FEEDBACK: CURVE H V3 FG FOR KITE FOILING

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Kite foil

08 april 2025 0

Thierry, GONG ambassador, takes the Curve H V3 Fiberglass out for a kite foil session.

Kitefoiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, with the Fronteira HDCC and Vertigo kite.

Presentation of the gear

“Hello

As part of the Foil Ambassador Tour, I received a Curve H V3 FG pack, from size XS to XL.

Planning to ride the smaller wings in kite foil and the bigger ones in surf foil.

I’m 1m72, 76 kg, 50 years old, been kite foiling for 8–10 years.

Board: Catch Kite 4'2, aluminum mast 85 V2. Old 3-strut kite from 2012, another brand. I’m keeping my Ayto for twin tip.

For reference, my usual setup is a Fluid M-T 75 cm with a Fast 40 stab.

I tried a Curve M a few years back but wasn’t into it — felt too slow for my level, especially next to my Hellvator back then, which was an absolute missile.”

“First session on Sunday, wind bouncing between 10 and 16 knots.

I warmed up on my usual gear to get a feel for comparison. I normally ride kite foil in 8–14 knots — anything above that and I switch to twin tip.

A couple of mates are out on TT with 14m kites, but they’re not catching much air.

Back on the beach, I rig up the Curve H S with the S stab. Zero compatibility issues — V3 fuse and my V2 mast lock in tight, no wiggle, super clean fit.

After a few minutes, I head back in to swap to the Curve H XS, still using the S stab.

Right as I’m ready to launch, the wind drops off for about 10 minutes. The kite’s barely flying, and I know if it falls, I’m swimming. I’m thinking: will the XS even lift me in this?

Turns out — no worries at all. Two pumps and I’m up and flying. Felt quicker than the S, even in those light conditions. No issues with the kite stalling in the jibes either.”

Conclusions

“No trouble waterstarting — the Curve H lifts off fast and feels super light underfoot.

GPS on my watch showed I was riding at similar speeds to my Fluid M-T, and I wasn’t even pushing it.

Funny enough, when I picked up the pace and leaned the board more, it felt like the Curve held better and didn’t stall as easily as the Fluid — despite being the wider wing.

Balance-wise, you lose a bit of stability. It doesn’t track like the Fluid — less of that locked-in, ‘on-rails’ vibe. Makes sense though — the fuselage is a few centimeters shorter. I noticed it when I laid both setups over each other in the garage.

What that means for me: the mast drops quicker during foot swaps in jibes. You’ve got to move faster through the transition, but it’s nothing major — just needs a bit of adjustment.

That said, the glide in jibes really impressed me — it lifts well. Whether I was carving tight at near-zero speed or laying into big, fast turns, it held smooth and flowed great.

Bottom line: this H version of the Curve matches the Fluid MT for glide and speed, all while keeping a solid, balanced feel. The real win is how much tighter it turns — that’s where it stands out.

As suggested for this FG build, I didn’t go for any jumps.

Super stoked to try the bigger sizes in surf foil. If the Fluid H line has stepped up this much, I can’t even imagine what’s next.”