Foil kites VS inflatable kites | KITEBOARDING

[@michaelanichtmehrda4280]

I like Harry’s philosophie . I quit my job and go living in Brasil at 62 Years. Directly on the beach . 9 month of steady wind every day and 28 C degree water temperature . That’s paradise.

[@markhudson5684]

Well done and very informative video guys! I must say as a 52 year old myself and still early in learning the sport, Harry inspires me that I’ve got so many more fun years ahead than most people think! Thanks Harry (and Damien)!!!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you Mark!

[@wernerxldata]

Motocross ?? Brilliant, did that almost my whole life, 52 now and still riding sometimes, super fun :) I got into kiting last year, windsurfed when I was young but didn't wanna restart that, to much hassle with equipment and getting to the water. Man I'm so in love with kitesurfing right now, I'm not that good and still learning but it motivates me in a way nothing else can. Love your video's, keep up the great work !!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Love it! We still rip dirt bikes (hair scrambles in FL) as well but a good day on the water is hard to beat! Enjoy and thank you!

[@wernerxldata]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin On more windy days it's hard to choose sometimes 😎

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@wernerxldata 100% we know the feeling..... :)

[@ArinGhend]

Harry’s closing comment in a nutshell - YOLO 😆 Couldn’t agree more! You guys are an absolute inspiration ❤️

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Amen Thank you!

[@dragonfist]

I started kitesurfing with a course last summer, 80% of the time I used Flysurfer Soul. Now I bought inflatable kites and I can honestly say the Soul is way easier for re-launch than inflatable once you get a bit of practice

[@jhgrc]

Exactly. For foil kite if you can understand to tension both backlines to backstall (reverse relaunch) you can do it. Many LEI riders don't have that kind of brain capacity. Including this channel based on myths presented here. First, try to relaunch that LEI in 6mph wind. ;) Foil kites can be relaunched on the ride, as water contacting wing tip folds, so just steer it back to sky. Also Peak4 was flying in the background & swim. That is not a ramair kite. Ramair kite requires airvents to ram air aka over pressure to kite to take structure. Peak4 can be water relaunched if you are quick. Double cell ramair (those "two brands" hold air like 15 minutes so you have to be slow to relaunch or LEI user)

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend for your insight....

[@gusbisbal9803]

@@jhgrc "Many LEI riders don't have that kind of brain capacity" .... Kite usage is now related to intelligence... How about you are taught to no do that for safety reasons on an LEI because at say 25knots it is a hot launch and can be dangerous. That's not going to be happening on a foil kit. Mainly because foilers are not out there at 25 knots.

[@Lack0]

@@gusbisbal9803 I was kiting today in 20-30 knots very gusty conditions with my 6m foilkite on 28m lines on a twintip. I might be the exception though, everybody else were riding their 8-9m LEIs. Our jumps were almost equal. I would never again try a LEI for sure. RAM AIRs are superior in almost every aspect: bigger windrange, better upwind, smoother handling, no on-off feeling, better hangtime, softer landings, auto relaunch over 18knots, better resale value, easier to repair, smaller footprint...

[@gusbisbal9803]

@@Lack0 and slow as a boat to turn... don't forget about that bonus. Superior all round dude. Your the man. You're probably superior in every way. You rock bro. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. If anyone disagrees with you, you tell'em how it is.

[@KristanDL]

For myself I came to conclusion that it's better to have both, but for different conditions. Whether it's blowing, which often leads to gusts and turbulence, it's better to go on LEI. For lighter and smoother winds it's better to get a big foil kite.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Great info for others thank you!

[@regornel]

Good, informative video. I’m foiling with inflatable kites but will be venturing into foil kites this year. The comments already made here have helped me with this. Keep up the positivity too !

[@AKJammer1]

I’ve been foiling ghosts and ufo’s, but for really light wind I’m looking at picking up a Gin Marabou 2 (10m). I’m 95kg, my 12m ghost just won’t get me out of the water on my 100cm board in the lighter wind. Summers in FL on the upper gulf coast are all about the 10-12mph wind that I’d like to take advantage of. Thanks for the comparison.

