Slingshot One Lock Hydrofoil System | Fast and Easy Assembly Meets High Performance Foiling
The Slingshot One Lock Hydrofoil System represents a major step forward in hydrofoil design, engineered to make it easier for riders to select the right equipment for their level and style. Fred Hope from Slingshot shares insights into the new system, highlighting the changes made to ensure seamless progression and improved performance across various disciplines, including kite foiling, wing foiling, and wake foiling.
Three Years of Development | The Slingshot One Lock Hydrofoil System
The development of the One Lock Hydrofoil System took three years, involving extensive testing to perfect the geometry and durability of each component.
Testing and Retooling: Slingshot tested approximately 20 front wings and 40 masts, breaking many during the process to refine the internal structure of the collar for maximum strength. This retooling process allowed for more carbon to be fitted around the collar, enhancing the system's durability.
Problem Solving: Slingshot's goal with the One Lock System is to address the common issues riders face, such as collar breakage due to torque. By refining the design, they aim to minimize problems and help riders find the right kit for their needs, maximizing progression.
Stabilizer Choices | Simplicity for All Skill Levels
270 Stabilizer: Designed for beginners and intermediate riders, the 270 stabilizer offers a stable platform for learning and progressing. It is suitable for winging, wake foiling, and surf foiling.
180 Stabilizer: Targeted at intermediate to advanced riders, this stabilizer is versatile across winging, wake foiling, surf foiling, and even kite foiling. Its design focuses on optimizing carving performance when the rider does not have power in their hands.
Carve 2 200 Stabilizer: Fred Hope prefers this stabilizer for kite foiling due to its wing tips, which help stabilize the yaw while handling the increased power of kite foiling. This feature makes it an ideal choice for those looking for extra control and stability.
The Quick Start Packages | Simplicity in Choice
Slingshot has designed quick start packages tailored to different riding styles. These packages simplify the process for customers by including all the necessary components to get started.
1. Wing Foiling Package
Contents: 82 cm aluminum mast, 1850 front wing, and 270 tail stabilizer.
Price Point: This package offers an affordable entry into the platform without sacrificing performance. The aluminum mast provides a solid feel with no added weight penalty.
2. Wake Foiling Package
Contents: The new 1250 front wing, 270 stabilizer, and the WF2 board.
Board Upgrade: The WF2 board is newly constructed for enhanced durability and includes fins for easy conversion into a wake surfer. With the RTS (Rapid Transition System) kit, riders can quickly switch from foiling to wake surfing, adding versatility to their setup.
3. Kite Foiling Package
Contents: 1255 front wing, 270 stabilizer, and an 82 cm mast.
User-Friendly Design: This package aims to make the entry into kite foiling straightforward, reducing the confusion for new riders and ensuring a consistent progression path.
Focused Product Line for Rider Progression
Slingshot emphasizes a clear and concise product line, avoiding an overwhelming array of front wings and stabilizers. This strategic choice aims to cater to 80-90% of customers initially, focusing on providing a straightforward selection process.
Future Plans: While they plan to introduce smaller 180 stabilizers and adjust fuselage lengths, the current lineup is tailored to onboard new riders and support their progression effectively.
Key Takeaways
The Slingshot One Lock Hydrofoil System simplifies the selection process for riders of all skill levels, offering a clear path for progression.
The introduction of the 715 front wing ensures balanced performance and a predictable transition between different wing sizes.
The stabilizer options (270, 180, and Carve 2 200) cater to a range of disciplines, from winging to kite foiling, focusing on providing the right level of stability and control.
The Quick Start Packages make it easier for customers to get started with wing, wake, or kite foiling, providing an all-in-one solution tailored to their needs.
The three-year development process of the One Lock System reflects Slingshot's commitment to durability, performance, and problem-solving, resulting in a refined product lineup.
Slingshot has designed the One Lock Hydrofoil System with the rider's progression and experience in mind, offering a user-friendly platform that eliminates confusion and maximizes performance across various foiling disciplines. The streamlined product line and carefully crafted components demonstrate their dedication to enhancing the rider's journey from beginner to advanced levels.
Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:50:24 +0000
North Dockstarter | Your Shortcut to Quick and Easy Dockstarting
The North Dockstarter is quite a unique product that we haven't seen before, but now it's an indispensable part of our foil pumping toolkit. It's an inflatable foil launching device that you can use with a dock, boat, or whatever else you can strap it to. It holds your board above the water with the foil in the water so that you can run up, jump on your board, take off gliding and start pumping.
