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Slingshot Hoverglide downwind carving - Time Code 68 wing

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Created by azymuth > 9 months ago, 28 Oct 2018
azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
28 Oct 2018 8:21AM
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Downwind carving is awesome with the standard Slingshot Hoverglide Infinity 76 (1534 cm2) wing in lighter winds.

The Time Code 68 (1101cm2) wing comes into its own in 15-30 knot winds, it turns faster and feels more secure when powered up accelerating down a wave or swell.

Early days but the downwind carving technique I've worked out so far;
I foil across the swell to build speed then carve down the swell - you can really load the Time Code wing up into a sharp turn, both feet in the straps. Dead downwind the sail loses power until I'm foiling 25m to 50m using only the power of the swell - an exhilarating feeling
Before the foil starts to drop as I lose swell power (and balance), I carve back across the next swell to regain speed for the next downwind carve.
50 or more of these carving cycles in a mile downwinder, in almost complete silence. Tons of fun - like powder snowboarding

I've only tried so far in 1-2m windswells with a tiny groundswell - waiting for larger swells. I think it'll be possible to foil carve forever without sail power with a decent groundswell - like the downwinder prone and SUP foilers, but with the big advantage of easily getting back upwind to do it again and again.

15-20 knots SW, 50km session, modified Isonic 121, Blacktip 5m







azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
6 Nov 2018 6:22PM
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Bigger wind-swells today - the Time Code 68 wing is super fun down-winding and riding small waves.

Turns super quick and more playful than the Infinity 76 wing, but worth having both as the Infinity 76 is so good in lighter winds and on flatter water.

Caught a couple of small waves on the Artificial Reef (a first for me) - only just deep enough, quite a rush

SW 15-20 Blacktip 4.5




azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
23 Nov 2018 5:57PM
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At the risk of being repetitious...

Down-winding is crazy fun - I'll like to see others out there enjoying the stoke

Prefer stronger winds as it means solid 1.5 -2m windswells - downwind carving with both hands at the front of the boom to completely de-power the sail and weight over the front leg to avoid getting ejected.

SW 20-25 knots, Slingshot 105, Slingshot Hover with Time Code 68, Simmer Blacktip 4.5m

Wytze
16 posts
27 Nov 2018 7:23PM
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Nice tracks, Seems you can really go upwind and downwind :)

Would you prefer the timecode 68 over the Warp speed? When it comes to jumping.

I suppose in light wind the infinity 84 or 76 (depending on your wheight) is still the best option.

Have you also considered the Ghost wisperer 101? When would you recommend this option?

azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
28 Nov 2018 9:15AM
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^^^^^^
The Time Code is awesome for carving downwind on wind-swells. It's speed range is 8-19 knots, the slow speed capability is necessary for staying foiling when riding the swells with the sail de-powered. I don't jump on the foil - maybe occasionally inadvertently

I haven't used the Warp Speed but looking at the specs its speed range is 12-26 knots, so I guess more suited to tricks and jumping.

I use the Infinity 76 in 10-18 and the Time Code in 15-25 knot winds - I'm 80kgs. The Infinity carves great downwind in lighter winds.

I suspect the Infinity 84 might get me foiling in 8 knots but I think the drag might be too great to make it really fun.

I haven't tried the Ghost Whisperer but I've heard it's a faster foil - not really optimised for downwinding, so not my thing

Wytze
16 posts
28 Nov 2018 7:50PM
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So for riding swell you do not want to go faster than the wave.
The Infinity 76 and timecode 68 are very good at this.
They are both probably also good on flat water doing carving tricks.

So in low wind I was thinking of the infinity and in higher for jumping the warp speed is probably a bit better.

The disadvantage of the aluminium is the wheight. Not sure how much this will be a problem for the jumping part.
I had the oppertunaty to feel both the hover glide and Ghost wisperer in a shop and the Ghost wisperer felt quite abit lighter.
But the Ghost wisperer will not have the low speed/wind lift as the infinity and is more expensive.

What would you choose for flat water carving and jumping?
Infinity 76 + Warp speed
or
Ghost wisperer 101

Pure technical so if price is no issue

azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
29 Nov 2018 8:12AM
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I can't compare because I haven't foiled the Ghost Whisperer.
I know Jesper (the Slingshot WA distributor) has foiled both so I'll ask him to reply.

