SLINGSHOT WIZARD V3 114 2022 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT
Smaller than its quoted volume would have you believe, the Wizard 114 is a lively and exciting board to use, giving the rider direct and unrestricted connection with the foil. With time spent on it, you’ll really learn to trust and enjoy its crisp playful nature.
THE LOWDOWN
The Wizard lineup remains unchanged for the 2022 season, and having tested the 130 last year, we thought it a good opportunity to try the 114 this year. At 178 cm in length, it is quite easily the shortest board on test, its rounded nose drawing the eye away from its parallel sided and stumpy tail outline. And yet it is not the smallest in the Wizard V3 range, its junior being the 90, which is just 147cm in length! Back to the 114 and much of the domed deck is covered with a large diamond grooved monopad, whilst there’s a myriad of footstrap options to cater for everyone, from the freeride/blasting foiler, to the manoeuvre-oriented freestyle rider … and even the winger! Yes, the Wizard has wing foiling potential, thanks to the exclusive US track mounting system enabling the foil to be shifted further forwards. There’s a gauge between the tracks for reference in an otherwise clean and straightforward bottom shape, livened up with a pronounced bevel to the rail in the nose and double tier cut-outs in the tail. And to ensure maximum sail size compatibility, the 114 boasts one of the longest mast tracks of any board we’ve seen. Supplied with some excellent Slingshot branded footstraps, the 114 is short, and narrow, yet chunky in profile and generated a lot of intrigue before we got it onto the water.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Wizard 114L was designed to pull away from the wide profile of bulky first-generation foil boards. The narrower outline increases your control, reduces windage, and allows the rider to lay hard carves without a formula board stance. Floaty enough to uphaul, yet compact enough to fit in the back of a station wagon.”
PERFORMANCE
Stepping onto the Wizard 114 initially, the first impression is that its volume is far less than that quoted. Slingshot state that it replaces the 105 of the second-generation Wizard lineup, yet is 2 cm thicker than its predecessor. That may be so, but the 114 is also 10 cm narrower, and as such sinks if you dawdle during uphauling, feeling more like sub -100 litres underfoot. Uphaul with both feet behind the mast track and push the sail’s power into it, whilst stepping back into the straps early to pump the foil, rather than waiting passively – the Wizard certainly responds best to a proactive riding style and is not for the foiling newcomer. That said, if you fine tune the setup and adjust your tactics to account for its strengths, the Wizard can get going surprisingly early. Best suited for low to medium low aspect front wings, it provides incredible connection to the foil and can be pumped aggressively to kick start the front wing’s lift. Once in flight the Wizard feels small and alert – feverishly responsive and very playful. It relays the exact nature of the foil, as if there is no board present, but instead you’re connected directly to the foil. This dynamic, flowing sensation really helps inspire the rider to throw the Wizard into transitions and manoeuvres, the short length and instant response requiring slight of foot, albeit its narrow outline means the straps are easy to locate quickly. The more time spent on it, the more you learn its shortcuts and nuances, pushing it more assertively to do your bidding. Captivating to ride, we tried it with both the Phantasm PFI730 and the PTM926 foils and both worked well, but felt the low aspect PFI really played to the Wizard’s strengths. Sliding the foil further forward in its track, we also used the Wizard for a spot of winging and felt it worked admirably, the rider’s stance remaining on the monopod and the strap inserts perfectly placed should you wish to use them. The only vital element missing was a leash plug, so we tethered it to a rear strap instead.
VITAL STATS
Price: £1799.00
Volume (Quoted): 114L.
Length: 178 cm.
Width: 66.0 cm.
1ft off: 63.0 cm.
Bottom shape: Flat in the nose, it progresses into a straight double in the mid-section of the board, before returning to being flat just before the foil boxes.
Weight (Naked): 8.0 kg.
Foil Box: Foil Tracks (25 cm.)
Sail Range (Quoted): 3.5-7.5m
Sizes Available: 90, 114, 130.
SLINGSHOT WIZARD V3 114 2022 TEST REVIEW
THE LINEUP
STARBOARD FOIL FREERIDE 150 STARLITE CARBON