I've been thinking lately, after too many 10mph foil sessions where my 5 strut 12m kite has fallen out of the sky, it's time I get a dedicated foiling LEI. I really enjoy riding my 12m 5 strut kite with a twin tip in powered conditions, so I will be holding on to it for those low tide super shallow days where foiling isn't a great option for me. I am not thrilled about the prospect of buying another kite in the 11-12m size range just so that it is lighter for foiling. This got me thinking of how nice it would be to have one kite with a couple removable struts that I could leave on for twintip riding, and stash in the bag for foiling. I was thinking a three strut kite with removable first and third struts would be ideal. They would have their own separate bladders from the LEI and second strut, and could possibly velcro or snap on to the leading edge and canopy. I realize the fastening systems would add some weight, but the kite without the two struts would still be much lighter for light wind foiling than what I'm currently using or any normal three strut kite.
This would be a compromise kite for sure, it wouldn't have the greatest low or high ends, it wouldn't be the fastest turning or highest jumping kite, but it would save me the trouble of lugging around yet another kite. It would save me from a kite that falls out of the sky in lightwind foil sessions and doesn't flap like crazy in powered twin tip sessions.
Am I alone in wanting something like this?
Kite companies feel free to run with this idea, I don't need royalties, but I'd be happy to r&d it!