Sonic/Soul/Peak - 8 and 6 knots lightwind foiling

[grigorib]

A question to folks who like to take lightwind as a challenge. Foiling in 10 knots is not a big deal - it's nice to ride calm but breezy.

What size of Sonic/Soul/Peak would you take for foiling in steady 8 knots? What about 6 knots?
Please also state your weight and choice of foil wing size you'd ride.

(Many mentioned that Peak is not a competitor to Sonic in pre-extreme lightwind wind range, but I'm sure many tried and succeeded in lightwind riding using non-race kite)

[tomtom]

Im able ride on 8m soul at 8-9 knts moses onda 633 / 86 kg

at 6 knts none of these kites are safe flyer so its hit or miss get in to the water.

[tomtom]

And i dont mean any of these kites as better Peak alternative - You need UL medium aspect kite for 6 knts

[Adventure Logs]

Im able ride on 8m soul at 8-9 knts moses onda 633 / 86 kg

at 6 knts none of these kites are safe flyer so its hit or miss get in to the water.

What line length are you using at 8kts for that 8m and what size board I think you need ideal conditions with current, swell, etc etc plus at least 30m lines to pull that off with a larger board. I struggled below 10kts on the 8m and I’m basically same weight riding the 633 with a Groove Skate S(110cm). With my Soul 10m it’s no problem.

I may get the chance to do some testing on the Peak4 13m to see how long you can go and I’m interested to see and hopeful of the results. I think sub 8kts you need a pumpable foil(don’t really think the 633 qualifies for that) and a nice higher volume board.

[tomtom]

Everything normal which come with kite - board no volume pocket 140 cm
Soul have HUGE powerstroke. I dont consider 8 knts as very low wind - and i think at 10knts soul 8m will be quite chalenging for managing its powerstrokes /it doesnt depower while sending/
I think all this end up in definition what 8 knts really is.

So at 8 knts Soul 8 WILL stay stable at zenith without any backstalling tendency at less than that it will start backstalling little bit.

I purposely wrote 8-9 so maybe 9 it is and then its not very different with your 10 with much smaller board. I definitely need board to start in this kind of wind - its not direct to wing

[tomtom]

Was there Peak from beginning? Peak is of course safe flyer at 6knts but otherwise you know my opinion

[grigorib]

Was there Peak from beginning? Peak is of course safe flyer at 6knts but otherwise you know my opinion

I'm pretty sure if one takes out 18m Sonic it would be rideable in steady 6 knots, but Armin flew the 13m Peak4 in 7 and I'm hoping to hear how low folks could go with an 11m Peak. Jeff Howard rides a 9m foil kite as his lightwind.
So any positive/negative feedback is interesting to hear.

[tomtom]

Yea for sure. I have no experience with paraglider sizes. Just kite sizes - biggest i have ever flown was 15m sonic. Very hard to manage at 6 knts. But bigger sizes are definitely more stable /static on zenith/

[Nem0]

18m Sonic3 + Carbon Pro Monsterdoor!

[Skywalker7]

My Soul 12 starts at 6 knots or 5.5 with a kiteloop on a surf foil 1300, but from 6-7 knots I am ok to go on a Moses 590 as well(I am 92 kg). For lightwind hydrofoiling I dont need anything bigger than a Soul 12. The Soul 9 M is also starts at 8-9-10 knots, and it is a bit more fun since it is faster. The Peak 4 8m has the best drift and it was way easier to learn the foiling jibes with the Peak than with a Soul. My Peak 4 did relaunch from the water very nicely in some average 10-12 knots of wind. Truth to be told the wind was changing from 5-20 knots and this was also the reason why the Peak was on the water. However I would not use the Peak4 8m under 10-11 knots. I dont think it is low end necesarily what is so amazing with the Peaks but it the amazing feel and the incredible drifting ability what is so much fun. Even if I totaly f*** up a jibe and just turn under the kite and leave the kite at 12 o'clock the Peak would drift so deep in the windwindow that is woul pull me through the jibe.