Rider review Dice SLS

Welcome to the Rider Review of the DICE SLS. We catch up with international team riders LASSE WALKER and VAL GARAT to get the low on the Dice SLS, the latest addition to the SLS range.

Hi guys, you both have had a bit of time on the new kite now, tell us about your impressions of the Dice SLS.

Lasse: Well I think I’m not the only one that has been waiting for this kite in the SLS range. The Dice has been known for its performance and overall handling and in my opinion also the balance between these aspects. Now with the Dice SLS, everything has been raised beyond imagination! And besides that, It’s fast! And I mean really fast!

Val: The first time I tried the Dice SLS I was kiting in 30 knots with the 9 meter! It felt like a normal Dice, but with everything just a little bit better, like a tuned Dice. Better loops, better hang time and a good feeling at the bar.

In your opinion, what areas does this kite excel and what differences do the Penta TX and SLS construction bring to the Dice SLS?

Val: For me, the Dice SLS is my kite of choice for big air. I love the way it loops and the feeling you have in your bar during the jumps, you always know where your kite is. There are no surprises with the Dice SLS. The direct feeling and being able to always know what the kite is going to do Is amazing for big air. But it’s also a great all-around kite, if you want to do some freestyle, foiling or wave-riding it’s also amazing. I think the Penta TX and lightweight SLS construction really improves the low end, it’s especially noticeable for me as a heavier rider.

It used to be when the wind was light I was missing some power but the materials make the kite lighter and way better in light wind conditions. For big air it gives you more height in your jumps and the feeling on the kite is a little more direct due to the rigid construction. All this really tunes the performance of the Dice SLS and the SLS construction works really good on this kite.

Lasse: The main thing about the SLS kites in the range is the Penta TX material instead of standard Dacron. The Penta TX is not just much lighter, but primarily the stiffness is what makes SLS so much better in my opinion. With this new stiff material, the designers can make completely new and different designs that previously were just not possible. Resulting in next-level performance and direct handling.

What differences do you notice from the previous Dice?

Val: From the previous Dice I would say the Dice SLS is more powerful across it’s range. The bar pressure is a bit less but the feeling is still familiar and you still always know where your kite is in the sky. It’s more direct which makes it feel faster so you can really control your kite more precisely. These are the main differences but It still feels like you are riding a Dice.

Lasse: As explained the Penta TX gives the kite a whole different feel and performance. And this is something that you will definitely notice in your first minutes flying the Dice SLS. But besides that, the Dice SLS still has the DNA the original Dice has become famous for.

What bar and line setups are you using and are there any additional trimming tips you would recommend?

Lasse: I always ride 22m lines on the small click bar, especially on the sizes 10 and smaller. This is the way the kite has been designed and tested and therefore the recommended setting. I ride the Dice SLS in the medium setting while riding Big Air. This gives the kite the best feel for me, and according to kite designer Ralf Grösel, makes this kite get in the best possible shape for Big Air. The hard setting gives the kite a whole new level for unhooked freestyle performance. It creates more bar pressure, less steering during tricks and makes this the perfect kite for your freestyle moves!

Val: I always use the small click bar with 22-meter lines, this is my favourite set-up for the Dice SLS and all the kites in the Duotone range. For big air, I set the lines to the middle setting but when I want to do unhooked freestyle tricks I put the steering lines on my bar on the inside setting to slow it down and this makes it really good for all the unhooked tricks. This is my tip if you want to have a bit more bar pressure and slow the kite down, it helps you to do all the good tricks unhooked.

Tell us, what pressures do you pump your kite to?

Lasse: We always recommend pumping Duotone kites to 7psi. This is how the kites are tested and approved. Although in stronger winds when riding overpowered I pump my kites to 9 psi. In stronger winds, this makes it much more stable and confident and gives the right flying characteristics.

Val: I always pump my kites really hard. I feel when it’s pumped up the kite reacts much better. Especially when the wind is gusty it’s important to pump your kite up quite hard. I would say I pump my kites to around 8-9psi.

Who would you say the Dice SLS is best suited for?

Lasse: The Dice SLS is definitely for the more experienced rider looking to excel their performance on Big Air, Mega-loops, Freestyle and also even wave-riding. It’s an insanely fast and playful kite that can help you grow and basically do what you want to do!

Val: I think the Dice SLS is perfect for any rider who wants to perform big air or freestyle tricks. From your first loop to learning a rotation or learning your first handle passes the kite is solid and gives no surprises. The Dice is the choice for someone who wants to do all kinds of riding but still has good performance in freestyle and big air.