SS Turbine 17m review?

mike_n · Since 05 Jan 2010 4 Posts Kook

I am so tempted by a light wind kite to maximize the sessions this summer.
Has anyone here tried the Turbine?
I saw Nak's review of the 14m Rally; how do they compare?

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu May 12, 11 3:04 pm

I would go with the 22m myself.

Nak · Thu May 12, 11 5:39 pm

I've heard the Turbine will stay flying ridiculously low wind. The question you have to ask yourself is how low you really want/need to go around here. If you're a beginner hitting Sauvies, then it might seem like you need sub 10 knot capability. But Dude, this is the Gorge. You'll get spoiled quickly as soon as you start hitting Jones or anywhere Stevenson and East.

If I lived somewhere else, maybe a 17m would come in handy. But this is the Gorge. I've got no desire to ever pump up anything bigger than a 14m ever again. I think you'll feel the same way once you get away from Sauvies... JMHO anyways...

If you live in Southern Cal, Florida, Oahu, the midwest, hell anywhere but here-- Very Happy

-- I think the Turbine is going to be killer.

Shit, If I added sub 10 knot winds to the days I kited around here, I'd never ever be home! I think I averaged 3 - 4 days a week last year. You gotta rest/see your family sometime! Very Happy

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

retail $2,149.00

DROCK999 · Since 31 May 2007 852 Posts Left Coast Opinionated

rich · Since 30 Nov 2005 306 Posts portland Obsessed

id be nervous about a kite that big being able to relaunch in sub 10 wind. Wind doesn't have to fluctuate much at that low speed to be nothing. Lawn mowin' and sloggin' ain't no fun, 'specially if your gear made you shell out that kind of skrilla

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2619 Posts The 503 METAL

Yawn, can somebody ask about a big kite without sparking the debate against big kites?

First of all, a 17M to a 200 pounder is what a 14m is to a 175 pounder. Second, nobody should buy a big kite to "slog around and mow" but the fact is, if you are slogging around on your 12m or 14m, you can step up to a 17M and be boosting and going down the line aka having a good session.

IMO, for someone over 180lbs, a XL sized kite is valuable pretty much anywhere except maybe if you're strictly in the Gorge or similar windy place. I have had entire kite trips that would have been a skunk without my Zephyr.

The Gorge is way windier that the OR coast, we get light winds all the time, and that's when the wave riding can be at it's best. I am stoked that SS is putting out a light wind specialty kite (pretty awesome for a company that is HQ'd in the Gorge.) I would like to hear about it. Thumb's Up

apctjb · Since 19 Aug 2007 438 Posts Obsessed

Saw the turbine at the Pismo kite expo and it was one of the few kites that was out and staying up wind when the wind was light. Heard good things about it from someone that got to demo it.

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

I just remember helping launch and land the 20.5m Machine at Sauvies. Seeing that thing come to you on the beach was like having a house land on you.

Nak · Sat May 14, 11 6:34 am

BellinghamKiteboarding · Since 15 Mar 2008 73 Posts

I got a chance to try this kite in Ventana. I am not the biggest fan of the Rally (prefer the RPMs), but I'd consider the Tubine as a lightwind kite.

The wind was light, but other people were out making 14m's work. I had come in underpowered on a 14m RPM not able to stay upwind on a directional, and went out on the Turbine.

I weigh 215lbs, so I grabbed the Turbine, launched it and what I thought was a Glide from the beach. I went out and was going upwind well, and having a good time again. Small jumps, and just cruising. Wanted to see how the new Glide popped off the water unhooked, and was surprised at how much pop there was. Upon closer inspection I realized I wasn't on the Glide but a Misfit 137, which had the same paint job as the Glide had. I had been so focused on checking the kite out, I didn't realize I was on a normal board... not a lightwind board.

Anyhow, point of the story is that I was able to ride in lightwind, on a normal board when I had just come in on a 14m and directional. For some people that can make the difference between riding every day after work vs a couple times a month at their local beach. That being said, you probably won't see lots of these in the Gorge very often....

Andy

www.kitepaddlesurf.com

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2619 Posts The 503 METAL

So it seems like the industry has come to realize that just making an XL version out of a regular kite design does not work well. The efficiency decreases as the drag and weight increase. So how are companies changing the design for better light wind kite? Amery?

Here's what I think I want in an XL kite:

1. Higher aspect to help with turning and upwind ability.
2. Lighter weight construction (it's OK to sacrifice some durability as it's generally easier to take care of a kite in light winds.) No battens, or extra struts that add weight.
3. Bridled to support as narrow of leading edge as possible (less drag).
4. Longer bar for control with maybe longer lines for power? At least 27M?
5. Large size inflate and deflate valves (all kites should have this but especially the biggun's!)
6. Lot's of depower throw for when the wind jacks up unexpectedly.
7. No pulleys or anything that slows or delays the turning...it's already slow enough.
8. A stopper ball to help with bar pressure while crusing or pinching up wind. Light winds are usually steady winds so a stopper ball is more applicable.

What else...?

cosmodog · Since 06 Oct 2005 204 Posts Stoked

I finally found a big kite (15m) that I actually like to ride in the waves. It has a single strut, no one pump (its a 2 pump), low aspect and super light. It down loops well and stays in the air for a while with slack lines. It also relaunches easily.
They really tried to reduce mass and moment of inertia which IMO are big factors in why most big kites turn slow.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2619 Posts The 503 METAL

I just got a new kite mag that had a review of the Turbine. The review was pretty much worthless as almost all magazine product reviews are...but they had a picture of the kite. Only 3 struts. Rally looking shape. Narrow looking LE. 27M lines with a 23" bar. Check check check! I guess it has some pulleys up on the bridle, OK. I'm definately intrigued.

PDXF · Since 10 Sep 2008 116 Posts Stoked

Wind Slither, I thought your 17m Zephyr turned as well as, or better than, my 12m Havoc in the same wind. If you are looking to rid yourself of that beast let me know.

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2619 Posts The 503 METAL