The Line Smith SK99 Premium Lines 2025
Reviews / Control Systems
0
At A Glance
The Line Smith has been quietly carving out a name for themselves in the kite world, focusing on one of the most overlooked yet crucial components of any setup — your lines. Their SK99+ Premium Lines are made from ultra-high-performance Dyneema SK99+, a fibre known for its outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, low stretch, low shrinkage, and durability.
What really stands out, though, is The Line System — a clever, modular approach that allows riders to replace and maintain their lines without sending their bar away for servicing. Whether you’ve snapped a line mid-season or your old set is looking tired after years of use, The Line System makes it possible to order exactly what you need and fit it yourself at home. They cover all the major brands and bars, and if you can’t find your setup on the website, speak to Gilion — he has vast experience in fixing kite lines and will be sure to help.
The headline here, though, is that for around 90% of brands, you can order directly from the website to get back on the water as soon as possible, whether you’ve snapped a line or want to replace the whole set.
Installation and Setup
For this test, I replaced all four lines on my 2025 Duotone Click Bar using The Line Smith’s SK99+ Premium Lines from The Line System. The lines arrived ready to go — front lines, rear lines, and the all-important safety line, which is usually the one that wears fastest. They had sleeved ends, clear markings, and precise splicing that matched the original Duotone setup perfectly.
The overall process was relatively straightforward, but you’ll want to set aside some time — it took me about an hour and ten minutes from start to finish. The key here is not to rush it. The outer lines are simple enough, but the centre (middle) lines require a bit more attention. For the test, I didn’t read the instructions; I just looked at the lines and worked out what to do logically. I started with the middle lines, as I figured that would be the hardest part.
The most crucial step is to mouse the safety line properly before removing it — use one of the old kite lines to do this. If you don’t, you’ll have a headache trying to thread it back through later. Once that’s sorted, the rest of the installation is logical and satisfying, with everything designed to fit cleanly and precisely.
Once I’d completed the swap, I checked out the instructions and found The Line Smith’s online resources and support clear and helpful. You can tell the system has been developed by someone who understands the real-world frustrations of kite maintenance. I could perhaps have saved a bit of time by reading the instructions first, but for the purpose of the test I wanted to see how easy it was to do without them.
My biggest bit of advice is to take your time and be methodical — and don’t lose any of the small parts! A sunny, windless day would be ideal, and you’ll need plenty of space. I drove to a quiet car park at the beach so I had all the room I needed.
On The Water
Once everything was back together, I hit the water to see how the new lines felt. The difference was noticeable. The kite felt crisp, direct, and incredibly responsive. There’s a tight, connected feel to the bar — every input translates instantly to the kite, giving a real sense of precision.
The SK99+ material contributes to that clean, sharp feedback, with minimal stretch even under load. You can really feel it when sending the kite through loops or when depowering — there’s no sponginess or lag, just consistent, accurate handling.
It’s also worth noting how balanced and equal the lines felt straight out of the box. Sometimes with replacement sets, small inconsistencies can lead to uneven steering or bar pressure, but The Line Smith clearly pays attention to those details. After several sessions, everything still felt perfectly in tune, with no signs of wear or slippage.
Overall
The Line Smith has come up with a genuinely smart solution for one of kitesurfing’s most annoying problems. The Line System makes it possible for riders to maintain, repair, and even upgrade their gear without losing days (or weeks) to shipping delays and service centres.
It’s a simple idea but brilliantly executed, and combined with the quality of the SK99+ Premium Lines, it’s a compelling package. Whether you’re replacing worn lines, upgrading for performance, or just want the peace of mind of having spares ready, it’s a solid investment.
The crisp, responsive feel on the water makes the upgrade worthwhile even if your current lines are still intact, and for anyone who’s ever snapped a line mid-session, the ability to get back on the water fast is invaluable.
In short, The Line Smith’s SK99+ Premium Lines and Line System bring a new level of independence and precision to kite maintenance, empowering riders to take control of their gear and keep their kites flying exactly as they should.
If you’re serious about performance and reliability, it’s well worth getting in touch with The Line Smith.
Related
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
