Flysurfer Soul 8m test, from launch to landing and everything between.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2018
- Wind 14-16kts, board Flysplit M 134x41, rider 186lbs
I record my second session with my new Flysurfer Soul 8m kite testing all aspects of the kite in first person. I saved my final thoughts at the end of the video and as always appreciate any comments down below. Make sure you check out my other Flysurfer videos and my motorcycle trip from the USA to Buenos Aires.
www.adventure-logs.com
adventurelogs
adventurelogs
Finally someone who gives a review and includes his weight!!!!! Great video, thanks for that.
Exhilarating and very informative Jason, thank you!
Hello from Italy Jason, I just wanted to thank you so much for your videos on the Soul because they are very helpful for me learning. I eventually bought the 10 m and I am totally happy with it.
GT
Thank you. The 10m is a really good size.
14-16 knots and kiteloop. This is very impressive. Thx for sharing
Ronagery those aren’t kite loops mate they like dodgy downloops
Hello i am new and i really like your lessons. Thank you very much!
Thanks you for sharing this great riding and video review. Soul2 is out and looking to buy the 10m
I should have a Soul2 in my hands in about two weeks and will most definitely be testing it to the extreme. Hopefully a video will be released quickly after. Thanks!
great video
increíble bro....
Great riding. The first time I've seen someone spin a Kite with the steering line...
I'm always constantly pulling a steering line to speed the kite up. What differs between a Soul and Sonic 2, the Sonic 2 will pivot like that by just pulling the bar hard to one side. The Soul loops more than pivots and because so produces a large power surge instead but will still pivot doing like I do in the video. One of the reasons I like the Soul better is using this power surge, I can hydrofoil on a much smaller size.
I m using 12 SOUL very good hang time. your video also very good.
Thank you. I think the 12m would be a great one kite quiver for travel on a twintip and the 10m if you foil.
Yeah. I do both foil and twin with 12m :)
good video, thanks
Sick bro
good kiter and kite🤙
Great review. Thanks for the detail. I liked your 6M Soul review too except you are making me broke; I want to buy both. :)
Thank you! I really love both the 6 and 8. I ended up selling my 8m awhile ago to help streamline my quiver and I've regretted it ever since!
awesome video and review...what bar/line lengths were you using?
Thank you! I was using Flysurfer's 50cm Infinity 3.0 CC bar with the stock 21m lines.
oh shit moment at 4:10 hahahah nice kite!!
What a great video but what a great kite spot! How where there not 15 kites on the water there?
Thank you! There are usually huge wind shadows unless the wind is just right. Also the only beach to really launch from is owned by a hotel which usually doesn't like kiteboarders. I was able to talk them into giving me special permission ;-)
Beautiful spot. What was the name of that hotel and where?
Great review! That first relaunch looked a bit sketchy with your center line wrapped around the bar 😱. I'm considering getting a 7m (I'm 65kg) for stronger wind for when my 9m LEI is too a bit overpowered. Is that a good use case in your view?
There’s a very good chance the 7m Soul will be more powerful than your LEI 9m so that’s something to keep in mind. You might want to look at the 6m instead.
Great review, thanks
I'm aiming for the smallest canopy and I'd love to have your opinion:
Rider 75KG, Wing MOSES 633 ,SOUL 8M ,Wind 8 knot
Will it work?
I would say at 8kts, no, not without difficulty. I have that wing and can do it with the 10m. You might get away with it with a 9m though.
@@adventure-logs Thanks for the advice.
I will probably have to kite at 10 knots or higher
@@SHAMAYY3 Get some extra long lines, that will help your bottom end.
Hi, you made a great review! It's very clear and concise. I'm from Buenos Aires! I bought a Flysurfer Speed 5 15M and a Soul 8m , I'm new with kites, I've been windsurfing for the last 30 years (Wave, Slalom, Formula) and starting with Windfoil. Could you give me some tips about how to waterstart with the Speed 5 and the Soul? I'm 140lbs and use a Spectrum TT 144 x 43. I need a LOT of wind to start to try the waterstart. My goal is to do low wind Kitefoil :) Thank you in advance!!
