Slingshot Raptor V1 Kite

I had a session on the new 9m raptor in the ocean with a twin tip here in Cape Hatteras, and I was impressed with the power and turning feel. I have been riding slingshot kites for a long time, and I see this kite as an improvement in their line up as a great high performance freeride kite for intermediate to advanced riders who like to do tricks but mostly hooked in. If you like to un-hook more, the RPM is for you. The new Rally GT might be a better option for beginners, but beginners will still find this kite user friendly. This kite has good boosting and looping potential. Good design with 5 struts and a fairly easy relaunch. Awesome slingshot construction as normal.

When the Raptor came out I was stoked to get to fly a brand new model by slingshot. My stoke was met and exceeded by this thing!! I rode a 10m in 20-30mph and it held its own! It has a ton of low end power, if you size the kite correct. ( It likes to be powered so go bigger than what you normally would) . Turns on a dime and you can always feel where the kite is above you.

Boosting on this kite is INSANE!! Launches you when you pull the trigger and with just a little kite control, brings you down to earth on a pillow.

It is a 5 strut kite and is a little heavy so i wouldnt suggest it in lighter wind. But if you like to be powered up and go big, this is the kite for you!!

5 Stars!! Great addition to any quiver!

I've been dying to try out the new Raptor, and I finally got a session on it a few days ago. It was blowing average 19 mph, 17-22mph range, and I am 185lb. I took the 12M Raptor out with the 2020 Compstick Sentinel 20" bar.

This thing jumps! I had a great session jumping and boosting some small land gaps. Its power delivery is predictable and user friendly. The 12m size really did like to be powered up. In the gusts, jumping was very easy and lofty. I found myself lofting longer than anticipated before finally descending. Landings were also nice and soft and predictable. In the lulls, the kite definitely felt underpowered and a little soft. This kite likes to be powered up!

I am guessing that this kite in the smaller 8m and 9m sizes are super fun. I can see this kite boosting like a rocket in higher winds.

The pull on this kite is very strong and reminds me of the extreme grunty low end pull of the Slingshot Turbine. If I was trying to hold an edge and ride upwind when a gust hit, it did want to pull me downwind and I had to really push against it. For this reason, I think this kite is a great option for riders 170lb+.

Another thing to note, don't be scared off by the idea that this is only for big air boosting. This is also a great all around Freeride kite due to its low end power, easy relaunch, and Slingshot tough construction.

I'm looking forward to trying the smaller sizes on a really windy day!

I'm an intermediate rider and I took out the 9m and 12m raptor hoping to practice some jumps. In both of my sessions I felt under-powered to the point of frustration. Both sessions I felt that I would have been properly powered on another 9m or 12m, but the raptor is quite heavy and in my opinion rides a size smaller than most kites. In my first 9m and 12m sessions, I would have been better off riding a 10m and 14m (if they made them). However, after learning from my mistakes and I had another chance to ride the 9m properly powered, and the kite was great. It gives great hang time and is very comfortable in the air.

I've flown this kite in light winds and also in stronger winds and one has to say that this kite likes being flown in the strongest winds possibly. Although it can be flown in lighter winds having 5 struts gives this bad boy a little weight making the frame more rigged for stronger winds. warning be prepared if flown in light winds to either loop the shit out of the kite on what ever direction it's falling ( for example if the kite is falling primarily on its left side just loop it to the left pulling the left side of the bar and if it seems to favour the other side then loop to the right) or get ready to tomahawk it.hopefully no one is down wind of you.(stay safe) The kite has great hang time and it looks like Sling Shot is trying to give Core and its XR a little competition well that's the rumors around this build... lol. Easy valve allowing the kite to be quickly inflated great stitching on the kites looks durable. Even I've inverted the kite and it held up no snaps tears or rips anywhere. Oh this kite also comes with a bag! believer it or not, but kool thing is that the bag allows you to attach you board to the back of the bag. Thus making it easy for transportation. overall great kite and its package. happy shredding out there