Slingshot Machine V1 big air kite 2022

[Greenturtle]

Credit to Slingshot for listing the machine kite weights on website.

5m 2.2kg
6m 2.5
7m 2.6
8m 2.8
9m 3
10m 3.2
11m 3.5
12m 3.7
15m 3.8
17m 4.1

In the 15m and 17m sizes these weights are pretty good, an improvement on the recent Turbines IF they are similar in the actual size/low end power.

[skyte]

I had another session at full power on the 8m Machine. I'd guess that the wind was 30-40knots again but closer to 30knots most of the time.

I was boosting off flat water and consistently getting as high as I've ever been on a kite. You never know how high you jump but you know when you go higher than you've been before, right?

The bar pressure is spot on and the kite behaved really well when it was powered up I had to ride sheeted out. There was only a couple of moments when I felt overpowered which I'm guessing was 40+knot gusts.

I cannot wait for a session in strong winds with decent kickers to launch off.

I lent the kite to a friend, who is about 100Kg; he was about to take his 9m (different brand) out. He recorded 11m on his woo after about 10mins on the 8m Machine which was his biggest jump of the session (close with 10.7m on his 9m). Its a surprisingly easy kite to get used to.

[Cheoz0r86]

Has any1 been able to compare this kite back to back with other models in same conditions? I'm trying to figure out if going for a 9 and 7 or 10 and 8

[Saltyman]

The Machine is not a replacement for the raptors its a different type of kite.
The wingtips for a start are more squared off for faster turning and trailing edge is flatter for hang. It races through the wind window pretty quickly on turning but after 2 turns you get adjusted.
The 10&12m have a really good low and high end. I rode the 10m in 12-18 knots 85kg dry weight I would usually be on a 12m pivot or raptor in that wind. And I was powered up enough to do 9-10m boosts in 25 knots this kite will cut sick.
I dialled in really quick on it.
Much faster turning than the raptors with more vertical lift and good hangtime.
The raptors have great hangtime and good lift the machine has a lot more lift and you will go higher than the raptors hangtime is about the same.
I'm keeping my raptors as they are fun and so predictable for doing high double front rolls. And just sits stable above you while you are doing your trick it's like you are in slow motion and then responds when you send it back down. The machine is faster so you have to concentrate a bit more so you don't get pulled out of your trick and come in on a hot landing.
The main change in name probably is because the raptors you had to go pretty big to be caught by the kite the machine doesn't have this problem as it's one of the fastest 5 strut kites I've flown.
I think the 15&17m LW kites will be power machines a awesome replacement for the turbine imo. I haven't ridden the LW models so that's just my opinion judging the power of the 10m.
Hope this helps you.
If you can get a demo somewhere go and try it out for yourself.

[skyte]

Has any1 been able to compare this kite back to back with other models in same conditions? I'm trying to figure out if going for a 9 and 7 or 10 and 8

How much do you weigh? I'm 76Kg and don't feel the need for anything smaller than the 8m. I've had this up to at least 40knots which was outside my comfort zone but I rarely ride in those conditions. 30knots is fine for the 8m. These are high aspect kites so they can be pushed a bit further towards the edge of the wind window so you can hold more power. If you are lighter than me, perhaps go 7m and 9m otherwise I reckon you will have a great wind range covered with the 8m and 10m. I'm guessing, for my weight, the 10m will be fun from 18-30 knots and the 8m is fun from 25-40 knots but that will depend a lot on riding style and ability.

I've flown an 11m Machine back to back with a 12m RRD Passion and a 12m North Orbit. The Machine out-performs the RRD by a mile. There's no comparison. For boost and loops it is on par with the Orbit but the high aspect gives it better upwind performance and makes it less grunty so you get overpowered sooner on the Orbit. The Orbit will probably have better low end performance, especially for heavier riders, but the Machine feels fast and exciting to fly so you can create some apparent wind. I'm excited to try the 12m Machine.

This is a totally biased review. I'm loving the Machine... It's the most exciting kite I've flown in 20 years of kitesurfing and totally given me the bug again to get out and boost bigger airs and loops.

[tilmann]

Speed-Machine

[grigorib]

Small Turbines were amazingly lofty and upwindy, yet looping was almost unmanageable and that’s why I stayed on good old Rallys. I love playful downwinders as much as I love boosting.

Any feedback on Rally vs Machine (vs Turbine 2017)?

[tilmann]

the Machine turns faster, pulls me better through turns and goes better upwind. A Rally on steroids

[Saltyman]

Small Turbines were amazingly lofty and upwindy, yet looping was almost unmanageable and that’s why I stayed on good old Rallys. I love playful downwinders as much as I love boosting.

Any feedback on Rally vs Machine (vs Turbine 2017)?

Completely different beasts. The Machine is a serious big air looping machine. And probably the fastest 5 strut high aspect kite I've ever flown. The old Rally is more comparable to the Rally gt V2 even though it is a 3 strut kite.
I reckon it's one of the kites that have slipped under the radar. As it catches you easy is faster turning than the old Rally I would say it's inbetween the old turbine and Rally. It's a great fun kite. I think because they said it was aimed at progressing that people overlooked it.
It pulls like a truck has light bar pressure. The raptor is one of my favourite kites more like the cabrinha av8 imo. Try to demo the Rally gt V2. Hopefully this helps.

[tilmann]

7m Turbine pulls like hell: