Flysurfer Peak 4

[Adventure Logs]

Got a few more visual impressions in which places a Peak4 makes foil kiting possible

Horst, I’m trying to decide between a 5 and 8m and am wondering if have flown both and see an advantage of one over the other. I have a Soul 6m which I love and plan on having the Peak for a travel kite and for those spots that are tricky with wind shadows. Plus the kite just intrigues and at its prices, why not.

[Brian H]

I think the peak 4 kites work better for lighter foilboarders 160lbs and down . I'm 140 and I can ride my 5m once it's a steady 10kts but it's about getting the kite to pull you up out of the water with a loop .

[Horst Sergio]

Horst, I’m trying to decide between a 5 and 8m and am wondering if have flown both and see an advantage of one over the other. I have a Soul 6m which I love and plan on having the Peak for a travel kite and for those spots that are tricky with wind shadows. Plus the kite just intrigues and at its prices, why not.

Hi,
I think this is about your individual demand, as it sounds for travel, the 8 m² Peak + 6 m² Soul can make sense. (20 m² canopy overall)
You just have to accept that you will feel a lot more of the often described cons of peaks in sub 10 knts.
For myself I would prefer 10 Soul + 4 Peak for the same windrange, for better (re)launch and boosting in the lower winds and better surfing in the high end. But for the costs of a bit higher pricing, packing volume and weight for sure. (24 m² canopy overall) as said depends on how much you counting every gramm.
Never tested the 8 m² Peak but would expect it to be to big for my 64 kg and my personal demands.

Have been very happy with my travel quiver which has been 9 m² Sonic², 5 m² and 3 m² Peak4 (25 m² canopy), good overlap inbetween and very good complement for all typs of spot conditions.

[slowboat]

I’m also trying to decide between 8 and 5 for my first Peak 4. Would like to use it starting at 11 knots. I weigh 68 kg and will be using a 1200 to 1250 wing. Do people find longer lines make a big difference water starting with this kite? I’m will to go as long as 27 meters.

[elguapo]

i've frequently used a 5m peak on 30m racelines as my "lightwind" kite....primarily b/c of the drifting and the peak4 might be the single easiest kite to keep flying during lulls.
(i simply accept steering it into water in lighter winds means i'm swimming)

and yes long lines do make a difference with everything in light winds...
my personal preference is for a small(er) kite on longer lines over a larger kite on any length lines


on those larger wings i believe it is reasonable to expect to be able to water start on either a 5m or 8m peak4 starting in 11kt winds on 27m lines..
5m will give you more wind range...but not as much pull as a 8m

[Brian H]

I was out today on the 5m in 8/10 kts on 27m lines and the only other kites out foiling where a 12m flite and a 13.5 cloud ,the guy on the flite did better than me but I did better than the 13.5 cloud . And yes i had to work the kite alot but i was able to ride. There was a couple guys that couldn't ride on 17m kite and twin tips . I've order 30m race lines and I will get a larger wing soon and this kite might replace my 9m hyperlink.

[bricedenice]

Great thread. Anyone in the 75-80kg range (170lb) also satisfied with the 5m (most of the reviews seem to come from lighter riders)?

[Foil_Adict]

Great thread. Anyone in the 75-80kg range (170lb) also satisfied with the 5m (most of the reviews seem to come from lighter riders)?

I weigh 185 and love my Peak 4 5m. Only have 2 sessions on it so far due to weather, but I think it will cover my needs from 10-18 mph. Super happy with it. Thinking of getting the 3m eventually as its a bit unsettling how much it flutters when overpowered(16+), but it does not really effect its stability or ride comfort. I think the sweet spot for the 5m is probably 12-15mph. The drift on this kite is such a game changer for riding waves/open swell that you can forgive a flappy canopy.

[Slappysan]

Got out for a session on the 5m Peak 4 and the wind got up to 16g20. First time using any depower with this kite. Definitely in the upper area of where I'd want to be flying this kite, the flapping becomes a bit annoying even though it still flies fine and could handle higher winds. Bar pressure increases quite a bit once the wind picks up too.

So with my big surf foil @ 75 kg / 165 lbs the 5m is perfect from 12-16 and can work in the 8-20 range.

[MaximumAC]

Great thread. Anyone in the 75-80kg range (170lb) also satisfied with the 5m (most of the reviews seem to come from lighter riders)?

Sitting at 169.2lbs this AM and I'm sure I was 174 by the time I got in the water courtesy of delicious fish tacos...Went out at 5pm and started rigging up the 5m before changing mind and rigging 8m. By the time the wind picked up I was pretty powered and was either cranking upwind to control speed or letting kite flutter a bunch. Riding a SS H4 surf wing. I haven't flown the 8m a ton, but my gut instinct is that the increased low end over the 5m isn't enough to justify the decreased upper end. I suspect I'll almost always reach for the 5m.