[@mateojimenez5905]

dope vid! also congrats on 10k!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much! We are so grateful!

[@SeaWasp]

Talking about going where you want - Lived in vancouver for six and a half years, moved back to vancouver island about two years ago. Took up riding a horse a couple days a week for the last two years and it's been a blast! Shown 5 times with the amateurs. Been flying the same smaller foil I've been flying for the last 14 years (1.9m) on land. It's a great upper body workout in the right wind, and will drag me if it's slippery. I ordered a larger one (3.5m) for some proper land silliness. It should arrive a few days from now. I went for kiteboarding lessons when I was in my early 20s and couldn't get on the board. Since then I've said "this is the summer to do it!" every summer since. This one might actually be the one, and I have some stoke this time for real. Thanks for the inspiring words 🤙

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for sharing....

[@sauce729]

Have you all ever played with the Flysurfer Hybrid? The Hybrid will completely change your opinion on foil kites. It's super safe for beginners (they even market it for children), and the relaunch is amazing. You can either backstall the kite or just pull on a single steering line. I've been able to relaunch the 7.5 Hybrid in 6 knots of wind with the leading edge down. Everyone else was sitting on the beach with their LEI kites. I've also been able to deep water and shallow water drift launch it. You can even drift launch it with the safety pulled, and it will still launch! It's pretty amazing for hydrofoiling! It drifts like crazy; I have yet to outrun it. I really like pointing my foil directly at the kite and carving downwind.

[@blooskyy7]

Congrats on 10K!

[@vaudou74]

for the past 14 years i used closed cells foils ( peter lynn C-shape then flysurfer),learnt waterkite with a cabrinha crossbow( after snowkiting, to learn the waterstart), learnt snowkiting by myself. peterlynn kites had the autozenith (let go the bar it will go back to the zenih depowered and can stay there for hours) , only crashed them because i made downloops too low and were a bit technical to relaunch, flysurfers (speed2,speed3, unity) were so stable that i don t remember crashing them in the water , i made some swims when wind died under 4knots and kite couldn t hold anymire in the air (light winds ride sub 10 knots with lw boards), rolled the kite in the water and used it as flottaison device, rolling up as it was slowly losing air, in 25/35 knots, FS are stable enough , i guess i would have reverse launche them like in snowkiting. -peter lynn were 4lines ram C-kites, pretty much as quickturner as inflatables C ones ( tad slower than the same generation inflatable ones tho) - flysurfer have bridles and when QR them (snowkite, emergencies,overpowered), can be a bit messy to set them back up,recent ones have more rigid bridles than undo almost themselves. -gusty conditions (snowkite, mountain lakes), the kites will lose their form (sometimes my C-shape PL will almost go flat) but will absorbs the gusts and u barely feel anything in the bar first (like an assisted delayed depower), LEI will absorb almost nothing and u will have to depower/power with the bar (on/off effect) which on the otherside allow u to kill power on the spot. - boat launch: peterlynn were okay not much different than LEI , flysurfers are a bit of pain with their bridles, inflatables are way easier for that. -ground launching: hot launch, side launch,u can pretty do both with flysurfers as they get power only once inflated, i usually hot launch flysurfers at 30% inflated and they start pulling only when inflated at the zenith/side + as lines are always connected, takes me very few times to set up and launch (never understood why inflatables were undoing their lines) -impact: as i use the same kites for snow and water.....i can crash the kites harder (failed kiteloop to climb hills or any other reasons ) in the snow and not being worried about the inflatable leading edge of water kites, i also sometimes ripped them on barbwires (snow) or shells/deadwood ( sand) and took me a couple minutes to put a patch (to seal the air) and go back to ride. -waves: inflatable kites, faster depower, quick turner, will drift easly. -jumps: oldschool paragliding: foil kites. -upwind: foilkites ( high/very high aspet ratio) , moderate ratio (dunno if they make some anymore) are not better than LEI ones. -light wind: foils, stay in the air in lower wind, high aspect ratio allow better upwind, and no need to work them (the more u work them, the more they are in the window, the less u r efficient at going upwind), i prefer to have a park and ride kite than working them all around to get power. 8/16 knots: used my flysurfer 15 with 2 boards: lightwind and past 10 knots my regular board (130/37) as wind can change fast in mountain lakes, i usually have the 2 boards near the shores, faster to change boards than kites. 10/30 knots used my 10 flysurfer : lightwind board for 10/17 then my regular board for 17/30. 30+ : so rare in my region: i have no kites for that . mountains = death wish, lakes = too gusty and chaotic waves, by the ocean, i d pick a inflatables kite or a flysurfer as the wind might be more laminar.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you so much for sharing such valuable information!

