FEEDBACK: FLUID M AND M-S IN KITE FOILING

Several options are available to you for the set-up of your kite foil in the waves. The balance between maneuverability, ease and speed of a Curve for great comfort in rail to rail or absolute priority to glide with the Fluid, or the Veloce. It’s this second option that Pascal took the time to share detailed feedback on on our forum.

“I am writing to you a review of the Fluid M and M-S. I am 1.72 m and 76 kg without equipment. I started kite foiling when only the Allvator was for sale (later it was called the Freeride 65 kite foil). After several years of practice, I wanted a foil to surf the swell and tease the waves.

Thinking the perfect set-up would be the compromise between the Curve and the Veloce, I chose the smallest Fluid which was on sale recently: the Fluid M. Inevitably some time later, the small models did their appearances. So I took the Fluid M-S which is close to the size of the Freeride 65. I started using it with the Fast 40 stabilizer which I replaced with the Fluid 40. I find it more pleasant when exiting turns .

From my experience, here are my comments:

Waterstart:

• M: Faster start but smoother take-off.
• M-S: I find the 65 again, you need traction or you will touch the water.

Flying in wind that fades:

• M: If the power of the traction kite gets me out of the water then I can fly. This makes it easy to sail while underpowered by at least one kite size.
• M-S: If I manage to get out of the water, I can fly but not upwind.

Flying in wind that has forced:

• M and M-S: Nothing to mention, except that I can kite full on.

Speed: pressure under the front foot.

• M and M-S: I catch the swell and can easily outrun it.

Turning: you have to engage. Normal turn: M and M-S: Great. Closed and fast turn:

• M: I can get the front wing to ventilate, if one end is ready to come out of the water? I hear the growl and that’s it, no stalling.
• MS: for the same effort, the curves are more radical. I manage to ventilate but still no stall. As I this wasn’t the case with the Freeride 65.

U-turn on the spot:

• M: To my surprise, it’s doable.
• M-S and Freeride 65: I haven’t thought of trying it yet.

Swell surfing and wave riding (long before they break):

• M: I don’t need kite traction, not even on the way up for the top turn. On the other hand, I sometimes fly it out of the water if I’m at full speed and I’m at the top of the swell which pushes vertically.
• M-S: I can sheet in the traction kite for more radicalization. I love it.

Maneuvering/gybing:

• M: It is easy; inertia, maintaining flight at low speed allows tolerance to errors of balance when tilting the feet (in flight).
• MS: requires more confidence but still easier than with the Freeride 65.

Initially, I had mounted the M on my 90 Allvator V1 mast. I found a certain inertia, a lack of precision in the resentment when turning. When I press the end of the wing M, I see the arrow that the mast takes. Also I replaced it with the new 85 and 100 carbon. Now I find a perfect efficiency of the foil.

As for the assembly on the fuselage, at the front as at the rear, I mounted a wedging (plastic sheet glued and sanded). There is no play and I put edible oil to avoid any blockage.

The M, M-S and the stabilizer are really aptly named: FLUID. The flight is more natural. Maybe I’m going slower than with the Freeride 65, but it’s much less physical. Unlike the Freeride, there is no need to step the back foot back when turning at full speed. I can enjoy an extra hour per session. An upwind speedrun then a downwind on the swell with the icing on the cake: curves. All for hours.

I take the M if the wind is not great, variable or very strong (with a 5 meter, it’s a bit all or nothing). The wing is more tolerant in low range but requires more attention so as not to be pulled out of the water.

I take the M-S if the wind is stable and even light with a suitable traction kite.

Here is my experience. All the best!”