Flysurfer Peak 4

[geron]

That is why a single skin hibrid (water relaunchable) with grate upwind and wind range is THE kite to aim for.,,

[ieism]

I've not dropped the kite all season, last year I did a couple of times. I don't think I improved flying it, but on a foil you fly it higher in the window and less powered so you will simply not crash it as quick. I've also not used my 11 as much, that is the most likely to hit the water due to the weight and slow turning in light wind.

In short, it's no longer an issue for me. On a surfboard trying to crank upwind kite skimming the water or looping low for power you could easily make mistakes. Not anymore. I'm much more confident going out to sea on my foil with the Peak now.

For foiling there is very little I would change.

[djdojo]

That is why a single skin hibrid (water relaunchable) with grate upwind and wind range is THE kite to aim for.,,

The better it goes upwind, the worse it will drift. Buy a Soul or a Spirit if you want upwind and range.

Closed cells will make it more expensive, heavier, and more susceptible to damage from crashes. Again, there are kites that already fill that niche, but they don't have the drift or the turning speed of the Peak.

I'm riding my Peaks (3,4,5) with an Armstrong HA925. This wing has the lift of a medium/large low aspect foil and the drag of a small kite foil. This means I can smash upwind even when underpowered and still be comfortable in significant gusts (because I'm on a small kite to start with, and the foil can go downwind incredibly fast to relieve apparent wind). Riding the right foil(s) with your Peaks will do a lot to increase range and upwind ability.

[geron]

Riding the right foil(s) with your Peaks will do a lot to increase range and upwind ability.

I agree with you, specially in the second part (a good hydrofoil will increase wind range) for single skin kites. The foil that I am using now is the W790 from moses. I bought the W1000 also but have not used it since I first tried it; I got the two wings for this reason about a year ago and the W790 was eassier to ride. I have become a bit better hydrofoiler in this year so, I will try the W1000 again, maybe I will find what you have (with the HA925 which looks very similar to the W1000)

When you increase wind range (and specially low end) for single skins, you can use smaller kites; and smaller kites have more wind range.
Since ss kites can fly in very low wind speed; the best hydrofoil for me would be the one that I can use with the smallest kites. With the Peaks, the lowest wind range (for me) is the wind at which I can get out of the water and start; so far, this has been with the W790

[ieism]

That's interesting. So what kind of foil would give a big windrange? I ride a 1250cm wing but feel overpowered pretty fast. At 25 knots it has a lot of lift and I sometimes cannot keep it down. Maybe I just need to shift my mast forward but I can find little useful info on mast position.

[Peter_Frank]

That's interesting. So what kind of foil would give a big windrange? I ride a 1250cm wing but feel overpowered pretty fast. At 25 knots it has a lot of lift and I sometimes cannot keep it down. Maybe I just need to shift my mast forward but I can find little useful info on mast position.

In 25 knots it is still possible to ride with a 3 m2 Peak4 yes, but you will be too powered from now IMO.

Using a smaller or faster wing, does not really help - as you will ride faster thus get more power in the kite (but it helps that you dont get so much wing lift), so using a big wing will give more range IMO.
And you have to shift your mast rearward if you want the wing to stay down.

Using a wing not too low aspect, can give you even more range with a Peak kite, it turns a bit slower but glides better so sometimes nice.

Peter

[geron]

(because I'm on a small kite to start with, and the foil can go downwind incredibly fast to relieve apparent wind).

Using a wing not too low aspect, can give you even more range with a Peak kite, it turns a bit slower but glides better so sometimes nice.
Peter

I am not sure if a high aspect wing would be easier to go downwind in high winds; if you are a bit overpowered... and a fast wing...? sounds like the wind range in downwinds might be less in the high end?
Maybe like Peter sais "a not too low aspect wing" might be best? (but also not too high aspect?)

[jatem]

High aspect pumping wings work great with the peaks in swell, and allow you to use a smaller sized kite. I have used my Axis 1010 with a 3m peak in up to 40 knots, and over foiling hasn't been an issue. The so called 'surf' foil wings usually have a low-mid aspect with a very thick profile, which simply creates drag, making them very inefficient (ruining your glide when the kite is not powered) and the thickness generates too much lift with higher speeds. I've just moved to an Axis ART 999 which is 10:1 aspect, 1000 cm2, very thin, and it's brilliant with the peaks. The 999 with ultrashort fuse turns well, pumps amazingly, goes fast upwind because it's so efficient and slippery, but can still slow down and ride with the energy of swell when you're heading downwind and the kite is barely powering you. The high aspect wings generate lift more efficiently at low speed, so they extend the low end of the peaks a lot.

[TritonFoils]

I've just moved to an Axis ART 999 which is 10:1 aspect, 1000 cm2, very thin, and it's brilliant with the peaks. The 999 with ultrashort fuse turns well, pumps amazingly, goes fast upwind because it's so efficient and slippery, but can still slow down and ride with the energy of swell when you're heading downwind and the kite is barely powering you. The high aspect wings generate lift more efficiently at low speed, so they extend the low end of the peaks a lot.

Interesting insights and 100% agree that the 3m Peak4 is a must have for riding the big swell you get with high wind speeds. If you want to take it to the next level with a small Peaks in high wind consider monowings. We’ve had some great results with the radical rethink below of a traditional foil and found no stab + no fuse = a mind blowing ride in big swell. The future of foiling... I



Rudy @TritonFoils
https://www.tritonfoils.com/

[jatem]

Are you using a peak in that video, you mention you rarely use the 4m kite?