Flysurfer Peak 5

[tmcfarla]

I’m on 14 m lines with 3m, and really like that length. It is a lot harder to start in lighter winds though, so larger sizes on longer lines for me

??
Why not use longer, say 21m lines, on the 3m and you'll increase its range significantly and make it much easier to start.

The 3m is nice and fast so the longer lines don't really affect its responsiveness. I only use short (14m) lines when a Peak is becoming overpowered or for additional responsiveness in waves as long as the wind is steady.

I originally had the 3m on 20 meter lines. I prefer the shorter lines. The tradeoff is less low end, but I like the shorter lines more overall. Obviously it is a personal thing, no right or wrong answer, but I’m happy to give up a bit of low end for the instantaneous responsiveness of a really fast kite on really short lines.

[drsurf]

I've had the full range of Peak5 kites in stock for a couple of weeks now, (should have been here in December)
Anyway my favourite sizes, the 2.5m, (previously 3m in Peak4), and 4m have stayed in their bags as the wind has not cooperated and I was doubtful there would be enough wind at the end of this season to test the smaller kites.

However today was the day I'd been waiting for, a forecast of a decent sea breeze maybe over 20 knots!
When I got to the beach the wind was gusting to 13 knots on my hand held wind meter. Thinking it's got to be more out on the water I optimistically rigged the 2.5m Peak5 on 21m lines while others on the beach rigged 8-9m LEI kites for foiling, 12m LEI's for TT and surfboards and 4m-6m wingdings. For my stats I weigh 65kg and am using a Moses/SABfoil 679 front wing of 990 sq cm.

I hot launched the 2.5m Peak5, which looked like a trainer kite on the beach, and even smaller in the air! It was fast as expected and seemed to have enough power to get me onto the foil. When I got out to deep water the wind seemed to have dropped a bit but I was able pop up onto the foil with relative ease and foil further offshore to where I hoped the wind would be better which it was. It never felt like the wind picked up as much as forecast but I never had a problem staying on the foil even in the lulls. Checking the two live wind report stations within 5km after the session they indicated an average wind speed of 12-15 knots with gusts to 18 knots throughout the afternoon.

So how was 2.5m, the smallest kite on the beach apart from some trainer and toy kites? Amazingly good
I think I could have got by with the 4m Peak5 which I'm yet to foil with, (maybe tomorrow?). But I like to use the smallest kite I can so I can ride the foil more than be dragged by the kite. Some of the time I was sining the kite through the lulls but I had no problem going upwind and then riding the small wind swells back down through the Easter holiday crowd of kitesurfers, wingers and a couple of sailboarders who were vigorously mowing the lawn with the occasional collision. I was able to outpace most of the kitesurfers and other foilers across the wind even with my tiny kite. Granted none of us are top tier wind sports people

And the difference between the new 2.5m Peak5 and the previous 3m Peak4 kite? Not massively different. It's a bit hard to compare exactly after just one session with one kite but I'd say the differences were, the 2.5m Peak5 was faster and more responsive, (no surprise as it's smaller).
The 2.5m required a bit more attention in lulls as I had quite a bit of backstall set into the depower adjustment and it could stall if sheeted in underpowered. Easy to manage and to be expected with a smaller kite
Better gust handling with the 2.5m, once again it's smaller so should be better, but it felt like it ran a bit closer to the edge of the window and I never used much depower when the wind was stronger except downwind foiling. Upwind felt a little better.
No noticeable flapping even depowered. This was never really a problem with my 3m Peak4 though as it's more of a technique issue except in ridiculously high wind.
Drift is of course fantastic though the Peak5 feels more responsive to turning when using some depower.

Need more time on these Peak5 kites to really feel the difference. But if you have Peak4 kites they're still good The Peak5 is a little better in my testing so far and the characteristics which have made the Peak kites so good for foiling are now even better.

[martrench]

Got in my first foiling session with a 6m Peak 5 yesterday.

Was out first on 10m Soul V2, then came in and switched to the 6m Peak.

The drift is really awesome with the Peak, unlike the Soul, I could almost go directly downwind and the Peak just stayed in the sky...

I used my Infinity XX bar with 17m lines.

I had to adjust my water starts a bit when I switched to the Peak - guess I was relying on the Soul's lift to pop me up directly onto foil.

Very impressed with the Peak!

[martrench]

Winds were too strong for my 6m Peak 5 yesterday but I still wanted to foil with it. I dropped down from 17m to 12m lines. Tamed down the flapping and was fun to try with such short lines. Not optimal, but don't have smaller Peaks yet...

[Fatso]

Winds were too strong for my 6m Peak 5 yesterday but I still wanted to foil with it. I dropped down from 17m to 12m lines. Tamed down the flapping and was fun to try with such short lines. Not optimal, but don't have smaller Peaks yet...

What was the wind like in knots? I also own a Peak 5 in 6m, am 95kg.

What was the wind range on both of your outings (both foiling?) and what's your approx weight?

Thanks!

[Adventure Logs]

I've discovered lately that there's too much of a hole in my 2.5m/6m Peak5 quiver. I was hoping it could pull it off. Now gotta decide what to put in the middle....

[Jyoder]

I've discovered lately that there's too much of a hole in my 2.5m/6m Peak5 quiver. I was hoping it could pull it off. Now gotta decide what to put in the middle....

You already have a 6m Soul, right? Nuff said

[Peter_Frank]

I've discovered lately that there's too much of a hole in my 2.5m/6m Peak5 quiver. I was hoping it could pull it off. Now gotta decide what to put in the middle....

4 m2 no doubt

It will be your favorite "go to" kite if you have varying wind.

[martrench]

Fatso - my weight is 73 kg, riding 4'6" Dwarfcraft with Axis BSC 810 front and 400 freeride rear and 90 cm mast.

The day I was overpowered with 17m lines was ~18 - 20 mph (15 to 17 knots) in humid tropical winds. Going to 12m lines helped.

I actually left the 12m lines on for 2 more sessions and they worked well. I have 8m and 10m Souls also, but like flying the Peak more now!

I would like to add a 4m Peak to my quiver soon.

Winds were too strong for my 6m Peak 5 yesterday but I still wanted to foil with it. I dropped down from 17m to 12m lines. Tamed down the flapping and was fun to try with such short lines. Not optimal, but don't have smaller Peaks yet...

What was the wind like in knots? I also own a Peak 5 in 6m, am 95kg.

What was the wind range on both of your outings (both foiling?) and what's your approx weight?

Thanks!

[Fatso]

Fatso - my weight is 73 kg, riding 4'6" Dwarfcraft with Axis BSC 810 front and 400 freeride rear and 90 cm mast.

The day I was overpowered with 17m lines was ~18 - 20 mph (15 to 17 knots) in humid tropical winds. Going to 12m lines helped.

I actually left the 12m lines on for 2 more sessions and they worked well. I have 8m and 10m Souls also, but like flying the Peak more now!

I would like to add a 4m Peak to my quiver soon.

Winds were too strong for my 6m Peak 5 yesterday but I still wanted to foil with it. I dropped down from 17m to 12m lines. Tamed down the flapping and was fun to try with such short lines. Not optimal, but don't have smaller Peaks yet...

What was the wind like in knots? I also own a Peak 5 in 6m, am 95kg.

What was the wind range on both of your outings (both foiling?) and what's your approx weight?

Thanks!

Thanks for the details, it's helping me judge when to get the Peak out!