Windsurf MagazineSLINGSHOT SLINGWING V3 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

SLINGSHOT SLINGWING V3 5.0 2022 TEST REVIEW

THE VERDICT

With its solid structure and forced front camber, the SlingWing V3 delivers the drive and punch to get going early, its stiff wide handles making no apology for delivering crisp feedback and involving the rider throughout – something an ambitious pro-active foiler will thrive upon.

THEY SAY

“We designed the all-new SlingWing V3 to give you significantly more power per size. Using a smaller wing in the same wind provides the advantages of higher speed and increased control, with less weight and drag.”

WE SAY

The SlingWing is Slingshot’s flagship wing, now in its third iteration. Available in three colourways and across nine sizes, from 2.5m to 7.5m, Slingshot have been in the winging game for quite some time and have the speed-oriented Dart (tested in August ’21), and price-pointed entry-level Blaster (solely in 4.4m) in their range to compliment the SlingWing. The focus for development in the V3 has been to increase power and stability in each size of its range, so that in effect riders can use a wing size smaller than their peers, thereby gaining a manoeuvre advantage, as a smaller wing is easier to throw around. With increased leading edge and centre strut diameters, plus a recommended inflation pressure of a whopping 10 PSI, this new SlingWing has one stiff structure! Air is pushed into the struts from a standard bayonet valve, the central strut fed from a single hose, with a dump valve on the other side of the strut for quick deflation. Its leading edge displays a pronounced dihedral profile, its planform medium in aspect ratio, whilst its windowless canopy progresses from tight at the leading edge (with the aid of an internal batten) to loose in the leech. There are three elongated handles along the centre strut of this 5.0m, the handle count reducing to two in sizes 4.0m and below. Build quality is excellent as you’d expect from this American brand, with top quality materials and plenty of reinforcement throughout. It comes supplied with a compact rucksack bag, and a Dyneema wrist leash with an extension section, although the larger riders in the team found the Velcro wrist cuff quite tight for comfort.

Used in light marginal winds, the SlingWing V3 is certainly a powerful contender, with plenty of bottom-end drive as soon as it’s engaged. The forced camber in the leading edge of the canopy helps to project it forward and delivers useable feedback through both hands. It has a decidedly stiff and solid frame, which, like a cambered sail, makes it a little wooden for pumping, were it not for the play in the canopy. As such, the canopy breathes into a deeper profile, opening the lungs of the SlingWing and accelerating it forward in the hands. It has a unique feel and nature in this group; get it right and it is extremely effective for releasing early onto the foil. Once flying, the SlingWing feels solid and dependable, the length of the handles enabling the rider to shuffle their grip without letting go, to find the right power and balance for their demands. The handles themselves are wider and harder to the touch than others, providing sharp honest feedback – ideal for those with a more ambitious and expressive riding style. The novice rider may find the power more unrelenting than they anticipated, which again feeds into the brand’s mantra that the SlingWing allows you to change down in wing size earlier than you would with other brands and wings. In transition the V3 lifts above the head easily and rotates smoothly between tacks, the length of the front handle making for a clean, straightforward hand change. And when parked and flagging for some foil riding, the SlingWing is certainly stable and balanced in flight, the stiff neutral handle providing the control and letting the rider concentrate solely on the board and foil.