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Seems like my slingshot rpm 10 mtr has gained low end since I bought it in 2011.Wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I've been kiting since 2001 and I've never experienced this with any of my previous kites. I'm 220 and I'm often on my 10 when others are on 12's and 14's.What's the deal?

Using same bar and lines? Front line stretch maybe...

also you have probably become a better kiter.

Westozzy wrote:Using same bar and lines? Front line stretch maybe...

also you have probably become a better kiter.

Checked the lines and they're equal lenths.Even been using the bar with 20 mtr lines from my 8 mtr.And of course I'm getting older and better

Material stretch and the kite gets a deeper profile. Does the top end got worse?

Some things get meaner as they get older

Can you see a slight 'bag' right behind the leading edge, it's usually easier for someone to see this as it's difficult to spot when your flying it

It might be the canopy that stretches slightly.

Could give it a slightly deeper profile yes, but even worse, is if the "line" in the trailing edge does not stretch the same, then you get a concave abrupt trailing edge, which at first feel seems to give a bit more power, but also a LOT more drag (and not much depower left), so not really desired IMO

Of course, most kites (in fact ALL kites/bars I've had or seen) will have their frontlines stretch over the years, just a tad.

We all know that, so the depower is pulled a bit more every year (or we change the rear line knots)

No lines are prestretched so much, that they will not stretch when used.
And even after the first half year of initial use, they will stretch further, is my experience

But you have measured your lines when the kite was new, and now, it seems, so apparently not your issue...

It is very common and wellknown though, the linestretch over the years.


Canopy stretch, giving the kite a "saggy" profile, is my best bet, if you are sure your trim hasnt changed one inch

Peter

Peter_Frank wrote:No lines are prestretched so much, that they will not stretch when used.
And even after the first half year of initial use, they will stretch further, is my experience

But you have measured your lines when the kite was new, and now, it seems, so apparently not your issue...

It is very common and wellknown though, the linestretch over the years.

Lines don't stretch. Lines shrink.
The frontlines don't shrink as much.

Obviously this cannot be avoided by prestreching.

You can usually fix that, by pulling hard on the steering lines until they are even again.

How old does a kite have to become to gain as much power as an Infinity ?

2-4 years old.