What Is The Dockstarter?
If you've tried dockstarting before, you know that it can be very challenging, especially if your dock setup isn't ideal or you don't have someone to hold your board for you while you run up on it. There have been some attempts at creating devices to help with this, but North's Dockstarter is really clever in its use of inflatable paddleboard technology to create a soft, safe, lightweight, and easy-to-deploy method of launching your board from a dock. It makes dockstarting so much more accessible, especially if you don't have a high level of expertise yet or aren't as athletic.
Dockstarter Setup
The Dockstarter pumps up into a flat structure that you then bend into shape. We've got detailed instructions on how to do that here. One of its best features are the straps that you can use to get your board set at just the right angle. When you're running up with your board in hand, one of the most challenging things is setting it in the water at the best angle, and this is going to be a little different every time, too. The Dockstarter lets you get that angle dialed in, and then it'll be the same every time.
If you've got the nose of your board pointing too far up, then it's going to stall or even breach as soon as you jump on and start gliding. If it's pointing too far down, then you'll either slide off the board and into the water in a rather comical fashion, or you'll immediately lose mast height and you won't have any space to start pumping since your board will already be on the water's surface. We found that the ideal setting for the board was either level or with the nose pointed slightly downward. This helps you gain speed while still giving you enough time to glide away cleanly and begin pumping.
Dockstarter Benefits
It'll still take plenty of practice to become more consistent in your dockstarts, but being able to run up and focus on your foot placement is a huge help. Perhaps most importantly, it's so much safer. Many docks have pillars that can get in the way when you need to run up with your board in hand, and then it's easier to fall once you get to the water with so many variables and things to focus on. You could fall on your board, the foil, or even back onto the dock. The Dockstarter makes it easy to get away from the surface you're jumping from so that if you fall, you're more likely to fall into clear water and not something hard. If you manage to fall back onto the Dockstarter, it's much less likely to hurt.
The Dockstarter also provides a nice buffer between your foil and the surface you're jumping from. It's pretty easy to knock your board or foil against the dock or boat when you're hand-holding it, but the Dockstarter will make that almost impossible. The Dockstarter is a bit of an investment, but we've found that it pays for itself pretty quickly in protecting your body and gear, and in the time you'll save by progressing that much faster.
But Is It Fun?
The MAC crew got together for a few sessions with it, and we really had a blast. Everyone had a decent amount of success dockstarting within 10 to 20 tries, and around 50 tries most were getting consistent rides. Now, these are athletic people with some foiling experience, so set your expectations for yourself accordingly. If you're new, you'll need to give yourself more time to learn, but that learning curve will still be shortened dramatically over trying to run up with the board. Arguably, new foilers will see the most time savings from using the Dockstarter.
Tucker has quite a bit of foil experience from winging, but dockstarting is an entirely different animal, and he really struggled with it in the past. The Dockstarter made it so much more fun and allowed him to progress significantly. He and Pat even took it to a public dock and had a lot of fun. They tried it in different places, and even when they couldn't strap it to the structure, it worked fine as long as there wasn't so much wind or current that it floated away before they could run up on it, so it's quite versatile.
Summary
It packs down into a small space, so it's easy to store and transport. It's small enough that it'll even fit in a lot of vehicles inflated. (Just be careful not to leave it in a hot car when it's inflated!) It's a simple, elegant solution to the challenges and risks that come with learning to dockstart and gets you pumping that much faster. Our team had a lot of fun with it and everyone came away with stronger dockstart and pumping skills. We're excited to see how other people use the Dockstarter!
The Dockstarter from North: Pumping Up Your Flatwater Foil Fun
Dockstarting can be a fun challenge with your foil.
Just ask Pat! (Link warning: Goofiness inside.) If you love to pump on flat water, it's almost a required skill. But you do need enough dock length without pilings in the way so you can run up with your foilboard. Then you need to drop your foil into the water at just the right angle and still manage to hop aboard without losing your center of balance. North has tackled this hurdle and created something that every dockstarting enthusiast should check out.
What Is The Dockstarter?
The Dockstarter is an inflatable foil launch pad that attaches to any waterside platform like a jetty, wharf, boat transom or, of course, a dock. It holds your foilboard straight so all you have to do is run up, hop on, and start pumping. Since it's inflatable, you can pack it away or easily transport it for a day setup somewhere. The Dockstarter includes dock anchors, but you'll need to supply your own pump.
