it's a game changer"

Kitewise a 3 strut 12m is very flexible, as long as its not over built and its stable in lulls. I don't see the point of spending 2000+ on a foil kite if yet to master the basic manoeuvres.

[ice1969]

If you want to learn to foil, don´t try it in very light wind as this makes it much more difficult. You don´t want to focus on keeping your kite flying while messing around with that new foil thing. The wind should be strong enough to let your kite fly without really caring for it.
When you don´t go out in too light winds, you don´t have to care about relaunch properties of foil kites. They simply won´t drop into the water. The same is true for LEI kites. Simply resist the longing to try it even though you know better

It'll be hard to resist, especially if I have the gear, but I'll do my best. Thanks for this good advice!

[ice1969]

What is your riding goal for those 10-15 conditions? Getting upwind? mowing the lawn?

Most people mow the lawn on a hydrofoil and at my spot limited foot change ability. You could consider a 7-8 year old race board (North 69/RRD K race) or sector 60 at a quarter of the cost of a foil. Near enough similar upwind gains in these conditions. The bonus is you can progress foot changes much faster before hoping onto a foil soon after. I have a sector 60, dug it out of storage after years and i'm matching positions with the guys on foils in >10kts of wind. By modern marketing standards "it's a game changer"

Kitewise a 3 strut 12m is very flexible, as long as its not over built and its stable in lulls. I don't see the point of spending 2000+ on a foil kite if yet to master the basic manoeuvres.

Getting and staying upwind would be ideal. I love the feeling of flying across the water. This seems like a great suggestion, too, as I don't have the jibing/gybing/foot changing skills yet. Especially facing the purchase of new(er) kites, I'd be happy to postpone the hydrofoil purchase for a bit longer yet.

[ice1969]

A couple video links you might enjoy:

https://youtu.be/md6HhZ4pmNw

https://youtu.be/nGrJSRvffcU

https://youtu.be/Tcf5Jllo7P8

Looks like a ton of fun! Thanks for sharing these!

[Dave_5280]

These guys have good lesson videos:

https://www.progression.me/player/colle ... collection

[ice1969]

These guys have good lesson videos:

https://www.progression.me/player/colle ... collection

Thank for this recommendation!

[Archer77]

this too is super!