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Slingshot help

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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lineman

Since 05 Feb 2009
170 Posts

Stoked



PostWed Jul 08, 20 3:53 pm    Slingshot help Reply with quote

So there are 3 models to choose from now if your looking to get something for foiling.
Can someone explain when you want the following....
Ghost
UFO
SST

Many thanks

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostWed Jul 08, 20 6:49 pm     Reply with quote

Will the kite be 100% dedicated for foiling or will it also be used for riding a surfboard?

What makes a good foil kite?
lightweight and drift well. turning when underpowered. avoid back stalling.
Easy relaunch.

SST is a wave kite that also works ok for foiling.
I rode SSTs for 3 years. IMO - they are great for surfboards and riding swell.
As a foil kite they are heavy, handle well, drift ok, relaunch is good but great.
If you want a kite 50-50 for foiling and surf - get the SST.

Ghost is an awesome foil kite that also works ok for surfboard.
They are light, drift amazing, handle well when underpowered, relaunch is great.
I sold all my SST's and now ride Ghost kites (6m, 8m).
Those 2 kites covers 99% of the days in the gorge.
If it's too windy to foil on my 6 - I ride the surfboard.
If you want a dedicated foil kite that you might use once in a while for surfboard - try a Ghost.

UFO - very few people have tried them as they have not been available except to a couple of team riders. I tried to get a 5m and a 7m but they sold out before they were available (I know - how is that possible?).
Fred Hope says they are awesome - I have similar taste in kites as Fred - so I'm wanting to try UFO's.
If you want a kite that's 100% dedicated to Foiling - this would be the best choice.

Finally - lots of Gorge guys foil 100% of the time and love their SST's - but most of them haven't tried anything else for more than a few minutes ..... so take their comments with a grain of salt.

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geo2

Since 08 May 2011
82 Posts
St. Paul, MN
 



PostThu Jul 09, 20 5:09 am     Reply with quote

Since you mention that the largest Ghost you ride is an 8, does that mean that it is light enough to stay in the air on lighter days, but still provide enough pull to get you on top of your (strapless) foil?
I ride 5,7 Drifters, and would likely tend toward A 9m Ghost except of course there isn’t a 9m:) riding in lighter winds it would be great to be able to do that on an 8 instead of a 10 (I’m 180 and ride a GW633).

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Jonpnw

Since 22 Jul 2010
1322 Posts
Pacific Northwest
XTreme Poster



PostThu Jul 09, 20 5:48 am    SS Demos Reply with quote

Ditto what LDHR said .

I have all three models available for demo in Hood River . SST - 6,8,10 , Ghost 6,8,10 , UFO - 3 & 9 Very Happy

Jon

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Join the Columbia Gorge Water Sports Association. http://gorgewindsurfing.org/

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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4907 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostThu Jul 09, 20 8:03 am     Reply with quote

that would be the 6m RPM Laughing
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scottm

Since 12 Jun 2006
108 Posts

Stoked



PostThu Jul 09, 20 9:31 am     Reply with quote

I agree with Gman, RPM is definitely worth trying, and Jon probably has some demos. I haven't tried anything I like better for strapless kite surfing and foiling. Very versatile, stable, and predictable. The 4.5m and 6m are my go-to foil kites.

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Jonpnw

Since 22 Jul 2010
1322 Posts
Pacific Northwest
XTreme Poster



PostThu Jul 09, 20 9:38 am    RPM's and More ! Reply with quote

Yes I have a 4.5 & 6 RPM for demo as well . We need to pick a time and location and do some back to back to back . I have a 3m & 6M Rally GT that people have used for foiling as well . Very Happy Very Happy
_________________
Slingshot | Ride Engine |Try before you buy | PM me


Join the Columbia Gorge Water Sports Association. http://gorgewindsurfing.org/

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostThu Jul 09, 20 11:11 am     Reply with quote

geo2 wrote:
Since you mention that the largest Ghost you ride is an 8, does that mean that it is light enough to stay in the air on lighter days, but still provide enough pull to get you on top of your (strapless) foil?
I ride 5,7 Drifters, and would likely tend toward A 9m Ghost except of course there isn’t a 9m:) riding in lighter winds it would be great to be able to do that on an 8 instead of a 10 (I’m 180 and ride a GW633).