Is It Difficult to Set Up?
No, there are only a few simple steps between you and a day of pumping paradise.
1. Lay The Dockstarter out flat for inflation.
2. Rotate the valve pin into the up position and inflate The Dockstarter to 9psi. This is the recommended pressure for optimal leg flex, though you can inflate it to a maximum of 15psi.
3. Close the inflation valve cap securely.
4. Fold up the middle section with the valve coming towards the NS logos on the floating platform section.
5. Attach the side straps to hold the middle section at a 90-degree angle to the floating platform.
6. Fold the front legs down and use the leg straps to secure the front in place.
7. There are two loops for the front legs. Use the forward loops if you prefer a higher board angle, or the rear loops if you prefer a lower board angle.
8. Push the legs against the strap and pull the strap tight so the leg and base are pressed securely together. This will help keep it from moving between dockstarts.
Get Ready to Ride
Find a dock or other platform that has water deep enough for your foil without rocks or other obstacles that might hurt you or your foil. You might have to get creative with finding a way to secure your Dockstarter without causing any damage to the structure, but the included anchors will work in many situations.
The anchors are narrow enough to slip between the boards on many wooden docks, and then a quarter turn will secure it under the boards. You can attach the ropes from the back of The Dockstarter to the anchors.
**Tip** Position the anchors so that the ropes create a "V" spreading out from The Dockstarter (like the red arrows show). This will give you enough room to run up to it without having to hop over the ropes or potentially trip on them and become YouTube famous for all the wrong reasons. Also check to make sure that the anchors remain secure between launches.
It's Go Time!
1. Load your board from the front of The Dockstarter and rest the board on top of it with the foil wings underneath the floating platform and in the water. Your mast must be at least 65cm.
2. The mast should be positioned near the back of the floating platform.
3. Take a running jump and land lightly on your foilboard with both feet.
4. The Dockstarter will bend and sink enough to release the board.
**Tips**
1. Wet the underside of your board before loading it for a smooth release.
2. Plant both feet at the same time down the center of the board.
3. The foil needs to be moving through the water before it can generate any lift, so try to land with light feet and push the board forward before applying your full weight.
4. IMPORTANT: Make sure that your run-up area is not slippery. And for goodness' sake, wear a helmet to protect your noggin. It's softer than both the dock and the board.
So that's The Dockstarter! Depending on where you like to pump, it could be a real game-changer for getting more successful starts and fewer dunkin' do-overs. We'll leave you with just a few more tips to keep in mind to get the longest life out of your investment. Happy pumping!
The Dockstarter Storage and Maintenance Tips
1. Don't leave The Dockstarter inflated in the sun.
2. Keep an eye out for sharp objects.
3. After use, rinse it off with fresh water and dry it.
4. Keep the valve free of sand.
5. Fold it loosely for transport or storage to avoid creating weak points.
6. Deflate it partially or completely for storage. Don't leave it at pressure full time.
7. Don't tow it or use it as a watercraft or rescue device. It's a starbase, not a starship.
8. Don't hog the fun and make your friends run with their boards. Play nice and share.
A First Glance at One-Lock, Slingshot's Screwless Hydrofoil
You arrive at the beach, and it's looking like a great foil session is in store. You grab your kit and get to work assembling it. The faster it's together, the faster you can get on the water! You've just about got all the screws in when you fumble one. Instinctively, you grab for it, but instead you tap it with the tip of a finger and knock it away. You do your best to track it as it tumbles to the sand, but when you go to pick it up, it simply isn't there. You sift and sift...
Screws are no fun. They take time to put in and take out, they wear out, they get sand in the threads, and they're always trying to escape like the One Ring. And that's why Slingshot spent the last three years developing something more precious: One-Lock.
What Is One-Lock?
One-Lock is more than just a replacement for screws, though it certainly is that since you can put your foil together in under 10 seconds without even rushing. It's a complete re-envisioning of what a foil should be. Slingshot whittled their new foil system down to just three parts: the stabilizer, front wing, and mast. These lock together with one lever that's permanently attached to the front wing, so it can never get lost.
Why Do I Need It?
There are many reasons to give this a go. You'll be heading down to the surf before your buddies have their first screw in. Dropped it in the sand before it was together? No worries. Brush it off a little and carry on with assembly. On the water, you'll notice the reduced weight and drag, along with the incredibly precise foil positioning. It's a smooth experience, from assembly to cruising the waves.
When Can I Ride It?
