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Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

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naivhere
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Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby naivhere » Sat Apr 06, 2019 9:59 pm

Hi All,

I kite on lake Como and I want to start foiling; the conditions are usually between 10-20 kts (6-10 also not unfrequent) and the water is flat and deep, so should be good for learning to foil. I currently kite with a naish park 14 and a twin tip (138 or 150) and weigh around 100 kg, I usually don't go in if its lower than 12 kts so that's one of the reasons I want to learn to foil, but mostly because apparently its amazing :D . I am currently struggling trying to figure out what equipment to invest in, I have read a bunch of threads but would love some suggestions regarding my particular case from those with some experience.

Board: The five boards I have found online within my budge are the naish hover 160 (cool that it has the twin fin solution); slingshot simulator and dwarfcraft (4'6); and liquid force galaxy (4'8) and rocket. I was originally quite convinced on getting the simulator but I've since read that high volume boards are hard to water start on and are really easy to outgrow, so I have started leaning more towards the dwarfcraft. What do you guys think? Would the dwarfcraft be too hard to start on? I guess it also depends a lot on the foil so..

Foil: Not many options in the low budget range I could find. I could only find the slingshot hover craft nf2 and the liquid force thruster and rocket v2. Which one do you guys think would be better to start?
EDIT: I have also found a used Moses Silente with an HP560 wing, would that also be a viable option?

Kite: Should I start learning to foil with my park 14? The kite is pretty big but doesn't handle low wind that well, I feel it needs at least a stable 12 kts to fly and I would love to be able to get out when it's 8-12 kts. And when the wind is more than 16 kts I'm afraid of being overpowered, it looks like people are flying smaller kites in those conditions for foiling. Should I invest in a single strut 12m like the boxer? What kind of range would that kite give me? From what I can gather reading other threads the range for foiling would be 8-16 at my weight? My idea is then to get an 8m to cover the 14-20ish range and just use my twin tip in the mean time for those conditions.

I realize there are a couple combinations that may work, so I'd be glad to get your advise!
Last edited by naivhere on Sun Apr 07, 2019 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jonysan
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby jonysan » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:04 pm

Have you considered GONG kites and Foils ? good prices, check the videos on their website.
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grigorib (Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:13 pm)
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grigorib
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby grigorib » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:16 pm

4’6” Dwarfcraft would work great for learning and progressing. Alien Air has more volume and nose rocker scoop but it’s a bit bulky. Don’t do the simulator
Hoverglide is nice, especially if you can get it with Infinity 76 wing for lightwind and Time Code 68 for more speed.
A short, 24-28” mast should be good for learning and then you should absolutely certainly go to 36”
14m is a bit large but you should be able to learn with it and then you’d go smaller sizes, which you certainly would enjoy more than 14m

Read my guide here
viewtopic.php?p=1031386#p1031386
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naivhere (Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:21 pm)
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naivhere
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby naivhere » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:29 pm

Thanks for the reply! I have a follow up: If I do get the dwarfcraft with the nf2, what kind of range would a kite like the boxer 12m give me? Something like 8-16 kts? and the 8m?

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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby grigorib » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:34 pm

P.S. if you’re looking for the cheapest option - find a used 4’6” Dwarfcraft and 2017 Howerglide. Then add a better wing to the set.
So many people are progressing and throwing cash at carbon setups - “aluminum used” is a great option

grigorib
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby grigorib » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:35 pm

naivhere wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:29 pm
Thanks for the reply! I have a follow up: If I do get the dwarfcraft with the nf2, what kind of range would a kite like the boxer 12m give me? Something like 8-16 kts? and the 8m?
With infinity 76 the 8 knots would be doable with 12m
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naivhere (Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:37 pm)
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby MaximumAC » Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:15 am

I'm no expert, having learned in the last year, but imho use your current kites. I have wasted a considerable amount of time trying to learn in sub-optimal wind. Always valuable experience, but probably not an efficient use of my time. Learn in 10+knots...anything that keeps the kite comfy. Slingshot foils can be purchased for super cheap secondhand (got a H5 for sale), they're heavy as hell but durable. I started with a super floaty SS wake board and more or less hate it now. If you have any pre-existing surf or strapless riding skills I'd jump straight to something low volume.
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naivhere (Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:45 am)
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby Flyboy » Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:10 am

I second what grigorib & Maximum have said. The 4'6" Dwarfcraft is a reasonable starter board. The Hoverglide is a reasonable starter foil - cheap with a a number of different, cheap mast options. Start with 24" mast & then go to 36".

You will need a decent amount of power in the kite when you are learning, so at your size the 14m will be appropriate. You're going to be looking at going in 12 Kts + not 8 kts. Once you have mastered the basic riding skills you can start thinking about trying to foil in lighter winds & may consider other kites & foils/wings at that time. The Dwarfcraft will remain a good option unless, at some point, you decide to go with a micro board.
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naivhere (Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:19 am)
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby NYKiter » Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:12 am

grigorib wrote:
Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:16 pm
4’6” Dwarfcraft would work great for learning and progressing. Alien Air has more volume and nose rocker scoop but it’s a bit bulky. Don’t do the simulator
I second all of this advice!
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naivhere (Sun Apr 07, 2019 2:19 am)
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Re: Equipment questions for foiling by beginner

Postby Flyboy » Sun Apr 07, 2019 3:12 am

I would just add that for your first sessions you should be going out in 14-15 kts. You want enough wind that even if you wipe out in "unexpected" ways (you will), you will be able to keep the kite flying easily. The foil isn't "efficient" until you know what you're doing, so for the first sessions make sure you have a decent level of power in the kite. Not going out in too light winds on your first sessions will save you some frustration & self doubt. It's quite similar in that sense to the first sessions on a TT.


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