Short n sweet! whats everyones thoughts on this amazing new kite?????Ive been flying a demo kite for the last couple of days and im totaly stoked!!!! positive and critical answers welcome!
I have been flying one on and off for a couple of weeks now. It is the best bow kite I've flown. You can still feel the kite in the air. The bar system is so simple yet is by far the best IMO. I've flown the Takoon Nova and the Cabrina Crossbow, Switch blade and the Globe Rider. The Nova was a nice kite, but the bar system needs more work. The Cabrina's IMO are horrible kites, people who were really solid kiters that have changed over are now like beginners, even after 3 months of flying the new kite, plus the leading edge goes down all the time. Needs more work IMO. What is really an amazing kite IMO, that has been shadowed by the bows is the Slingshot Octane. I can not get over the controllable depower this kite has. I am 60kg and I can start to ride my 8m kite in 15knots and stay up wind and have ridden it to around 33knots with room to go further. In my years of flying kites and teaching kitesurfing I have never flown sure a user friendly high wind range kite. To date it is the best kite I've flown. Anyone thinking about a bow for the depower/ease aspect, should try a Slingshot Octane first, you will be amazed. I was!
Pro’s Clean bar system Light bar pressure Amazing wind range (less kites) Huge hang time Incredibly easy re-launch Handles gusts really well One pump Constant power Great bag
Con’s Bridle can catch (rare event) Tendency to invert more than other bows although pumping up to around 8psi seems to remedied this Rapid chicken wear but SS are releasing a FOC fix for this
The TD has a better upwind ability once you get it sheeted right. Like any bow it takes a couple of sessions to re-learn. Interestingly it has a much flatter profile than the other bows, don’t know what that means, if anything? Great kite.
I have tried Switchblade, Turbo and shockwave. Not connected to anyone so have no need to pimp . My only comment is this - Value for money : Switchblade Performance and capability : Switchblade, Turbo Diesel, Shockwave ( they are all on equal standing ) Relaunch - Switchblade by far. Bar Pressure : Switchblade lighter than Turbo but only marginally, Shockwave is on equal par to the Turbo. Build quality : the Shockwave looks like a lot of attention was paid to detail, Switch blade and Turbo of equal quality.
What I particularly like about switchblade is that you can easily pump the struts up harder than the leading edge which in my opinion is very important in controlling inversions - rumour has it that 2nd gen switchblade will have a two pump system which will make it that little bit easier for those who want it that way,. Again I state - not pushing any brand for commercial purpose - just my opinion after having the opportunity to try them out. kiterider
Re Turbo Diesel - Agree with everything Classic said except for the bag which is way too complex (probably good for for snowkiting) and not designed to allow you to leave the stuts pumped up so you can chuck it in the car. I use an an old airush lift bag.
I had a Crossbow before this Turbo Diesel and both invert occasionally - but the TD is easy to relaunch - whereas I had to ditch the CB a few times.
Only after market mod I'm considering is making one of the front lines a "flag it" leash line for a bit of extra safety in waves.
If this is true about the slingshot octane and its depower capabalities , then I guess if you were buying a kite purely on safety and depower principles then you would certainly go the octane as it is a c shape kite with all the advantages of a bow in regards to depower.
Saw a guy out on botany bay with one and was watching for about 15 minutes, they certainly jump big look very stable in the air handled the gusts nicely, looks like its a very nice kite.
Ask Duncan about his 12m crossbow turning inside out during a jump on tuesday. the struts were facing the sky. then crash and burn. he had no choice but to take the long swim. there has to be a solution to this ongoing problem.
Hey Pops The only way a flat kite will invert in a jump is if it under-inflated or if you depower way too much mid jump. Tell the guy to move his ball on the chicken line down more so he doesnt depower too much or tighten up the back lines. I always see too many flat kites out there with too much depower - the kites are almost backwinding as they are being flown.
Very true we've been playing around with the pressure in the TD and 7 - 8 psi seems to fix most of the re-launching problems.
Still playing around with the stopper thing, we did have it a little to far up on the girl’s set-up. It wasn't until I was standing on the beach and noticed how unstable it looked, and every time she crashed it would invert before she had a chance to re-launch (leading edge down into wind position)
Our kites didn't come with any instructions or the DVD as advertised, so I’m kind of winging it. With the assistance of a few people we're having a blast, Although after watching the girl get dragged for 100m the other day with a bridle hang-up I’m thinking a single line safety might be a good idea.
After watching me kite for about a year the girl decided to take up this amazing sport, now I some times find myself standing on the beach feeling like and old mother hen.
Not to mention catch my breath after pumping up two kites.
Kiterdude, I agree with your comments. This particular kiter has a preference for multiple front rolls whilst jumping considerable heights. My belief is that as you roll infront of the lines thus creating a slackness in the lines the kite depowers enough to cause the mid air roll, especially if you pull off a transition at the same time.
Definitely keeping lines tight at all times during the jump and roll will lessen the chances of the kite rolling. pops
I just bought a 10m STD. Appreciate the comments. I'm surprised that everyone is saying 7-8 psi to avoid inversions. When i get to 6+ psi (according to the meter on the jj pump) I'm scared to inflate any more for fear of it popping! Are you sure 7-8 is right - even for the 10m?
Yeah, Adrian i spoke to SS and they said pump that sucker to 7 - 8 PSI. It seems to have stopped the inversion problems that we had on both the 10 and 12
