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Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

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UKSurf
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Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby UKSurf » Sun Jul 28, 2019 1:02 pm

Having recently purchased a 12m Gong Strutless for light wind hydrofoiling I thought I would write a quick review. I have no affiliation to Gong Kites. I am an intermediate/beginner hydrofoiler (riding upwind/downwind and making surface gybes, no air gybes yet). Key points about this kite:

1) Excellent low end and produces ALOT of pull on the initial down stroke
2) Very light feel with good depower
3) Will stay in the air in about 4/5 knots of wind when even something like a North Mono is falling out the sky, so you can work it back to shore :D
4) Gets me up and foiling in about 7/8 knots (95kg rider)
5) Pretty good build quality
6) Glides downwind
7) Reasonable relaunch in light wind
8) Easy to self launch
9) Excellent value for money

Main negatives are limited wind range, will get over powered very quickly compared to a mono strut. I think 16 knots would be the maximum for this kite. Also the attachments require pig tails on both the front a rear lines so you will need to adjust most bars for this. Being light weight it probably wont survive a tumble in the surf. If you are looking for a light wind hydrofoil kite this is excellent value for money.
Last edited by UKSurf on Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jyka
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby jyka » Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:31 pm

I have also 12m gong strutless (v2) for foiling and it's a great kite. And cheap! No need for super hyped double more expensive big brand gear. Thank you gong ^_^
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jonysan (Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:12 pm)
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flaps1111
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby flaps1111 » Sun Jul 28, 2019 8:13 pm

I'm interested in Gong Unik one-strut kite, there are little reviews out there. They have a great price, but a don't want to buy blind without testing before. I think strutless kites are only interested in big sizes.

wheat
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby wheat » Tue Jul 30, 2019 1:54 am

Excellent post. I agree with all the above. I fly a 12m (V2) strutless. The v3 just came out.
There is a super-lightweight (80g) thin fiberglass batten that goes in the center. I thought this helped the water relaunching by keeping the canopy dry.
Fabulous kite.
I ride inland lakes with gusts. The kite does well going straight upwind when overpowered. Then you can drift it straight downwind, which is a blast.

Other gong riders, what is your next kite size down under the 12m?
95kg rider on a Moses 633

lightwind
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby lightwind » Tue Jul 30, 2019 6:29 am

I’m 75 kg rider, and I’m on 550 cm2 free ride foil wing. I’m having gong strutless 10m. Super happy with it. If the wind is ultra light (6-8 knots) I use line extensions and on 32 meter lines I can foil no problem. I find high end to be pretty low for me. Over 10-11 knots is too much. Build quality of the kite is amazing, everything looks good and solid. There are no other Gong kites in my home-spot so everyone is asking for try and they are all stoked for this kite. Reverse relaunch is working good for ultra light wind. I’m happy that I went for size 10 and not 12. Fast, stable kite that will stay in the air down to 4 knots.
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Phb (Tue Oct 01, 2019 5:47 pm)
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valverto
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby valverto » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:05 am

Any idea on the weight? Webpage says 3kg, but that looks too much to hang in 6knots

jyka
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby jyka » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:11 am

valverto wrote:
Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:05 am
Any idea on the weight? Webpage says 3kg, but that looks too much to hang in 6knots
12m v2 strutless is 2,7 kg
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valverto (Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:28 am)
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valverto
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby valverto » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:30 am

On the webpage they also give 6-12 knots wind range for the 12m2 and 5-15 knots for the 10m2. Does that make sense in your experience? Maybe getting one extra knot in the low end by being faster and lighter?
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UKSurf (Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:15 am)
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UKSurf
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby UKSurf » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:36 am

valverto wrote:
Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:05 am
Any idea on the weight? Webpage says 3kg, but that looks too much to hang in 6knots
This kite will stay in the air in very light winds especially if you work it. I was out with another rider who was on a Duotone Mono. Wind dropped to 4 knots or so. His kite fell out the skywhile mine was able to get me back to shore by working it. It wont hang in the air in 4 knots but you can work it and slowly work your way back to shore in those winds.

dkazhdan
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Re: Gong Strutless Kite for Hydrofoiling - Quick Review

Postby dkazhdan » Tue Jul 30, 2019 9:46 pm

my experience with gong strutless v2 12m is that I get overpowered at 12 knts on a foil board.
great kite other than that.


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