I'm also 180 and I used to ride the 633 - switched to the 679 (very similar, a little faster).
My "big" foil kite used to be a 10 SST. It was horrible in light winds - it would stall on jibes and took forever to relaunch. It wasn't designed to fly under 17 knots - it's too heavy. It's built for surf and 17-22 knots.

The Ghost 8 is over-sized - it's more like a 9. As long as the average is 13+ and the lulls are 10 or above - the 8 works on a foil.
You asked the right question. The Ghost stays in the air in the lulls better than any other kite I've tried. And it will relaunch in lighter wind. I can reverse launch the Ghost by pulling on the outside lines - I could never do that with the SST's or Neos.

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lineman

Since 05 Feb 2009
170 Posts

Stoked



PostThu Jul 09, 20 6:14 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks LDHR, sounds like you know what your talking about. So if I'm understanding you correctly my BIG foil kite should be a Ghost since I'd be riding that in 14mph.

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To bad

Since 01 May 2017
24 Posts

 



PostThu Jul 09, 20 7:33 pm     Reply with quote

I used to ride SST (5,7,9 and 12m). I am 185 ride strapless 683.
When I first got my Ghost this year I thought I made a mistake.
I love them now. Like LD said they stay in the air, relaunch like mad and have incredible range.
I bought a 6 and 8m and wanted more light wind as I live in the mountains with light wind. I was lucky to try 12m Ghost. I did not like it. I got a 10m and love it. I think there are days I could ride my 8m but usually in the summer it blows hard for 15 minutes then gets light.
The 10m has saved a lot of sessions.

LD I am coming to Gorge for a week. Was tempted to get a 4m, but think hearing you say you can ride a 6m most of the time? Last year I rode my 5m and 7m SST all the tie for a month there and even on big days made 5m work. According to SS tables 6m has better range then 5m SST.

Interested in UFO, but think for mountain riding (holes) the Ghost might be better.

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blancoh2o

Since 15 Mar 2005
1153 Posts
Oregon
Phishy



PostThu Jul 09, 20 7:40 pm     Reply with quote

I rode a 4m Ghost yesterday for the first time. It was a great little kite!
Plenty of power but didn't jerk me off the board one bit except when the bar end or something dangling off of it got tangled up on itself while I was looping the kite. Speaking of loops.......very docile and fun.
It drifts almost as good as the kites I usually ride (not SS)
For sure hit up JonPW for a test ride and you choose what you like best.

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostThu Jul 09, 20 8:54 pm     Reply with quote

lineman wrote:
Thanks LDHR, sounds like you know what your talking about. So if I'm understanding you correctly my BIG foil kite should be a Ghost since I'd be riding that in 14mph.


Your mileage may vary.
Demo demo demo.

Regarding the question about a 4m in the gorge.
If you only foil you might want a 4 or 5. Lot’s of days where 6 is to big.
I still enjoy riding my surfboard so a 6m is good for my small kite.

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Jonpnw

Since 22 Jul 2010
1322 Posts
Pacific Northwest
XTreme Poster



PostSun Jul 12, 20 11:26 am    Hood River Today Reply with quote

We have your kites ready to try , a FKITE foil and some big wings . Come demo

   78248AAF-0359-492E-942E-0AE07007AF6B.jpeg 

_________________
Slingshot | Ride Engine |Try before you buy | PM me


Join the Columbia Gorge Water Sports Association. http://gorgewindsurfing.org/

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lineman

Since 05 Feb 2009
170 Posts

Stoked



PostMon Jul 13, 20 10:51 am     Reply with quote

I live in Fl or I’d be there!
You gave me a guys # in Lauderdale I’m going to hit up.

Thanks!

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apctjb

Since 19 Aug 2007
427 Posts

Obsessed



PostWed Jul 15, 20 7:31 am     Reply with quote

Have been seeing more UFO's of late and not only team riders.

Anyone riding Drifters now on UFO's...Very curious to hear first reviews..

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