Will these kites drift better than small strutless LEI kites? What's is a reasonable wind range for foiling (70kg) for the 4.5?

Can't tell you as 2 years ago used my old strutless 9 m². And I think it is more about the question if low AR foil kites have the ability to drift better, while also being better upwind at a certain mixer trim. I could imagine yes, but you have to compare the LEI you prefer 1:1 and it will always stay different as a foil kites will never flutter what a strutless does when depowered to much.

I think I (64 kg) can ride the 4,5 m² in about 12 knts, just check the video of the first start and when the wind drops and I should stay with fun up to 35 knts gusts. It doesn't have a wide range for a foil kite, but it is good for a kite with such low AR. But it is also much about my very low drag hydrofoil, so depends a lot from this. Tried these days my old full race foil from 2016/17 and it just felt draggy . So maybe you will need 15 knts or more with a normal foil.

@irwe: Should be 23 m of flying lines, but I think to go about 3 m shorter in the future. And sorry haven't tried the 6,5 m²

Hey guys ... stop using the kite for hydrofoiling ... it was meant for wave riding strapless!!! This is also why it does not have a powerful lift for jumping as it was not the point ... it is all about drifting, drifting and drifting, being maneuverable while drifting, staying up there in the sky while you are surfing and getting back to the peak quickly. Because this is what matters hey ... surfing!

FYI, for hydrofoiling with a small kite, you can also try the pulsion 3.69 (a lot of drift as well). To get (a lot) more lift, you could also try the leader 4m.

As for the windrange on an hydrofoil with the 6.5 instead of the 4.5 I cannot say as I don't hydrofoil but it has a good amount of power more than the 4.5. Better to ask Benoît Tremblay directly as he does a lot of hydrofoiling.

yes you are 100 % right, the kite is great in all what it was made for. And in fact the first emails with Ben I was discussing more about Pulsion 3,7 m² (why the hell all call it 3,69 m² ?) But on the end, some how it went the 4,5 m² as maybe Ben thought it could fit better to my demands. And apart from a bit jumping, which is not so important for me in high winds and relaunch in 6 knts which I know, no normal storm kite can do, I am very happy. My problem is, I never care what things were originally made for, but just try to find the gear with best fit for my very special personal requirements

Apart from that I think I will stay with the Wave at least as long I find the chance to really ride it in a wave. But the Wave made me curious to try also the other small models, the 3 m² Wave, 3,7 m² Pulsion and even the new 4 m² Leader. It is great to have a manufacturer who cares so much about small foil kites and even more is not living and testing just on sea sides with constant wind, but also seems to know about the difficult wind conditions in mountain lakes or fjords.

So if somebody in Central Europe (F, GB, D, A, I) has one of these, is willing to let me try and I find an occasion to meet upcoming summer, it would be a pleasure. Not necessary to say I also offer my Wave for a test.

I have now tested the Wave 6.5 on the snow (in Austria). To say it in a few words: this is a great kite with good potential for touring/snowkiting, very good depower, very agile and predictable + kiteloops are peferct to go up the slope (the kite does not slow down when gping up in the loop). What I would maybe add is a fith line on the trailing edge (which worked very well with the previous generation). That would make the kite even more user friendly when in strong winds (I had no pb landing the kite using steering lines though. I even could pull it slowly toward me while keeping may skis to pack it up. But I have the feeling that it would be even better for safety)

Now I am thinking .... a quiver of two waves 6.5 and 10.5 for snowkiting... hmmm... Benoît if you hear me ....????

A quick and unedited video I took with my cellphone of Marc Blanc with a pulsion 3.69 in small mushy waves. It is difficult to see but he unhooks when he entered the wave, he grabs the leash (which is connected suicide) and pulls on the leash at the end to hook the kite back.

Somebody can give me an orientation about the comparable size of a wavekite like the REO in comparison to the wave 6,5.
Does the wave drift also in the lowend of his range?
I have a REO 10 and I can foil in winds roundabout 10 knots but there is no way that the REO drifts in this winds.

You really need a big lightweight foil kite to drift in 10knots and below. In lightweight fabric something like the Pulsion looks good, but also the Hyperlink and Soul and maybe the A15. Maybe the Wave can be made in lightweight cloth? Personally I have found the biggest kites, like 21meter speeds, drift the best in lightwind. From a physics perspective it makes sense , as they have the best lift to weight, high inertia, most rigid, more hot air balloon effect. 10 knots is still quite easy for these big light foils to drift but smaller <10 standard cloth foils are starting to be hard.