Postby BWD » Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:28 pm
I have liked using the strutless Cloud kite in waves, onshore and sideshore.
Strutless hasn't taken over from "normal" kites, but for waves, the cloud has advantages imo.
It depowers completely if you sheet out with the bar, great for feeling the wave and matching its speed. Pull in the bar and crank a turn, the kite will turn and shoot across the window fast, also good for waves.
Need drift? The cloud has it, way better than most.
Riding in onshore, the kite will stay stable and drift as you shoot down a wave. As the strutless canopy luffs, the L/D drops, so it goes back in the window, but without risk of stall, since it is luffing, not oversheeted or "choked" to go back in the window, as you must do with many kites to send them back.
When you sheet in though, it flies forward.
Sheet in, trim the board for speed, or turn around to go out through the break, the luffing disappears, drag from the luffing canopy is gone, apparent wind kicks in, the kite flies forward in the window, and makes more power, carrying you upwind with speed.
It's not perfect. To get this performance, what you give up is good steering while sheeted out (which few kites have anyway), and top end range. To me it's a good compromise, since I don't feel like I need the kite to steer fast at the same time it is drifting. When it is drifting, I want it to just sit up there and let me concentrate on turning or trimming the board, enjoying the wave. To redirect, sheet in and the kite will turn really fast, no problem. It would be nice to have an extra couple of knots on the top end, but for waves it is really better to go down a size when you can anyway, no need to hold onto a 17 (or even 13) in 18knots.
BTW I own only one Cloud, size 17, and I paid for it, no affiliation or deals or whatever. I fly other kites in other sizes and I am not going to pimp one kite or brand for all purposes. But I will admit I would like to have a 10m Cloud for better wave days.
If you want to try something totally different in the waves, try a Cloud if you get a chance. You might like it. I think it's good, especially in onshore because it drifts amazingly , shuts off, turns fast, and gets you upwind.