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Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:47 pm
by jjjlaudenslager
Again I agree with all tomtom says. Though I didn't realize the flapping trailing edge when I push the bar out might be helping during launch, the kite certainly is a mellow down wind launcher. So far I also have found no need for a 5th line. I just use the same 4 line bar as on my LEI kites.
Tomtom, or anyone, do you think the Peak4 flies relatively well upwind, relatively forward in the wind window? My impression is that the Peak4, 5m, compared to my Cloud D 6m or 8m, takes me upwind as well. Surprisingly good for a single skin kite?

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:57 pm
by kitexpert
tomtom wrote:
Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:36 pm
Use of flaping as aerodynamic brake is part of peaks charm. It wont be peak without flapping.
This flapping is not property of Peaks only but all single skin kites which are depowerable. They all flap when depowered because there is no such support in their structure to prevent it. Only higher AoA's which tension C-D-Z line rows will stop flapping.

Flapping has some advantages and disadvantages. So far I don't see it possible to get rid of it at low AoA's, no more than it would be reasonable to think that single skin foil kites will be water relaunchable.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:48 pm
by tomtom
I think upwind is similar to LEI and definitely better than Peak 3. I think i will use it as mid to strong wind kites where it mellow character will work for me. Lighter wind will stay closed cell domain and 5 will be my biggest. But time will tell. Also i still have no HF experience with Peaks. Just snowboard. But i think i can judge from it. About flapping - As you let it flapp, it dramaticaly increase kites aerodynamic resistance. One time i was riding in "wrong" spot - wind in direct downhill direction - worst possible combination. Just for fun - i go direct downhill - direct downwind. Impossible combination /think onshore wind and big wave/. And i just let go bar and let it flapp and it just drift like balloon. I want them to flapp. With every other kite you will have to loop shit out them to keep them fly... So extreme depower on peak means they sit deeper in WW - i think somebody mention that clouds works in same way.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 11:26 pm
by jjjlaudenslager
Love my 5m Peak4 so much I"m looking forward to letting it flap riding waves down wind.
Today foiling flat water in maybe 8 knot wind, on an 11m Peak4, was not fun. Plenty of pull to get going and then go up wind, but turning was PAINFULLY slow. Maybe a heavier rider on a slower platform of some sort in higher wind would find the turning better but, here I go agreeing with tomtom again, I probably don't want a Peak4 bigger than 5m for my foiling.

ps - I have edited this post to say a 11m was painfully slow turning. I and the wife thought it was an 8m when I posted because she ordered and paid for an 8m and we didn't look carefully at the kite. The 11m is now for sale in classifides.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 4:08 am
by jakemoore
jjjlaudenslager wrote:
Mon Feb 11, 2019 11:26 pm
Love my 5m Peak4 so much I"m looking forward to letting it flap riding waves down wind.
Today foiling flat water in maybe 8 knot wind, on an 8m Peak4, was not fun. Plenty of pull to get going and then go up wind, but turning was PAINFULLY slow. Maybe a heavier rider on a slower platform of some sort in higher wind would find the turning better but, here I go agreeing with tomtom again, I don't want a Peak4 bigger than 5m for my foiling.

Slow compared to what in 8 knots? I’m riding a 13m closed cell foil on 30 meter lines as it drops below 8.

“Stand by to jibe!”

The upside is there is loads of power and lift for transitions. In such light winds the expectations are completely different.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 2:50 pm
by jjjlaudenslager
Hi,Jake. Denise says Hi, too. We now live in Colorado but come to South Padre Island Dec-May. Would like to see you again. Denise would let you try her monofoils.

She rode the Peak4 8m [sorry, 11m, I have edited my earlier post] before me in the same low wind and, when she handed it over, said it turned too slow for her taste. Then while I was out on it she took the 8m Cloud LEI out. Comparing notes later she said the Cloud hardly got her or kept her going but turned way faster.

Oh, both of us accidently put that 11m in the water. Leading edge down. She reverse launched and I just stood it up on a tip a la LEI. No problem, but maybe we were lucky?

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:30 am
by jatem
I'm keen to hear more impressions of the peak with a hydrofoil in medium to strong wind.

How stable is it in dirty, shifting, gusty wind?

Our local harbour has a wind shadow from nearby hills, with a sketchy launch area where you step down a 5m tall rocky seawall to get into the water. The wind can vary from a couple of knots to 25 knots at the launch area. My LEI wave kites are very difficult to keep in the air, they overfly in gusts and backstall in lulls with the turbulence. Once I'm on the water, safely away from the rock seawall, it's a good time in the harbour, but the launch is super sketchy.
Is the peak dramatically more stable in this type of wind?

I'm considering the 4m for 15-25 knot foiling in this harbour, I'm 75kg on a 900cm wing.

Another option is the brm cloud which would hang in the air better than my drifters, but I'm not sure if it will work so well in the gusts.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:07 am
by Regis-de-giens
In my memory of single skin, you could get far better stability with dedicated foilkites like CA Pulsion or even better Wave (Sorry to quote these kites again, but they are so stable ! with more chance to recover them in case of hugge turbulence before they hit the ground) ; and IMO double skins are more fun/efficient during riding on water (lift with Pulsion, drift with Wave)

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:52 am
by tomtom
How stable is it in dirty, shifting, gusty wind?
You must see it to believe it.

But just to set your expectation right - 4 is really small kite and you cant really hold on bar with your weight - because such a small kite is easy to back stall with heavy hands on bar.
I fly it on 44cm bar - maybe even smaller will be better to keep it smooth in turns. I know its obvious but if you are used to LEIs with heavier back line pressure you must adapt a little to keep your weight on harness and be light on bar. It can be also heliturned without any pull, just like BRM clouds.

With Peaks there is also option to start from water Horst Sergio style.

I dont know if you are used to foil kites - but they require some lines - bridle management - to not tangle. For me it is no problem at all it is just routine but keep that in mind.

Re: Flysurfer Peak 4

Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2019 11:05 am
by tomtom
Regis - i did not like single skin either - but Peak 4 is different kite. Im using kitech FRS 9 in light wind and then LEIs. And yes maybe there are little more stable foil kites than FRS but its small difference for me barely noticable as FRS is already quite stable. Peaks are completely different category stable. Its put your snowboard on with kite in the air and bar off bar head down and fiddle with binding stable category. As you - i have no interest at all with Peaks - and i did not like other FS kite like Soul - infact i did not like most of foil kites and prefer leis.
But I must admit that i never flown CA kites as they are rare beast.