Kite for 6-10 knots

[Kitemanmuc]

As a beginner you would easily become overpowered with the 15m as soon as you start foiling and building apparent wind.

At under 10 knots??

I think thats a good idea. Start with the 15m and then see how it is and then you can see for yourself.

[Pedro Marcos]

As a beginner you would easily become overpowered with the 15m as soon as you start foiling and building apparent wind.

At under 10 knots??

Yes

[Regis-de-giens]

Yes , depending on your weight but generally speaking yes ( especially if it is not a race kite but moderate AR). With my 62kg and moderate AR 15m2, "big" power comes from 8 knots.

[nikalaitzian]

It was 6-7 knots and i used my Epic Infinity 6G single strut with 27m lines.The kite makes huge difference but also the longer lines help to keep the kite up always.But you cant make a mistake dropping the kite.Buy a foil...Later i used an 145X45 TT and i was also kiting but just cruising.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFtAKS88dMU

[slowboat]

Not a big fan of foil kites, much prefer LEI's for foiling:

Airush Ultra 15m - working on figuring out the range, but around 6-7 it works.
Cloud D - 13.4m - getting one soon and will test. Guessing around 7-8 and up.

The super important part of all this is a board with lots of volume and low weight. You can have a kite as big as you want, but if you have a low volume board, you won't leave the water.

Hey pikovsg, it seems in previous posts, you really liked the Pulsion 12 for light wind hydrofoiling. Can you update us on why this has changed and now you prefer LEI's?

Thanks

[stefarius]

Hi Abel,

Tried the North Mono 15m on 27m lines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaT8XTxmtPw&t=1s

Also tested a single skin kite with a amazing low end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQti9yF5jaw

If you're looking for a light 12m kite. Try the Airush Ultra 12m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAyiOHXCjW8&t=228s

[Brian H]

There's lots of kites these days that work in these winds but what if the wind is straight onshore ? . My 12m strutless kite works at 8/9 kts but if the wind is straight onshore there's no way to get deep enough to loop the kite a few times to get going I need a kite that pulls me up right away onto the foil, I know a shorter mast may work but will a 15m strut less do it ?

[Regis-de-giens]

My answer for on-shore winds: foilkite with limited AR = almost auto-stable at the zenith ; I let my bar go on stopper and swim backward with energy (on the back, checking the kite but with both hands swimming) , up to have enough depth to foil (I just correct kite direction with one hand pull every now and then (about 20 seconds frequency).

[abel]

My answer for on-shore winds: foilkite with limited AR = almost auto-stable at the zenith ; I let my bar go on stopper and swim backward with energy (on the back, checking the kite but with both hands swimming) , up to have enough depth to foil (I just correct kite direction with one hand pull every now and then (about 20 seconds frequency).

If you're swiming with both hands..., how r u grabbing the board?

[Regis-de-giens]

Oh f*** I forgot my foil !!!

No, I launch it pure upwind before starting swimming and then re-pushed it once I reached again its level ; you can use a temporary leash as well.

Other more user friendly method but requires a bit more wind (still feasible in 6 knots altitude wind with a very light foilkite) : I lay front hand on the board (foil down), back hand on the bar (kite almost to the zenith) and I swim breaststroke with both legs almost in the direction of the wind ( like body drag but at higher upwind angle and I pull my kite instead of being pulled by it).
like this but I think i prefer foil down: https://vimeo.com/96927290