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Light wind solution for pot belly?

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Created by englishmanbo > 9 months ago, 11 Mar 2020
englishmanbo
29 posts
11 Mar 2020 10:09PM
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Hi,
I live in Perth, am 110kg with a 12 LEI and a 145cm twintip for lightwind. 2 seasons, normally ride Woodman point, Rockingham, or the river. The wind is a bit soft lately and I am thinking about something that will get me out in 12-18knots. Maybe a 17m Zepher (or similar), or a large foil kite 15m Soul, a surfboard, or learning to foil. Advice appreciated.

KiteBud
WA, 1515 posts
12 Mar 2020 7:24AM
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Hi englishmanbo,

At your weight, a 145cm twin tip isn't exactly a light wind size. If you want to enjoy 12-18 knots without changing your kite then you simply need a big light wind twin tip i.e. 155+cm x 48cm+ wide. The bigger the better really.

Surfboards won't make much difference in light winds in comparison to your 145cm twin tip unless they are very wide and specifically designed as a light wind surfboard.

A hydrofoil will make a massive difference if you're willing to jump into the learning process, it will give you the most enjoyment in low winds and can be cheaper than buying a 17m kite. You just have to dedicate a couple of days / weeks for learning. Lessons will make this process far easier and less painful.

Foil kites are great performers in low winds but they are also quite technical to use and very expensive. You need excellent foil kite specific flying skills to get more benefits from owning a foil kite vs an inflatable kite. You should also know that foil kites are more fragile. I have seen lots of beginners/intermediate kiters getting some foil kites when their skill level wasn't nearly justifying the need for such a kite. Unless you're interested in racing, high speed and having the best upwind angle at your local kite beach, you can skip the foil kite for now.

The answer to your question isn't straight forward. The easiest solution would be to get a bigger twin tip and a 17m kite as well. The problem is you can easily get bored with that setup where as hydrofoil offer more thrill in low winds.

Hope this helps

Christian - KiteBud


Kamikuza
QLD, 6493 posts
12 Mar 2020 10:07AM
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Foil, without a doubt. You'll need a 10m kite or smaller for 12 to 18 knots though ...

englishmanbo
29 posts
12 Mar 2020 8:19AM
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Thanks for the response. Foil kite off the list, surf board not much benefit over a large twin tip. So choosing between a foil board or a big lw kite with bigger twin tip. With a bigger kite I would be on the water today. With a foil I may not get going until next summer. This may be worth the wait but will I need a lightwind kite anyway. I know foiling uses a smaller kite once up but the kite still jaw to be efficient enough to fly in lighter winds. My Core xr 12 is struggling to keep in the air below 14 knots. Maybe apparent wind can compensate for this?

englishmanbo
29 posts
12 Mar 2020 11:09AM
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Kamikuza said..
Foil, without a doubt. You'll need a 10m kite or smaller for 12 to 18 knots though ...


I have a 7m and a 9m as well.

englishmanbo
29 posts
12 Mar 2020 5:32PM
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I will assume the 12m will stay in the air longer if I am moving.

Re-reading the answer from Christian it actually answers my questions, thanks.

Kamikuza
QLD, 6493 posts
12 Mar 2020 8:13PM
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englishmanbo said..

Kamikuza said..
Foil, without a doubt. You'll need a 10m kite or smaller for 12 to 18 knots though ...



I have a 7m and a 9m as well.


Sorted! You might find the 9m, being lighter, is easier to use. I foil with a 10m down to about 10 knots, but can't water start till maybe 12, depending.

I went through much the same thing. I have a 170x50 door, had a big surfboard, had massive foil kites and the largest tubes. Lawn mowing central, you're not going to have much fun till 16 or 18 knots with that gear no matter what.

Foil is a different kind of thing, you may or may not like it...

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
12 Mar 2020 8:18PM
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A push bike for 6 months then a 12 mtr

englishmanbo
29 posts
13 Mar 2020 6:53AM
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cauncy said..
A push bike for 6 months then a 12 mtr


FormulaNova
WA, 14043 posts
13 Mar 2020 10:47AM
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englishmanbo said..
Hi,
I live in Perth, am 110kg with a 12 LEI and a 145cm twintip for lightwind. 2 seasons, normally ride Woodman point, Rockingham, or the river. The wind is a bit soft lately and I am thinking about something that will get me out in 12-18knots. Maybe a 17m Zepher (or similar), or a large foil kite 15m Soul, a surfboard, or learning to foil. Advice appreciated.


