2020 North Crave or Slingshot Rally GT for beginner?

[RaviTheJedi]

Would you guys recommend North Carve or Slingshot Rally GT for Beginners? And yes, I am a beginner.

[grigorib]

Try to find a classic Rally. 2019 or earlier

[Saltyman]

If you can't find a old Rally the Rally gt V2 is a great kite for going from zero to hero.
It's mid to low aspect and has a wicked wind range and it's built like a tank 4× tenjin ripstop.

[Baptiste_FR]

I agree with grigorib, in the Slinshot lineup, the "old" Rally is a great all around kite, with very good upwind performance, easy relaunch, good low wind range. The downside for me is that it's a 5 struts kite, therefore not the best for 12m² or larger size.

For North, it seems that the Reach is the All-around kite. Didn't try it, but seems a great kite too.

[StellaBlu]

I started on Rallys (previous generation) and moved to the Reach. I'm going to second (third) the Rally suggestion here. While the 5 strut kite is heavier and needs more wind to fly, the added rigidity of the 5 struts make the relaunch much better than a 3 strut kite (definitely easier to relaunch than the Reach). Relaunching is important in the early stages of progression.

I haven't used the Carve, but I would imagine it shares characteristics with the Reach as far as relaunch. I would also guess it would be harder to stay upwind on the Carve given its prioritization of drift characteristics.

Naish Pivot and Cabrinha Switchblade could also be good kites to progress on.

[sarc]

Carve goes upwind very very well and relaunches easily. Lack of hangtime is it's only drawback, bit it's not an issue for a wave oriented kite. Excellent and linear depower. Can't say if it's better than a Rally but definitely OK for a beginner.