Soon! Well, sorta soon. It's coming in spring 2025, and we'll have preorders open even sooner than that, so stay tuned. In the meantime, here are some pretty pictures. Enjoy!
Living on the Outer Banks | A Unique and Delicate Coastal Life
The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a thin strip of sand stretching out into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Living in such a unique environment brings a lifestyle deeply connected to the sea and an understanding of the delicate nature of life on this barrier island. The history, the surf culture, and the resilience of its residents make the Outer Banks a special place. This blog dives into the life, the waves, and the challenges faced by those who call the Outer Banks home.
A Changing Landscape
The Outer Banks has changed significantly over the years. In the early 1970s, the tourist industry was beginning to gain traction, and life was slower and more community-centered. Many residents made their living from commercial fishing or construction. The surf scene was relatively untouched, with empty beaches offering consistent waves to those lucky enough to find them. Today, while the landscape has evolved, with more businesses and tourists, the sense of a close-knit community and connection to nature remains strong.
The Surf Culture
Surfing on the Outer Banks is unlike surfing anywhere else in the world. With the island positioned 25 miles out into the Atlantic, the continental shelf shapes the waves, creating powerful, fast-breaking swells. The waves can go from perfectly formed A-frames to heavy, dumpy beach breaks in different parts of the island, challenging even the most experienced surfers. Learning to surf here prepares you for waves of consequence anywhere in the world.
Growing up on the Outer Banks often means spending your childhood in the water. Before boogie boards were popular, kids would ride pieces of Styrofoam surfboards, sharing broken bits with siblings as they tackled their first waves. As the waves break hard and fast, the surf teaches the locals resilience and adaptability—qualities that serve them well beyond the water.
The Community of Tube Riders
The Outer Banks has always been home to a core group of dedicated surfers. Legendary locals like Kevin, Scott, and Jeff have been fixtures in the community, along with photographers like Mickey McCarthy, who documented the area's raw beauty. Despite its relatively small size, the surf community has produced some of the best tube riders in the world. Learning to surf on the Outer Banks means learning to barrel ride in fast, steep waves—a skill that not everyone can master.
Navigating the Shifting Sands
One of the most fascinating aspects of surfing on the Outer Banks is the ever-changing nature of the sandbars. Storms, tides, and currents constantly reshape the coastline, meaning perfect waves can form in different locations on any given day. With over 40 miles of empty beaches, surfers can explore and find their own breaks, often with no one else around. However, finding a good wave isn’t always easy, as the sandbars shift, and what was once a perfect spot may disappear overnight.
A Life of Resilience
Life on the Outer Banks requires resilience. The community faces constant challenges from storms, hurricanes, and the encroaching ocean. Storms can change the landscape overnight, erasing dunes and flooding homes. Residents prepare for the worst, knowing that one bad storm could reshape the island forever. Despite these challenges, the people of the Outer Banks come together in times of need. The community spirit shines the brightest when neighbors help each other rebuild after a storm.
Growing up here, hurricanes were a way of life. The power would go out for days or even weeks, and homes would sometimes be left with feet of water inside. Yet, these storms knit the community together, with everyone checking on their neighbors and offering a helping hand. This sense of togetherness and resilience is one of the defining characteristics of life on the Outer Banks.
The Draw of the Outer Banks
For many, the Outer Banks is more than just a place to live; it’s home. With its salt air, dunes, and ever-changing sea, the natural beauty creates a deep connection to the land and water. Despite the challenges of living in such a vulnerable location, people who grew up here often choose to stay and raise their families. The pace of life is slower, the beaches are quieter, and there is always a sense of peace and tranquility just a short drive away.
Preserving the Character of the Outer Banks
One of the ongoing challenges facing the Outer Banks is the balance between development and preservation. Many long-time residents feel a deep attachment to the old cottages that line the beaches, structures that embody the character and history of the island. As new developments replace these cottages with larger, more modern buildings, some fear that the Outer Banks could lose its unique sense of place. Locals take pride in preserving the older homes and businesses that have been here for generations, maintaining the charm and authenticity of the island.
A Special Place
Ultimately, the Outer Banks is a place of contrast—peaceful, tranquil, wild, and unpredictable. It’s a place where generations have grown up riding waves and weathering storms. For those who live here, it’s more than just a beautiful beach destination. It’s home. The Outer Banks offers a way of life that’s deeply connected to the rhythms of nature and the ever-changing sea. It’s a life that’s not easy, but for those who love it, there’s no other place they’d rather be.
Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:39:15 +0000
Foil Friday: Code Foils Ultra High Modulus PLUS Mast Review
For this week's Foil Friday, Tucker has a special mast from Code, the Ultra High Modulus PLUS. Except for the little "plus" symbol on it, it looks just like their High Modulus mast, but it is a bit different and might be the right mast for you, depending on your use case.
How Is It Different?
The Ultra High Modulus mast is extra stiff. It uses an even higher grade of carbon than the High Modulus mast, which is already super stiff. However, the Ultra is between 40 and 50 percent stiffer. It is more expensive, though, so why would you need this?
Is It For Me?
If you're a heavier rider or you like to ride wider wingspans, the Ultra is going to keep your foil responsive. If that's your top priority, then you're going to appreciate this mast.
On the other hand, the Ultra is a few ounces heavier, so if weight is important to you, you might want to stick with the standard High Modulus mast, which is still extremely stiff by industry standards.
Features
Everything else is the same about it. It is offered in the same lengths (75, 80 and 85) and it's made in the same mold, so the profile is identical. Only the layup is different in its construction.
It's certainly among the stiffest masts Tucker has tested. Only the Axis Ultra High Modulus felt stiffer, but it also costs significantly more at over $2,000. By comparison, this mast is $1,200-$1,500, so while it's still expensive it's much more affordable.
The Code Ultra High Modulus is just as sleek as the standard High Modulus, so you won't sacrifice any speed or efficiency to get a stiffer mast.
Tucker's Thoughts
For Tucker, the Ultra is a good fit. He's 200lb and 6'3" tall, so he can really put some leverage into his foils. In an area that tends to have calmer conditions, like Michigan in the summer, he likes to ride wider wings, so having such a stiff mast helps keep that ride responsive, predictable, and high-performance. It's consistent in the currents, waves and chop.
He didn't know he needed this mast, but now that he has ridden it, he's going to have a hard time giving it up. Riders under 175lb who are not riding large wingspans probably wouldn't notice any benefit from the Ultra, but if you're downwinding, a heavier rider, or riding wide wings, you can certainly justify picking up this mast.
A lot of people have picked one up already and there has been good feedback on them. It includes a nice cover and hardware, and no adapters are needed to use it with your existing Code foil. If you have any questions about them, reach out to us and we'll be happy to help.
2024 Reedin SuperNatural Wing vs. the HyperNatural Aluula Wing
Jeff and Ryan have had sessions on both the Reedin SuperNatural and its Aluula brother, the HyperNatural, and they're ready to share how the two compare. Does the Aluula make enough of a difference that it's worth the extra cost?
Jeff had a chance to get on the two back-to-back, while Ryan got out on them separately but in a wide variety of conditions for both. They agree that both are fantastic, well-designed wings. In fact, Ryan's had the SuperNatural in his car most of the summer and feels it's one of his top wing picks for 2024.
The SuperNatural Wing
The SuperNatural is easy to handle, yet has all the grunt and power that you need. It takes almost no wind to hold the wing up when you're pistol-gripping it or using the surf handle. Since most wings aren't as well-balanced, that characteristic stood out right away to both guys. The summer winds in Michigan tend to be light most of the time, so that made a big difference whenever they were outrunning the wind. It also made it easy to pass the wing from hand to hand.
The SuperNatural is so well-balanced that it feels like a smaller wing while you're flying it. The 5.2m they were riding felt like a 4.5m, yet delivered the power of a 5.5m. It's got an incredible range. Jeff was able to get up on foil in just 13-14 knots and Ryan had it out in 12 to 26 knots, and it handled well across the entire range. It's easy on the hands, and when you do your jibes and tacks it floats like a feather over your head. With its shape, there wasn't a lot of drag and it was easy to build apparent wind.
It's got plenty of power to get up on foil and has a direct feel, but even when the wind picks up, you don't have to tame it. When you reach the upper end of the wind range, it just keeps going. Other wings that are good in light wind tend to become hard to manage once the wind picks up, limiting the time you can stay out and enjoy it, but the SuperNatural is well-behaved and continues to go upwind well.
The HyperNatural Wing
The biggest difference on the HyperNatural, of course, is the yellow Aluula frame. It's stiffer and lighter, and it allows the leading edge to have a narrower diameter, resulting in less drag. It does come with a steeper price tag, though, so the big question is: is it worth it?
