slingshot boards

kcrider · Since 11 Feb 2010 4 Posts Kook

Does anybody ride a slingshot reflex or any of their other wakeboards to kiteboard with. The guys at slingshot said it would work but I just wanted to get some more opinions on it. I'm a wakeboarder who is looking to get into kiteboarding but would like a board I can do it all and the slingshot guys said it would.
Thans

Chooch · Thu Feb 11, 10 9:46 pm

Depends on where your riding....if your in a spot like the gorge where you get good current and strong wind then the Reflex will work great behind a kite.

If you live in a thermal light wind hell then I would have to say to stick to a kiteboard Crying or Very sad

To claim it will work all the time is an incorrect statement if you ask me. It has a ton of rocker so you need to be powered up to stay up wind and load n pop. I have 3 sessions on my 09 141 Reflex and really love having the extra rocker for powered up air tricks but I did notice that I was on a 12m while most guys on regular kiteboards were on 9m's.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

The reflex is sick behind the kite, I would definitely get it. That is what I ride all the time behind the winch and the kite. If you are just learning though it might be a little tough at first to figure out the reflex. Either way though I would say you should get one, cause once you can ride it behind the kite it will be sick and behind the cable or winch it will be sick too.

Can you go upwind and stuff already?

Pepi · Fri Feb 12, 10 9:43 am

Definitely an excellent 'wake style' board, but Ian's question should be taken with concern. The Reflex is a board the demands advanced skills for staying upwind, even in the Gorge conditions.

Staying up wind is about 99% of what your first goal as a newbie kiter will be.

I'm a big guy (210lbs), advanced rider, and found that I had to stay fairly well powered just to hold ground while riding the Reflex, and upwind was only found in the gusts. If you are Ian's size (Ian, about 150lbs?) then the board would be much more versatile and easier for staying powered up.

You'll want to see how well you are doing your first time out on the water and consider what different kite sizes you have to use and how much you weigh.

Just some things to ponder or ask yourself when purchasing your first new board.

Pepi

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 854 Posts Seattle Opinionated

one of the boards I learned on was a slingshot response 145. worked well behind a kite but very difficult to hold ground on or go up wind.

I only tried it in light winds though so that could have been a big part of the problem.

shymac · Since 20 Jul 2005 919 Posts Home Valley, Wa. Bigfoot

The kids really love dem boards! Cool

kcrider · Since 11 Feb 2010 4 Posts Kook

Thanks for all the input. Just a few things about me. I'm a wakeboarder who is looking to get into kite but has never done it. I was just thinking the reflex because it would carry over to boat and cable/winch really well. I'm 5'5 160-165lbs. Maybe I'll just use the reflex for wakeboarding and get a kiteboard for kite. What do you think of the misfit or SX. I was thinking of the SX because I can get it for a good deal on the slingshot website. One more thing, what kind of rocker do the kiteboards have? Is it just a flat board to help it plane better?
Thanks

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

SX - A bit more of a freeride board. Cuts through chop well, fun to cruise, and doesn't have quite as much hook up, though you can still pull freestyle on it.

Misfit - Much more for a freestyle board. Smoother than a Lunacy/Darko in choppy water, but has the tips/fin setup for more hook up than the SX. It's also a bit plankier with more surface area which will help get you going in lighter wind.

Bettyboarder · Sat Feb 13, 10 2:07 am

Just a bit of advice take a couple lessons first and try both boards during your lesson see which on you like.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Kc, I would just get a reflex, and one of slingshots bigger boards aimed towards learning, maybe somethig like a bigger SX would be good. This way you will have a board that you can ride while you are learning and then as soon as you are ready to ride bindings, you can switch to your reflex. But if you are a wakeboarder, you definitely want to shred bindings and the reflex behind the kite asap.

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

dude
don't bother with a kiteboard
the reflex is dope for kite, wake, cable, winch
i ride it and the response for kite and the recoil for cable, boat, winch
get the 141
i came from wakeboarding and learned to kite on a wakeboard
it isn't as easy but if you are a decent wakeboarder and can ride both ways pretty good, it won't take you long. just spend lots of time getting comfy with the kite

wakeboards have a lot more rocker than kiteboards, and while they are not as efficient, they feel, ride and perform much better on rails, kickers, and load and pop. They also work great behind the boat, where a kiteboard is too flat.

kcrider · Since 11 Feb 2010 4 Posts Kook

Thanks again guys. I'm going to go ahead and get one eventually I've decided. At least as my cable/winch board. I think I'll go ahead and get the SX as it comes at a great price to learn on. Then when I get good enough I'll probably just use the reflex if I like it. Maybe the SX in less wind but on those days I'll probably just wakeboard.