[@markwalker1784]

I started on LEI's in 2004, Slingshot REV,RALLY,RPM,TURBINE always a big kite rider because im around 130kg 😮😂 then a friend 10ish years ago said to have a go on his 21m Flysurfer Speed 3. Id always put off wanting one , on price mainly, think they were around £2800 at the time 😢 jeeeez....anyway tried one eventually and POW next day ordered one. 10% discount took a bit of sting out of it. Later bought a 15 and 10 flysurfer lotus and for my weight they were flimsy as fk! Then a uk reseller offered me a try on the new Ozone Chrono v1, again WOW ......sold!!! Been on ozone ever since, 11 hyperlink v3, 13 15 18 chrono v5. Ozone Torque best boards ive ever ridden, far nicer than my carved. I had to stop working for people, having a boss 😂 as theyre not keen on employees vanishing when its windy 😂😂😂 self employed for 18 years now, 7mths vacation a year 😊 my employed friends i really feel their angst. Paying the mortgage off early helps too lol Id also like to say, foils are garbage in high gusty wind, last year in tarifa i was almost put off kiting completely.

[@paul-akers]

Amazing closing advice

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you we appreciate you!

[@johnstevenson3429]

Love the videos. However… Can’t believe you didn’t mention, for me, the most important difference. Inflatables have what everyone knows as “sheet in and go“. Hence, if a gust comes through you can let the bar out and shed most of the power. Similarly if a lull comes in, you sheet in and there is immediate power. A foil kite, by contrast, has far less power variation through bar movements. Another important point is that a foil generates significantly more power as it accelerates compared with an inflatable. Hence, the two feel completely different to fly. I used to sail inflatables on everything, but swapped to a foil kite when foiling in light winds. As you guys say, it stays in the air far better, but is (in my opinion at least!) significantly more difficult to use. Getting going is more difficult without the sheet in and go, and dealing with gusts is similarly scary. Furthermore, due to the slow turning speed and power increase as a foil kite accelerates, down looping on gybes takes a lot more commitment. Having said that, it is far more rewarding when you get it right - hence why I’m still flying them! p.s. And everyone listen to Harry - get yourself out there having fun as often as possible. Life is too short and too precious to be wasted!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you John for your insight for others.. Really appreciate you!

[@johnstevenson3429]

Pleasure. Loving your videos. Has advanced my wingsurfing from absolute beginner to toe & heel side foiling & foiling turns heel to toe in just 9 sessions. Just need to master toe to heel transitions & the foiling foot swap & I’ll be vaguely competent! 😜

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@johnstevenson3429 This is why we do it! Thank you for making our day friend.....

[@mbkiteboarding]

Love my 15 and 11 Flysurfer Sonic3, so much More performance than a tube kite.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@stephensinnhuber8401]

I want to come visit you guys just to meet Harry (and you of course Damo!). You guys have too much fun!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Life is all about fun! Hope to meet you one day as well. Have a great week!

[@vinhr1]

Damo. Thanks for the entertainment. Love to see ya living the dream.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@CFL_Foiler]

Another great video Damien, keep it up. I just want to add that you did a bit of a disservice to the Single Skin Peaks by skipping the advantages of single skin kites for foiling. I have been kiting for over 20 years and the single skin peaks are one of the biggest game changer kites for the sport of foil kiting that I have ever seen. The biggest advantage is their ability to drift and fly in really light wind, there really is no competition for foil kiting in the waves. The only thing better for foiling freedom in the waves is a wingfoil. They do have the disadvantage of not being relaunchable in most circumstances but if you are an advanced rider its a non-issue as they never fall out of the sky, even when running right at them on a wave. Certainly don't recommend them for beginners, but if you want to ride waves/swell with total freedom on a kite they can't be beat. Oh, and they are really cheap too!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Neil thank you for your info for sure it will help everyone! Appreciate you!

