Slingshot Turbine 15m 2015
Reviews / Kites
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At a Glance
The Turbine from Slingshot has been around for a fair few years and is one of the first kites which springs to everyone’s minds when talking light wind specific. New for 2015 is the addition of a 15meter to compliment the already successful 17meter. The 15m has been designed for those a little smaller for whom a 17m may be too big, but still want to get out and riding in that fickle under 12knot wind.
The Turbine is built to Slingshot’s usual high standard with great attention to detail and design. The kite is an Open Delta C-shape, so has large swept tips but with some solid power available for any tricks you may wish to pull.
On such a large kite, the bridles will also be large, but with no pulleys the rider still enjoys a direct feel to the kite.
The Turbine also features the legendary SplitStrut technology, whereby the kite feels extremely solid in the sky and will withstand some serious beatings.
The Bar
The bar is much of a muchness from the previous few years. A simple 4 line design with below bar depower, good quality stopper ball and excellent front line swivel. Of course we all abide by the saying ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, however perhaps it is time for Slingshot to give the bar a bit of a facelift and overhaul to really compete with the recent crop of bars on the market.
Slingshot lines have always been of excellent quality, an incredibly high breaking strain (800lb front lines/500lb back) really gives you the confidence to boost as high and loop as big as possible without fear of things breaking.
Safety wise, the bar features two OS handles, one on each back line, and an excellent front line re-ride system. The push-away quick release above the chicken loop is clean and easy to use with minimal effort. Reassembly is simple to do and could easily be done whilst in the water if appropriate.
The centre line is very long on this bar as it can also be used for Slingshots other kites, so an excellent quality stopper ball is in place to keep the bar perfectly close by at all times.
There is a below bar depower, so very easy to reach, but if fully pulled in will result in line flapping around your spreader bar.
In the Air
When I first launched this kite, my initial thought was ‘oh my goodness this thing is the size of a building’, however, after two minutes I felt completely at home and was truly astonished by the fact I was kitesurfing in 10mph. Due to its size you do need to be fairly aggressive with it to get some initial speed, but once moving, you could lean back and eat a ham sandwich it’s so chilled.
Amazingly enough, even in those super light winds if you generate enough speed you will have enough lift for a few small floaty jumps. It wont rocket you into the sky, but will keep you hanging long enough to style it out in whatever way you choose.
Even more astonishing perhaps was its unhooking capabilities, granted you probably wont be throwing double handle passes in 12 knots, but you will have some solid pop to twizzle away.
When the wind kicked in the kite can still be held down with ease. There is excellent depower, so by simply pulling in some of the trim the kite is still manageable despite its size.
Would I have been kitesurfing earlier on a 17m? I don’t know, a 15m is just much quicker to work it to generate power. And being able to hold a 17m when the wind kicked in? No chance, there’s simply too much material and down wind pull on a big kite if you do not have the weight and strength behind you. I for one do not want to be battling with a massive kite, I want to be out kitesurfing! Of course, for bigger, heavier riders that wouldn’t be a problem, and they may well need that extra power from a 17m for lightwind sessions.
For
A big efficient kite, which gratefully can still be held once the wind kicks in. Combining all of Slingshot’s excellent technology in one tidy package to get you out riding in the lightest of breezes.
Against
Below-the-bar depower can get in the way occasionally if the wind picks up and you need to pull the trim in on the kite, it does in no way affect the performance or the safety, merely a minor observation.
Overall
Encompassing all of Slingshots legendary build, design and quality into one big package would be a hard task, but it has been achieved here resulting in a fantastically versatile light wind specific kite for those lighter weight riders out there.
Videos
This review was in Issue 51 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit SlingshotRelated
By Robin and Sukie
With years of kite sport experience combined, you can be sure you’ll be receiving the highest quality of knowledge on the best equipment the industry has to offer.