Interestingly, Ryan had a hard time distinguishing much difference between the wings. It wasn't that the HyperNatural wasn't a great wing, but that the SuperNatural already had so many great characteristics. That said, the reduced weight of the HyperNatural did make it easier in the swell in light wind conditions, and the stiffer frame made it just a bit more responsive. In overpowered conditions, the reduced drag was noticeable. However, there was one downside to the HyperNatural: it had a tendency to tip a bit more from top to bottom in gusts than what the SuperNatural did.
Jeff also had a hard time seeing much difference between the two until he had a chance to ride them back-to-back on the same day. Then he noticed the expanded wind range. It was easier to get on foil at the low end, and at the top end he was able to get more upwind drive on the HyperNatural. However, he did have to switch back to confirm what he was feeling, which speaks to what a good wing the SuperNatural really is.
Jeff also noticed that the HyperNatural was just a bit more twitchy when flagged out to ride a wave. He thought it could be the extra rigidity of the frame contributing to that. However, that stiffness is what you want if you like to jump and do tricks on the wing, so it could be a fair trade-off depending on your riding style.
Summary
So, is the HyperNatural worth the upgrade? Both wings are so good that it really does depend on the conditions and what you want to do. These wings are true all-rounders and perform very well in both flat water and waves. They're for anyone from a new to a veteran rider. The SuperNatural is stable in overpowered conditions, where the stiff frame of the HyperNatural is going to provide more feedback and feel more twitchy, but it will also provide more upwind drive. Overall, the Aluula is a step up for the HyperNatural, but you may not notice it unless you're riding in very light or overpowered conditions or like to jump and do tricks. Both are great choices and have been shop favorites this summer.
Cabrinha Kite and Wing Replacement Valve Installation | Super Easy Fix!
Jimmy and Aaron from MACkite are here with a guide on how to replace a valve on a Cabrinha Wing or kite. It's not a difficult process so long as you know the steps and how to do them correctly.
What You'll Need
1. A cutting board or a piece of stiff corrugated cardboard about 6x8 in.
2. Some painter's masking tape or duct tape, or clamps with soft jaws
3. A sharp X-acto or utility knife
4. Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and a clean, soft cloth
5. The replacement valve
What To Do
1. Unroll your kite or wing so you can see the valve. Nearby will be an access zipper under a Velcro tab. Open that up.
2. The valve is held in place with Velcro on the inside of the leading edge. Get your hand inside the hole and slide it up to where the valve is. The Velcro is a ring around the valve, much like you can see on the outside, so work the Velcro loose until you can push the valve down inside the leading edge.
3. Wrap your fingers around the cylinder of the valve to keep the Velcro from reattaching and pull it and the bladder out through the access hole until you have enough to insert your cutting board or cardboard into the loop that you're forming. Don't worry too much about tearing the bladder. It's quite strong and resilient and you're not likely to harm it.
4. Spread the bladder out on your board until it's nice and flat. Clamp or tape it into place so it doesn't move on you while you're working.
5. Pull up on the rim of the valve and observe where it's stuck to the bladder. Use your sharp blade to cut the bladder right where it meets the valve. Be sure you're lifting up on the valve enough that you cut through only that layer of bladder. Although the bladder material is thin, it's quite tough, so use a brand new blade if you can so you get a nice, clean cut. Take your time with this step.
6. Open up your new valve and set it aside so it's ready to go. Clean the bladder with the rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth so you'll get a secure seal when you apply the new valve. Let it dry, then clean it again to make sure there isn't any residue or dust.
7. Peel the backing off the sticky rim of the new valve. Handle it by the valve, taking care not to touch the sticky part.
8. Stretch the bladder so it's as flat as possible where you'll be applying the new valve. Center the valve over the hole in the bladder and carefully set it in place.
9. Press the sticky part down, smoothing it as you go. You can do this by sliding your finger or thumb from the valve to the outside of the sticky ring, repeating this motion over and over as you work your way around.
10. The new valve is now on. Remove the clamps or tape and the board, then replace the valve and bladder into the leading edge. The Velcro on the valve will attach to the Velcro around its hole in the leading edge. Close the access hole, replace the valve covers, and you're ready to head to the beach!
Big Air Kiteboard Review: Carved Imperator 7 / Lieuwe Falcon / Duotone Jaime SLS
Big air kiteboards deserve a big review, and no one is more up to the task than guest vlogger Jason Montreal. Although he's from New Zealand where it's notoriously difficult to get one's hands on a wide variety of gear, Jason has managed to beg, borrow, or steal a session on three viewer-requested boards: the Carved Imperator v7, Lieuwe Falcon, and Duotone Jaime SLS.
