Windsurf MagazineSLINGSHOT SHRED SLED 143 REVIEW

This is the review from our test team of the Slingshot Shred Sled 143 foil board, which was featured in our September 2020 edition of Windsurf Magazine.

THE LOWDOWN

The Shred Sled is new to the Slingshot fold for 2020, designed to be a platform to enjoy three sports in one – from wing foiling to SUP foiling and wind foiling. Packing 143 litres of volume, it has a decidedly boxy outline, with a squared off nose and tail to bring its length within 7-foot, whilst its rails remain parallel, from forward of its shoulders to the large kicker of the extended deckpad. The deck is flat and there are footstrap plugs to mount straps along the board’s centreline, but not in a conventional three-strap windsurfing configuration. Produced in China, the Shred Sled has a central leash attachment on the tail, and a raised hump through the centre of the deckpad, to help the rider locate their feet without looking down. Its colour scheme is bold and eye-catching, with a smooth gradient fade between orange in the tail and red in the nose. And it’s because of this seamless finish that the mottled non-slip forward of the deckpad looks a little out of character. Perhaps more time on the water will help temper its appearance? On the underside the Shred Sled has deeply chined rails along much of their length, said to aid release and reduce the chance of the board’s sides catching during foiling transitions. It also sports a ‘spoiler’ or ‘kick’ tail – a raised tail section, which starts shortly after the foil mount boxes, to assist in pumping the board up onto the foil. The boxes themselves are placed well forward in the board, more akin to a SUP than a wind foil specific platform, and there’s a recessed handle in front of the boxes, to aid carrying the Shred Sled with foil (and sail) attached.

BRAND CLAIM

“No matter what power source you choose, spend less time stuck to the water and more time gliding above it. Windsurfers will enjoy the freedom of un-strapped, laid-back style wind foiling, while SUP foilers and wing foilers benefit from the incredible power and efficiency of centreline strapped riding with an angled front foot.”

PERFORMANCE

When setting the Shred Sled up, the first point worthy of note is that the US boxes in which to mount the foil are located much further forward than in any other board in this group. Think of it more as a foiling SUP that can also be wind foiled, rather than the other way around. So position the foil too far forward in the tracks whilst trying to wind foil and the board will squirrel underneath you as if it were trying to buck you off. Instead, try to locate the foil right at the very back of the boxes. Wide and boxy, it came as no surprise that the Shred Sled provides plenty of ease and stability as you step on. As power is delivered and the board accelerates, you can jam your back foot against the kicker pad and help to pump the foil to release the board from the water’s surface. The raised section in the middle of the pad fits naturally in the arch of your back foot, whereas the flat deck offers plenty of lateral stability and heel to toe response. In wind foiling terms, the Shred Sled is for playful manoeuvring and perfecting transitions, or dancing out and through small surf. It can only be used strapless and doesn’t take too kindly to being loaded with a large sail, where the whole experience becomes a little awkward. Switch to wing foiling and the Shred Sled begins to do its name more justice. The foil can be positioned further forward in the track and offset central straps can be setup to provide extra traction. The whole setup feels more balanced and amenable; a great platform for learning to progress with the wing on and discover this fast evolving sport. We didn’t get a chance try it as a foil SUP, but our suspicion is that it would really thrive in this particular discipline too.

VERDICT

More of a foiling SUP that can tutor you in wing foiling and dabble at wind foiling, the Shred Sled provides a safe, stable foiling platform for you to enjoy the less serious side of our beloved sport.