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What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

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grigorib
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby grigorib » Mon Nov 21, 2022 3:38 pm

lifeinthehood wrote:
Mon Sep 12, 2022 5:58 pm
….
Your 2.8 could be ridden with 633 in 25-40 knots. Personally I’d choose a smaller foil wing for stronger winds though.

In Gorge I get overpowered on 5m somewhere slightly under 30 knots and use 4m SST. Yet again, I’m 210 lbs.

IWantToFly
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby IWantToFly » Mon Nov 21, 2022 8:05 pm

purdyd wrote:
Mon Nov 21, 2022 2:45 pm
IWantToFly wrote:
Sun Nov 20, 2022 8:41 pm
Peter_Frank wrote:
Sun Nov 20, 2022 2:01 pm

Find it amazing you call 25 knots moderate wind :rollgrin:
Living in Hood River will do that to you.

The entire last week has been between 40kts and 90kts!

http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-52666.html
Remarkably steady for these winds. That is the Rooster sensor, right? I was out at Rooster earlier this season on my 2.8m and 1100cm foil in winds averaging about 30 with gusts close to 40 and it was pretty intense. Lots of TT big air, only two of us on foil.

Huib
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby Huib » Sat Dec 31, 2022 1:42 pm

I am (87kg) use the Cloud 2.8m from 20 knots and 20 meter lines. The 2.2 from +/- 26 knts and is a really fun kite
The 8m Cloud I am only using 1x a year. Is too big and too slow. I prefer the 6.2 with longer lines

beboun
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby beboun » Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:33 pm

Small enough ? : 0,5m2 with 2 meters lines.


Last edited by beboun on Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.

beboun
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby beboun » Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:37 pm

But in fact.....Do you really need wind ?




lifeinthehood
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby lifeinthehood » Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:12 am

Just wanted to update this post. I have been here in Progreso, Mexico since early Jan. The wind has generally on the mild side, 10-14 knots. There were El Norte storms every 1-2 weeks which would bring in 18 knot winds but there were also directly onshore and created big disorganized waves which made foiling a non starter for me, so I usually twin tipped on those days.

Now that it’s March, El Nortes are finally ending and we’re getting some pretty consistent side onshore winds starting right around noon, about 12-16 knots. People here say we’re entering the best 2 months of kiting in Progeso. In the last week, I have been able foil every single day. Coincidentally, about a week ago, strapless foiling clicked for me and it really jump started my progression.

As a result as finally getting comfortable on foil, I have been trying with smaller and smaller kites. I am shocked at how low I can go. In this last week I had two fantastic sessions on a 3.7 Cloud with 14-15 knots. Was able to use my 4.8 down to about 10 knots. Now I’m wondering if I might actually be able use my 2.8 if we can get a few days of 18 knot winds.

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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby drsurf » Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:50 am

Bearing in mind my weight is 67kg, it is amazing how low I can go with small kites. The largest kite i use is a 5m Peak5 and I much prefer my smaller kites, 4m Peak5 and 3.5m & 2.5m Hybrids. The difference in wind speed required between the 4m & 5m Peak5 is only 1 or 2 knots and the key capability required is to be able to get you out of the water. If the kite can get you and the board on top of the water, working the kite will get you on the foil. The marginal winds I'm kiting in are around 6-10 knots measured onshore with a reasonably steady cross onshore seabreeze.

I have been using a higher aspect SABfoil W800 front wing which is easier to pump and gives excellent glide which helps in the lulls. I also find that small kites when worked hard in a figure eight or looping give a decent amount of sustained power and speed to get up on a high aspect foil. 21m lines work well for me in a wide range of wind speeds whereas a shorter 14m lineset on small kites require a steadier wind speed with minimal lulls.

However nothing is perfect and last week on a day with variable winds I managed to get going on my 4m Peak5 in under 10 knots and followed that wind into a lull which was lower than I could keep the kite flying in, (3 to 4 knots). Once you're in the water your minimal drift has to be subtracted from your wind speed and although I could get the kite back into launch position, I just didn't have enough wind to get it off the water. My foil had taken off to the shore and a 250m swim was required :(

However the Peaks are quick to pack down and after I reached the shore I laid it out, there were virtually no bridle tangles, launched the kite and went back out in wind which had strengthened a couple of knots and had a good session. First swim of the season and completely my fault. Could have been a swim for most kites given how light the wind was. Lesson? Send someone else out first :D

palmbeacher
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby palmbeacher » Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:50 am

lifeinthehood wrote:
Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:12 am
Just wanted to update this post. I have been here in Progreso, Mexico since early Jan. The wind has generally on the mild side, 10-14 knots. There were El Norte storms every 1-2 weeks which would bring in 18 knot winds but there were also directly onshore and created big disorganized waves which made foiling a non starter for me, so I usually twin tipped on those days.