Carved Imperator 7
Jason has been wanting to try the Imperator for years, but it's a spendy board, especially to get in New Zealand. He finally got his chance when a friend came from overseas with his and let him borrow it. Carved has been refining this board for over 20 years, slowly tweaking and refining it, and their passion for the design shows.
Jason paired the Imperator with the Ozone Vortex on a 25-30 knot day. Right away, he could tell that the board was noticeably lighter than most and very quick through the water. It was probably the fastest board he tested, which also makes it more challenging to control while you are first getting used to its shape. You really have to keep your focus on your balance and edging. If the wind is up, it can get away from you if you're not paying close attention.
The Imperator's ability to accelerate is fabulous for getting your speed up in limited spaces. Even though it felt like a far more challenging ride than boards like the North Atmos, Jason found it enjoyable and was getting quite comfortable on it by the end of his 45-minute session.
It has the most unique base of any of the boards; it's sleek and minimal except for the single spine down the center. You might even wonder how you're supposed to get any grip, but a board's design is about so much more than just the bottom. The overall shape, its outline, curve, and edges all contribute to its performance, so you don't necessarily need large, obvious channels to get grip or top-level performance.
Jason's friends who are used to boards with pronounced rails and deeper channels on the base seemed to find it less forgiving on landings and in chop, but Jason felt dialed in to it rather quickly compared to some of the other boards he tested, and felt that this design offered more potential. Really, it all comes down to your personal riding style.
Jason wasn't able to test its upwind ability in lighter winds, but given how quick and lightweight it is, it's probably a good option. If the straps fit you well, it's also a great option for board-offs. In spite of its light weight, everything about the board screams quality, from the build to its durability to its performance. If it weren't so expensive, he'd add one to his own quiver.
Lieuwe Falcon
Being that this board is from a company that only makes boards, is the board of choice for the SpaceX crew, and has been the official board of the Big Air Kite League, Jason was hoping for something special. He paired it with an 8m Flysurfer Era that he was also borrowing. He was on the 137cm Falcon, and although it was set up with fairly wide spacing on the stance for his tall friend, resulting in a bit of a sumo stance for Jason, he still felt comfortable on it right away.
Like the Imperator, the Falcon is also a very lightweight board that's super slick and quick through the water. It has a slight channel through the middle of the base, but then a fairly clean heel shape with less aggressive channels around it. This combination felt just right to Jason, and it was smooth and fast through the water for him. He felt in control, particularly when he was riding at speed.
Even with the wider stance throwing off his balance a bit, he never caught his edges. He didn't feel like he had quite as much control as he did on his Atmos, but overall the Falcon was probably the second easiest to control.
The Falcon was fitted with 45mm fins, and the bindings fit comfortably, largely due to their easy adjustability. Jason's friend has narrow feet, but the velcro bindings were easy to adjust for Jason's wider feet right on the beach. Overall, the board does live up to the hype and is another Jason would add to his personal quiver.
Duotone Jaime SLS
Probably Jason's most requested board for review was the Duotone Jaime SLS, so he was really looking forward to getting on one. This one was the 139 x 42cm, but it rode a bit larger than his Atmos 138, probably due to its significant outline curve and width. That didn't translate well on his first session out with it in stronger winds, and he struggled to hold a strong, powered edge and would also catch weird edges while turning or landing. This resulted in Jason feeling confused and frustrated with the board, like he didn't quite get what was going on.
Luckily, his next sessions were tamer and he was able to adjust to the board's size and shape. In lighter to middle-range winds, the Jaime shines. It does like to be ridden with a bit more tail-heavy stance, but this was easy for Jason to adjust to. It would make a great light wind board where you still want to be able to drive upwind.
Determined to figure the board out, Jason rode it in several sessions, and after logging six or seven hours on it, was able to feel confident in sessions over 30 knots and while jumping in the 15-20 meter range. The Jaime is quite fast through the water as well, though just a bit less than the Imperator and Falcon. It's quite stiff, similar in feel to the Atmos. He needed to be more mindful of how he controlled the rear heelside edge, which made the Jaime more stable at speed. Still, it wasn't his preferred stance and it still felt a little awkward. He thinks he may have had more fun on a 136, which would have been more comparable to his trusty Atmos 138.
