If you've been following the kite scene lately, you've definitely noticed kitefoils, been told about them, or seen a picture of them somewhere. Kitefoils are now increasingly used at all spots, whether at inland lakes, low wind regions or even at the sea. We know from experience that a kitefoil gives you a completely different feeling compared to a regular board when leaving the water surface. Your board simply reacts OTHER!
If you have not yet dealt with a kitefoil, do not know how it looks and is built, we have summarized some descriptions for you. First of all, it should be mentioned that kitfoils can be disassembled for better transport.
If you've been following the kite scene lately, you've definitely noticed kitefoils, been told about them, or seen a picture of them somewhere. Kitefoils are now increasingly used at all... learn more »
If you've been following the kite scene lately, you've definitely noticed kitefoils, been told about them, or seen a picture of them somewhere. Kitefoils are now increasingly used at all spots, whether at inland lakes, low wind regions or even at the sea. We know from experience that a kitefoil gives you a completely different feeling compared to a regular board when leaving the water surface. Your board simply reacts OTHER!
If you have not yet dealt with a kitefoil, do not know how it looks and is built, we have summarized some descriptions for you. First of all, it should be mentioned that kitfoils can be disassembled for better transport.
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What parts does a kitefoil consist of?
Mast
Fuselage
Front wing
Rear wing
The mast ofthe kitefoil The mast is connected to the board on one side and is the support for the wing on the lower side. The mast length of the kitefoil can vary and basically only decides how high you can ride the kitefoil above the water surface. Usually, the mast length of current models is between 90 and 110cm. The mast as well as the wings are built from ultra-light and high-strength materials such as fiberglass, aluminum and/or carbon.
The front wing of the kitefoil The front wing significantly determines the lift of the kitefoil, the larger the wing is the easier the foil is to ride. Besides the lift, the front wing of the kitefoil also determines the speed and maneuverability of the foil. With Levitaz's Element setup, you can ride at 12km/h while hovering. This is quite slow and is due to the large front wing. But especially in the beginning you are easily overwhelmed by too high speeds when starting up.
The rear wing ofthe kitefoil The rear wing is used to stabilize the kitefoil and is usually 2.5 to 3 times smaller than the front wing. In addition, the rear wing has a negative V-shape. That is, the rear wing points downward to keep the wing from poking out of the water at steeper angles.
The Fuselage Thefuselageis the connection between the mast front wing and the rear wing. This part of the kitefoil must also be very stable and of course should not be deformed by impact. To screw the mentioned parts together properly, Levitaz has installed a small plate at the lower end of the mast.
The right board for the kitefoil? It is helpful that there is a standard size for attaching the masts. This means that you can attach almost any mast to any board. Here, however, one must still fundamentally distinguish 2 systems: The regular mounting by means of 4 screws and the Tuttle Box. Basically compatible is the attachment by means of the 4 screws. Some boards have a rail system on the board especially for foils in order to be able to additionally adjust the foil forwards and backwards. Especially at the beginning it is recommended to take a slightly larger board. The advantage is when you come from the hovering state on the water surface, with a larger board especially if it is like a wave board, a little smoother.
The arrangement of the loops on the Kitefoil The loops on the Kitefoil are actually a matter of taste. Basically, you can also start "strapless", "front only" or "front and back" or "front center". According to the "old hands" it works easiest if you mount the loops in the front on both sides. It is important that the loops are not placed tightly like on a twintip board. It is incredibly important, especially in the beginning, that you are not too tightly connected to the board at any time and that you can jump off the board at any time.
So how does the kitefoil work? Quite simply, the system is the same as on an airplane or a kite. The curvature of the wings generates enough lift to bring the kiter and board into a hovering state. Lift is created by splitting the water and having one half travel a longer distance due to the camber in the wing. The higher the speed, the greater the lift.
How to carry the kitefoil correctly? To carry the kitefoil safely and without damage, it is best to shoulder it. For this purpose, the mast lies on the shoulder and ideally the wing points forward, because with the board in front of your head you can't see where you are going.
If at the beginning the transport with the kitefoil seems unwieldy (compared to a conventional twintip kiteboard), this thought immediately fades as soon as you have ridden the first meters.
The mast ofthe kitefoil The mast is connected to the board on one side and is the support for the wing on the lower side. The mast length of the kitefoil can vary and basically only decides how high you can ride the kitefoil above the water surface. Usually, the mast length of current models is between 90 and 110cm. The mast as well as the wings are built from ultra-light and high-strength materials such as fiberglass, aluminum and/or carbon.
The front wing of the kitefoil The front wing significantly determines the lift of the kitefoil, the larger the wing is the easier the foil is to ride. Besides the lift, the front wing of the kitefoil also determines the speed and maneuverability of the foil. With Levitaz's Element setup, you can ride at 12km/h while hovering. This is quite slow and is due to the large front wing. But especially in the beginning you are easily overwhelmed by too high speeds when starting up.
The rear wing ofthe kitefoil The rear wing is used to stabilize the kitefoil and is usually 2.5 to 3 times smaller than the front wing. In addition, the rear wing has a negative V-shape. That is, the rear wing points downward to keep the wing from poking out of the water at steeper angles.
The Fuselage Thefuselageis the connection between the mast front wing and the rear wing. This part of the kitefoil must also be very stable and of course should not be deformed by impact. To screw the mentioned parts together properly, Levitaz has installed a small plate at the lower end of the mast.
The right board for the kitefoil? It is helpful that there is a standard size for attaching the masts. This means that you can attach almost any mast to any board. Here, however, one must still fundamentally distinguish 2 systems: The regular mounting by means of 4 screws and the Tuttle Box. Basically compatible is the attachment by means of the 4 screws. Some boards have a rail system on the board especially for foils in order to be able to additionally adjust the foil forwards and backwards. Especially at the beginning it is recommended to take a slightly larger board. The advantage is when you come from the hovering state on the water surface, with a larger board especially if it is like a wave board, a little smoother.
The arrangement of the loops on the Kitefoil The loops on the Kitefoil are actually a matter of taste. Basically, you can also start "strapless", "front only" or "front and back" or "front center". According to the "old hands" it works easiest if you mount the loops in the front on both sides. It is important that the loops are not placed tightly like on a twintip board. It is incredibly important, especially in the beginning, that you are not too tightly connected to the board at any time and that you can jump off the board at any time.
So how does the kitefoil work? Quite simply, the system is the same as on an airplane or a kite. The curvature of the wings generates enough lift to bring the kiter and board into a hovering state. Lift is created by splitting the water and having one half travel a longer distance due to the camber in the wing. The higher the speed, the greater the lift.
How to carry the kitefoil correctly? To carry the kitefoil safely and without damage, it is best to shoulder it. For this purpose, the mast lies on the shoulder and ideally the wing points forward, because with the board in front of your head you can't see where you are going.
If at the beginning the transport with the kitefoil seems unwieldy (compared to a conventional twintip kiteboard), this thought immediately fades as soon as you have ridden the first meters.
