This weekend we had the opportunity to stop by the Slingshot warehouse in Stevenson, WA and check out their latest and greatest including some hush-hush releases for 2010. This included their new board line-up and the kick ass Slingshot CSS Control Bar. It’s the first true spinning bar, no more having to take your kite leash off to spin the bar back around after doing three backrolls in a row. If that wasn’t enough, it also has a push-away chicken loop release, below the chicken loop kite leash attachment point, and is fully convertible from 4 to 5 line.
We also got a chance to check out the 2010 Slingshot Glide which has some new flex tips on the nose and tail. They’ve stiffened up all their decks by adding a 45 degree stepped rail instead of the 90 degree angle they used in 2009, creating less flex. In addition, they’ve used brighter colors to make it easier to spot your board after a wipeout. Here’s a preview of the ‘10 Slingshot SX and Misfit kiteboards.
Aside from the bar, the other major change for 2010 is the new Slingshot Bolt-ons Integrated Foot Pads and Straps. The pads are extra thick and cushy for maximum comfort. The straps utilize a lace-up system to accommodate all foot sizes. I’ve always had a hard time finding bindings that will cinch down small enough and these are finally the answer!
The new straps and pads are now easier than ever before to mount onto your board also. They use a system with a rod that inserts through a sleeve on each side of the foot strap that feeds through a mounting plate. Then all you have to do is simply screw the plate to the inserts on the kiteboard. Here’s a schematic:
The Glide, Misfit and SX with the new bolt-ons strap system are all available for demo now. Call ahead of time and we’ll bring it up to the Jetty for you to try out! 206.372.5268
