Twin Tip jumping for me has just come to a serious turning point when it comes to the load and pop timing, to get big air...
Now I have a few of the best big air inflatable kites and Souls that I ride in the higher wind range and storms but my new Sonic has caused me to re-evaluate what Big Air kites are. I know that some people think a big air kites are the ones used in king of Air. but for the rest of the world - big air means 'high jumping' with a good landing, without the fancy stuff and we are happy..
What has intrigued & inspired me over the last few years, is the way Flysurfers rider "Olly Bridge" has been throwing some huge and ridiculously long jumps, breaking distance and hangtime records - it seems like he is creating another style in the market, and his latest Sonic 3 jump with 36-second hang-time certainly shows it.
15-22 knot wind, no kickers no waves to give you height, 22 knots you read correctly.
Well now that the wind speed has got your attention thinking, what the Farq - that was exactly my thoughts the first time I rode the kite yesterday.
I bought the 11m as a board off training hang time kite that I could also use as a 10-knot light wind Foil boarding kite too. Its aimed at advance to expert riders as it is a cross between the Vmg race kite & the Soul.
After unpacking and checking every single knot, line connection, and the stitching seams, It was straight down the river for a ride.
(Just so you know - previously Ive hated with a passion Foil kites that fold wing tips and not relaunch and scared of the fish net bridle lines) new Tech and education on bridles has got me back on one..
Here are my thoughts on this New technology kite designed for TT free ride freestyle Old School and foiling
What I was expecting was a predictably slow turning kite for the above that goes like a bat out of hell.
On the beach, it turned very well for an 11m foil and that's always a good sign for jumping. Leaving the shore I could see the gusting 22 knot wind-line frizzle just ahead of me, so maybe a 50m run no kickers or waves and Boom straight into it, I'm going up and up and up thinking WTF ? this is not a 30-35 knot day ! ahh well, let's do the big Heli-Looping thing while im up here.
That's the point where I understood why, Olly has so much Fun
The Sonic 3 is fast and has Huge aerodynamic lift for its size, the slightest gust up at the top of a big jump and up you go again - even when coming down from a small transition jump - it will lift you up again and hover, your feet trying to reach out where the water used to be..
After a short while, I started to get the timing dialed in better which just added to the height fun. You can instantly feel any updrafts and have to be very weary of your surroundings !!
Oddly enough, the Flysurfer site posted wind range is 7-23 knots, I'm guessing that's for a foil board, as its nowhere near the feeling of being overpowered.
I set the kite with a bit of back stall at the bar, just in case you end up in a surface downloop near the shore or another kiter - back stalling it quite safely looses power and will 'pivot turn' to where you want it.
No wing tip folds occurred while riding - I did manage to swing under the kite too far a few times, then it closed up a bit fell back in the window and opened nicely... no worries there.
This kite is very well behaved and easy to fly fast, needing very little effort or 'skill' to jump big . I was impressed by what height was achievable even with bad timing - my 12m inflatable just wouldnt unless you were loaded perfectly - in 22 knots..
The skill you do need, is knowing how to redirect and Heli-Loop the kite while your up there..
Its for certain conditions obviously as common sense says youd be on an Inflatable if your planning on getting rolled in waves.
I can't wait to get it out in some small kickers or ocean swell at about 25-28 knots or Flatwater.
If you want to just go big without megaloops and have insane hangtime, at a lower wind range... this is the kite that will do it - no more waiting for 30-35 knot dream days - thats whats got me flipped out !
Weight 79kg
Bar 18m lines
Board 130x41 Shinn Monk