Now that it’s March, El Nortes are finally ending and we’re getting some pretty consistent side onshore winds starting right around noon, about 12-16 knots. People here say we’re entering the best 2 months of kiting in Progeso. In the last week, I have been able foil every single day. Coincidentally, about a week ago, strapless foiling clicked for me and it really jump started my progression.

As a result as finally getting comfortable on foil, I have been trying with smaller and smaller kites. I am shocked at how low I can go. In this last week I had two fantastic sessions on a 3.7 Cloud with 14-15 knots. Was able to use my 4.8 down to about 10 knots. Now I’m wondering if I might actually be able use my 2.8 if we can get a few days of 18 knot winds.
How are you liking Progreso? It is a place I'd like to visit. Do you feel this is a place you would go back to every year for extended periods?

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junebug
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby junebug » Thu Mar 16, 2023 12:55 pm

drsurf wrote:
Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:50 am
Bearing in mind my weight is 67kg, it is amazing how low I can go with small kites. The largest kite i use is a 5m Peak5 and I much prefer my smaller kites, 4m Peak5 and 3.5m & 2.5m Hybrids. The difference in wind speed required between the 4m & 5m Peak5 is only 1 or 2 knots and the key capability required is to be able to get you out of the water. If the kite can get you and the board on top of the water, working the kite will get you on the foil. The marginal winds I'm kiting in are around 6-10 knots measured onshore with a reasonably steady cross onshore seabreeze.

I have been using a higher aspect SABfoil W800 front wing which is easier to pump and gives excellent glide which helps in the lulls. I also find that small kites when worked hard in a figure eight or looping give a decent amount of sustained power and speed to get up on a high aspect foil. 21m lines work well for me in a wide range of wind speeds whereas a shorter 14m lineset on small kites require a steadier wind speed with minimal lulls.

However nothing is perfect and last week on a day with variable winds I managed to get going on my 4m Peak5 in under 10 knots and followed that wind into a lull which was lower than I could keep the kite flying in, (3 to 4 knots). Once you're in the water your minimal drift has to be subtracted from your wind speed and although I could get the kite back into launch position, I just didn't have enough wind to get it off the water. My foil had taken off to the shore and a 250m swim was required :(

However the Peaks are quick to pack down and after I reached the shore I laid it out, there were virtually no bridle tangles, launched the kite and went back out in wind which had strengthened a couple of knots and had a good session. First swim of the season and completely my fault. Could have been a swim for most kites given how light the wind was. Lesson? Send someone else out first :D
I'm 195 lbs / 88 kg with a Lift 170 surf front wing. Steady 12kn is the low end for my 5m Peak 4 (20m lines), and 13kn is the sweet spot for me.

lifeinthehood
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Re: What's the smallest kite you are able to use in light/moderate wind?

Postby lifeinthehood » Fri Mar 17, 2023 3:27 am

palmbeacher wrote:
Thu Mar 16, 2023 9:50 am
lifeinthehood wrote:
Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:12 am
Just wanted to update this post. I have been here in Progreso, Mexico since early Jan. The wind has generally on the mild side, 10-14 knots. There were El Norte storms every 1-2 weeks which would bring in 18 knot winds but there were also directly onshore and created big disorganized waves which made foiling a non starter for me, so I usually twin tipped on those days.

Now that it’s March, El Nortes are finally ending and we’re getting some pretty consistent side onshore winds starting right around noon, about 12-16 knots. People here say we’re entering the best 2 months of kiting in Progeso. In the last week, I have been able foil every single day. Coincidentally, about a week ago, strapless foiling clicked for me and it really jump started my progression.

As a result as finally getting comfortable on foil, I have been trying with smaller and smaller kites. I am shocked at how low I can go. In this last week I had two fantastic sessions on a 3.7 Cloud with 14-15 knots. Was able to use my 4.8 down to about 10 knots. Now I’m wondering if I might actually be able use my 2.8 if we can get a few days of 18 knot winds.
How are you liking Progreso? It is a place I'd like to visit. Do you feel this is a place you would go back to every year for extended periods?
It’s great for kiting. Food is good, people are super nice, and it’s very safe here. Not sure I would come back every year but only because my plan is to travel and see more places every year. Mexico was a good starting point for my first winter post-retirement.


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