Always funny how foil fans never cease to come out and get on the case at the slightest hint of any 'light wind' thread ... like they have some inbuilt 'light wind discussion' radar
I'm a bit lost on this thread to be honest, what with all the different kites touted and one liners etc.
But as the title is about the 17m Sonic 07 I can give some input as i have also had that kite out in marginal wind around the 10-13 knot mark.
I also was lucky to be able to make quick swaps and fly it back to back with 3 other 16m SLE kites ... of cours the Sonic is a 17m so it was a little bigger to be fair.
But is was far more powered ... far more stable ... and, most noticibly was massively better upwind than any of the other kites. In fact, at 90kg+ on a fast 128 by 38 board I could barely hold ground on any of the other kites and was having to walk back upwind reglarly.
With the 17m Sonic I felt well lit and was moving fast into the wind so much that I would run out of beach in one tack.
For jumps... it was way better than I expected as I didn't find it so fast to whip back on whatever stock settings it was on. I had struggled to even get in a position to get any air at all on the other kites yet on the Sonic I actualy went quite big and very floaty.
I didn't think it was the fastest turning kite on the planet... and to be fair, one of the other 16m kites in particular would turn very fast and direct in comparison allowing me to hit lips and instantly get pulled through a bottom turn ready for the next one... all without making any timing adjustments for a 'big kite'.
All great stuff... but end of the day I was down wind, feeling 'draggy' in the water and couldn't jump compared to being well lit on the 17m Sonic.
I didn't think much to the video (but then if it is a genuine 5 or 6 knots what do you expect?)... but I do think mr Bekite has a very fair point favourably comparing the 17m sonic to other big SLE kites... which is the context he has made the post in prior to foil hijack.
From my one experience with it I would say that it is an exceptional light wind kite at the moment ... and effortless to use also as it just doesn't feel big at the bar.
Though like Sonic owner will tell you... there is certainly a technique required to get the very best from the low end, just like other sizes.
Anyone gets the chance to try one... grab a go. Its a sweet kite for lightwind cruising and plenty altitude and airtime.