Flysurfer soul 2 - 15m vs 18m for my goals/weight

[Raynski]

hi all,
I have the option to buy an almost completely new flysurfer soul 2 18m (used around 10 times by a close friend of mine) for around 60% of the store price. My weight is around 90kg/200lb, experience 3 years and jumping 7-10m height on my core xr 9 and 11m, i own a lieuwe board oceana 137x40 and a lightwind tt 137x48

In the summer we often have many days with around 13-17 knots/15-19mph and my goal is to jump the highest, the farthest and with the most airtime I can in those marginal conditions. My question pertains to what size would be suitable? A friend of mine with similar size and experience told me he has the most fun on his 15m (jumping 10m or more with huge airtime) when its blow 18-22 knots and told me to have a bit of decent fun and air in around 15knots/17mph would be better to get the 18m on my weight...

However, ive always heard that smaller kites jump higher, so would comparable jump heights/airtime/distance not be possible if you combine a 15m with the light wind tt to jump as high as the 18m? Buying a 15m would however require significantly more money which would put a big dent in my financial budget
I would love some input from the more experienced foilkiters, especially from the ones who might have owned/flown both of them
thnx a ton in advance

[SolarSet]

I have 8/11m and had Soul 15m for past 3 years, jumping high on foil kite requires different skills than on LEI, it moves much much slower through wind windows and is likely to rip you off edge if you are overpowered.

15m might be more expensive but likely you will sell it easier and it’s a size for both TT and foiling.

If you consider either size test drive it if you can because it’s completely different experience, if you think XR6 11m is slow you will be surprised how fast it’s comparing to Soul.

I would recommend everyone to try foil kite and make their own mind if you are not to worries to lose little money after resell get they lose less value than LEI

[1234567Simon]

90 kg? Next Size is 11m?

I am only 70kg.... But what I see, in the beach:

90 kg: Up to 15knots for TT the 18 hast more Advantages.
More Power, better Hangtime.

Starting from 16knots the 15 will give you better Performance, because faster turning.

18 will get you going from 10 knots, Fun will start at 12...

15 will get you going from 11-12 knots, Fun will start from 13-14 knots


So if you want to boost Maximum high... Take the 15 and wait for more Wind.

If you want to to have fun as soon AS possible Take the 18.


With 100kg for sure the 18....
With 80 kg the 15....

Just some Points to think about.

I would Take the good Deal!
But I Like good Deals.

Just my oppinion, with seeing the Souls in the beach

[leeuwen]

15m might be more expensive but likely you will sell it easier and it’s a size for both TT and foiling.

Just to prevent wrong expectations:
For hydrofoil most seem to pick the 10m or maybe the 12m.
15m foil kite is way to big for most hydrofoilers, racers use this size but those are on the VMG or maybe Sonic.

[Peter_Frank]

15m might be more expensive but likely you will sell it easier and it’s a size for both TT and foiling.

Just to prevent wrong expectations:
For hydrofoil most seem to pick the 10m or maybe the 12m.
15m foil kite is way to big for most hydrofoilers, racers use this size but those are on the VMG or maybe Sonic.

True, but he (the OP) is solely focusing on TT riding and jumping

Maybe you just wanted to tell him, that the Soul he is gonna get, no matter which size of the two, will not really be usable IF he wants to start hydrofoiling one day, they are way too big and slow.

Peter

[leeuwen]

Yes, that was my point Peter.

I know it was not is OPs intention to hydrofoil but since solarset mentioned it I just wanted to make clear it’s not a kite suitable for hydrofoil.
Therefore it won’t affect resale value vs 18m in this aspect since hydrofoil people will not buy either.

[SolarSet]

I foiled few times on S15 and with short lines like 17m or less it's manageable to foil on not too large wing (I have 700cm^2 front wing), I mentioned foiling because many foil riders used to never considered foiling (like myself) but once tried can't get enough of it.

I could ride 140cm board at my 90kg on long lines (26m) with S15 from 11-12kts but to jump its needed 13kts. It is shocking how it feels like kite is barely going upwind yet you can jump 3-4m

Gap between XR 11m and Soul 18m could be massive and IMHO its a shame to have such a gap as for some windy spot you can end up with two kites that neither are good (one too small other too big) yet XR 11m has excellent button as I ridden it in 16kts colder weather 10-14degC and I was able to jump doublebackrolls. In hot weather like in Egypt 18kts where not enough for same kite...

In my opinion S18 will have better lower end and let you jump earlier but due to slow speed it will be easier to jump high on S15.

[Raynski]

90 kg? Next Size is 11m?

I am only 70kg.... But what I see, in the beach:

90 kg: Up to 15knots for TT the 18 hast more Advantages.
More Power, better Hangtime.

Starting from 16knots the 15 will give you better Performance, because faster turning.

18 will get you going from 10 knots, Fun will start at 12...

15 will get you going from 11-12 knots, Fun will start from 13-14 knots


So if you want to boost Maximum high... Take the 15 and wait for more Wind.

If you want to to have fun as soon AS possible Take the 18.


With 100kg for sure the 18....
With 80 kg the 15....

Just some Points to think about.

I would Take the good Deal!
But I Like good Deals.

Just my oppinion, with seeing the Souls in the beach

Hmm difficult, id say from 18knots and upwards i would start taking out the 11m xr with my light wind board, as the water will be pretty choppy at that point especially for a 15-18m foilkite and i wouldnt trust myself with it in the open ocean. Ofcourse the jumps/airtime at 20knots on a 11m wont compare to 16 knots on a 18m. Difficult difficult…what my fear basically boils down to is the 15m and the 11xr will be too close together in the windranges they actually start to get fun (riding overpowered and jumping high).


Maybe someone who has ridden both can chime in

[SolarSet]

S15 will top out somewhere around 20kts at your weight, for S18 I would be guessing it will be around 18kts. Get a cheaper S18 and you can sell it later for same price you bough it. It might take a little longer to sell S18 as it less desiable than S15 but if you buy it at right price to begin with there is little risk.

[Janus]

If the price difference is really big between the 15 and 18 I would do what SolarSet suggest.
Make sure you get a wider bar and if the 18 comes compleet with bar and lines take the 3m extensions off, makes it turn a bit quicker.
And I read it's a close friend.. so try it in marginal winds, I think he woudn't mind..