[@Rocco_Kurokawa]

I totally agree to this, the Peaks have been game changing for Kitefoiling for me too, especially with my Wingfoilboard with it's big foil, able to ride waves straight downwind and ride at 4 knots.

[@BoyBrighton]

@@Rocco_Kurokawa Hey Rocco, that’s Awesome👏, really interested in the Peaks. What size Peaks do u you ride with your wing foil board. How much wind do u need to get up on foil. Thanks 🙏

[@sauce729]

If you like the Peaks, you should check out the Gin Marabou V2 or the FS Hybrid. The FS Hybrid is incredibly easy to water relaunch and is very user-friendly. The drift is better than the Peak's, but it doesn't have as significant a power spike. It's very hard to outrun the Hybrid kite. Going downwind on the Hybrid is super fun; just point the foil directly at the kite and let go of the bar. The kite will just sit there, happily drifting along like a plastic bag in the wind.

[@BooRay1]

Good points.. I would say that someone shouldn't need to chose inflatable or foil... I would say foil for lightwind and LEI for stronger winds.. But what I realy like about foil kites is that they are so small to pack... you can take 3 sizes and will have the same backpack as one LEI with a pump. And from my experience I would say that foil kites have a wider wind range proobably also due to being more open and higher aspect. For me it is easier to selflaunch foil kites. The major downside is that if you hit safety on a foil kite you proobably wont recover it... relaunching is kinda good if you know how: tip: dont pull on the lines when kite drops (just let it get itself sorted out first) if you pull the lines, kite will absorb alot more water.. if you just wait for one edge to come up - you have very long relaunch window... In light conditions if kite falls on back side and sticks to water - you proobably have no chance to relaunce.. packing it on the beach I would say anyone is better than the other - you just have to deflate and roll both up :). one major downside to foil kites is also that it has alot of brydles(which when wet - like to pick up stuff and tangle) which you need to take care when you pack and unpack - and proobably keep one bar attached at all times to make it easier. In my view the foil and LEI are even - they both have advantages and disadvatages. but for beginners like you said I would take LEI - they are so much more easier - less complicated and straight forwoard.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for your insight...

[@sauce729]

The FS Hybrid will relaunch if you pull the safety. This is one of the ways I drift launch the kite, it just has the safety pulled, if the kite auto launches it'll have no power.

[@letrinhtuan]

Foil relauch automatically, only just some cases we need to pull the line. Foil kite good for kitefoiling 2-7knot, LEI you have to let it pass this light wind day, or sitting down on the beach look at others kiter enjoy the sessions

[@bevcooper9728]

Great info!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@CharleswoodSpudzyofficial]

I love my lei kites. They are just so cool!

[@rscaneable]

Compare with close cell foil kites. The single skin (Peak) is not a good comparation.

[@paolocutilli]

Relaunch is much much easier with foil. No need to movw to the endge window + just pull 1 chord and you are done. Self launching (I agree it requires some practise) Almost zero Wind and you go Speed? Foil goes same speed + you can go slower than pump, if you want. I disagree with many statement you told

[@yellowcub86]

Keep it going!

[@ChrisDavis-sx3nq]

Both kites have their place. Agree with everything they said but would add that foils have a lot more power and larger wind range and they last longer. I have 9 year old foils that still fly well. Often I will start a session on my 12 m Flysurfer Speed and stay on it for hours while my friends have to head back to the beach and inflate a 9 or 15 depending on the wind changes. First out, last in most of the time. Keep up the positive vibes!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you for your insight friend! Helps everyone.....

[@ChrisDavis-sx3nq]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin You probably don't remember this but we ski raced together a long, long time ago. You are younger than me (50) but I remember seeing you when I was racing FIS and Nor-ams and was doing a little coaching up in New England. I think you raced out west but we travelled out there for the bigger races. Cheers!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@ChrisDavis-sx3nq Small world my brother! Hex yea.... So cool! You ready to get into kitesurfing and winging? Or maybe you already have fallen in love with it like the rest of us... Have a great week old friend....

