So while I am in hospital and unable to kite, I've started to ponder some big issues, like are large lightwind kites (eg zephyr, etc) obsolete, now that foiling is here? Will manufacturers stop making them or is there still a place for them in the future?

Yes and no. Yes for foiling they are a dead duck. But not everyone foils and not every spot is good for foiling. So they will still be available.
Also the airstyle crew like a super big kite. So there is a contingent that will still use them.

I have a 12m Hyperlink which I use from 10-17 knots for foilboarding. In the top end it is hilariously good for a boosting session with a tt. I don't think I could find a 17m LEI that performs as well that, but I'm open to contenders.

Yeh have to admit, I'm scratching my head about kite sizes and types of kites now. I mean I was out on the crappiest 8m 2012 catalyst (250 bucks plus bar!) yesterday in winds I wouldn't even dream kiting in (not on a catalyst either ) and had an absolute blast.

Day before i cranked 10 odd km up the guts of a water body in sloppy 12-15 knots on a bloody 10m rebel of all kites. Wasn't the best drifter coming back downwind...

jason from westoz was down foiling with us the other day on a 9m chrono Foil ... been years since I've considered a foil kite (although I've continued to demo them and they are much better now).

So yeh big kites are definelty done and dusted for me.

Bigger the kite the better for airstyle it's coming back!
Foiling is phase for old lawn mowers it will pass

Must be an old fella

Ozone Zephyr

octo said..
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Foiling is phase for old lawn mowers it will pass

Says everyone who has never foiled.

I think it depends on your local winds

I think big lightwind lei are slowly becoming less relevant with foiling taking up more of the light wind sector.

They will still have a place but I think we will see more and more people turn to foiling and big LEI will become more niche and only really targeted to airstyle

Love my 19m Edge!

bramber said..
So while I am in hospital and unable to kite, I've started to ponder some big issues, like are large lightwind kites (eg zephyr, etc) obsolete, now that foiling is here? Will manufacturers stop making them or is there still a place for them in the future?

How long will you be in hospital?

ActionSportsWA said..
Inflatable kites will never do this. They aint dead, but this is only possible on high performance lightweight foil kites. This clip is shot on the North Sea with a Flysurfer Sonic Race kite.

DM

While the performance of these kites is impressive and I'm sure they have their place, I'd suggest that it's not too far away from shore or a rescue boat.
I reckon the guy at the 12 second mark would agree. He's in for a bit of a swim without that JetSki!

You can roll the end of a downed foil kite around the bar to pressurise the remaining air. The water on the valves gives a very good seal.

You can then swim and tow the inflated kite behind you. From time to time you need to put some more wraps around the bar to keep the pressure high.

More important than a huge kite is a relatively big wing on your foil. That makes water starting and foiling much easier. A big and/or floaty board helps. I have one of those but I never take it to the beach. The shorter board is so much more fun.

All this foil stuff also applies to freeride raceboards (Airush Sector 60). They are the best fun in a wide range of conditions. Think longboard surfing with a kite.

Of course, rule number one of light wind kiting is to never ever drop your kite. I have waited out several lulls by sitting in the water with the board on my feet and figure-8 flying the kite. Eventually a puff comes and that is enough to water start and ride back to the beach.

My record for this is 25 minutes of figure-8 flying and 3km down the coast. Fortunately I was returning from an upwind run so the return drag left me near my landing point. The downside is I passed a yacht club and the boats were coming out for their evening race. It never ceases to amaze me how obtuse yacht racers are. They will see a kiter in obvious trouble, and park their boats right in the way and in range of the kite and lines.

bramber said..
So while I am in hospital and unable to kite, I've started to ponder some big issues, like are large lightwind kites (eg zephyr, etc) obsolete, now that foiling is here? Will manufacturers stop making them or is there still a place for them in the future?

You're assuming everyone wants to yawn and mow lawns, with a foil board.

NorthernKitesAUS said..

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You're assuming everyone wants to yawn and mow lawns, with a foil board.

Foil boards are by far the most versatile and fun water craft ever invented. The only limitation is your imagination. Boosts, carve, glides, slides. If you can imagine it you can do it.

I was going to say shallow water is a bit of a limitation (which it is), but with a bit of experience you can foil through knee deep water very easily. You just need to keep the foil up high. As long as the bottom is sandy you can get away with bouncing the foil off the bottom as long a you don't mind the odd scratch and the occasional crash.

If you're powered enough and have a big enough wing you can water start sideways straight up onto the foil. I tend to avoid that in shallow water. It seems pointless to risk damage to my foil when I can just drag a few more metres into deeper water.

You can do all the usual stuff, but the energy retention of the foil lets you do heaps of stuff that you can't even imagine riding surface boards. Lots of whip carves, descending glides, rotations in both directions etc etc etc.

The same can be said for huge kites. It can be dull and scary being hauled along by a giant kite, or you can use that power and the slowness to do stuff.