Few things are kept under wraps for long in the world of kitesurfing and new kites, and there have been a few hushed whispers on most beaches for a while now about Slingshots's new offering for 2011 - The Rally.  A  few have even been spotted and tested around these shores.

The Rally is a three strut Open Delta-C which, Slingshot hope, ticks the boxes for most riders.  Its pulley-less bridle gives that all important 'direct feel' and plenty of responsiveness - keeping the freestylers happy.  While its Delta shape gives plenty of low end grunt and full depower, great for giving you the confidence to go big knowing that you can bail out if required, and also great for beginners.
 
Surf style?
Early reports suggest that the Rally is also a winner in the waves.  It's got plenty of depower for shutting off the juice when you're coming off the lip, plus it has great feedback and steers well when fully depowered so good for down-the-line waveriding too.  Plus the relaunch is quick and easy and the build quality is solid enough to take hits in the waves.
 
There have been hundreds of 'this is the next thing' kites brought out over the years that now lie, worthless, in attics and basements, but the Rally's success may well lie in its back-to-basics approach.  There's nothing new here, but all of the 'best' bits do seem to sit together remarkably well on the Rally.
 

The official Slingshot info:

"Proven Delta features such as low end power, responsive pivotal turning, endless lofty hang time, effortless relaunch and unbelievable range are matched with C kite predictable power and uncompromised stability.




The 3 strut design of the Open Delta C harnesses and delivers smooth efficient power through the stoke and offers a light weight balanced build for maximum flight stability. Our industry first pulley-less bridle lends itself to a direct feel, enhanced responsiveness, and unmatched upwind performance. The range on the Rally has been optimized for maximum low-end grunt. This means riding in lighter wind speeds with smaller size kites and notice bigger boost with longer hang times. The stroke at the bar combined with our pulley-less bridle lets you tap into a top end range that translates into complete control when the wind picks. Fine tuning the Rally is easy with Custom Fuel Injection attachment points. CFI alters the overall feel and bar pressure enabling you to tune the kite to meet your personal riding preferences.

Progressive freestyle, expert surf, high wind, low wind; do it all with the 2011 Rally!"