Thank you! With the 15m you should be able to twintip easily in around 12kts at your weight of 140lbs so I think theres an issue somewhere. First, have you done a bar check? With the bar trim set fully out(full power) while the bar is sheeted completely in, all 4 lines should be equal. If the bar set up properly then maybe it needs a bridle tune, theres a couple good videos out there showing how to do that. Does your board have a lot of rocker? I'm much heavier than you at 185lbs and with that 15m I would be able to start in around 10kts on the 15m.
@@adventure-logs thank you a lot for clearing me those things! My board is very flat. I think I'm making more than one bad 🤣. I think this week I'm gonna get some wind to try those things. I'll tell you if I could make some improvement! Thank you!!
@@gastonbarouille767 Good luck and let me know how it goes. If these are your first foils remember you get just as much power if not more on the upstroke compared to the downstroke. To build better power, sheet out the bar slightly as its going through the wind window to allow the kite to accelerate and then right before the peak, sheet in again. Foils are slightly different than inflatables but once you get the hang of it they are far superior.
Great review. I'm thinking of buying the 9m Soul. What would be the top end of wind range for that kite for a 185-190lb person on a tt?
That really depends on your skill level. I'm right around that weight and I could hold my 15m Soul down comfortably in 25kts. I would say 30-35 no problem if you are good with foilkites and have a bar with a lot of throw.
Adventure Logs, thanks! Very helpful. Amazing how much wind you can kite in with your 15m Soul. I did get a 9m Soul last week. Thinking of picking up an 18m Soul. I have an Ozone 13m Hyperlink v2. Had it out in 22 knots the other day. It will float in 6 knots. What range on the water would you say the 18m Soul would have for you?
@@collegepros I bet you won't need your HL anymore if you get the 18m. Its bottom end depends on what you use it for. For hydrofoiling the 18m will have a very small range just because you will become overpowered very quickly. The Soul will have a couple more knots bottom end than your Hyperlink but what it will be much better at is relaunching. The Soul is much more airtight and will take on significatly less water. Also they drain the water out way better as well than the Ozones. Also while you will have to adjust the bridles more often on the Soul, it will be able to keep like new performance with adjustments MUCH longer than the HL. Enjoy your 9m. I ended up selling my 8m in my never ending attempt to slim down my quiver and I greatly regret it even though I love my 6m for hydrofoiling.
A video on the best way to self land these would be great. You landed it on the edge of the widow? I thought it had to be done straight downwind? I don't like how the kite can slam down that way...
Ive been meaning to do a video all based on how many different ways you can self land a foil but work and weather have no cooperated. It may be this winter but I will get one done. To prevent the kite from slamming down while landing, its takes practice of how much back line pressure you need and know when to slightly adjust the pressure help with a smoother landing.
@@adventure-logs and you land it that way on the edge of the window?
@@mwdnasa Depends on the wind strength. That spot has a decent wind shadow that allows a really easy self landing but anytime the wind is up, i'll usually do the same thing. Put it to edge of wind window at 45 degrees, then as i backstall it, I quickly position myself upwind. Keeps the kite from scraping on the ground and a little easier to land in higher winds.
Thanks for the great vid! I've only ridden LEI so far but am looking at foil kites to Hydrofoiling. I'm 75kgs, what size would you recommend for hydrofoiling in sub 10kts?
Cheers,
Dave
The Soul 10m hands down. A 6/10m quiver would basically cover everything.
@@adventure-logs How low (kts) can a beginner/intermediate go on a 10m soul with a foil? I can use a 12m LEI down to 10kts or slightly less (with no hope of water relaunch) but I have many days of 5-10kts where even my 15m LEI would drop off the sky during lulls or when I lose speed (falls, change of direction).
