One of the most versatile kites out there with countless World Titles under its belt
THIS TEST FIRST APPEARED IN ISSUE #92 IN MARCH, 2018
TEST TEAM NOTES:
The freestyle championship winner. Only minor material modifications for the RPM this year on what is already one of the most bombproof and strongly made kites on the market. For that reason it has become very popular with schools over the last eight years, but it’s also seen more than its fair share of team riders climb to the top of freestyle podiums.
If the success of a kite can be defined by the amount of world titles won on it then the RPM is about as successful as they come. Youri Zoon, Carlos Mario and park rider Sam Light have all won multiple titles using the RPM.
While the RPM has always found favour among high-performance freestyle riders, it’s also one of the most accessible and safe-feeling kites on the market. Casting a smooth, calming influence across any situation, it assures you that everything’s going to be all right, regardless of the brutality of the conditions.
In the same session you could have a heavy freestyler happily going upwind on the same size RPM as a small woman who is also comfortably riding along and enjoying their session, highlighting just how manageable the RPM is at its top end.
The power delivery is exceptionally smooth with no lumps and no areas where it really bites, which helps Youri and Carlos Mario do double handle-passes in all sorts of gusty, challenging conditions. Slingshot developed a ‘Full Suspension Bridle’ for the RPM, so that even when you unhook it just stays steady and sits nicely forward in the window. In fact the RPM was the first bridled kite to win a World Freestyle Championship. The suspension bridle really comes into its own in the real world for most of us when we’re riding in strong and gust conditions. Although the bridle is pulley-less and direct, the little bungy cords in the lines constantly adjust to allow for the gusts, but keep the lines under tension at the same time, providing a smooth and connected ride for the pilot.
The turning is responsive, predictable and consistent. You can fire the RPM through the window and make mistakes without it telling you off. It’s like driving a car with with the reactive sensors on, which encourages you to push harder and harder. At first, the kite loop isn’t very aggressive, but it’s very reliable and you’ll soon get more and more comfortable pulling the trigger on wider loops. That comfort and the confidence that the kite gives you will help prevent you from becoming intimidated of looping in stronger conditions, too. Your progression will rocket.
However, for freeriders who are primarily focused on easy hooked-in jumping performance, this is where you’ll want to look at something more like the Rally. All that sublime comfort, reliability, secure feeling and immense handle-passing poise means that the RPM isn’t the most immediately rewarding kite for boosting.
Sure, you can ride it in really strong winds and get bigger and bigger jumps from it, but to get good jumps out of it on a regular basis you need to hit its sweet spot with your kite handling. It doesn’t have that automatic punch and lift at the top of the window that some of the more hooked-in freeride focused kites offer (the 20” standard Comp stick we rode comes as standard on relatively short 20 metre lines, which add control, but give you less allowance for swinging the kite up for automatic lift – but there are three metre line extensions in the box, so you can switch up). You need to handle the RPM a bit more roughly and with good accuracy to get really big lift – but for good riders, this is totally possible – and that is the beauty of the RPM; it’s one of the most secure feeling kites on the market, but as you progress and learn to unlock its levels, it grows with you.
In the waves, the RPM has a great deal of application as its light bar pressure and responsiveness means you can loop it hard into and out of turns and commit fully every time you dive the kite into power without the nagging fear of being slammed over the nose of your board. The shut-off depower is excellent, too.
That level of usability and forgiveness continues into the top end of the RPM’s range and you can ride this nine metre in wind strengths that would normally require dropping down a size (or even two) on most kites as it rides out gusts without batting an eyelid. While the range extends upwards, it’s not quite as impressive at the bottom end, but that’s not a problem as the comfortable top end means you can size up to a bigger one without worrying about being overpowered when you’re deciding between big and small kite weather.
The build quality is typically Slingshot. Although it’s not over-heavy, the RPM is solid, rugged and dependable and where the key reinforcements are, they’re substantial, such as on the struts, the leading edge and the very precisely cut and crafted canopy, positioned carefully to add to the strong skeleton of the kite. Basically, the RPM rocks and also features a very efficient one-pump (Slingshot invented it) valve that the hose screws directly onto, for very quick, hard inflation.
The Compstick bar is one of our favourites for build and use. You could run over it with a truck and not damage it. The quick release works extremely well and is one of the easiest systems on the market to put back together. The above-the-bar Sentinel trim is smooth, easy to operate and has a magnetic retainer for the rope. The below-the-bar line spinner is excellent (there isn’t one on the below-the-bar trimming option bar). The grip is at the firm and grippy end of the spectrum and feels very durable. The moulded bar ends and EVA floats give it a polished, yet refreshingly simple feel and, as usual, Slingshot have their ‘Oh Shit’ safety handles on the end of the outside lines for last resort peace of mind.
SUMMARY:
The RPM allows anyone to ride in challenging conditions with consistency and comfort. Although getting big boosts out of it takes an experienced rider’s know-how, the RPM doesn’t punish poor handling, which is priority for many. If you’re a handle-passer, the RPM is a winner at the highest level, and you can even hand it to someone in their early stages of kiteboarding, which is incredible. Plus it’s ultra-durable construction means it’ll last longer than perhaps even you.
KW LIKED:
Incredible top end control, super wide range of application and top quality build strength.
KW WOULD CHANGE:
As an improving freerider fixated on boosting you will be better served with something more raw and fiery.
RPM BALANCE POINTS
Build quality: 9
Full package: 9
Low end: 7
Top end: 9
Steering speed: 7.5
Turning circle: 6.5
Bar pressure: 5
Water relaunch: 8
Drift: 8
Boost: 7
Hang-time: 7
Unhooked: 9
Cross-over: 9 (Freestyle, freeride, waves)
Ease-of-use: 9 (Unless you’re simply looking for raw boosting power)
SIZES: 14, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 4.5m.
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