Hi Matt - (disclosure Work for SS Australia)

IMO it depends on a few scenarios do you ride waves on a SB? what TT's do you currently have? if I was your weight and going for a two kite quiver I would be looking at 9 & 12 RPM's you will cover a big range with these two kites, but I notice you have a 6 in the quiver, I imagine it doesn't get used all that often? if you want 3 kites 7, 9 and 12 or 7,10, 14, or 8,10 14 all these options would work based on your weight and extend things considerably. if you hang onto the 6 you could go 8, 10 12, there is some overlap between the 10 and 12 though is not too big, from 10 - 14 there is very little overlap. Now for the spanner the 2014 Rally is a superb kite and a demo day will be coming your way soon, or if your ever up Newcastle way it can be arranged. hope this helps

IMO its a no brainer bw the Rally & the RPM.
The RPM is all you should be considering if you are looking at unhooked freestyle and want to mix it up with free-ride & waves.
Some rate the Rally for wave riding but (again IMO) the RPM outperforms the Rally for surf & free-ride as well.
If you do stick to RPM's then Id be looking at wider quiver spacings rather that closer.
They have a great wind range so can you afford a full 4M bw the different sizes.
With the size range options available the RPM is one kite which I would look for my mid-range kite first.
Get the one thats going to match your local conditions as the best possible fit for most days then scale up & down from that for kites 2 & 3.
If you are going for a 2 kite quiver then you may have to jump from that 'best fit' kite to best below & best above.
Same problem with most brands these days which offer up kites where a 2 kite quiver does cover all - if not most of - your entire desired wind range.
A bit of a catch 22 for us all now that we can all get away with 2 kites - unless we are prepared to step up to 3 to cover more lower & more higher winds than we consider essential. Advantage now of 3 kites is we do get that 'right kite' for the most regular wind on most days.
At KSS we dont sell SS anymore but still rate the RPM up there with the best of them. Great all-round option for a huge % of kiters.
If SS could just accept that retailers are here for their local kiters - rather than flogging their chosen brands regardless of model differences - you might find them a bit easy to find & to demo. Hard to find a retailer offering SS demos locally anywhere these days. Pity bout that!

DOH - suspect Im up for some flaming here - ishkabibble (old jewish saying roughly translated as 'I dont care too much for waffly c'rap from those who arent too concerned about being genuine)
Lets see what evolves.

Hi Brisbud

SS Australia have for the past 2 years visited every state in Oz (except Tas and the NT) and conducted demo days, most of our retailers around Oz also will have demo kites on hand or can organise with us to get demo gear to the client.

Last year in QLD alone we visited the Goldcoast, Brisbane and the sunny coast doing demo days. In QLD our SS dealers are Jon at Kitepower Brisbane, Pauly at Kite Action in Caloundra, Jono and Jarret at Sunshine coast Kitesurfing in Maroochydore and George and Fiona at Adventure sports in Noosa, and have for the past two years conducted demo days in conjunction with all these shops.

In WA we have two retailers Steve at Windforce in Nedlands and Tim at G-Spot in Geraldton,

We will be again travelling throughout Oz this season too bring riders our gear to demo. You could Like our SlingShot Australia Facebook page and you will be kept up to date with all things SS.

Please feel free to contact us if you ever have any queries you would like us to help you with. [email protected]

Brisbud said..

Well,as an avid watersports lover and slingshot kite equiptment fanatic I totally agree!!! Way back
we used to get visit's from Balls n Booney and a few more great dude's who love kiting.. and were in the sport
to have fun!! Now living in Brisbane I can't remember the last time they offered a demo day for their great products!

Seems a lot of people don't ride Slingshot like way back when it evolved in Brisbane anyway...

They have great products but Hood River is along way from here and I suppose market share on product's
and conditions leave us out in the dry compared too other state's and continents...

So as someone who want's too try a 17.5 TURBINE 2013-2014.. And a few other product's...and
having no retailer in my area promoting these great products... again I'm left out in the cold
having other product's rammed down my throat cause that's what they promote here!

Customer's are the success of companies,they buy the stuff and use it!!!!

No matter how many pro rider's use it,if you can't get what you need it's no good too ya!

So do I shop ONLINE OVERSEAS AND INTERSTATE... CHANGE BRANDS.... OR HAVE FAITH IN THE GEAR I PREFER!!

Cause I kite for FUN?

Yeah it's a shame SS has a low profile in Perth. I was keen on the Turbine as I ride Rallys & its the same bar setup.

No hope of a demo, so when I bought mine there were none of the 2013 even available in Australia let alone locally, so I had to order one from the states. It's an awesome kite, had a few beaches to myself this winter!

If you go to the slingshot website in the US it links to all the official online retailers. Prices seem fixed they were all about the same, diff deals on postage. Beware some prices don't include bar & lines!

It's been a few months though, I think SS were looking at getting a supply in to Oz around Aug/Sept so you may have one to demo in the next month or so. Talk to your local SS dealer - best to buy from someone here in terms of product support.

As for the 2013 turbine - it gets going in next to nothing. Relaunches easily if you crash it. I use my normal TT down to nearly 10 knots (Dundee). I was going to buy a bigger board but honestly dont think i even need to. Haven't tested the top end yet. It has batten pockets on the wingtips but didn't ship with them. It seems to fly fine without them, although the tips flap a bit.

It's my yellow arrow kite

2012 RPMS i shud add

Thanks but now with the change in supplier... it's not something they have too offer I'm told!

I suppose like my 11m Fuel, I might have too shop again at kiteline or mackiteboarding!

Great deals for the hip pocket.