I am close to 97Kgs, and I use a 14m for light wind, plus I have a home-made board that is 154x55, and its amazing the difference it makes.

If I am on a kite that has almost enough power, I can change the board out to the bigger one, and get going easily. The extra surface area makes a big difference. Its quicker and easier to swap out the boards than the kites.

Kamikuza
QLD, 6493 posts
13 Mar 2020 3:09PM
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FormulaNova said..
I am close to 97Kgs, and I use a 14m for light wind, plus I have a home-made board that is 154x55, and its amazing the difference it makes.

If I am on a kite that has almost enough power, I can change the board out to the bigger one, and get going easily. The extra surface area makes a big difference. Its quicker and easier to swap out the boards than the kites.


Get a foil, swap no boards

Kamikuza
QLD, 6493 posts
13 Mar 2020 3:11PM
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cauncy said..
A push bike for 6 months then a 12 mtr


According to my Woo, I get 1m of jump height for 2m/s of wind regardless of gear. Anything less than 20 knots is just boring, and 12m kite in 20 knots is fine.

I'd been keen to see you kiting a push bike though. Sounds like something Nick Jacobson would do...

snalberski
WA, 857 posts
17 Mar 2020 9:19PM
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englishmanbo said..
Thanks for the response. Foil kite off the list, surf board not much benefit over a large twin tip. So choosing between a foil board or a big lw kite with bigger twin tip. With a bigger kite I would be on the water today. With a foil I may not get going until next summer. This may be worth the wait but will I need a lightwind kite anyway. I know foiling uses a smaller kite once up but the kite still jaw to be efficient enough to fly in lighter winds. My Core xr 12 is struggling to keep in the air below 14 knots. Maybe apparent wind can compensate for this?


As usual the variety and variation of input from posters in response to what would seem to be a simple question is polar and contradictory, always based on individuals preferences, which is in turn based on their unique experiences. I would suggest you take nothing off your list.
Unfortunately the only way to find out the pros and cons of any piece of kit is to own it for a period of time and make your own judgments.
Even demoing can only give you impressions for the conditions you demo in. If you get a larger TT and use it regularly you will soon learn what it does and doesn't offer. If you own a 15m Soul and discover that you can do a 6m boost in 12knts on your existing TT you might think thats the way to go. If your anything like me it will take lots of false starts and failed attempts to fine tune your best equipment choice.
Everyone including me can only give personal opinions, never the 'best' advise

englishmanbo
29 posts
23 Mar 2020 3:05PM
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snalberski I appreciate your comment. However I purchased a hydrofoil last weekend. Hope I can figure it out.

FormulaNova
WA, 14043 posts
24 Mar 2020 7:53PM
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Kamikuza said..
FormulaNova said..
I am close to 97Kgs, and I use a 14m for light wind, plus I have a home-made board that is 154x55, and its amazing the difference it makes.

If I am on a kite that has almost enough power, I can change the board out to the bigger one, and get going easily. The extra surface area makes a big difference. Its quicker and easier to swap out the boards than the kites.


Get a foil, swap no boards


Ahh, I am too busy 'surfing' the little breaking swell in ankle-deep water. I think a foil would kill me. Sometimes I see how shallow the water is and wonder when I am going to hit.

snalberski
WA, 857 posts
24 Mar 2020 9:43PM
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englishmanbo said..
snalberski I appreciate your comment. However I purchased a hydrofoil last weekend. Hope I can figure it out.


Foilboarding is a great device to access marginal conditions, besides being a whole bunch of fun and adding dimensionally to your kiteboarding experience.
Be aware however that owning a foilboard will not keep a kite in the air. Said in another way... If the kite you use whilst learning and beyond can be relaunched in the wind strength your using it your good to go. If not you need more wind, or a kite that will stay in the air in the conditions you are presented with. This basic guideline will minimise self rescues, long swims, lost gear and prematurely ended sessions.
Sometimes foilboarders who get out in marginal conditions will be seen using ultra light kites like single strutters and foil kites. The reason is these kites perform better than standard LEI kites in marginal conditions. Just about any kite will work for foilboarding provided it will fly easily in the conditions at hand and more importantly the pilot can fly it in the conditions at hand. Learning to foilboard can be less of a chore if you learn in conditions that don't require your focus to be over absorbed by keeping the kite flying. This leaves more of the focus available to be given to the board skills. My sweet spot for learning and foilboarding in general was and is 17 knots give or take a couple of knots.



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"Light wind solution for pot belly?" started by englishmanbo