Between the graphics and the design of the base of the board, there's a lot going on. He's not especially keen on the graphics, but the overall design and shape do look very cool and like nothing else he's ridden. The bright color of the board and rails do make it extremely easy to find in the surf, though.
The bindings were the most comfortable overall of the boards he tested. There's a more pronounced area under the toes, which can be good or bad, depending on what you want to do. It does really lock your feet in for a secure feel, but it's perhaps a bit too secure for easily getting your feet out and back in during board-offs. Between that and the plush, fuzzy insides of the straps, he was landing with just his toes in quite a bit. Wanting to progress into kiteloop board-offs, that could be a real issue for him.
While they're great straps overall, they were the only ones without velcro and were a bit of a pain to adjust, and Jason couldn't adjust them while riding like he could with velcro straps. He also didn't like the rail system that's used to adjust the stance. When he tried to change the placement between sessions, there was sand stuck underneath, which made it a real challenge to slide. Still, he considered these to be nitpicks.
The Jaime has a lot of features and is certainly high performance, but because he struggled with it for so long, it would not be one of his top few choices. He can see why so many people love it, though, and even all of his friends but one ranked it in their top one or two boards. If you're thinking about picking one up, try to demo one to see if it's right for you.
Summary
After riding all three boards, Jason has realized what a massive difference they can make to your session. There are just so many intricacies to boards, and having the right one can make you feel comfortable in a variety of conditions and is key to getting the frothiest time on the water. Your conditions, skill level, riding style, and just plain personal preference are going to make a difference in which is the right board for you, so do try to borrow or demo a few boards before making a decision so you get one you'll love.
None of the boards he tested made him feel like he needed to swap out his North Atmos. He never got quite as dialed in with any of them, though he did have quite a limited time on them. That said, the Falcon was his favorite of the three, followed closely by the Imperator.
Tucker's got a couple new front wings for the Slingshot Phantasm foil lineup. The PTM 799 and PTM 999 are an extension of the fantastic PTM 899. That wing has been so popular that Slingshot decided to expand on it with a smaller and larger version. Tucker's been a fan of the 899 himself for winging and surf foiling, so these were exciting additions for him.
Slingshot PTM 999
The PTM is 1125 cm2, so just over 1100 cm in total surface area. The aspect ratio is almost 9, at 8.9. It's a nice, balanced foil at that size, not overly spanny and not too small, so you'll get a balanced performance out of it. In small waves, it's fantastic and a little faster than you'd expect.
Where the 999 really shines is in the low end. It's perfect for people who aren't ready for a smaller foil like the 799 or 899. It's got a low stall speed and easy low speed pumping, so it's forgiving and easy to ride.
Tucker's been loving it for Michigan's light wind summer conditions. It's a good candidate for your one-foil quiver. He's been using it as a daily driver for wake, surf foil, downwind, and kite foiling. As long as you're not going really fast or getting into huge waves, it's a blast and offers great performance, especially for a foil that's so versatile.
Slingshot PTM 799
On the other side is the PTM 799. If you are looking for uncompromising high speed, this is your ticket. This wing is fast, fast, fast! Now, you will sacrifice in the low end, so you'll need some good power to get moving, but once you are, the thin, tapered wing is going fly through the water. Although Tucker needed a good 20 knots to wing with it, it was a really fun choice for wing foiling.
The span is 799mm with a 725cm2 surface area, so its aspect ratio of 8.8 is also almost 9. Even though you'll need good power with such a small surface area, it's still a pretty accessible wing and doesn't require race speeds to stay on foil. It glides well and is a great size for bigger waves, tow foiling and of course kite foiling, too.
Flight Characteristics
This shape breaches really well thanks to the upturned wingtips and taper in the tip. These allow it to breach cleanly, and you won't have a lot of ventilation until you get to the meatier part of the foil. This means you can have the whole wingtip out of the water without much consequence. When you're keeled over and ripping a turn, you're not going to end up on your face if a bit of the foil pops out of the water. This makes these foils fun and easy to ride.
These are now two of Tucker's favorite foils in the Slingshot Phantasm lineup, so if that's your foil system, be sure to give these a look. They pair well with the Turbo-Tail, but the V-Tail and the 400mm stabilizer will also work. Those two will just add a little bit of drag, but they'll also add stability, so if you're a newer rider on the 999, that can help lower the stall speed. If you're looking for the ultimate in performance, though, go with the Turbo-Tail.
It's great to see Slingshot expanding on their successes, and Tucker's looking forward to seeing what exciting releases come out in the future.
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