2011 Slingshot RPM (9m) Review
Slingshot RPM 2011 (9m)
Out of the Bag
The 2011 RPM is an extension of the previous years designs, maintaining the "Open C" canopy with dual-pulley bridle we've become used to. The 2011 comes with split strut technology, which embeds the strut into the canopy, leading to a more taught kite and improves durability, which leads Slingshot to claim that this is their strongest ever kite. As you'd expect, the RPM has a one pump inflation system and like previous incarnations has only 3 slim struts. The four rear line connection options from previous years allow plenty of adjustment of bar pressure and the two front line connection options allow the kite to be tweaked to be more wake-style or freestyle oriented.
The meaty slingshot bar is almost identical to previous years, and remains a market leader in terms of features and bullet proof durability which is sure to inspire confidence out on the water. A slight modification has been made to the sheeting rope by attaching a small rubber tube to stop it from sticking awkwardly above the cleat in the butter-box. The smallest kite sizes in the range use a 17inch bar with 20m lines, extending to a 20inch bar with up to 27m lines on the largest in the range. The flying lines are well worth a mention as the 800lb front lines are like nothing else out there on the market - you have to be truely brutal to snap these beauties!
In the air
Having being given a 9m to test, it was of little surprise that I got plenty of opportunity to fly it on the beach before the winds were sufficient. The RPM feels very similar to the previous model, fast through the air and generates a good deal of power when worked. It has great stability and also generates some impressive lift when jumped off the beach in light airs. The bar pressure settings offer a good range of tuning between medium light up to medium heavy, and the wake setting sits the kite back in the window a little. The RPM parks still in the sky for handlepasses and offers good feedback at all times.
On the water
I found the bottom end of the RPM to be impressive, likely improved on previous years, and managed to get up and riding in around 16mph of wind - it gets you going quickly when worked through the window, increasing the bottom end significantly. The RPM flies upwind with ease when powered and also boosts very well with good float and precision control at all times. I was also impressed with the rock solid stability in the variable conditions on the day, it inspires confidence in poor conditions and irons out gusts very nicely. The excellent line swivel means you don't need to worry about tangled front lines - it just works like it should; its a small matter but it just helps make the RPM a great user-friendly package.
The RPM is a great fun all-round machine, it generates a good turn of speed, is great to boost and loops powerfully; it relaunches with ease and is a pleasure to fly. For unhooking it generates a great deal of pulling power when popped, and is no surprise that Youri Zoon is nailing 900's with this bad boy, its park and pop performance is up there with the best the market has to offer, yet retains great agility for newschool or wave-riding.
Conclusions
It's no big surprise that Slingshot have tweaked an already winning formula this year, with improvements to windrange, stability and rigidity. It feels a very refined kite and one which will have mass market freestyle appeal, in addition to being a very capable freeride or wave kite. Slingshot are setting the bar high again for competitors this year and the RPM is going to put a big grin on a lot of peoples faces, in addition to being an incredible freestyle kite for all levels. The RPM is so good in fact, it will likely end up squeezing the market of the very popular Fuel, which may just be the kite of choice for the extreme end of aggressive kitesurfing.
For more info, check out Slingshot's Site, view on S2AS Kitesurfing Shop, or compare on Wisekite
The 2011 RPM is an extension of the previous years designs, maintaining the "Open C" canopy with dual-pulley bridle we've become used to. The 2011 comes with split strut technology, which embeds the strut into the canopy, leading to a more taught kite and improves durability, which leads Slingshot to claim that this is their strongest ever kite. As you'd expect, the RPM has a one pump inflation system and like previous incarnations has only 3 slim struts. The four rear line connection options from previous years allow plenty of adjustment of bar pressure and the two front line connection options allow the kite to be tweaked to be more wake-style or freestyle oriented.
The meaty slingshot bar is almost identical to previous years, and remains a market leader in terms of features and bullet proof durability which is sure to inspire confidence out on the water. A slight modification has been made to the sheeting rope by attaching a small rubber tube to stop it from sticking awkwardly above the cleat in the butter-box. The smallest kite sizes in the range use a 17inch bar with 20m lines, extending to a 20inch bar with up to 27m lines on the largest in the range. The flying lines are well worth a mention as the 800lb front lines are like nothing else out there on the market - you have to be truely brutal to snap these beauties!
In the air
Having being given a 9m to test, it was of little surprise that I got plenty of opportunity to fly it on the beach before the winds were sufficient. The RPM feels very similar to the previous model, fast through the air and generates a good deal of power when worked. It has great stability and also generates some impressive lift when jumped off the beach in light airs. The bar pressure settings offer a good range of tuning between medium light up to medium heavy, and the wake setting sits the kite back in the window a little. The RPM parks still in the sky for handlepasses and offers good feedback at all times.
On the water
I found the bottom end of the RPM to be impressive, likely improved on previous years, and managed to get up and riding in around 16mph of wind - it gets you going quickly when worked through the window, increasing the bottom end significantly. The RPM flies upwind with ease when powered and also boosts very well with good float and precision control at all times. I was also impressed with the rock solid stability in the variable conditions on the day, it inspires confidence in poor conditions and irons out gusts very nicely. The excellent line swivel means you don't need to worry about tangled front lines - it just works like it should; its a small matter but it just helps make the RPM a great user-friendly package.
The RPM is a great fun all-round machine, it generates a good turn of speed, is great to boost and loops powerfully; it relaunches with ease and is a pleasure to fly. For unhooking it generates a great deal of pulling power when popped, and is no surprise that Youri Zoon is nailing 900's with this bad boy, its park and pop performance is up there with the best the market has to offer, yet retains great agility for newschool or wave-riding.
Conclusions
It's no big surprise that Slingshot have tweaked an already winning formula this year, with improvements to windrange, stability and rigidity. It feels a very refined kite and one which will have mass market freestyle appeal, in addition to being a very capable freeride or wave kite. Slingshot are setting the bar high again for competitors this year and the RPM is going to put a big grin on a lot of peoples faces, in addition to being an incredible freestyle kite for all levels. The RPM is so good in fact, it will likely end up squeezing the market of the very popular Fuel, which may just be the kite of choice for the extreme end of aggressive kitesurfing.
For more info, check out Slingshot's Site, view on S2AS Kitesurfing Shop, or compare on Wisekite
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Kite Style
Struts Inflation Front connection Rear connection Tuning options Depower Safety Low End High End Bar Pressure Turning Unhooked Upwind Hang time Relaunch |
Open C Hybrid
3 One pump 2 Pulley bridle Direct 2 options for front line connection (freestyle/wake), 4 rear options Clam cleat (beneath the bar) Mini 'fifth' line to single front line Very Good Very Good Light-Medium adjustable to Medium-Heavy Medium-Fast Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good |
