Florian Gruber is a light wind expert but this video of him foiling in 4knots at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth is just rediculous.
I think thats an R1 18M, very light conditions for sure. When he stepped off the foilboard at the end I was impressed by the stability of the kite. Most older, less refined foil kites would have luffed at that moment.
I'm sure the wind is light but 4knots........ check out the red flag in the background at around 40 second mark, def looks like more than 4 knots to me.
4 knots and it would be almost hanging limp.
Insane !! Im damned if I can get my head around how a foil can work in such low wind conditions?? Common sense and experience says you need a bigger and flatter board to get planning when its a drifter - the surface area of the foils on a foil board are tiny !! How does this work ?? Im stumped - but bloody impressed!!
Thanks for the post! From my hometown and I can almost see my mums new house up on Portland if it wasn't for the wet and gloomy fog all around. 
Select to expand quoteLambie said..
Insane !! Im damned if I can get my head around how a foil can work in such low wind conditions?? Common sense and experience says you need a bigger and flatter board to get planning when its a drifter - the surface area of the foils on a foil board are tiny !! How does this work ?? Im stumped - but bloody impressed!!
Next to no drag on the foil, slices through the water, a board has to push / displace lots of water as it moves forward, even more when you cut hard.
The lack of spray and wake shows this.
Select to expand quoteLambie said..
Insane !! Im damned if I can get my head around how a foil can work in such low wind conditions?? Common sense and experience says you need a bigger and flatter board to get planning when its a drifter - the surface area of the foils on a foil board are tiny !! How does this work ?? Im stumped - but bloody impressed!!
You can pump the foil with your legs to help it get planing. You can see Florian pumping the foil slightly near the end of the OP video.
pumping a foil - proof it generates power
Select to expand quotetightlines said...
I'm sure the wind is light but 4knots........ check out the red flag in the background at around 40 second mark, def looks like more than 4 knots to me.
4 knots and it would be almost hanging limp.
Yep I agree. That's not 4 knots. All flags would be limp.
On a side note . Apart from bragging rights what's the point?. Kiting it wind this light is just plain boring.
For the record I can and do kite in wind this light in my kite buggy.
I call it desperation kiting. You need to get a fix so you go out in these marginal conditions.
I guess if you have not other sports then 4 knot kiting would be appealing.
If you be standing on beach you would not be able to fly your kite.
Pretty sure if a handfull of pros say it was 4 to max 5 knots it was that light.
Florian Gruber is probably the best guy in the world in sub 10knots kiting.
He lives on a lake in bavaria where he kites a lot in such light conditions.
The new foil kites and an effcient hydrofoil can make such possible given you keep moving and apparent going.
Select to expand quoteTerryMcTool said..
I think thats an R1 18M, very light conditions for sure. When he stepped off the foilboard at the end I was impressed by the stability of the kite. Most older, less refined foil kites would have luffed at that moment.
17m R1 it is
When I lived on the east coast I used to go be able to go upwind in 15knots.
I don't even get out of bed for less than 30 knots anymore.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
On a side note . Apart from bragging rights what's the point?. Kiting it wind this light is just plain boring.
For the record I can and do kite in wind this light in my kite buggy.
I call it desperation kiting. You need to get a fix so you go out in these marginal conditions.
I guess if you have not other sports then 4 knot kiting would be appealing.
I bet you have never tried a hydro foil. Before I got one I thought that anything sub 15kn was boring but now I am just waiting for those sessions when there is barely no one out there. It is different, a lot more technical and just so much fun.
Now reading you agro comments on pretty much everything and then looking at what you are actually doing I don't think anyone really care about your opinion.
Seriously, who ride dog style on a mutant these days????
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
On a side note . Apart from bragging rights what's the point?. Kiting it wind this light is just plain boring.
For the record I can and do kite in wind this light in my kite buggy.
I call it desperation kiting. You need to get a fix so you go out in these marginal conditions.
I guess if you have not other sports then 4 knot kiting would be appealing.
I can get out in 8-10 knots on my raceboard. It is such a nice feeling to have the kite perfectly trimmed and the board perfectly trimmed and to be slicing along on glassy water. On my light wind TT it was also nice to have that perfect rooster tail spraying out.
I can only imagine how nice it must be to be perfectly trimmed on a hydrofoil and hearing that hisss as it slices through the water ... but I'm working on it. 
You can hear the rigging in the yachts banging against their masts in the wind. That flag is nearly pointing straight. Wind speed must be higher than 4 knots.
Select to expand quotesamokta said...
You can hear the rigging in the yachts banging against their masts in the wind. That flag is nearly pointing straight. Wind speed must be higher than 4 knots.
Might not be 4 knots on the dot, but certainly less than a steady 6 knots, as they held back any of the olympic sailing classes from racing due to not enough wind
I have no doubt the wind speed would be very low and am amazed at what the foil combo's can get going in (def want one one day) but I assume that would be measured at close to sea level though, wouldn't it?
Select to expand quoteTerryMcTool said..
I think thats an R1 18M, very light conditions for sure. When he stepped off the foilboard at the end I was impressed by the stability of the kite. Most older, less refined foil kites would have luffed at that moment.
Hmmm yea
It's all about the kite, nothing to do with the flyer
Im sure he"s never done that little trick before
The kite was not even in shot when he stepped off the board how can we know how it behaved
Ian, you need to fly one and see how impressive they are in light winds. Jordan would be happy to give you a go on his if you see him down the beach.
Peace
Select to expand quoteIanR said..
Hmmm yea
It's all about the kite, nothing to do with the flyer
LOL. Gee you must have a super duper automatic kite of some sort?
Select to expand quoteIanR said..TerryMcTool said..
I think thats an R1 18M, very light conditions for sure. When he stepped off the foilboard at the end I was impressed by the stability of the kite. Most older, less refined foil kites would have luffed at that moment.
Hmmm yea
It's all about the kite, nothing to do with the flyer
Im sure he"s never done that little trick before
The kite was not even in shot when he stepped off the board how can we know how it behaved
Terry is the consummate used car salesman - never miss a chance to push a sale by making claims that sound amazing but are in fact run-of-the-mill...
I can believe 4 knots. Foil boards are witchcraft. Foil kites love the apparent wind. Seem to remember someone on KF saying they'd managed two and half times the wind speed, so that'd be about 12 knots - easily rideable. Just don't fall over ;)
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..IanR said..
Hmmm yea
It's all about the kite, nothing to do with the flyer
LOL. Gee you must have a super duper automatic kite of some sort?
That whistling noise is the sarcasm sailing over your head...
Select to expand quoteKitepower Australia said...
Ian, you need to fly one and see how impressive they are in light winds. Jordan would be happy to give you a go on his if you see him down the beach.
Peace
What's the difference between Terry Mctool and Kitepower Australia?
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
pumping a foil - proof it generates power
I think the first vid is a bit deceptive, the wind isn't down to water. Still impressive.
but the kite is not at water level either, I think foil pimping has become a new sport
Select to expand quoteSpark said..Kitepower Australia said...
Ian, you need to fly one and see how impressive they are in light winds. Jordan would be happy to give you a go on his if you see him down the beach.
Peace
What's the difference between Terry Mctool and Kitepower Australia?
One has 4,000 posts, the other doesn't.
Select to expand quoteSpark said..
What's the difference between Terry Mctool and Kitepower Australia?
A password Terry no longer knows and about 800km :)
Select to expand quoteKitepower Australia said..Spark said..
What's the difference between Terry Mctool and Kitepower Australia?
A password Terry no longer knows and about 800km :)
I would say it's far closer to 900km actually... there you guys go, making outrageous claims again.
