Lightest wind and still have fun

[abel]

I found that the lightest wind while hydrofoiling that I still enjoy vs. struggling with the lowest end is around 7 to 7.5 knots (lulling down to 5). Which corresponds to the point that I can water start with relative ease ( max. two conscutive kite loops).
Whats your experience?

[leeuwen]

I will ride down to around 7/8 knots but I think the fun starts at around 10 knots.
At 10 knots you start to have freedom in messing around and learning new things without to much fear of a kite crashing.
Below 10 knots a kite in the wrong position can easily end up with a swim to the beach so I am usually more focused on things I can already do.

[NNOwind]

yes it works but it is not beautiful. the fun starts at 10-12kn

[Windigo1]

Yep me too I agree in about 8 knots I can ride no problems and the kite will relaunch in the gusts. I can get through lulls with a bit of pumping if needed but 10 knots is more fun you have a bit of extra power to try things!

[Kamikuza]

10 to 12 knots is lawn mowing which I don't find fun, so that's my bottom end.

[Boston kiter]

It's all about relaunch for me. My 9m boxer will reliably relaunch around 11/12mph. So that's when the fun begins for me.

[grigorib]

Please state you weight and board, wing size too

[abel]

Please state you weight and board, wing size too

78kg, Moses front wing 633, 91cm mast, T40 board, Peak4 11m2 , 27 m (not including bridle) lines long for under 10knots.
ahh... and average Joe(-) hydrofoiling skill

[Jyoder]

Light wind doesn’t get boring to me, it’s just kind of a different sport with slightly different focus.

I ride a race foil and 15m or 18m race kite and light wind is super fun! Bombing along going 25knots in 7-8 knots wind, loading up a seat harness and heeling the board with a bit of leg muscle burn feels great! The weightlessness mid tack and acceleration coming out of a transition is sublime. But it took a lot of hard work to get to this point of proficiency.

I didn’t like light wind as much on my old slow surf foil and grunty low aspect strutless kite.

[Peter_Frank]

78 kg, different boards, 1100 cm2 Ketos Kruizer wing for marginal winds, and 1200 cm2 Ketos Kool for normal conditions.

I have fun in marginal winds 5-7 knots, for the very purpose of "just being able to do it" (or not) - and as transitions are difficult you learn and you get good practice.

In light winds I dont find it much fun, 7-9 knots is the worst wind for me actually, as you need boring big kites no matter if foil or LEI, loads of power going straight, but not much fun carving or in waves
Yes you can practice transitions and make donuts - fun in this wind, but still not exhilarating.
One could almost call it lawn mowing - but only almost, as you can carve and turn, but not freely where you have the kite follow instantly, or drift.

9-10 knots is the true really fun wind, as here a 6 m2 is spot on, and turns fast and drifts amazing - so truly fun both on flat water or in ankle chop waves or swells, you can just have loads of fun from 9 knots and up, whereas in less, not really fun.

In more wind you can rig down yes, but it does not get much better from this point - besides bigger waves and here we rarely have swell without wind

With tubes in this range, I need 14 knots so possible to ride a 7 m2, before I find it any fun.

Peter