FLandOBX wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:20 am
CARMELHILL wrote: ↑Sun Apr 28, 2019 12:42 am
Does anyone use these kites for wavekiting? Or are they a niche market for low wind and foilboard kiting?
I don't know of anyone who is using foil kites for waves. They are simply too slow, and they don't have good drift capability when compared to good wave LEIs. There are some really good surf specific LEIs on the market.
I have been wave riding foil kites (mainly flysurfer and Concept Air) for many years now (nearly 15 years strapless surfing ... ouch that is not fun to say
) and, luckily, in many wave spots around the workd and I disagree completely. Now that I ride Concept Air Waves, I think that there is no reason to keep flying LEIs in waves (except price). My last session was last week, in 2/3m waves and 20-25knots side-on on my local spot in South of France and I was shouting alone in the surf. I came back and thought that now the only limit is me ... and that is a big one ... practice practice practice
Here is one of the few photos I have (I prefer being in the water than taking pictures) of a big wave session last December in North Uruguay (Concept Air Wave 8.5 strapless surfing):
Here is the Concept Air 4.5 on a windier day (and a lot of water movement! It was a bit scary kitesurfing alone here):
Sorry no video ... I have no time to do this (kitesurfing / surfing / Family / Job take already lots of my time) but you can find some videos on HF here:
viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2394428
The drift and the wind range of these wave kites are very significant. Last week, I could feel that I was very well powered with the 8.5 when going upwind but when surfing down the line I could still be able to loop the kite to replace it in the wind window to get out of the wave without being pulled off the board. For instance, last post on a guy who bought a Wave 6.5 today (in French):
Cette aile couvre 2 boudins. Elle me sert à la fois de 9m et de 6 m...Un Monstre de facilité et de plaisir !
Translation: this kite covers two LEIs. I use it as a 9m and as a 6m. A monster of easiness and fun!
My quiver is now 4.5 / 8.5 / 12.5 and a quiver of surfboards. We are now a group of riders using them, both on HF and strapless surfing and our conclusion is that there is no equivalent on the market right now (LEIs and Foils) for the combination of turning abilities / drift / wind range.
As for relaunching in waves .. well I think LEI are not that good when they fall in the break. If you're unlucky and they are leading edge down, downwind of you, often the only option is to let go. Foils tend to float over waves in the same situation.