FS Sonic 15m First Impression

[HeavyLemon]

i weigh 70kg and have the sonic 18m it is remarkably direct and sporty compared to the lotus 21m and 19m.......its my goto kite from 6-13kts..........and from 10 to 13 kts you can get from 20 to 30 foot jumps depending on your skill level. Thats why you want the 18m.......... dont have the 15m but a 12m lotus..........but find i like it in 15-20 kts.........i will prob purchase a 15m for that 10 to 16 kts range. I can launch the 18m sonic in very little space if its blowing under10kts.......literally 10 feet from trees ........but above you need to make sure you have some space behind for sure. So i would say if your not concerned with jumping as high as you can in low winds the 15 will be fine .....if you want to get every bit of boost down low then 18m. Of course you can also get tremendous speed with a proper board. I have yet to depower my 18m as it has a large depowr range........but with winds over 12kts i prefer to have someone land it as backstalling seems very risky due to its power........i have used the safety to land it if no one was around. (any numbers to be taken with grain of salt, approximations only)

What board are you riding ? can you hold the 18 up to 15 knot?

[fogmeister]

i ride it with a door at the very bottom.....then mostly with a 146 by 46 after.........holding it up to 15 kts would not be a problem......i have not depowered it before or ridden on a small board. I have 3 friends who also have one ......they use the flyrace board by flysurfer......up to 18 kts. But you wouldnt throw it up in 15kts......thats only if 15kts comes around while ur riding in lighter stuff....then no problem. but to me it is a kite to get the best jumps out of low wind and get cruising at really good speed........if your looking to do more tricks and stuff then i would say a lotus 18m, as it relaunches better and is more forgiving on mistakes.

[fogmeister]

and it is true when you are on a board with no rocker like a door or raceboard or flyrace.....the acceleration is truly like a sports car......and it is so easy to turn on and off.....by bringing kite to edge or depower or riding towards kite.......then angle upwind and away you go. If you are on a board with heavy rocker then you ride like with a normal kite........much harder to get that acceleration out of it. Guys out here are getting 30 foot plus jumps out of it in 8-12 kts on on a flyrace........because they can build tremendous speed and tension at those wind speeds, with the dagger down, I can get about 20feet on my door at same speeds (but im not as accomplished)

[fernmanus]

One of the things I like about the Sonic is that allows me to ride a smaller board in light winds. Between 8 - 10 knots I ride a Brokite 138 x 39 free ride board. At 10 knots, I go to a 132 North Select. Most other riders are on 140 or larger twin tips using a 17m foil in 10 knots.

I have a 15m Sonic, but I find myself usually choosing the 18 or going down to the 11. All three sonics have excellent hangtime, but the 18 is just unreal.

[Toby]

For sure the Sonic is an amazing jumper...loads of lift and hangtime.

At the Airstyle Hangout in Ras Sudr last weekend Sonics won height and hangtime.
And they are fast...also won the races!

[davesails7]

Guys out here are getting 30 foot plus jumps out of it in 8-12 kts on on a flyrace........because they can build tremendous speed and tension at those wind speeds, with the dagger down, I can get about 20feet on my door at same speeds (but im not as accomplished)

Everyone measures wind differently, but as a comparison: I was out on hydrofoil and Chrono 15m moderately powered, and a guy who weighs 50 lbs more than me came out on his 18m Sonic and twintip. I'd call it 9 knots. He starts jumping 20+ feet and doing board off rotations I couldn't believe it!

[foilonfoil]

I'm totally overpowered on any 15M kite Chrono or Sonic with my foil board. I just can't hold on to the ocean as I build up speed. 12M Chrono and now 11M Sonic is my biggest kite.

[Toby]

Dave, I don't believe 9 knots. Further up must have been more wind.
If he was on a foil board.

[khaakon]

Q: Twintip foilboard ?!?

A: Dave was on a foilboard

[Mane]

hi,

there is a new test out on german gleiten.tv:

http://gleiten.tv/index.php/video/actio ... /page/348/

They are quite enthusiastic about SONIC size 15. Extreme performance, huge hangtime.. nevertheless suitable for the average rider...

What i found most interesting: they recommend it to the LEI rider as well!

cheers,

Otti