So, I cant get upwind with my slingshot ranger 12m

Ive tried pulling in the bar and adjusting the trim strap

where should the bar be and are there any other suggestions

Try letting the trim strap all the way out. I remember when I had mine, If I let the trim strap all the way out and have the bar almost all the way out, it would hold up pretty good in lighter winds. You will have to work the kite pretty good, but it should get you there. Pulling in on the bar while the kite is diving into the window then letting the bar out on the way up to the edge.

Did that kite have the power line mod on it??? look for a 6 or 8 inch leader either down by the power line attachments or out by the kite. This may help as well

Oh and if need be, we can catch up and check it out. I flew mine a ton and was very successful with it.

Feyd may chime in, he is another one that loves the Ranger.

It has the leaders on it. When I tried going up wind the power was to great and made me stop or go downwind

Do you get upwind with other kites?

Body position has a LOT to do with it. If you want to go upwind get the kite to the edge and look upwind at your goal. If you are being pulled downwind , slow down and turn your body more / depower the kite.

I hadn't realized that I was flying powered up all the time until Gabe gave my kite a go...found out I was flying with 6 inches too much brake, so he shortened the leading edge lines and it totally made a difference.

Now when fully sheeted out the kite will 'almost' go into safety mode..entirely on the two leading edge lines.....getting me to the edge of the window in a HURRY...then a little pressure on the bar is all I need...

Just something to check...get that bad boy all the way up on the front lines and it will upwind like homesick angel...

Steve

My mistake, I thought you were running in lighter winds and were having problems getting power out of the kite to get back upwind.

Like what is said above, you need to get that kite out to the edge of the window.

The ranger pulls like a freaking truck, it's a blessing in most of the windrange, but a curse at top-end.

I know on ATB when I'm well/overpowered it can be really difficult to 'hook up' traction from the board to the terrain based on the conditions you are riding in.

When I personally have found myself in this situation of with my ranger, I'll hang on it trying to get upwind w/kite at 3-4, kite to 12 stand up to ease tension and trim in 6-8" lean back and send kite back to 3-4, repeat as necessary. I am flexible enough that I can really squat on the board and lean to try and direct power while lowering center of gravity.

Eventually you can pull so much depower on the ranger you kind of deform the kite and you can see the shape flatten too much and tips stall out and you keep flying on center cells as you try to wrestle this giant floppy red and black jellyfish home. It's a fun beast.

I am not sure if it works on ATB because less traction but when i ride buggy, snow or kiteboard when overpowered and at high speed I keep kite very close to the ground and slowly turn upwind witch forces kite to travel to the edge of window .... If you know how to do slide transition it will help to stop, slow down quickly .... Keep kite at 3 or 9 and start sliding turn as always without sanding kite up ..... wait until you stop or slow down to desired speed and then release edge to continue travel in same direction ... Its easier to go upwind in slower or moderate speeds .... also its good to learn impulsive "edging" .... lean back and direct board upwind for few seconds and release ...

Sheet out and dig in. Knowing how to use your depower strap is almost as useful as know when to let the bar in and out.

I have a 9M Ranger with the power line extension mod. It is not my go-to kite and I am a beginner but I did have very good results going up wind (in a buggy) in pretty good wind 15 - 20 mph. This was my experience:

Trim fully out and the bar almost fully out and I could easily tack cross wind without going up or down wind and basically just park and ride, mostly controlling speed by position of the kite in the window (I mostly fly FB on bar so this was similar to that). With the kite parked at 2 oclock, just sheeting in a little bit was like a rocket boost which really is what DP capability is all about. To go up wind I was moving pretty fast and had the kite near the edge and pretty low and could gradually go upwind just by body position or edging. I could also raise the kite and move it a little away from the edge and then bring it back down to the edge while sheeting in and edging upwind to make more progress upwind faster.

Jason