Rider: 65kgs, level intermeditate
style: freestyle, unstrapped surf
Equiptment: Slingshot lunacy 129/ 2010 7mtr Slingshot octane, Slingshot SRT/
2010 11mtr Slingshot octane
bulid quality: 9/10
overal satisfaction: 9/10
Condtions: 30-37knts, NW at DI, and 10-14knts downwinder from Perigian to Sunshine Beach
Disclosure: Shop rider for KSA

i am a fuel rider and ride flatwater and surf pretty evenly, i have just bought a 7mtr octane for taking out the surfboard and for really windy flat water days.

I tried the kite for the first time at DI with a solid 30-37knt onshore wind i was using a twin tip that day, the kite was straight out of the bag with no setting changes apart from depowering the kite. The kite is a fraction slower than the rev but has a smoother power delivery. The kite unhooks nicely and has lots of time to do handle passes, when unhooked the kite dosn't give u a big yank unlike other hybrid kites it has a smoother fuel like feeling.

after and hour or so of flat water i hopped out of the flat water pond and ran across the sandbank into the surf. The octane will definatly appeal to the majority of wave riders, has lots of power to get you out of those tight situations but wont ripp you off your board. When using the kite with a surfboard the kite performs really well, it falls back perfect but still keeps a fair bit of tension on the lines so you dont feel as though the kite will drop out half way through a reo.

The kite has great low end as well as unmatched top end, it is a highly depowerable kite and stays very stable in light and high winds. i took the 11mtr demo octane out on a downwinder in 10-13 knts the downwinder was about 13 kms long. i was very suprised how powered i was in such light winds.

the bar setup is a big plus for the octane, this bar has a very unclutted look about it and has a excelent saftey system which will not activate it self unlike the previous system.

overal i would strongly recomend this kite to all waveriders wherethere they like to ride straped or unstraped, hooked in or unhooked this kite will perform excelent in all conditions. This is a very userfriendly kite so it will greatly apeal to people that are wanting to start unhooking and pushing there freestyle limits this kite will not let you down.

if anyone in the sunshine coast area in queensland would like to demo one be sure to hit up adventure sports kitesurf australia in noosa.

good winds.

I rode the 11 octane for the 3 rd time the other day in 20 knot winds. This kite performs exactly like the manafactures say's it supposed too. Its fast, the most user friendy and stable kite I have flown so far. Remove the pig tails and you will get that extra bottom end power. I cant wait to get it out in the surf. you can almost fly this kite entirely one handed. If your thinking of upgrading consider test riding this kite.

something that has not been covered on the new octanes is the safety... I almost never use my safety unless in extreme conditions.. the other day in gusty 30+ knts I had no choice but to pull my safety for the first time with these kites. I just sat the kite about 20ft of the ground making sure the flagging line was at the top and just unhooked... it was awesome the kite just floated down and sat very sweetly on the sand..