My biggest kite is a 9m Airush Ultra (it's a single strut). Flys really well in 10 knots of wind and is still quick. The way I see it, if you want a fast kite - go small and light. I wouldn't go bigger foiling and I've gad the ultra in 5-15 knot days.

Only problem with the Ultras is if you drop them in the drink in really low wind and soak the canopy (e.g. land the trailing edge first), they don't drain water easily.

12m Hyperlink with 15m lines and 55cm bar ticks my boxes... goes between 10-20 knts on the foilboard for me. Mono strut wise Ozone Alpha is my pick because of its stability and non flappyness.

snalberski said..
12m Hyperlink with 15m lines and 55cm bar ticks my boxes... goes between 10-20 knts on the foilboard for me. Mono strut wise Ozone Alpha is my pick because of its stability and non flappyness.

Agree Ozone Alpha would be up there for me.
I flew one back to back with a Gong strutless and very similar.
But no comparison to Clouds in my opinion and I know some other guys would agree.

Thanks for all replies, has anyone had any experience with the Liquid Force Solo V3, it has the single strut.

wallyman said..
Already have 8 and 10 m Reos which work well, would there be any improvement for a 12m perhaps a Bandit, Drifter or some mono strut kite ? Need something fast turning for the light stuff.

Agree with the others, 12m kites and fast turning don't tend to go together unless like snalberski you're into jumping.
I don't know what foil you are using, but I'd be looking at it first. If your foil is inefficient or not suited to what you like doing and therefore is causing you to need a bigger kite I'd be looking at changing your foil. I can only assume you want a fast turning kite for manoeuvrability because you're doing a bit of wave riding of some sort.
If you don't have the right wave foil for your weight and conditions you are foiling in, then getting a bigger slower kite may only make things worse.
Let us know a bit more information about your gear, yourself and conditions you're foiling in or wish to foil in. That will help the forum give you the advice you need.

MikeyG said..
My biggest kite is a 9m Airush Ultra (it's a single strut). Flys really well in 10 knots of wind and is still quick. The way I see it, if you want a fast kite - go small and light. I wouldn't go bigger foiling and I've gad the ultra in 5-15 knot days.

Only problem with the Ultras is if you drop them in the drink in really low wind and soak the canopy (e.g. land the trailing edge first), they don't drain water easily.

Ultras are a great low wind foiling option in deed. The Ultras were designed for performance and the compromise is with relaunching. You need more skills to relaunch a kite like the Ultra in low wind, mainly due to the kite's shape but also the reduced diameter of the strut and leading edge. In the 2020 kite lineup Airush released the One Progression (beginner friendly single strut kite) which is much easier to relaunch than the Ultra, with a lower aspect ratio and larger central strut and Leading edge. This would be an ideal choice if you still crash the kite a lot when foiling.

We chose to replace our Ultras in the school with One's mostly because of the ease of relaunching. The One still works really well for low wind foiling as long as you're not looking for a high performance kite.

Been using the 12m Ultra for foiling for the last 3 years, wind range about 8 to 15 knots max. Using longer lines for anything 10 knots or less. It performs really well in light gusty winds as well when foil kites tend to collapse and tangle.

Here is a clip of the 15m Ultra in less than 8 knots.

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We have Ultra's and One's available for Demo at Pinnaroo Point, Hillarys, WA.

Christian

Hi Wallyman,

An insight into what kind of foiling you are looking to do would help greatly as three strut, 1 strut, no strut, foil kites and the newer single skin foils all are great, depending upon what you want the kite to do and how you like to ride.

Inflatables (all kinds) are great for all round performance down to 8 or 10 knots. Below this, relaunching is an issue and downwind riding is not really possible.

Foil kites like Hyperlink, Soul or Capa are awesome for fast freeride in light winds but are a bit pointless if surfing or riding big slow foils. Also excellent for big air in powered conditions and upwind/downwind at speed.

Single skin foils are excellent for slow speed riding in light winds on big surf foils and general purpose freeride foils, but are often time not relaunchable if they get dunked.

More info for better answers.

DM

8m Flysurfer peak. Loads of power for low end. The lightest kite you will find. Relaunches if you are careful how you crash it.

My 9m Ultra is my biggest LEI for foiling at the moment. It will keep me riding up to the point where I won't be able to relaunch it (or at least it isn't a given). Thats the problem with 12m single strut kites. You can ride them below the relaunch threshold (12m Ozone alpha should take you down to maybe 7 knots but you'll stuggle to relaunch in less than 9). 10m Alpha would be my suggestion. Foiling in 8-9 knots with 30m lines and you'll know when to come in because the wind is dropping off as it will feel light at 9-10 knots - or about the relaunch threshold.

My 12m strutless was good whilst learning as I wanted the extra canvas to hang off and fly the kite high. Now I'm a little better I want to drive the kite low to load up the foil so I'd be lit far too quickly on a 12 at my present skill level. Give it a year or so and I dare say I'll be craving that lit feeling all the time and looking for more power. Thats the cycle of learning.

I love my alpha 12m so much that I'm considering an 8m. Has anyone tried the alpha 8m?
I already have a reo 10+9m but 8m would be dedicated for foiling and not waves.

Have now added a second alpha (8m) to my quiver still a very underrated kite for LW foil, hope to see more out there!

weebitbreezy said..
8m Flysurfer peak. Loads of power for low end. The lightest kite you will find. Relaunches if you are careful how you crash it.

My 9m Ultra is my biggest LEI for foiling at the moment. It will keep me riding up to the point where I won't be able to relaunch it (or at least it isn't a given). Thats the problem with 12m single strut kites. You can ride them below the relaunch threshold (12m Ozone alpha should take you down to maybe 7 knots but you'll stuggle to relaunch in less than 9). 10m Alpha would be my suggestion. Foiling in 8-9 knots with 30m lines and you'll know when to come in because the wind is dropping off as it will feel light at 9-10 knots - or about the relaunch threshold.

My 12m strutless was good whilst learning as I wanted the extra canvas to hang off and fly the kite high. Now I'm a little better I want to drive the kite low to load up the foil so I'd be lit far too quickly on a 12 at my present skill level. Give it a year or so and I dare say I'll be craving that lit feeling all the time and looking for more power. Thats the cycle of learning.

Ahahahah, if you are careful how you crash it? I have never had a careful crash. It's just that. A crash. I suppose what you really mean is that if you are quick, and lucky, and have retained some sense of line tension, then perhaps you can relaunch. :) But don't count on it.