REALLY small leaks in the front tube (or bladders) are hard to find....
Taking the bladder out wont work very often - no matter how hard you push the sections, as you will most probably make it burst or bubble instead, if you got no idea whatsoever where the leak is !
Extremely small holes will close, when the bladder is not under high pressure.
So pumping the full kite up, REALLY hard, not just like when you fly, and then taking it in a pool or the sea when no wind - then you can find the leak approximately or precisely.
You might have to pump the kite when you have finished dipping and checking either the right or left side, before you take the other side - as the whole idea is you have the highest amount of pressure, thus for sure a bubbling hole somewhere
The advantage of this technique is that you find leaks in one-pump systems and valves too, if that is the problem.
Another advantage is, that you only have to take the frontbladder (it is most often the front bladder that got a tiny hole from a sharp bush) out on one side of the kite, so only half the work to get it repaired and back in
Using soap water might in rare cases work, but it can also be a lot of work without finding anything - as it is not easy to get EVERYTHING soaked and soaped so there is air trapped.
A bit of a trial and error method, that might work fine, but often dont work at all too...
When I talk about a really small leak, I mean a leak where the kite will get a bit more soft after using it 4-6 hours, but still okay to fly.
This is still no good if you ride a full day, or you go on a cruise along the coast or out on the sea
You can just pump the kite now and then if riding at the same spot, yes - but somewhere in the back of your mind you are piss.. about KNOWING there is even the smallest leak
(I am...)
Peter