Slingshot Glide 160 x 40.6cm 2013
Reviews / Twin Tips
34,266
At A Glance
The Glide has been in the Slingshot line up for a few years now, but for 2013 it has been totally redesigned. It is one of the first boards we have had on test from the new factory Slingshot have built in Hood River in the US where they source local materials. The finish is of a very high standard and the top laminate and graphics look sublime. The board has been made thinner for 2013 but has a longer rail line and at 160cm it is a beast. The width has been carried right through to the tips, which are 37.1cm wide to ensure there is still a huge surface area to the board. Straps and pads are excellent, if you have never put them together before, ask your local dealer or the Internet for advice, it’s a bit of a puzzle but the system works really well. The slide track gives you almost infinite stance adjustment too.
On the Water
This is one of the more manoeuvrable light wind machines we have tried, the relatively narrow width make it very playful when it is up and going. The long rail engages well to create plenty of upwind and drive and the stiff flex ensures the board gets up and going very quickly. When the wind picks up it is still rideable as the Glide cuts through the chop with its thinner design compared to some of the other boards on test. The pop is good; it is certainly fun to ride and doesn’t stick to the water. And the swing weight on your feet isn’t too much thanks again to the narrow shape.
Overall
If you want a light wind board that you can still ride and have fun with, this feels very close to a normal twin tip. It doesn’t get out of hand when the wind picks up either.
Videos
This review was in Issue 38 of IKSURFMAG.
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By Rou Chater
Rou Chater has been kitesurfing for over twenty years and has spent much of that time travelling the world in search of wind, waves, and stories. The founder and publishing editor of IKSURFMAG and Tonic Magazine, he has been involved in watersports media since the early days of kitesurfing and launched IKSURFMAG in 2006. A passionate waterman, he spends as much time as possible wingfoiling, prone foiling, kitesurfing in big waves, and exploring new ways to get on the water. When he’s not behind a keyboard, hosting The Kite Pod and The Foil Pod, or testing the latest equipment, you’ll usually find him chasing wind and swell somewhere around the coast or further afield. He’s also known as the hardest-working journo in the industry!
