Hey peoples...

i,ve had a SSTD for about 4 months now, and have been using the same knot settings on my lines. middle knots front n back.

i,ve been thinking about playing with the settings but dont think it,ll make much difference.

is anyone playing with this settings? whats the difference?


Has anyone tried a 16mtr TD yet??? whats the verdict?

Hey Merman and others,

What changing the knot attachment point at the canopy does is change the trim range of the chicken-loop rope…..that’s it. A macro change for the c-loop adjustment range.
If at middle/middle you find you are adjusting the c-loop trim down say 15cm all the time, then you can reduce this excess rope by trimming the LE down with the knots (shorten the front and lengthen the back).
Or if think that you what the nose of the LE to present a little higher (perhaps for light wind) you can lift it up at the knots (lengthen front and shorten back), but remember that to much will have the kite choking on it’s back lines.
From a light session to a strong session, you can change the range that the c-loop trim will work through, just by changing the knots. It is best with any kite to have the optimum canopy trim angle and power with neutral (no) c-loop trim but it is personal choice.

Re the TD 16, I am lucky to have one and it is awesome!!! Although at 94kg it’s probably more kite than I need, the 14 would be better. It has taken Slingshot a while to get this kite to market as there was a big challenge to better the TD12 in the larger kites in a truly value added way. It would seem that the flat kite 8’s through to 12’s work really well but over that it is hard to get them proportionally better for the size and expense (due to physical constraints and geometrical issues). Most would agree that there are many big bow’s that have been rushed to market that offer only marginal performance over their smaller sizes in the same range.

Riding, holding height, up-wind and little whip jumps with the Glide and the TD16 in sub 8k is not a problem. Although, even in these conditions I find that the kite liked a lot of trim for optimum efficiency, I had up to 20cm of excess c-loop rope. So now I alter the line length and drop the nose of the LE down with the pigtail knots (as above). Bar pressure is moderate and turning pressure very light. The Active StopperBall, excellent!

Still prefer the C kites (Fuel and Octane) but spend a good amount of time on the Turbo Diesel and totally understand the benefits that some learner and intermediate riders may be drawn to.

Hope this helps.
Regards
Andrew Regan
Slingshot Kiteboarding Australia

Thanks Andy all good info, Merman you will just love the bigger kites.

Every time I go to Brighton there is this dude just cruising around on a 16 crossbow when i am sinking. I find that with the 12m TD I really need 16knts + to start having fun, (85kg). Got sick and tired of waiting for the 16 TD and rang Surf FX on Saturday and due to winter coming, he gave me a 16m switchblade for $1590. Even set the bar up like the TD. ie: stole the chicken loop and c loop of TD and it works just like my TD. The only added benefit is that one of the back lines is on a ring and I can pull it if things get gnarly after an invert. The switchblade is yet to invert on me but I have had the TD do it a few times after letting the lines go completely slack after a big crash. Will be intersting to see if the switchblade does it when put into similar situations.

The 16 m bow kites rock, for 2 days in a row I have been the only guy out at Brighton as the wind is between 10 and 15 knots, nothing to blow your hair off but i reckon it is good to learn some skills at really low wind speed. I have been a motorcyclist all of my life and if you cant do your maneuvers at very low speed how do you expect to control yourself at high speed?

It sucks not having the one pump as I think it rocks, but the price was too damn good. It holds it’s shape really well.

Cheers

Viffer