My Delayed Slingshot Turbo Diesel Review

[andyandmarlys]

I think the only brand(s) that will make new c-kites are SS and North, because some people will still prefer the C, or the new kites will be hybrids, half C half Bow like the switchblade.

I agree that many of the most succesful kites may indeed be the hybrid style of kite. The switchblade and shockwave seem to have lots of the benefits of both c kites and bow kites, without many of the negatives...

[charlie]

lets see, first i pack..
3, 12m thats right 3 of then, a small 12m, a big 12m, and a just right 12m !
then a 14m if i think it might go light ,then a 9m just in case it blows
then i toss in the 132 seems all i need ,but if i think need it my 122,
then i grab my junk bag full of fins and leaders screws and stuff,
also i like to cerry at least 3 bars
one at 26m and one at 23m then i have my back up.
o and my mp3 player for gettn jacked up !

andy i wish i joined you after work today,it looked light but steady .

[Guest]

Ummmm - guys? The "gearhead" comment was to be interpreted as complete sarcasm. We're all gearheads, just some are much more professional about it than others!

As for the Bay Area quiver, I see most guys hit their favorite spot most of the time. 3rd Ave guys stick to 3rd Ave, Crissy to Crissy and Sherman to Sherman. I see the same 30 or 40 kiters every single time I go to 3rd. If you kite 3rd everyday during the summer, you can definitely get away with 2 kites (12 & 16), one board. If you hit the coast or head to Sherman once in a while, then add an 8.

I definitely see the advantages of bows, but I'm still not convinced that such a thing as a 1 kite quiver is possible. Sure, a 12 meter bow has a lot of range, but is it really comfortable to be using it at the edges of that range? Changing boards will help for sure, but a 12 in 25 - 30 mph and overhead surf doesn't sound like fun no matter how much depower you have.

[elli]

Andy you say 9-11MPH, I look at my clock and it is 9PM, 11 minutes and I am still at work! That vacation in Costa Rica will cost me a couple of late night weeks.

Agree with you on the wind range, I think two bows cover pretty much every reasonable condition I come across, especially with something like a Glide or similar. Nuking days and light wind days ñ well, you can't win them all.

Switchblade is one heck of a user friendly kite, but $$$.

On a separate note, Flysurfers in 2006 will have (-almost-) total depower on the new designs, if anyone here cares :)

Back to reality (=work)

[elli]

Oh, another sweet thing about the bow is that you do not have to change kites/boards as often when the wind changes in the session. Conditions change - move the bar and back to normal (well, within reason). In Costa Rica is was very helpful, wind can nuke and crawl almost immediately, that 15-30 range was put the test every few minutes.

I am sure there are many great bows, Cabrinhas are the only ones I tried.

[andyandmarlys]

Yes indeed 9-11 according the the wind graph..... A year ago at this time, I would need 11mph on the sensor to make my Contra 16.5 work using the Jarvis which is 149cm.... btw... a 12m on a 148 glide is way more fun than a 16.5m on a 149cm jarvis..

Andy you say 9-11MPH, I look at my clock and it is 9PM, 11 minutes and I am still at work! That vacation in Costa Rica will cost me a couple of late night weeks.

Agree with you on the wind range, I think two bows cover pretty much every reasonable condition I come across, especially with something like a Glide or similar. Nuking days and light wind days ñ well, you can't win them all.

Switchblade is one heck of a user friendly kite, but $$$.

On a separate note, Flysurfers in 2006 will have (-almost-) total depower on the new designs, if anyone here cares :)

Back to reality (=work)

[kitekarl]

I have had my crossbow 12 from ~25 to the low 30's in overhead surf several times and those were some of the best sessions I've ever had. Others were out on 7's. The good thing about bows in these conditions is that you can hop the whitewater so easily whereas on a C your timing has to be dead on to do the same. IMO, there's no comparison for waves.

[powder farmer]

Hello Andy,

Love your stoke and being fired up....I would add that in the last few years, you have become more efficient at getting on a plane and keeping steady power generated from your inflated wing (you know when you start you need tons of power, as you get better, you get more finess)....

Speaking of overhead surf, did anyone get some of the waves and wind today on the coast? the waves are pumping and wind is there.....

The pow in the mountains is sick, or so my friends tell me.

[kitekarl]

The pow was sick at Kirkwood today. 12 inches of new, sunny all day and it was cold so the snow stayed light. Not many people up, fresh tracks for hours. :P

[Pablito]

Graphs for Thursday didn't show much happening at the beach.

Utah snow without the long drive/flight; seems like the call. All you storm chasers should try to hit the snow in the next seven days; there's no wind forecast for the bay.