Predictions for Ram Airs in 2020

[iriejohn]

[iriejohn]

they will win more races?

[Pump me up]

Well, it’s 2020. Ram lovers have had enough time now to recover from their huge NYE parties (catching dragons and fighting goblins on WoW) to refocus on the myriad problems of ram air kites, which they like to hide-away on their own special forum: viewforum.php?f=197 Many ram air problems relate to mixers, with unstable, unpredictable, and time-related deterioration in flight characteristics, e.g. viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2392205 and viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2404999.

*Predictions for 2020*
- Ram lovers will try to hide their problems in their own *special* forums.
- The exodus of riders from ram to inflatable will accelerate.
- Ram air sales will continue to fall as a proportion of kites sold, because they are less safe, harder to learn on, and aerodynamically inferior.
- A quick glimpse at place holders on https://www.gkakiteworldtour.com shows a dearth of ram air "talent" in freestyle, surf style, big air, etc. History will repeat in 2020: ram airs will crash and burn in ALL significant competitions.

One of the world’s most respected kite designers and erstwhile designer for FLYSURFER, Ralf Groesel, had this to say about ram airs recently, confirming EVERY suspicion ever raised about these inferior kites: “… it’s the Tube-kite that stands victorious. From a designer’s point-of-view it shines in every aspect; its simplicity in design is the key to controlling its complexity. Tube-kites rule most of the sport-related requirements… Soft-kites have an approximate market share of 4%, meaning that 96% of all kites sold worldwide are Tube-kites. This figure basically validates the success of the concept. Without being too sarcastic, you have to be a believer to think that Soft-kites are the future of the kite market…” For the full epiphany and admission, please check-out this link: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2400039 With comments like this from respected kite designers, it is becoming harder and harder for ram lovers to justify their purchases.

Ignore the lies. Ignore the propaganda. Ram airs ARE aerodynamically inferior compared to inflatables.


---- Pumpy

[Trent hink]

Single skin foils will take hydrofoil wave riding to amazing new levels of fun?

Wait, sorry, that was last year.

I didn't get a chance to go through the entire 2019 thread, but it's gotta be in there somewhere....

[foilholio]

It is an interesting time for foil kites. I feel like they are actually gaining market share. There is so many brands that have one or a few in their range now too. Foil kites seem to have really made the turn since they showed they dominate in racing. That brought some more interest to the concept, and people thought what could they also do? Well freeride was an obvious option, the secret there for the casual kiter is their reliability, fast setup and durability. But the other area they are good at is surf and now with the kites like the Peak4 they are perhaps showing a complete dominance in that too. What is left? Well from the beginning foil kites have been the masters of light wind. That has I think been more emphasized with hydrofoils pushing the practical limits of kiting down to 3-4 knots. There is not many kites that can still fly in that, even less sit still and park, but a few foil kites in even lighter fabric can. There is a brand called Pansh that continues to release new and improved foil kites, in fact they only sell foil kites, and yet they are also the cheapest brand in the ENTIRE industry!

So what will happen for foils this year? I think more good things! But I don't particularly care because my 11-12 year old foil kites, that I use regularly are just fine. How are your tube kites going? The colors good this year?

Have fun!

[Surfkiternew]

Maybe with strutless pump now normal rider Will change their old foil...and only the pro racer Will continue to use...and of course more and more in snow kite ..in water i Hope less and less

[grigorib]

As I posted a year back in “Predictions for Ram Airs in 2019“ topic, same will happen in 2020 and I’ll post the same in January 2021.

I’ll repeat my prediction for ram air kites in 2019:
- there will be nothing revolutionary
- Ozone and Flysurfer will release yet another new versions of foil kites
- people will get excited about them for no particular reason
- other brands will keep sucking at it
- PMU will keep pouring buckets of poop on foil kites without regard for fact that they can be awesome

[foilholio]

The most interesting development in foil kites recently has been singles skins and hybrid single skins.

[grigorib]

The most interesting development in foil kites recently has been singles skins and hybrid single skins.

Peak was released 6 years ago. Mini-ribs, A/B/Z bridles, battens, leading edge center string - those came out 8 years ago and are still cool things but these are not recent developments.

Hybrid cells could have been avoided if guys designed geometry better - Ozone XXLite didn’t need hybrid tips.

Just as in LEIs - development is not revolutionary in foils either

[plummet]

Definitely foil kites and taking more market share year on year. I'm not sure that they will take over inflatables for the masses. But there definitely perform a task for specific styles of riding.

Pumpies argument is year on year is definitely becoming less and less relevant.