2011 Slingshot light wind kite?

gorgebob · Since 25 Jun 2007 259 Posts Portland, OR Shop Owner

Make them with a zippered depower panel. Bring back the multi sail.

OK maybe not.

lekaks · Since 02 Apr 2008 151 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

Windian’s 33% idea, or the idea that kite companies should design to uniform or pre-determined percentages is interesting, but somewhat dim.

This idea of symmetry fails to account for the fact that the winds power is asymmetrical and increases by the cube of its velocity. So without getting too technical, let me just reveal that a 20 knot wind is 8 times more Powerful than a 10 knot wind.

10 knots *3 = 10*10*10 (1000p)
20 knots *3 = 20*20*20 (8000p)

So for a 200 pound meat head like myself I must obey the winds ability to cube its force and choose my kites accordingly, and not by the stepped symmetry of 33%.

Therefore, my quiver consists of 3 kites: 6m,9m,12m, 2011 Switchblades. The 9 being 25% smaller than the 12, the 6 being 33% smaller than the 9 and the 6 being 50% smaller than the 12. This three kite configuration has me laughing from 12 to 40+ knots.

Presently, the ridable range of a kite increases with its ability to handle more wind, not less. Thus the 6m has the most range of all my kites.

12m 12-24 (12 knot range)
9m 18-35 (17 knot range)
6m 25-45+ (20+ knot range)

Kite companies have to build kites to accommodate the quivers of 110 pound seventeen year old mega looping groms and 230 pound hard drinking barge captains. This justifies and explains all those close kite sizes. Many sizes mean you get to choose the kites that power up your specific weight, riding style and local conditions through the kitable spectrum of 12 to 40+ knots.

Furthermore, wind density, humidity, temperature, shear and angle all effect the decision or indecision as to what to pump when the rain flipping stops, the sun flipping comes out and it finally starts flipping blowing again. But generally, and I think the older, wiser kiters might agree with me on this one, besides kiting the right kite, there ain’t nothing better than root’n and snort’n in between a pair of heavy white thighs and tongue thrashing your way through a thick tangled of Huckle Berry Boosh. I’m I right? Ok what’s next? Bacon with every meal. Sir! Yes sir!

its_kite:30 · Since 29 May 2009 108 Posts White Salmon/ Beaverton Stoked

Now that everyone has had some time with the rpm's and rally's how are they preforming on the light wind days. I have a 12m session and would like to trade it out for 12-14???? I think at 160 I could make a 12m work as my lite wind kite but feel like my 10m switchblade pulls about the same? So please let me know how these kites are preforming!

1surfer · Since 20 Apr 2010 355 Posts 'Ualapu'e / High Rockies Obsessed

Nak · Fri Apr 15, 11 10:42 am

I have a 2010 14 RPM, but haven't ridden it yet. (Nor have I tried the Rally.)

My favorite light wind kite of all time is still the 14m T2 with a T3 bar. Pro's: Combined with a glide I could ride upwind in 10mph. Sining not required very often, just park and ride. Insane wind range. Cons: SLOW. Heavy bar pressure and a lot of bar movement to turn the beast. Not fun to fly if the wind is better than 14 or 15 mph. Overall: great for cruising in lightwind.

I would love to try a 14 RPM, Rally, and T2 back to back in light wind. I'll bring the first two, maybe someone else could bring a 2011 14 RPM and Rally to Sauvies some sunny day. I'd love to find a new favorite light wind kite. Something fun to fly from 10 mph up to 20 mph. Beer, sun and kite testing. Cool. Maybe we'll see the sun in August?

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Interesting that this thread has surfaced again after being dormant for so long. I ended up going with just RPMs to keep the same kite style and mechanics within my quiver. Currently, have just purchased an 8, 10, and 14 to see if I can get by with just 3 kites. I have broken in the 8 in 25-35 knot SW winds at Agate Wayside last Wednesday afternoon and it worked great. The 10m lost its virginity at Floras Lake a week ago in 20-25 knots and it was a dream session of 4 hours of uncrowded to solo bliss. Those 2 kites are perfectly spaced apart and will handle the wind range from 20 to 35 just fine.

The unanswered question is if the 14 is the right step down from the 10 without needing a 12? If the 14 will handle everything from 20 knots on down to ???, then I will be one stoked kiter and no need to get anything else. I am not a big fan of super windy 35 knots plus as the water is usually torn to shreds and the kite flys like it is on meth. I used to jones for the super windy stuff as a sailboarder, but kiting in psycho winds has no appeal to me, so will probably skip getting a 6m.

By the way I love the RPMS...