Advanced riding n jump skill
Weight - 76kg
Board
136x41 CrazyFly LTD, custom 5cm fins.
Bar
60cm Attitude kite bar, 20m lines.
Non Sponsored- I buy all my own gear..

Setting up in 20+ knot direct wind - no protection like the lame 10 knot vids Online..

I've been riding around on the 8m Soul for about a month now in total... in its various wind range from the very bottom end, and very near it's top end.
There are few reviews, that come from an inflatable kite Twin tip rider on this particular size, so decided to express my non biased view as I've learnt by valuable advice from the shop I bought it from, utube videos and my mistakes that I'm sure most riders new to foil kites would make.

Objective - jump big... but not a slow turning PIG.

I demoed a 12m Soul which had been passed over to me on the beach, up in the air. Very powerful and plug n play, quite slow but showed its immediate jump potential.
I thought wow, in a smaller faster turning size, you could throw some big air and other fun tricks. I tried the 10m... still a little slow turning on 20m lines.
Tried the 8m - yes this is the size that does it for me.

Out of the bag

Folded up nice n small, unfold it and then scream WTF I've bought a fishing net with shade protection..
Yes scary scary looking - once Darren from ActionSports Au explained to me how the 4 rows of bridals each side connected, it all made sense.
Think of your inflatable bridle + 3 more rows :)

My personal recommendation is to leave your bar attached to the kite if possible. It saves you from a lot of hysteria when setting up in stronger winds.

Caution must be taken with the supplied Sandbag launcher. The kite material is super slippery and the wind can blow the kite out from under it. Put something heavier on it or get a mate to hold it for you until you get used to setting up.

Pull the trailing edge into the wind slightly and sand it - this keeps the kite flatter and stops the lines wanting to twist up Tornado style.
Unwind your lines walking away from the kite..

The Launch
Explain to the launcher where to grab if it goes wrong - to avoid injury.
Practise in a big open space - from 45deg into the wind I walk backwards to hold a little bit of pressure on the Front lines, so the kite lifts slightly, and let's some air into it slowly !!!!!!!
The walk a bit more upwind till it launches. It doesn't take long to fill out. Watch utube for foil inflation tips..
(If it is low wind, you can use a cheap battery operated leaf blower like bottom of page...for quick inflate - only if someone holds the kite, or it will blow away !! )


The bottom end - if people are out in 12's I can use the 8m Soul, being light on my feet with good kite control helps as usual.

The mid range of say is 18 - 26 knots a whole lotta fun here. As soon as your powered enough to jump small, you start going bigger and longer than most around you.
Top end
25 - 35+ knots and full committed jumps will scare you then blow your mind.
Working the kite in the air is the magic key to extra lift and hang time here.

Ok we've heard that tale before and seen Olly Bridge do his 28m boost, also a 200m long jump on the Soul 10m. Check these out.
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Turn Speed
This is why I love the 8m
With my 60cm bar this kite has the turn speed of a 9m inflatable. ( not a C kite ) I really enjoy throwing my kites around and it definitely is not a slow pig. Check this vid out, Pretty impressive


The LooP - some scary fun options here.
Be sure to not to stall foil kites or chicken out... like me once, witnessed by kids at a freestyle clinic lol ouch.
You can pivot turn the kite or Steer it through at max foil power - which is the scary part.

Heli -Loops, perfect for 2nd 3rd 4th lift fun before landing.

Jump landings
Once you figure out how to send it back then forwards fast from one side to the other, this it will land you softly.
It doesn't do the instant buttersoft style landings like throwing an inflatable kite over the top.. but then again - your still up in the air :)

The bar pressure
This feels nice and light for me - compared to my inflatables. I can kite all day without getting tired on this thing. The front lines take most of it into my seat harness..

Messing up a trick - either let the bar out and it will drift backwards no problems or pull full down in the bar and stall backwards. Both work well.

Crash it into the water - instant Armageddon ?
I've done this about 8 times, a few of those everyone on the beach including myself thought I was Doomed.. just be patient and let it do it's "Thing" yes it has a thing !
Wait for it and be ready to relaunch.
It's done this every time for me..

I mostly ride flat water that I can float in, I also ride in small waves occasionally..
Having said that - sometimes our River island fast ferry puts out some massive wake... 5 secs of Tourist cam Fame lol.

Landing - Warning !
I always ask someone to land me ? And ASK if they know how to land a Foil kite. Then explain to them, to grab the "Closest" wing tip to the ground and hold it down until I come and take it off them !!!
All those fine bridal lines can cut into skin - take no risks !!!

The downside

Self rescue - I dread the day
Offshore flatwater - pushing my luck for self rescue
Waves - Flysurfer label says NO... really pushing my luck for self rescue
Landing Solo - But I never kite by myself..

The upside
90% Fun 10% WTF :)
If your an average kiter and mostly mow lawn then it will probably not Ever fall out of the sky :)
A huge windrange from 15 to 35 knots has got me taking one kite everywhere... Unless travelling abroad.