Has anyone tried landboarding with both foil and inflatables (not at the same time obviously) to be able to compare the two for the sole purpose of landboarding?

I only used foils for landboarding in the past, but after my first season on water with inflatables, i'm not very motivated to go back to foils even for landboarding. Thinking of getting a 5-7m inflatable and use it for landboarding since they are so much better, more stabile, depowerable, easier to fly and generate power, way better upwind ability etc...

Any thoughts or experiences?

Ive seen this guy doing it...

Had a short go at landboarding back in UK with my xbow but didn't pursue it as I didn't fancy hospital food.

The guys going for it where I played had foils, maybe because they're easier to launch, land and control gusts but don't quote me on that.

Foils tend to be used for landboarding as you can reverse launch them off the ground by pulling on the back lines. You don't need as big a kite for landboarding either, (think 5m as a starting size) due to less drag and the whole hitting solid objects factor.

I was at the Col du Lauterets in France about 3 weeks ago and SLE/bow inflatables on snow are being used as you can relaunch on snow like you can on water. I think also if you are snowkite curious (like myself) its nice to use a kite you are used to on the water rather than try to learn how to use a different kite for what might be a once or twice a year idea. That said the snow specialists stick with foils as they pack down nice and small for backcountry portability.

I think the important aspect to consider is that you definitely shouldn't just use on land what you use on water, as you need to downsize. Oh, and invest in some good body protection (helmet, kneepads, body armour, force field)

I've tried both having first got into kiting, land boarding on a dirtsurfer.
Inflatables tend to have a bit more depower which is really good for stopping cos on a dirtsurfer you cant really just edge to stop like on water. Mountain boards are easier to stop on cos they turn quicker.
Foils are easier to get going on. unless you have someone to launch you it can be quite difficult to launch a LEI on land(esp grass) they tend to just keep sliding downwind rather than flip over like with a C or relaunch like a bow.
Foils however you can get away with about a 6m kite to get going in ~15 knots. I found i needed my 12m to get going on a LEI C kite in the same wind just due to the ability of the kite to fly and generate power.
Personally i'd go a foil on land over a LEI. Just feels more dangerous on a LEI on land.
And further to that go in the water over the land. Get a big board and large kite and avoid all the extra hard ground draggings.

superlizard said...

Has anyone tried landboarding with both foil and inflatables (not at the same time obviously) to be able to compare the two for the sole purpose of landboarding?

I only used foils for landboarding in the past, but after my first season on water with inflatables, i'm not very motivated to go back to foils even for landboarding. Thinking of getting a 5-7m inflatable and use it for landboarding since they are so much better, more stabile, depowerable, easier to fly and generate power, way better upwind ability etc...

Any thoughts or experiences?

The biggest hassles are going to be self launching and landing, it is so easy to damage an inflato. If the ground is not smooth sand, well good luck!!
It can be done for sure, but if you crash or try to launch or land on rough ground, and it does not need to be very rough, then pfffft you have a puncture or a ripped kite.
The modern depower foils are the way to go, have you tried anything like an Ozone Acess XC/Manta2/FrenzyFX??
Flysurfers?

Many other great foil options too, what foil kites (and sizes) do you have at the moment?

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

"modern depower foils" sounds like something i'll check out

Definitelly the "Feed the Rat" one i got couple of years ago, is not the best gust absorbing kite... but i suppose for its price it was ok...

junglist said...

Interesting

What about snow kiting? I have seen pics of both LEI and Foil kites being used and have heard that LEI's are becoming more popular due to the depower ability. Does anyone here have any experience of using both?

A mate of mine is a snow boarder and is interested in learning kite skills to take it to Victoria this winter, has anyone done this up in the ranges yet?

Cheers

J

Junglist, it depends on what you intend to use the kites for. If you aren't going backcountry and just playing in a snow area off a road, then an LEI is fine. On soft ungroomed snow you use the same size as what you might use on water, maybe one size down.

If you are going backcountry, foil is the only way to go, as the kite packs down nice and small, and you don't need to carry a pump with you. Earlier concerns used to relate to doing up valves in the cold weather (no gloves) though this isn't as much of an issue now with one-pump/octopus systems.

If your mate is only keen in snowkiting, then he should get a dedicated foil. However, if he wants to do it on water in the summer, he should get an LEI as then he isn't buying two sets (unless he is loaded and doesn't care)

I tried it for a day in the French Alps in Feb, its harder than on the water, especially when you can't just kick free the snowboard! I saw Chasta the world champ doing what he does best, way up an untouched face. It was so rad I wanted to hurl big chunks for not having the time to get into it properly and also from powder jealousy. Also the hang time these guys get is awesome, they just fly down a slope, about a metre off the ground for about 30 seconds.