Hi Vitaum, just another brazilian here...vitaum wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:25 pmI usually foil in a lake right in the middle of São Paulo (big city), which has the worst wind possible: gusty, very variable and very light... But usually the problem is that it ranges from 10 knots to less than 4...
So what I do is I self rescue, and as you said, I use the LEI kite as a sail to go to one of the shores.
Thanks a lot for your opinion!
I've been foiling in Guanabara's Bay here in Rio, where the wind ranges from 7-12k in the low season, like now. The wind here usually drops all of a suden when it looses alignment with the bay's opening to the ocean. I have Duotone Rebels (9 and 12m) which I've used to learn hydrofoil but -- as you might guess, have horrible low-end -- Ozone Reo 8m, Alpha 8m and Flysurfer Soul 12m (foil kite).
I'm 70kg and have been using a Rapina's wing, similar to Okes's Jandaia or Moses Onda 633 (as reference for other riders around the world). Most of the times I can foil in the 10kt range using Reo or Alpha, both are amazing kites with excelent low end. The Alpha weights just 2kg (!), however, when the wind drops bellow 10kt, I usually prefer the Soul 12m with a PFD. My furthest rides go up to Rio x Niteroi's bridge, about 5km in straight line, but we must go upwing to there.
My 8m Alpha can lift itself in about 7-8kt and is super-easy to relaunch. I can get going with this marginal wind but it's not easy to start. I think just an Alpha 10m would cover all my wind range for foiling, however, Ozone kites are not easy to find here in Brazil and new they're expensive like Cores and Duotones.
espero ter ajudado. Abraços, Renato!
p.s.: it may sound strange a Reo and Alpha, both 8m in my quiver but this Reo I've bought second hand, with a bunch of patches, for a dirty price and, even though, love this kite for foiling