riddim1 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:31 am
Hi All,
Getting some great info on this thread. I need some advice from Pivot/Slash users. Been riding Pivots every year since 2015. I only ride a directional in the surf. Do lots of downwinders mostly. I am 84kgs and currently have the 7/9m Pivot 2018’s. Would call myself intermediate/advanced. Have always loved the Pivots as it’s a great all rounder and i need a fast turning kite at my local which is on-shore wind swell. Issue is I never get the 9m out as the 7 works for me from 18kts. I don’t bother Kiting in any less these days due to having next to zero disposable spare time. The 7m is brilliant but I find with each passing new model, the power for boosting is getting more. The 2018 now yanks me off my board in turns and find it boosts me too high doing chop hops and small aerials. So my questions for Slash riders are:
1. Would the 7m 2018 or 2019 Slash have same/similar power to the 2018 7m Pivot?
2. What is the turning speed comparison for these two kites?
Going to go for a one kite quiver so need
To know if I should go for the 7m or 8m Slash. Thanks in advance.
Hmmm, tricky question. Low ends are kind of hard to compare because the kites fly (and need to be flown!) very differently. I have 2018 Pivot 7m, and Slash 9 & 6. My findings:
Pivot is more sheet and go, and a bit gruntier. I
have the feeling that the Pivot also flies more forward in the window, so getting upwind or behind the line up sometimes feels easier on the Pivot (or at least, less work/effort to get there). Drifting wise, it's not
as good as the Slash: gotta keep an eye on it when on the waves, as it tends to point down towards the water faster than the Slash (Pivot still drifts nicely though, just not as good as the Slash). When well powered, the Pivot can pull you off the wave because of its grunt.
Slash is nice because you can totally switch it off, down to 0 pull - both above you head as when parked at 10/2 o clock in the wave. Drifts so nice - just drop in and forget about it, it stays put and drifts down the line perfectly. Power wise, it's a different beast than the Pivot: you need to work it to get going. Send it hard, and pick up speed. Once up and running, it trucks along nicely, and will generate plenty of power. But you need to know how to actively fly a kite. Slowed down while riding out because of getting over a wave? You will need to dive it down hard again to get going. It generates power through the turns for sure, but you can also loop it quite tightly and then it pulls a lot less. The Pivot really does "pivot" more though - Slash doesn't turn as tight, but that's not a bad thing - once you get used to it and know how to ride it, the Slash turns plenty quick (but different), and is definitely the better kite in the waves.
Power-wise, just to give you an idea: today I was out on my 9m Slash, but had to come back in because the wind picked up too much and I got pulled of the wave a few times when dropping in and picking up speed. I could have ridden longer and power in the turns etc. was still manageable, but the waves were big and shooting down the line made it impossible to completely shut off the Slash's power. So, I switched to the 6m, didn't think I would have enough. I had to work the kite significantly, but managed to get out and tack upwind no problem once up to speed. Could've used 2 knots more to be perfectly powered, but it worked. Then switched with my gf who was on the 7m Pivot. Less work to get out there, and perfectly powered (didn't get pulled of the wave or anything). Definitely not enough power on the Pivot to go have a decent session on a TT or do some jumps though. 2 other guys stayed out on their 9's (Neo & Airush Wave) and said they were powered, but not overpowered...
So, if you know how to actively fly a kite and get the most out of it, you will be able to unlock the Slash's true low-end potential. If you're up for adapting to this active flying style, and mostly do downwinders, I'd get the 7. If you want to make sure you can get out in 18 knots without having to work the kite a lot, get the 8 (but of course you will lose top end...). I'd personally get the 7 - the smaller the kite, the more you can throw it around aggressively to get power, and also the more total "shut off" potential you get in the wave = the more you'll be surfing.