Hey
does anyone know if the slick is good in waves? It says on duotones homepage that the unit is better in waves but those times ive tried the slick it drifts much better than the unit (havent tried in waves tho)
also curious why we see so few pros using the slick since it feels better for free style than the unit
I expect things may be different this year as the Slick is a much better wing this year than previous years.
Regarding flagging out - the 2023 Slick was significantly worse than the 2024 Unit and much more prone to flipping over and oscillating. This year they have fixed that issue on the Slick.
Yes it feels very balanced. But the unit is very lively. People seem to like that livelyness but I dont really see why. The slick follows like a glove at least in 5m size
My local shop owner said this to me after the September AWSI. "I like the Unit better", so he is telling customers to buy it.
BUT, at AWSI this shop owner demoed the 24 Unit versus 23 Slick. So you'd expect the shop owner to feel that way. Newest model is always slightly better.
The timing of the model release is prejudicial toward the Unit.
Don't worry about others. The 24 Slick is best right now.
I have now ridden Slick Dlab 6,5m twice in very low winds (avg. 4ms and gust max at 5ms, true wind speeds), and I can say that if flags really really well, I was surprised about it as it was so stable.
Select to expand quoteBullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Select to expand quoteleepasty said..BullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Both. Obviously worse in the latter case and manageable in the former, but it still twists in my hand.
Select to expand quoteBullroarerTook said..leepasty said..BullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Both. Obviously worse in the latter case and manageable in the former, but it still twists in my hand.
What sizes? i use the 5 m and can release it with waist leash riding behind me but only tried it in flat water while pumpin in 12-15 knots
I own 2024 D-Lab Slicks (6m, 5m and 4m) that I've been riding for a few weeks now, just in flat water so far. Don't know if flagging out on flat water by an old guy will provide much of an answer, but my humble opinion is that they do pretty well flagged on the front handle. My only reference is coming from the same quiver of SLS Slicks that I rode for 2 seasons. I would almost always flag the SLS's off the front of the boom to keep them more stable. Not necessary with the D-Labs and I think that would translate to swell/waves.
FWIW I also do transitions with an upwind "behind-the-back" front handle hold or "leash hold" where I need the wing to roll somewhat controllably on its own through the eye of the wind. So basically I don't want it too stable
...(from ~ 1:25 on in the video clip). Works well for me.
guys, I still have a 4.5 and 6.0 Slick SLS with carbon boom. Would it be an worthwhile upgrade to '24 Slicks (not the Dlabs, cant afford those). Or would you wait till 2025? Maybe Unit 2025 comes out already later this year? I was also thinking of a 6 Slick and 4.5 Unit. As the Unit flags a bit better maybe in small waves? And we only have small waves with a bit of wind. I ride a bit like Dspace here. but without the skills yet ;-) I try.
Select to expand quotehappysam said..BullroarerTook said..leepasty said..BullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Both. Obviously worse in the latter case and manageable in the former, but it still twists in my hand.
What sizes? i use the 5 m and can release it with waist leash riding behind me but only tried it in flat water while pumpin in 12-15 knots
4.5 & 3.5.
They certainly are better than they used to be, and I will even accept the argument that you need some of that "instability" in tacks, but they don't show the one finger stability that some brands do.
Select to expand quoteBullroarerTook said..happysam said..BullroarerTook said..leepasty said..BullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Both. Obviously worse in the latter case and manageable in the former, but it still twists in my hand.
What sizes? i use the 5 m and can release it with waist leash riding behind me but only tried it in flat water while pumpin in 12-15 knots
4.5 & 3.5.
They certainly are better than they used to be, and I will even accept the argument that you need some of that "instability" in tacks, but they don't show the one finger stability that some brands do.
I've never seen any wings that you can hold with 1 finger off flag handle. tried few others recently and for me I prefer the 24 unit in waves. hear a lot about the rubbish flag handle on the Duotone but I think it's just as good as others which all have their own faults even the new ozone flow which has a handle but it's so tight that my nuckles are hard against the le. Maybe it's nice if you have small hands ?????
Select to expand quoteleepasty said..BullroarerTook said..happysam said..BullroarerTook said..leepasty said..BullroarerTook said..
I have two 2024 Slicks (not DLab) and they still want to flip on their backs.
You mean when you are riding flagged out or when it's on the water held by leash ?
Both. Obviously worse in the latter case and manageable in the former, but it still twists in my hand.
What sizes? i use the 5 m and can release it with waist leash riding behind me but only tried it in flat water while pumpin in 12-15 knots
4.5 & 3.5.
They certainly are better than they used to be, and I will even accept the argument that you need some of that "instability" in tacks, but they don't show the one finger stability that some brands do.
I've never seen any wings that you can hold with 1 finger off flag handle. tried few others recently and for me I prefer the 24 unit in waves. hear a lot about the rubbish flag handle on the Duotone but I think it's just as good as others which all have their own faults even the new ozone flow which has a handle but it's so tight that my nuckles are hard against the le. Maybe it's nice if you have small hands ?????
The SLS flag handles are really floppy, but the 2023 and 24 models are much stiffer. Still not I'd call rigid but much more usable.
Even in the Duotone promo video, the new Slicks have EXTREME wrinkles in the profile, running diagonally from the strut to the front. What do you think about that? For me that doesn't look too well. And if the canopy then starts to bag out, no idea how the profile will develop.
Select to expand quoteNikOnFoil said..
Even in the Duotone promo video, the new Slicks have EXTREME wrinkles in the profile, running diagonally from the strut to the front. What do you think about that? For me that doesn't look too well. And if the canopy then starts to bag out, no idea how the profile will develop.
I owned unit 4s and own a slick4 and they all have the same "issue"
I dont know how this affects performance, after all , wind still passes through the wing. The canopy is very durable but due to heavy use on my 4.5 m the trailing edge started to bag out a bit. But i used it from august to june as my main wing in heavy winds sometimes..
from my understanding the unit has more grunt and fits a more specific wind range and the new slick doesnt feel overpowered when wind gets more powered.
Wish that Duotone made an Cross panel layout to avoid stretch even more. anyways, a good wing.
Just back from a session on the 2024 Duotone Slick 3.5mts, my usual wings are the 2022 SLS and this is a big step up. The biggest difference is flagging, so steady, just sits there, no twitching or swinging about like the SLS. I found I was using the front handle much more, I usually held the front of the boom on the SLS to steady it. Great wing.
