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I am 110 kg … Been using an Ozone Chronus V4 size 11 and an F-One Mirrage 1000 V3 in light days…
Once its going its OK…But…
I feel sometimes its hard to waterstart directly into the foil in marginal conditions…but really dont want a bigger kite.
Would a bigger wing do it? How big is still viable to kite on decently and have fun?
I know AR and thickness are a factor, as the new Cabrinhas Wingfoiling wings advertise.
So please wingfoilers and surfer friends, share experience kiting in low winds with wings not originally intended for kiting.
Thanks

The most effective way is to increase kite size.
Since you don’t want that, the next thing I would do is to increase the volume Thickness of the board, the last thing I would do is a larger hydrofoil wing.

Hawaiis wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 9:50 am

The most effective way is to increase kite size.
Since you don’t want that, the next thing I would do is to increase the volume Thickness of the board, the last thing I would do is a larger hydrofoil wing.

Really? Ok yes, once things are going its ok the 1000…but with a ramair high AR kite, in marginal conditions, after the initial powerstroke, these kites take so long to turn, that I lose momentum and fall…maybe your acessment of a bigger board would do it, or I am lacking the correct line lenght or tecnique…just thought a bigger wing that could cross to a discipline I am interested in learning later would be the right choice.

Get longer lines if you have not already.
Getting some extension is by far the cheapest way of adding low end.
Since the power takes a while to build and you run out of length some extra meters can help.

I have been using the Naish HA 1800 for low wind KBH (8 kts - gust 12 kts fresh water) with SS AlienAir and CA Pulsion 12 m and It's OK for up to 20 Kts WingFoil. 72 kg rider
As Hawaiis says it's all about inital power (Kite) to get up on the Foil

I prefer to be lightly powered once up on foil so use the smallest foil kite I can get away with. I use a 1500 foil wing and when the wind is light I use a 52 litre board. On the first dive of the kite I can get up on the board but not on foil. The extra float of the board allows me time for a second dive of the kite to get on foil. Once up no problem staying up. I am also in fresh water and in those light winds there are no waves to ride, just cruising. I weigh 80 kg. I have larger foil wings but for my weight I have no need of them for kiting as they do not turn as well and are slower.

Don’t send it, backloop it and keep momentum in the kite

Janus wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:40 pm

Don’t send it, backloop it and keep momentum in the kite

Why Didnt I think of it before?
With 30 m lines I am sure it will work…
Just didnt want a ramair bigger than 11…
New to foiling…not used to 8-10 knots conditions…
Any video to share of the tecnique?

Lamilu wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 4:03 pm

Janus wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:40 pm

Don’t send it, backloop it and keep momentum in the kite

Why Didnt I think of it before?
With 30 m lines I am sure it will work…
Just didnt want a ramair bigger than 11…
New to foiling…not used to 8-10 knots conditions…
Any video to share of the tecnique?

No need for a video, just loop it, forward or backward, very easy.
If you have never done it before, try it without your board just bodydragging - as with a good foilkite and longer lines you get a huge spike this way, so important you know WHEN it kicks in.
Just to be sure you wont get pulled over the board if first time looping like this.
Dont sheet in too much, it will kill the powerspike, find the balance point.

Lines 28-30 meter gives, IMO and experience, the best low end and still fun.

If really low wind, downloop the 11 to get up on the board, you get more lift from the kite this way, downlooping, for the initial "ass out of the water".
Once up, backloop it as said - to get up foiling as the kite keeps its momentum when going forward again, for a longer time.

Find out yourself what works the best, both will work great as long as you dont have short lines.

Regarding big wings, yes they help a lot.
Most say board volume doesnt matter, having a big wing - but this is not true in my experience, board size matters a lot.
Some like using really big wings, sizes they also use for wingfoil.
I dont like these sizes, feels wrong (for me).

A big but not huge wing, quite high aspect, combined with a bigger board and longer lines, makes you able to ride in the lowest wind.

But a low aspect wing is a lot more fun when wind is a tad higher, so you can turn superfast on a dime, when small or bigger waves
The loss in lowend having the same area but lower AR, is quite small though, so if you dont wanna switch wings but have fun carving fast - choose the low aspect wing as a "one wing for all".
If having this wing dedicated for low end only, go high aspect, gives more low end and awesome upwind which might mean something in marginal winds if not foiling all the time.

Peter

I can't bring myself to buy a board that's over 1m long, I just have no desire to go back there. I also weigh 100kgs and like smaller kites. So what's the compromise? For me it's a bigger wing for light wind and small surf fun. I have an Axis HPS930 for this duty and it works well. I have an ART899 arriving this week to compare, I'll keep one and sell one. I also have a HPS700 for higher wind.