Customer Reviews

Slingshot B2 / B3 with DVD

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I have owned a Slingshot B2 for about a year. I have flown 2 line kites for about 15 years. This one is my current favorite. It doesn't make as much noise as a 2 line delta kite, but it generates much more pull. I modified the control bar by adding a harness loop so I can sail it while hooked to a waist harness. That makes it easy to take the kite up and fly for long periods in strong wind. If the wind is blowing 10 to 15, this kite will pick a small person off the ground if you aren't careful. I am using this kite to train for kiteboarding.

I have had one line break on me, but it was probably because I took it up when the wind was too strong and I tried to fly it in the center of the power zone. I have since learned that is a no-no on really windy days!

The kite has no rigid poles, so it rolls up to be quite small. I keep it in a backpack with some other kite stuff. When I want to go flying, I just grap the pack. The kite has a nice bag that holds the kite and the bar and lines, but I also cary a harness so the backback helps.

I self launch this kite by laying it on its back andputting 2 water bottles on the traiing edge. When the lines come snug the kite fills with air and stands up. One little pull and the bottles roll off and the kite soars into action.

Tried this kite in Spain after several similar products. Got hooked right away: great stability in various wheather conditions (anything from 10 knots and up gives great performance). Durable material prevents damage in rough conditions (e.g. rough landings). Wouldn't want to do my land based kite training part with any other kite.

This training kite takes some time to getting use to it and learning how to fly it correctly. You need watch the training video that comes with it a few times before going a flying the kite. Be patience with yourself because the kite is very fast and it take time to master controlling, launching and landing the kite.

You will need to have about 20 hours of practice flying the kite before you have a good feel for what the kite is doing without having to look at it all the time to make sure what position or angle it is at.

It is a fun training kite to fly and and a very import part of the learning how to control a larger kiteboarding kite down the road before you start taking lessons from and instructor.

This kite will be fun to fly even after you have graduated to the real kiteboading kites.

This is an excellent precursor to kiteboarding. Lessons usually last 2-3 days, and the first day consists of using this trainer kite (or similar). Since you don't want to waste the first day of your ~$500 lessons on this trainer you should buy this for practice before committing to a class. You can continue to use this forever for fun, further practice (important for learning how to jump) or, even better, teaching a friend the basics.

Some notes to beginner kiteboarders:

If you have taken the lessons and want to invest more money into the sport consider this.
Any kite you find used/outdated online will say "great for beginners," this is a lie most of the time and the person selling it can't use it due to lack of lessons or didn't know what they were buying in the first place. To avoid wasted cash try to buy locally, this has many advantages. Up to date technology has the greatest safety features (depowering and emergency releases) and a merchant will teach you about your kite after your purchase. Usually if you buy from the same shop that offered lessons you can get a discount.

This is not a sport that you can just go out, buy the gear, rig up and be a pro. You NEED lessons and to educate yourself about your purchase before going through with it. This trainer kite (or similar) is the first step to the learning process.

I bough this trainer kite (B2) as a first step towards kite sports. I've taken it out on rather windy days and I was happily surprised to see that its humble 2 square meters could drag my 160 lbs on the beach without breaking. I even had to improvise a harness with some nylon rope to give my hands a break.