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Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:14 pm
by TomW
Been out on the 5-0 SP 4 times now, from super light dead flat with 17m, choppy and over powered on 17m in 20 knots and little knee high wind waves, to massive chop and 2m windwave faces on Fully powered 9m. Kiting done a 3 different spots with different water depths and currents. This is pretty much the range of conditions I kite in.
Im 80 kgs, kiting strapless for 3 years, 12yrs in all. Old boy.
My last 3 years on a slingy celeritas 5-8.

Overall the SP is most fun board, super slashy, tight turns. Handles chop suprisingly well. Its more bouncy in chop than celeritas, but edging and fact board is inherently slower thru water compensates. I can handle it easy in the chop and powered conditions, and its way more fun on the waves I get.
I seem to be able to better keep the board under my feet in small jumps over waves ( slower speed?).
I can get up plently speed, but its not as fast a celeritas. Not a race board forsure.
Part of advantage is its easier to ride from one stance with foot all the way back all the time, without stalling out board.
Minimal splash because board is wide.

My celeritas has been super strong too, rammed loose boards, logs, skidden over rock reef several times, and travelled on planes 3 times with almost no damage. Ramming the TT would have wrecked a standard surfboard. SP seems to have same stong build.

Only negative so far is the cheapo plastic fins that come with it. They vibrate and hum. Factor in that you have to buy new set of better quads for 80-100 bucks.

Id really like to try the 4-6 wakeskate version...

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:55 am
by CaptainArgh
Hey Tom, I'm guessing you have the stronger WVX kite construction version. I thought that one came with better fins? Maybe not good enough...

Funny thing is I have the 5'0 wake version and love it. I didn't have any issues with the plastic fins but enough people told me they sucked that I bought some high quality fiber fins and love them. Have hit them tons of times and other than some scratches, no breaks. (never did a fin to fin comparison, but no complaints with the upgrade).

I just bought the 4'6" wakeskate version you mentioned. It's awesome as well. (I bought it for travel since it easily fits in a Golf bag.) I rode it for the first time today and the fins hummed like the rudder blades on a catamaran! Funny. Didn't seem to affect the ride. My 5'0 never did that nor did the other two pickles I demo'd so it must be board specific or fin installation. Here is a video on how to fit the FCS fins to a board, which may help. I'm sure the plastic fin doesn't help with the vibration, but the hum doesn't seem to occur on all setups. ?

If you're comfortable on your 5'0, next time try it with the rear fins off. When you want it to track solid keep your foot over the fins, but move your foot back and it's loose and fun. Rides more like a skim than a surf board and makes for quick little turns on small waves. I haven't tried it yet with the rear fins on and the front fins off. Their website says it is more of a "longboard feel" although I'm not sure what that means.

Anyway, fun board. Glad to hear you like yours also. :thumb:

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:29 pm
by TomW
Captain,

Yes, have Wvx bamboo construction. And the fins hummed a lot. I thought it was strange and it was not pleasant. So i bought the new fins, and no humming.

Was out this evening on 13 kite in powered conditions and even more insane chop. Ive kited in some notorious choppy places like Naxos, Greece, Cumbuco and Cape Town at big bay. This was choppier. 1-2 ft all over mess.
It was ok. Fun to pop jumps and slash around, doing tail slides.
Still impressed with this board. Getting my footwork dialed, its pretty sensitive to foot position.

Having so much fun, dont want to mess with fins now..

If I go to US to visit family I'll pick up a 4-6.

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:18 am
by CaptainArgh
TomW wrote:Yes, have Wvx bamboo construction. And the fins hummed a lot. I thought it was strange and it was not pleasant. So i bought the new fins, and no humming.

...Having so much fun, dont want to mess with fins now..

If I go to US to visit family I'll pick up a 4-6.
Yeah, I checked my humming fins tonight and found that they sit nice and flush...so much for that theory! But, I also ordered new fins so expect it is a non-issue going forward for me as well. And it's packed up in my NSI Golf bag now ready for a trip. :)

Nice to hear the WVX is just as fun. I may upgrade my wake version to WVX down the road.

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:54 am
by lander
What is the weight of the 5'0 WVX ?

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:01 pm
by TomW
Feels the same as the 2011 celeritas. I'll. Weigh it tomorrow. My bet is 3,5kgs.

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:03 pm
by stefaans
I weighed it new out of the box a couple months ago. 8.6lbs

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:04 pm
by lander
Thanks for the info :thumb:

Re: Slingshot Space Pickle first impressions

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:54 am
by tautologies
Regarding the humming.
Try to sand the fins at the base trailing edge. Wetsanding should be fine.