Flysurfer Soul 12m or 15m

[GlennvanRooij]

Hi,

I was on my 12m for one year, can go on a big wing, 20m lines in 7 knots, (not lower than that). Can hold it to 20 knots on a race foil and short lines.
Decided to get a 15m. Tested it in 5 knots on a big wing. This is so much fun. Also , in 7 knots a prefer the 15m for some extra power to go upwind and downwind.
Also, the 15m has much more hangtime for doing tacs and gybes, you can basically hang for 5 seconds while doing your moves : )
The range for the Soul is just great. You can shorten your lines to get more high-end. A seat harnas also helps to hold more power from the kite.

[Finfo]

Thanks, when does the 15m start to get too much on the big wing? Can I also ask are you in the same weight range as myself (I'm 85kg)?

[GlennvanRooij]

Depents, for normal foiling 12 knots will get uncomfortable. I hold the 15m in short lines up to 16 knots, but only sharp upwind and downwind is possible. More race style.

[deniska]

if you get the 15 - get a racier wing..the bigger ones will make you feel overpowered.. but don't get fooled... you can ride race wings (at least the new ones) pretty slow... the stall speed is a function of the weight you put down on the wing.. so if you hang most of the weight on the kite you can almost stand still..at the same time you can speed up crazy and boost big.. a week ago, I was out on 15 soul when other 2 guys were on 4 and 7m kites.. the guy on the 7 rolled his 9 when I was setting up my 15 soul, saying that he was overpowered...I never felt like it was too much..

[RomeUtah]

I love my 15m and it has awesome range if you switch boards, but i would go with a faster turning kite like a 9 mor 10m for even low wind foiling. I rode my buddies 9m and for 77kg and a 1200 wing (impulse) that was the sweet spot. The 9 also has a massive range and really comes alive in the higher winds where its easier to edge against it to boost to the moon. The 15 gives great hang time but does not rocket me above 35' as much as i try. I have held it down on the foil in 20 knts but it was not fun, on the low end, ive riddne it commfortably at 8knts and somewhat down to 6knts at 5k elevation.

[irwe]

85 kg 15 m for sure

[cwood]

I just got rid of 15. Just never used it even on race wing. If the wind is sub 10 I put big wing on and 10m with 27m lines (I ride that combo in 5 to 8kts). I guarantee you if you are riding the light wind edge you are more likely to keep a long lined 10m in the air over a 12 or 15....they weigh too much and you can't work them in the air as quickly....eventual taco fall. If you are a TT rider then I totally get it....as a foiler with wing choices for cruising or boosting I don't see reason for anything over 12m

[grtlakes]

Agree with cwood. I just traded in a 12m. In gusty fickle turbulent winds a 12m can “taco” resulting in a mess. Lighter more agile kites can be more maneuverable and therefore airworthy under the same conditions.

[Tom Tom]

Similar experience. Had a Soul 12 that was slooow and quickly got too big on a Moses 633. Quickly sold it and dropped down to a Hyperlink V2 9m. Massive range and gets me going in very very little wind on 25m lines. I mean on a big wing you just need the Power to start. A fast smaller kite is enough for me in that. Fully recognize that a bigger kite has benefits for faster winds, in gybing, speed and so on in light winds, and has a point for TT of course. I just hate big slow kites...

[Kristan]

For 85kg 15m Soul would be a bit too much, unless the goal is to go for marginal winds.

12m is enough. With 100kg myself I start going on TT from 12 knots for inland winds and 14 knots of sea wind.