Jackson with Rebel, Evo or Soul for Beginner?

[apollo4000]

I have a Shinn Jackson and choice of 5-line Rebel, Evo and Soul kites. Let’s say they’re all same size.

First outing...with Rebel..kite kept falling out the sky on a reasonably windy day. Wasn’t expecting that. Pain in the arse when trying focus on riding the Jackson.

If I go out tomorrow, which kite should I take? Which will be easier to handle as a beginner in your opinion? Don’t say none as I’m avoiding buying more kit.

[phlow]

I was a 5 line Rebel guy , very loyal since the kite was first introduced in 2007. I used my quivers of Rebels to learn to foil. Due to technique and the fact that you will be foiling in marginal winds so often, I wrapped my 5th line more in 6 months than I did in the 10 years prior. I switched to 4 line NEO's which are great kites. As much as it pains me to say it, Flysurfer SOUL will be your best bet of that bunch.

[Foil]

definitely not the 5 line kite, as a beginner I ran into my lines quite a few times, had the board fly up into the lines I think twice or tree times, and the most scary by far dropped down a wave face and fell forward with the board going over the top of me and landing in the flipping lines with more waves about to push me into the lines and foil.
it was bad enough with 4 lines, so so scary, 5 lines would have been truly dangerous.

[cglazier]

All three are very nice kites.
I'd agree that the 4 line Rebel is preferable over the old 5 line ones.
If you want the kite that stays in the air best in light winds then the Soul is your choice.
But really you can learn to hydrofoil with any of them.


CG

[Kitetwin-1]

My advice is to give the wave kite a go. I switched to all wave kites last year (cab drifters) couldn’t be happier.

[elguapo]

i'd pick the soul...

while i like wave style kites for foiling..for learning you'll appreciate the upwind ability of the soul.
....especially while body dragging back to your board after your 1st superman crash.

[Kamikuza]

After I could get on the board, I learned on a 12m Speed 3, then switched to a 10m Crossbow.

The foil kite was actually better than I thought it would be, and I only remember having to swim/float in to shore onceor twice due to the wind droppindon't remember sticking it in the water and being unable to relaunch. Even learning to gybe was ok.

So I'd go with the Soul too, if you're good at foil kites.

PS plus one to Drifters. Good for fun foiling.

[Cefirmeza]

All three are very nice kites.
I'd agree that the 4 line Rebel is preferable over the old 5 line ones.
If you want the kite that stays in the air best in light winds then the Soul is your choice.
But really you can learn to hydrofoil with any of them.


CG

What is the low end for the 10m soul?
Considering my 63kg is this size more apropriate for the lightest winds or a 12m would give me a few more knots?
Above 12 knots I use a 9m wave kite.

[andylc]

12m Soul will get me twin tip riding (65kg) from less than 10 knots. Even the 8m Soul from 14-15 knots. I would think 10m would be the largest size you'd need, maybe even 8m for foiling.

[Peter_Frank]

12m Soul will get me twin tip riding (65kg) from less than 10 knots. Even the 8m Soul from 14-15 knots. I would think 10m would be the largest size you'd need, maybe even 8m for foiling.

I think you are right, the 10 m2 Soul for 63 kg should work as a marginal wind kite that is still fun, so no reason to go bigger when you dont race, with your weight

Low end for you, not now but later when loads of experience and you can handle difficult low end conditions when riding, should be around 6 knots with the 10 m2 Soul, would be my estimate

You could maybe go an infinitisimal tad lower with a bigger kite, but the price is extremely high in my experience, super slow turning kites, and you get overpowered in just a tiny fart.

Peter