[@ChrisDavis-sx3nq]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Kiting 11 years now, windsurfing 38. Might give winging a try this year but wife says if I buy any other gear something has to go. Live in Salisbury MD so have a lot of kite spots close! Have a good season and maybe see you on the water or the slopes again someday :)

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@ChrisDavis-sx3nq Epic brother! See you on the water!

[@jorgeroman6723]

What beach is that one guys,i got a foil kite trainer ,love it .

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Juno Beach.

[@jorgeroman6723]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin thank you

[@TrevorsCrabs]

ALOT OF GREAT POINTS!

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you!

[@TrevorsCrabs]

@@DamienLeroyKZbinis it possible to use a surfboard or foilboard with a 4 line power trainer kite, like the hydra water relaunchable kite... will you just be able to go down wind or can you tack up wind with a power kite? I dont understand the difference between a power trainer kite vs a foil kite? Are foil kites power kites or depower kites? I know lei kites are mostly all depower kites...

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@TrevorsCrabs For sure! They are the same buddy, they both are foil kites, Here is an older video for you of it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqa5eZSOftCMirs

[@dr.franciscotorresmarquezc7352]

Min 10 wise words. Enjoy life 🙏👏👏👏

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Amen!

[@giuseppeametrano4504]

9:57 Great

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Thank you friend...

[@TrevorsCrabs]

2:32 foil kites in gusty winds

[@marinevans7080]

“We’re so excited to see your face again” 🤔

[@estimatinggcs226]

I have a question, I am trying to start in the sport, I felt in love with he Hyper V2 Ozone, I know it is a Ferrari like Harry said, I am familiar with Air Sport, as a skydiver I know how to handle canopy. I was wondering if I could approach Kitesurfing safe, probably longer but enjoying the learning curve. Why should I have to buy an inflatable first, learn, outgrow it and them sell it and buy the Foil one? When I can approach the sport slow with the canopy I can learn gradually and do not need to sell and buy? Any wisdom in this approach? I believe skydiving is as any other sport hard to learn, but you can actually approach it gradually and learning to control it, once you know you have it figure it out you know how to handle your canopy the next level. I am prone to buy the Hyperlink V2 learn it step by step and when ready I know the capabilities are there. Rather than buy an inflatable learn it, go to the process of selling it, buying the new foil canopy and then learn again. this would be a great video any answer would be highly appreciate it. Best Regards for you & Harry!!!!! Jorge Clark

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Friend you can learn on a foil kites for sure. Its just in the beginning when your kite handling is not great you are crashing it a lot. It is easier to relaunch an inflatable kite learning than a foil kite in the water. Thats really it. They both work well. If you put the time on land on the foil kite and really get good at it you can help the first struggle in the water.

[@estimatinggcs226]

@@DamienLeroyKZbin Thank you Damien, my apologies on my delay response. I just thought about it and I admire your work and Harry!! I believe if I can put down the excitement of starting to use the board off, and learn to control the kite would be fantastic. I buy once and that is it. I believe, a good process would be buying just the Kite with the harness without Board, that way there is nothing I can do about stepping ahead of myself in skill levels and after some land training, I could jump to the water (without board yet) and learn to drag, crash it and relaunch multiple times and once I feel comfortable, I could buy the board as a final step. Once again it is a great honor to see your response!!! Would be fantastic to see you and Harry talking about this and buying only once!!! But I know you are super busy. Blessings.

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

@@estimatinggcs226 There is nothing wrong with buying just the kite and working on the basics! I would be careful learning the kite on the beach/land as you can get drug across the beach if things goes really wrong. "Done right is fine" Ideal is if you are in knee/thigh deep water with nothing in front of you to learn exactly everything you said above working on body dragging, flying the kite, relaunching and landing. All will help a ton. Then you can get the board and rock and roll. A great place for this is OTHERSIDE BOARDSPORTS in Islamorada FL. Mike and Shana.

[@timsmitheman9546]

Dear god this guy Harry rips man......

[@DamienLeroyYouTube]

Amen! 100%