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Happy spring peeps,

I'm a beginner kite foiler (have been riding an eFoil for several months to practice for the kite), and I'm ready to buy my first hydrofoil specific kite. I'm pretty much set on the Core XLITE, since I've recently moved to a quiver of XR's for twintip boosting which I absolutely love.

Here are the stats / conditions I'm looking to use the kite:
Weight: 230lbs (104kg)
Target Wind: 10 - 15mph (9 - 13knots)
Wings: Quiver of Lift wings from 250in2 down to 170in2 (1600cm2 - 1100cm2). May get smaller wings eventually for higher winds as I progress.
Style: Looking to start by cruising back bays at slow speeds on bigger surf wings. May eventually move into foil boosting.

The XLITE's range in size from 4 - 12m2.

For the above wind conditions, my weight, and wings, what size XLITE would you recommend for a beginner?

Thanks!

my recommendation is to not buy the core kite for foiling..


you can do better.

I can’t speak to the Xlite as I haven’t ridden it, but I’m foiling on a big wing ( the Manta 76 ) on a slingshot hoverglide, and I’ve been foiling with my Core XR4s... First, I can confirm the XRs are not fun for foiling

Today I was out in 10-14mph on a 12m, and I was starting to have trouble keeping the kite in the sky, and it would take me a couple starts to get up and foiling. I’m 215lbs.

Most people ( ones that are better than me at foiling ) will tell you they only foil on smaller kites, but I’ve found while learning I need the extra power. You’d probably be good in the 10m to 12m range to start. Are you going to get more than one, or will you be twin tipping as soon as it picks up?

Thanks bkkite.

Yea, the plan is to twin-tip when the wind goes over 16mph, so probably start with just one hydrofoil-specific kite.

SMJ wrote: ↑

Mon May 03, 2021 2:05 am

Thanks bkkite.

Yea, the plan is to twin-tip when the wind goes over 16mph, so probably start with just one hydrofoil-specific kite.

I started looking into the xlite sizing and can confirm a couple shops told me to go with the 12m if you are new to foiling and weigh more. They apparently handle being over powered well, but don’t generate the most power when underpowered , so they recommend going bigger in light winds

I’m 200+ lbs and my biggest foiling kite is 9m. At steady 13 knots I can ride a 5m UFO. Main problem with lightwind is boardstart - being able to pull yourself out of water onto the board. Actually onto a wing in my case, since my board is 90cm long and 3/4” thin. At steady 10 knots I’d ride the 7m. I bring 9 onto trips in hope to not have to use it. My foils quiver is 4 SST, 5/7/9 UFO.

For your weight I’d do 7-10 target quiver, but having 12 for lower range you want to ride might be a good idea. Large board would help LW riding too.

Guy is 230 lbs and just starting to foil...... Gonna have a better go with the 12m. I'm 180lbs and would probably want a 10m LEI for anything approaching 10-12 knots.

All the: I weight 200+ and can ride a 5m in 13 knots is not really where this guy is at.

For sure things change once you get a couple seasons of foiling under your belt, but going too small at the outset is a recipe for frustration, especially if you weigh 230.

Yet even 12 is not guaranteed to work. It would be enough to fly but getting himself out of water would be main challenge. And the bigger the kite is - the slower it will be further diminishing ability to generate peak power.
12 and larger board would be a good start.

There is one thing I can add here with certainty, line extensions.

Without them I can't get going under 9kt and you have 35lb on me.

Great tip. Line length does loads to a kites range.

I wouldn't bother until you're up and foiling well in a bit more wind with confidence.

Pushing the low end as a beginner is another recipe for frustration!