2019 Slingshot Turbine

[SolarSet]

How much do you weight to even use 19m Turbine? This size must be for 300lbs rider or something...

[grigorib]

How much do you weight to even use 19m Turbine? This size must be for 300lbs rider or something...

We had a huge bodybuilder guy, Tim, on a trip with us few times. At my 200lbs and 6’ I look a small guy next to him. His 14m Switchblade was his regular size and 17m was certainly not enough for him for LW. Therefore 19m

Also some people try to get the largest kite possible to ride the lightest winds but I don’t like that approach.
Instead I compensate with board choice (door or foil) and line length. That’s why I sold my 15m and not missing it. 11m is the biggest I ride.

[Greenturtle]

How much do you weight to even use 19m Turbine? This size must be for 300lbs rider or something...

Haha excellent question, I use it for tandem riding mostly

[alford]

Green, which do you prefer, the Flight or Turbine?

[SENDIT!]

Disclaimer: I sell Turbines, Flite, and Contras (plus some others)...

For the sake of clarity, I think it should be noted that the Turbine has 3 struts and 2 MICRO struts. The micro struts are not much bigger than the hose on your pump. These got added in a few years ago to take the place of the 3 little fiberglass battens that went on the left and right side of the Turbine's trailing edge. It helped prevent fluttering when really cranking the hell out of the kite in hard turns. So calling it a 5 strut kite (like a Switchblade) is just not really the whole picture.

The Flites are pretty awesome kites and really changed our light wind riding here. I would still say that the Flite is the most responsive (fast turning for those that like that term better) of any of the big kites out there. And the bar pressure is very light. It's still my personal favorite and I own both a 17 and 12.

I think whether you go with a Contra 17, Flite 17, or Turbine 17, you really can't go wrong. They each have their traits that make them a little different and may appeal to one over another. One thing I will say about the Turbine is, if there's enough wind for the kite to fly, it will relaunch. As an instructor, I spend a bunch of time flying kites when I wouldn't otherwise be interested in going out. The 19 Contra is just a BEAST when it comes to light wind riding. I can't say that it gets me going SOONER than say a 17 Turbine or 17 Flite, but I can start jumping and such a couple of mph sooner. Food for thought.

SENDIT!

[Greenturtle]

Green, which do you prefer, the Flight or Turbine?

- Flite- if they made a 21m Flite Id have bought that instead of the 19m Turbine.

2014 17m Turbine vs 2015 17m Flite:
Turbine has more straight line power, Its bigger. For real heavy riders, smaller boards, or tandem use, its an obvious choice in my mind. Sits kinda deep but still goes upwind good, go figure. In gusty shifty winds its mostly unfazed but delivers the power to you hard.

Flite has good power, is more responsive, playful faster turn, (even taking into account the size difference) and drives forward in the window making depower via edging easier. Hangs at zenith longer with hands off when screwing around with board etc. Lighter bar pressure. In gusty shifty winds it can be a little unsettled / spikey momentarily but is easily controlled. 3 strut is two less chances for leaks.

I cant speak for the most current versions of either.

[alford]

@ Sendit, in what way does the Flite change your light wind riding? By being faster, lighter bar pressure and thus more fun?

[BiteMe]

Green, which do you prefer, the Flight or Turbine?

- Flite- if they made a 21m Flite Id have bought that instead of the 19m Turbine.

2014 17m Turbine vs 2015 17m Flite:
Turbine has more straight line power, Its bigger. For real heavy riders, smaller boards, or tandem use, its an obvious choice in my mind. Sits kinda deep but still goes upwind good, go figure. In gusty shifty winds its mostly unfazed but delivers the power to you hard.

People say the Turbines are high aspect but I find the same thing. They sit pretty deep in the window, so I consider them mid aspect. But agree they go up wind fine.

[grigorib]

Green, which do you prefer, the Flight or Turbine?

- Flite- if they made a 21m Flite Id have bought that instead of the 19m Turbine.

2014 17m Turbine vs 2015 17m Flite:
Turbine has more straight line power, Its bigger. For real heavy riders, smaller boards, or tandem use, its an obvious choice in my mind. Sits kinda deep but still goes upwind good, go figure. In gusty shifty winds its mostly unfazed but delivers the power to you hard.

People say the Turbines are high aspect but I find the same thing. They sit pretty deep in the window, so I consider them mid aspect. But agree they go up wind fine.

Laying them out over other kites the Turbines are longer wingspan and shorter struts. Not HA of foil race kite, neither Apollo-long but knowing that it relaunches pretty good and goes upwing great is a nice middle ground as far as I can tell. Smaller turbines boost high, hang you there long and don’t expect to be able to loop them when powered up well without getting mad power out of it.

[SENDIT!]

@ Sendit, in what way does the Flite change your light wind riding? By being faster, lighter bar pressure and thus more fun?

Yeah, that's probably it in a nutshell, alford. Rather than just slog along, mowing the lawn, we suddenly had more ability to be playful with the kite. Downlooping, really sending it hard during light wind jumps, etc...it just sort of finally made light wind riding fun. It's also now really good for foiling in winds that I probably should not be taking the chance with...