@@davidflusin5705 On a large wing like a Moses 633, you should be able to get down to 8kts pretty easily and still be able to relaunch the kite. With experience people are riding it down to 6kts with a little work. I just put in my order today for a 10m and that says alot since I already have the 6 and 8. I never have this much overlap but I love the Soul so much.
@@adventure-logs I'm paying my dues with a 2018 Cabrinha double agent. But to progress I need to go on the water, which means riding in 5-10kts in this season...
@@davidflusin5705 5kts is going to be hard with any kite. Might try to go with a single skin then like the Peak4 or Marabou but teir top ends are really weak and no mater what you fly, at 5kts you're going to swim in if you dunk them.
Looking for a 15m ram air, not sure wether to go for Sonic 2 or Soul, will be riding a 2018 Zeeko Air Pop foil with 90cm mast, would like to get going in 6mph, i weigh 72KG. Would you go for Sonic 2 or Soul ?
soul
Unless you plan on racing and need the very slightly better upwind angles and speed, I would recommend the Soul. I have another video showing the build differences between the two and it's easy to tell that the Soul is another step forward. Here's the vid! th-cam.com/video/USxk6qFIJKc/w-d-xo.html
Excellent video. I also ride the Soul in 8 and 12m.
I saw you're self landing the Soul. Could you please provide specific advice to that, may be a dedicated vid?
Thanks, Nicolaus
Hey Nico. Would you say that kitlooping an 8m soul in this kind of wind, has less pull then a tube kite and reach faster the zenith ? ( or iam totally wrong ) Thx for your help. Just rediscovered the joy of foil kite this week with a 12M hyperlink. Maybe considering and 8 and go all the way with only foils
Ronagery, the Soul gives a very strong pull during the kiteloop so it really can catch you off guard if you aren't ready.
@@adventure-logs i cant agree more. I had to opportunity to try it a day after i saw ur video. When it comes to looping in stronger wind. I rather have a tubekite. It freaked me out :) iam glad i was able to find out
I personally love the explosiveness but yea you gotta be ready lol
Wow holy cow - thank you for the great video!
Could you give me your advice - im 145 lbs, could i move around on a similar TT with the 8m in 12-13 kts?
Thanks a ton! Looking for a place to test such a configuration in the Netherlands :) Keep ridin'!
Thanks for watching! I think you could since you are pretty light but you would be underpowered. I suggest going for a 10m instead. I know Flysurfer has been doing tours so people can demo, maybe they will be in your area.
Thank you again AL! The immediate reply and experience are appreciated! I will keep my eyes open...and good time on the water!
@Adventure Logs - Wait, I don't understand, you weigh 40 lbs more and are in only 2 kts more wind. Why would he be underpowered? Also, I weigh the same as you, but would need a 12m and larger board or something similar for those conditions. Are you able to keep going due to skill and experience (working the kite etc)? Or am I missing something? Thanks!
Omnes, after using the 8m more I don't think at that weight and wind speed he shouldn't have much problems if he keeps moving the kite in the air and isn't riding too small of a board. Normally I like to rig a bigger kite than needed for boosting but wanted to keep testing the limits of my 8m. If I was at a spot where those winds speeds were typical of 14kts ish, a 10m would suit it more.
Awesome.
1- Would you use it in waves 2-3 ft swell?
2 - 12m kite, 50 or 60cm bar?
3 - does the bar need any special back line adjustment out of the bag?
4 - is swimming backwards the trick to relaunch, any risk of filling the kite with water?
Thx matey
1. I've used all three of my Souls (6,8,15) in larger swell on both twintip and hydrofoil. In my experience the smaller the size, the better it drifts.
2. I would go with a 60cm bar personally. You can use the 50 and I had to use a 50cm bar with my 15m Soul for a while and it wasn't that bad.
3. FS purposely ships with the rear steering lines slightly longer to help with initial line shrinkage. You can do a quick bar tune test off the bat to make it's sure but I would wait about 5-10 hours to allow for everything to break in before I started messing with things.
4. Swimming backwards allows line tension which is really the key. Without tension, the kite is just going to lay there on the water. Swimming backwards can help speed the process up. Certain foils like the Ozone Hyperlink or even the Sonic2 do take on water fairly quickly. One of the best features of the Soul is it's airtightness and ability to just sit on the water without taking any on. In my 8 years of experience flying multiple foil kites, nothing relaunches better than the Soul.
Adventure Logs many thanks for this. Really helpful. I love this video. Love your channel and really appreciate you taking the time to share these insights.
Hola...tiene muy buen rango por abajo la soul 8m por lo que veo en el vídeo....as podido probar la soul 2 8m?...su rango por abajo es igual a la soul 1?... gracias...muy buen tutorial de la 8m...
I would say the Soul2 8m has a similar range. The steering is slightly more direct, it drifts slightly better as well. The kite inflates and packs down faster and the fabric sticks less to the sand.
Gracias 👍
Hi… how Many line meters has the bar? Thanks
That's with a stock Flysurfer Infinity 3.0 bar so 21 meters.
Very Nice movie,
I am looking for a light wind kite 9/16 knots for a North speedster foil.
Iam about 180lbs. What size/s do you recommend.
Greetings Mike
That foil needs a little more power to get up and going so I would recommend the 10m. At 9kts, you could make the 8m work but it would take more effort. At 16kts, you might be a little overpowered on the 10m where the 8m would be fine. So it's kinda in between.
Thanks, I appreciate youre advice.
I go for the low end with the 10m soul.
I consider to use my airush bar with 20m linelength. Or is it better to use a bar with shorter linelength as I am used to the steering caracterstics of tubekites. (Airush ultra 7 and 10m)
@@mikeschalk9444 Line length is more of a personal preference than anything else. I would go shorter, maybe 15-18m and then have some 6m extensions when the wind is lower.
Adventure Logs
Thanks
I keep youre advice in mind
My 10 just arrived and I cant wait to fly it.
🤙🤙🤙🤙
Mike
Hi, I am flying the 10m with -10 knots now. With 17m lines on a 45cm bar it did Ok. Sometimes I the kite was to slow. I felt it was too much above me and I lacked power for turning my speedster. The downloops are powerful but sometimes Scarry at 2 m above the water. I Needed a lot of bar leverage to keep tension on the lines for turning..
I considder to buy a 60cm bar with 17m lines or is this An overkill?
Best regards Mike
german engineering... what else... Flysurfer is by far the best Softkite manufacturer.
Где так ровно дует?
This was in Djibouti
Please be more careful in strong winds, never hot launch the 8 above 20 knots, you will go a long way!
Tony, I appreciate the concern but I've been flying foil kites now for almost a decade and have no problems launching or landing in high winds.
@@adventure-logs OK buddy. My 20+ years doesn't know anything ;) When showcasing a kite, you should show the safest way to launch and land them otherwise people get the wrong idea if they get inspired to get a foil. I don't ride an 8 in 16 knots, I am still on my 15m Sonic FR. That 8m Soul in its upper limit is not safe to hot launch. Enjoy! you have a lovely spot to ride in!
@@TKM11370 I disagree, but each to their own. I also would be using my 15m in winds like that on the video but I wanted to test out the 8m for the video. BTW I launch my 15m exactly the same way without problems (also without pre-inflation). Self launching is easy in high winds, self landing is another matter lol.
So....relaunch sucks balls....good thing there were no waves.
Must not be paying much attention then. The Soul is the BEST relaunch of any foil on the market right now. That area in the film has a wind shadow which greatly reduces the wind velocity at the surface of the water. Other than when the wind completely shuts off, I have always been able to relaunch my Souls.