Most fun kite in sub 10 knots and a surf wing

[Tsachi1]

Hey there

Just purchased a 9m ufo , great kite , but it isn't so fun when the wind drops below 10 knots .
Looking for something fun to accomplish with it .

What is the most fun kite you find in 7-10 knots with a surf wing on flat water and waves ?

[dave1986]

Several kite options are available for foiling in under 10 knots.

• Twin skin foil kites (e.g. Ozone Hyperlink, Ozone Chrono,
Flysurfer Soul, Flysurfer Sonic etc...)
• Single skin foil kites (e.g. Flysurfer Peak 4)

The twin skin foils will get you riding in the lowest winds and will have the most power (especially the higher aspect ones). But the disadvantage is that they will have a slower turning speed compared to kites like the UFO.

The single skin kites like Flysurfer Peak 4 will fly in very low winds, and are relatively faster turning than the twin-skin foils. They will get you riding in under 10 knots.. but they won't get you riding in quite as light wind as the twin skins.

My personal preference for low winds is a 13m Ozone Chrono V4. But there is no right or wrong answer.

[bragnouff]

The main answer is that no matter what kite you use, it will end up being a different kind of fun than in 10kts+, and most likely, a lesser amount of fun.
Light winds will always restrict what you can do in terms of downwind ability, and wave riding.
So you're likely to be left enjoying fast straight runs, which is nice in itself, but arguably not as nice or playful as what you can do once there is a bit more ambient energy to tap into.
Point is, do not expect that a new kite will recreate the same experience you're having with your 9m in 10kts+.

[FLandOBX]

I agree with the previous posts. I use a FS Soul 10m for foiling in less than 10 knots. My challenge is that it's not quite as much fun as using a 7-9m inflatable in 12-14 knots. If I give into the temptation to "push the envelope" with the Soul in ultra light wind, I risk dropping the kite. The Soul is a great kite and easily relaunches in moderate wind, but relaunch is not a given if the wind is ultra light. Swimming in with a wet Soul isn't fun. But it's my light wind option and works well if you're content to chill and relax.

[rnelias]

I agree with the previous posts. I use a FS Soul 10m for foiling in less than 10 knots. My challenge is that it's not quite as much fun as using a 7-9m inflatable in 12-14 knots. If I give into the temptation to "push the envelope" with the Soul in ultra light wind, I risk dropping the kite. The Soul is a great kite and easily relaunches in moderate wind, but relaunch is not a given if the wind is ultra light. Swimming in with a wet Soul isn't fun. But it's my light wind option and works well if you're content to chill and relax.

I'm new to hydrofoil and have Soul 12m (2.3kg) and Alpha v1 8m (2kg). My wing is equivalent to Moses Onda 633, thus, it is capable to plane with any displacement. I'm 72 kg and, in the 8-10k range I can ride with both kites, underpowered with Alpha and confortably with the Soul, however, I usually prefer to struggle a little bit more and use the Alpha. This Flysurfer is my first foil kite and I'm still trying to get used in how slow it is. Plenty of air mass to accelerate. The alpha is more fun to ride >=10k for sure. It helps me a lot as I'm now training gybes as it turns much faster than the Soul. I think an Alpha 10m would cover all the wind range on my local spot and would probably sell the foil kite, even aware that it would help me to learn tacks...

[junebug]

You can ride any strutless or single strut 12m LEI kite in 8kn in flat water with a surf wing, but it’s meh. 12m kites turn slow, are heavy, and you can forget about riding waves in those wind speeds. I currently have a 12m Boxer (and Lift 150) for sub-10kn days, but I only break it out when I haven’t been able to get out in a while. I’m glad I have it, but it’s very limited in what it can do.

[bigtone667]

I went stupid big ..... 17m Cloud, AXIS 1150 and Naish Hover 155 board ...... the fun comes in keeping the beast in the air and pumping around on the 1150. Over powered to the blazes in 10 knots.

[Regis-de-giens]

doublon , sorry

[Regis-de-giens]

The main answer is that no matter what kite you use, it will end up being a different kind of fun than in 10kts+, and most likely, a lesser amount of fun.
Light winds will always restrict what you can do in terms of downwind ability, and wave riding.
So you're likely to be left enjoying fast straight runs, which is nice in itself, but arguably not as nice or playful as what you can do once there is a bit more ambient energy to tap into.
Point is, do not expect that a new kite will recreate the same experience you're having with your 9m in 10kts+.

Fully agree. My personal option for sub 10 knots is a 15m foilkite (light so not a Soul above 10m for a light rider like I am), and sub 7 knots it is a 18m foilkite extremelly light. I could ride a 12m but it is boring because lack of power/ effort/ speed.
So "my " fun in sub 9 knots is to control and "accept" the power of a big kite, and anticipate kite particular trajectories and timing to ensure smooth transitions in poor winds. Having a mobile small kite with not enough power is, IMO , easy but quite boring: you loop short at any moment ,ok, but in the end you get no real reward and acceleration sensations.

The kite turns very slow, ok, but it is your challenge (and pleasure) to cope with that , and then get enough power for decent speed on such flat water, learning jumps with no risk. Almost "another sport" vs 10 knots.

[lederhosen]

Kitech frs 12m is fun in that range. Great drift, rocksolid and turns fast.