Hi Murdoc,
"how should a dealer test these kites?
the only way of finding out is inflating and flying."
Whats the problem with that? Surely any good dealer should use and test any new product before stocking and selling to its customers?
A dealer is selling product and should know the product being sold to customers.
I was riding and dealing with wipika up to end 2001 and before I sold a new '02 10m AB to anyone I bought one for myself/Demo last sept. The tip blew out second time on the water, out back in big waves... It blew out several times after repairs and then the replacement bladder blew out too. The kite went back and I knew better than to stitch up any customers with one. A few months later, jan, the same happened with a 10m supplied for a mag test.
This was nothing to do with rubbing at the tips as we first thought... the bladders simply didn't fit the leading edge properly, worked themselves short at one tip and blew out.
Like I said, I am sure the problem was sorted in the end and good luck to wipika. I'll stick with Skoops thanx
Slingshot wise.. you are not likely to get a busted bladder on a slingshot unless its an old one with a velcro pocket as opposed to a zip. Other than perhaps Caution, Slingshots are probably the best built kites available. The 2003 fuels are some piece of work with performance to match.