Postby JoelLikesFoil » Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:59 pm
Finally, I think I've found my people on this here forum thread! I've been 100% dedicated to kite foiling waves for a while now, so I'll add my thoughts...
I have a very high opinion of my Slingshot Phantasm 633 with 92cm mast. I LAY INTO THIS THING, and it never fails. I crank hard, abrupt turns (as if smacking the lip on surf board), snappy pivot turns, or take em wide and carvy. I have not found the limit of pushing the G's with this thing - I am still the limitation. I am considering the next mast size or two up, so as to be able to lean even more and keep the wing in the water. I don't know what the top speed is, but it's fast enough for this discipline. Fast enough to catch up to any wave...and slow enough to kill time until the next one. Generous enough to take any amount of white water, burp or other flow disruption. Massive storm swell, bay chop, or beach break, I'm covered.
Second thing: small enough board to not have too much momentum to counter - need light, stiff and snappy. 3'10" for me, and I'd go smaller next time. My RE Bird Machine has chamfered bottom edges which I do think help with the occasional chop/wave touch. This board is pretty similar to the 100cm Dwarftcraft. I prefer a foam-cored board over a deck, and the thicker cross section is stiffer.
Third and most critical part for really getting after it - the right kite. I've settled on Peak4 in 3,4 and 6m (good from 11-30kt). Once you have the ability to boss the foil around, the Peak4 enables taking that to the next level. If you think you're accomplishing this with a tube kite, you're not. For the people following this particular thread - the difference is real and must be tried. The power delivery is perfect: exactly what you want, exactly when you want it, and nothing more. Because of this you can change direction in an instant, or just ease up on the bar and become 95% independent of the kite. I have tried and cannot outrun the kite dead downwind full speed on a wave (in say at least 12kt wind). Often, just set the kite up high and ride and make turns with no hands on the bar.
Since putting together this trifecta of shred, I never think about gear anymore - solely focused on pushing harder and finding new conditions to master. Good times!
Oh, re: winging...I think the Peak4 is the answer for kite foilers who aren't happy with the freedom to surf how they might want. I've shared sessions with pretty good wingers and get better rides, more rides and generally do circles around them. I'll trying winging one day to try something new, but it won't be due to surfing performance relative to a kite.
- These users thanked the author JoelLikesFoil for the post (total 4):
- jumptheshark (Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:03 pm) • wheat (Tue Jul 20, 2021 12:59 am) • lezo (Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:52 am) • gergos (Fri Jul 30, 2021 9:26 pm)