1 Dec 2018 2:30PM
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I should start by firstly disclosing that I sell all the Slingshot products, but I'll try to be objective in my comments :)

So far I have only had 1 session on the Slingshot GhostWhisperer 101 full carbon.
When I first put it together I thought it was extremely well made, and the finish was excellent. Everything fit nicely together.
Later on the beach I got a lot of positive comments, and it was quickly rated as the best looking (and stiffest) 'freeride carbon foil' on the market.
(As an aside, it is worth noting that the fin bolts for the tuttle head are a size (M8) in between the normal windsurfing ones (M6) and the Hoverglide ones (M10). So if you need longer bolts like I did, keep this in mind and get some at the local hardware shop.)

As to the foil's performance, I only had one session on it, but this was my impression so far. The GhostWhisperer was super easy to sail and very stable. It felt really stiff and responsive. Compared to the HoverGlide foil, it took a little more speed to get up and foiling.
Once going it was really stable, especially when gusts hit. I had to rake the sail a little further back than with the HoverGlide, and had the back foot positioned a little further back too (but I guess that is to be expected.)

I think that the most obvious difference between the two foils was for carving. The HoverGlide is much easier to carve, and turns better than the GhostWhisperer, especially during low speed carving. Carving on the GhostWhisperer is perhaps a bit more sensitive or technical, and could take a couple of sessions to fully adjust to.

For jumping I don't really know (because I haven't had the guts to try jumping yet!). I would think that the foil weight is only a minor factor though, and it's probably more about technique and power.

The final thing I should mention, is that the HoverGlide is a bit more versatile in that you can get a range of front wings to suit different purposes or conditions. So far there is a lot of great feedback about the Infinity wing (standard issue, 76cm), then depending on what you're into people then expand into either the TimeCode or WarpSpeed.
In contrast, the GhostWhisperer only has one wing, so there is no flexibility or option to change for different uses.

So in conclusion, the performance is great for both foils, but the HoverGlide is more versatile and probably the better choice for most people. The GhostWhisperer is a great foil, but it's a bit more specific (and of course, more expensive.)

Jesper

Wytze
16 posts
1 Dec 2018 7:52PM
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Thanks Jesper for the feedback and azymuth for asking :).

I haven't seen so many foils but as products in general you can really get the feeling both foils are really well made. Especially the finish and the looks of Ghost whisperer got my attention.

Do you think you can get Ghost Whisperer 101 going in 15 knots with a Wizard 105 and 5.3?
Could you say the Ghost Whisperer 101 is more of luxurious version (looks/price/carbon feeling/corosion free/less weight) of the hover glide with the warp speed wing?

It seems the Hoverglide is probably the better option for me as well since you can have 2 wings and have a bigger wind range.
The infinity 76 should get me going quit a bit earlier I suppose.

7 Dec 2018 9:33AM
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Hi Wytze

I'm sure you can use the Slingshot Ghost Whisperer 101 in 15 kts, but again is a 1 wing option to cover everything.
It is a amazing high quality product - for all round freeride, but just depending of what type of foiling you want to do?

Like you mention the Hoverglide with 2 wings covers most foiling conditions and get you going a bit earlier

azymuth
WA, 2031 posts
17 Dec 2018 5:43PM
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Testing the foiling fun-factor in a 25-28 knot SSW at Dutchies today.
Carving down 2m windswells, weight over the front foot and pressing down on the mast foot to control the extreme acceleration lift, both hands close to the mast to spill wind from the sail. Turning back upwind the wind in the sail goes from 10 to 30 knots in a second.

Downwinding is awesome in 10 knots of wind - totally nerve-wracking and crazy fun in 28

Slingshot Wizard 105, Slingshot Hoverglide with Time Code 68 wing, Simmer Blacktip 4m

2keen
WA, 348 posts
17 Dec 2018 6:43PM
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And they say foiling is a light wind sport
Frothing!!!!



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"Slingshot Hoverglide downwind carving - Time Code 68 wing" started by azymuth