I open a dedicated topic on the test of this hybrid kite: single skin with a closed leading edge, dedicated to water.
photo here again to illustrate:
I tested my brand new 8m2 , on 1200 cm2 foil, 15-20 knots I would say. I had only a 23m bar which was a bit too long for those windy conditions.
Drift is excellent, you can still ride the wave even if the kite is in opposition on the wrong window; It seems more "rigid" when lines are fully slack, compared to Peak ; you feel more in confidence of a kite folding in two.
About agility, the kite turns fast and well even when going toward the kite (with poor line tension). Excellent point.
Kite seems very powerful ; in those 20 knots gusts, I was a bit overpowered ; one guy on a TT was jumping 3 meter height with a 8m LEI , so definitively above the sweet spot of the kite for a 60kg rider on a hydrofoil ; I was not in danger at all , and depower is instantaneous and huge (which is a good thing for very gusty conditions or snow kite in mountains): but I was at the top end of my "comfort zone" ; with some light vibrations in gusts in the bar, some fluttering at top gusts, but quite rare in the end.
Upwind is really excellent if you agree to ride slow; surprisingly good for a single skin and far better than Firefly; should be comparable to FS peak but I never tested a FS peak in 8m
When riding transverse you feel that lateral force is important , not really pleasant vs standard kites: less adapted to this direction in high wind; speed was good , very good in this wind (say 16-18 knots with this 1200 cm2 foil), but at a price of a lot of lateral pull.
At those middle/high winds , kite is not pleasant when you put it low toward water surface: it want to sink down when you sheet out a lot in gusts (a bit like a overpowered LEI, maybe the "overweight" of the closed leading edge); so, below 45 degree azimut, you need to keep a certain pressure on the back hand to keep it straight, which is uncomfortable in high wind , when you want to absorb a gust or decrease speed ; above 45 degree, no problem anymore and bar pressure is significant in high end; but not too high.
It has a a bit of lift, you can do small jump if you drive the kite actively ; better than Peak from my memory ; but low hang time ; redirecting the kite when landing is very natural in view of its agility.
I am Impatient to test it around 10 knots as it seems both agile, powerful and extremely stable;
... and hope to have waves because it is really where this kite seems to shine.