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Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

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ice
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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby ice » Wed Jan 23, 2019 12:56 am

agree that light, longer lines can make a big difference to low end, subject to the wind gradient at your spot

longer lines will reduce turning speed which you won't like, but is a much cheaper option than a large kite in order to get a couple of knots low end

if the wind does pick up, simply swap over the bar and lines
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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby slowboat » Wed Jan 23, 2019 3:27 am

tomtom wrote:
Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:18 pm
On big wing power isnt issue at all. Issue is relaunch and stability in lull. I personaly at 90 kg and moses 633 had almost no benefit from NEO 9 to Mono 12 - both are limited by lull stability and relaunch. I use 9m foil kite for LW and go straight to 7 LEI. I did not try very light zero mono struts like BRM. Mono isnt light kite. 5knts is not LEIable imo.
exactly correct. kite falling out of sky is limiting factor

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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby ap888 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:06 am

Yep have 32m lines on sonic 2 11m and feels like a 15m amazing for light wind all the way down to 4 knots easy

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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby Wazza Foil » Wed Jan 23, 2019 7:27 am

ap888 wrote:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:06 am
Yep have 32m lines on sonic 2 11m and feels like a 15m amazing for light wind all the way down to 4 knots easy
32m very thin race lines work for me with Cloud strutless kites and Naish thrust medium (finely wet&dry sanded) - me 76kg and 72 yo - added this so it's obvious anyone can do it.

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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby neptune262 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:28 am

I have a 10m LEI no strut and bought a 12m LEI no strut as I got a great deal on it and thought I would gain more bottom end. The extra weight of the bigger kite can work against it, so I didn't gain anything extra at the bottom range on the foil, as I can work the 10m more aggressively and it stays in the air probably even better at the very low end. The 10m ultimately has a larger range, so I would not do a 12m again.

My 2cents if it helps.....
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slowboat
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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby slowboat » Wed Jan 23, 2019 8:37 am

I think most will agree that with your 633, limiting factor is kite staying in air which means you want a light kite. Foils would be best but next best would be strutless.
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Re: Smallest possible LEI kite size for best low end

Postby Qiter » Wed Jan 23, 2019 4:08 pm

Thanks for all the input!

In summary, I gather that the smallest worthwhile kitesize (:-)) is a balance between kite weight and size with some confounding factors like line length, overall skill of the rider etc. (considering constant wind speed, rider weight and board/wing).
Looks like for LEI on a foil, there is not much push for a size bigger than 11 or 12, as this would only lower the low end by around 1kn or less while increasing kite weight and negatively impairing maneuverability and thus kite speed...
Nice discussion, thanks a lot


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