slingshot H2 or H4 for learning jibing and tacking

[toyletbowl]

I ride all the SS foils and wings a lot and know them very well.

Both the H2 (new Gamma 2019 foil) and H4 (Space Skate) are higher lift foils and very stable. I'd actually give the overall nod to the H2 (Gamma) for stability. It's wider.
...
(I think the H1 is a myth), but the H2, H3, H4 and H5 and new 2019 models are all really fun for different reasons.

Hope this helps.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

Isn't a myth of H1 supposed to become reality of TimeCode 68? I think I already saw that wing on a video

A significant plus of why to choose 2018 series over 2016/2017 wings is the little dull wnglet which will certainly save feet and kites from deep painful cuts.

Go Slingshot, go! (and please produce a prettier fuselage finally)

Yep,

Time code 68 is the 2019 version of....... what should have been, but hardly ever seen.......2018 H1. Mystery solved. Woo hoo.

BTW....OBX is right around the corner. Kind of.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

[grigorib]

...
BTW....OBX is right around the corner. Kind of.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

It kind of is! Fun season is about to pick up again. and probably again the first day there'll be bunch of foils on the lawn assembled and ridden before someone brings a wakeboard over.

[Eltreato]

Go Slingshot, go! (and please produce a prettier fuselage finally)

No, please no, I'll take forward compatibility of my existing Slingshot fuselage and foils over a "Prettier" design. This is why I went with Slingshot. I choose functionality and compatibility over aesthetics and image.

[grigorib]

Go Slingshot, go! (and please produce a prettier fuselage finally)

No, please no, I'll take forward compatibility of my existing Slingshot fuselage and foils over a "Prettier" design. This is why I went with Slingshot. I choose functionality and compatibility over aesthetics and image.

By "pretty" I don't mean "incompatible" and weight is a part of "functionality". While preserving existing connection/mount points it can be way thinner in the middle, can be safer (that trailing plastic is way sharp and unnecessary), it can have direct stabilizer-fuselage mount.
If I had a milling machine handy I'd be able to shave off a good half of weight at least and still be fitting existing setup.

Basically it can be lighter 2-3x even as ugly as duck as it is now but there's just too much material in it for no good reason besides simplicity of production.
And that's where competition comes in place.
For about price Hoverglide sells at you can buy some prettier, no less functional setups - (Axis at $900 and Moses at $1100 are two in similar price range) which are lighter, compatible and elegant. Just to counter potential argument over "production costs" - the "greed management" is a thing.

[galewarning]

I was hoping for an optional composite version to save some weight. That fuse is a deadly weapon! Especially the longer Switch wind/SUP/surf-foil version. I might taper down my kite fuse. The cross-section thickness is way overkill, at least in the rear half.

...snip...
Go Slingshot, go! (and please produce a prettier fuselage finally)

[galewarning]

At the recent KB4C in Hood River, I took a photo of the new [black graphics] SS foils laid out on a table, but somehow deleted it. However, here's some of what SS had for demo...

[macgruber]

H2 is definitely higher lift and more stable than the h4. Put the mast on the fuselage instead of the wing (B position) and it works for Sups and windsurfers. I like the h4 more as it shares the lower top speed (slower crashes) but it is easier to follow the water surface and gybes great. It’s too easy to accidentally pump the h2 for me at 170 lbs.
Longtime foilers told me to learn by:
Session 1: 2 hrs on h5 and 24” mast.
Session 2: 2 hrs on h2 and h4, 24” mast
Session 3: 2 hrs on h4 and 35” mast.
With the longer mast I was able to carve toeside and heel side while foiling. Since then I’ve switched wings mid session and the h5 is now easiest to ride out gusts without getting too much lift. But it does go faster and leads to faster crashes. The h4 is easier downwind and surfing wind waves. I’ll keep all 3 and use the h2 for my SUP. The bigger wings do add weight too and make water positioning harder.

[galewarning]

@macgruber
Why the 1st sesh on the H5, the fastest of the three foils? I'm guessing it's easier to go slow without foiling, since it probably has the highest take-off speed of the 3 wings?
-B

...snip...
Session 1: 2 hrs on h5 and 24” mast.
Session 2: 2 hrs on h2 and h4, 24” mast
Session 3: 2 hrs on h4 and 35” mast.
...snip...

[junebug]

Seems to me like a really bad idea to change foils that early in the learning process. Doing so precludes you from getting the muscle memory down because you are dealing with different foils with different characteristics each session.

[toyletbowl]

Seems to me like a really bad idea to change foils that early in the learning process. Doing so precludes you from getting the muscle memory down because you are dealing with different foils with different characteristics each session.

I agree 100%. Don't change anything at all for quite some time. Get to know one set up really well. There are also disadvantages to high lift foils when learning. They want to foil quickly and if you don't know how to handle it, it can be trickier. However, they do offer more stability once on the foil, so that's a positive. Kind of a trade off.

Stick to one foil until you can foil in all directions, ride toe side, etc.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com