echo and unit are goners I think?

my info suggests they are joining the 2 into one
mini boom,
one kite does all

not used a boom wing, so a bit undecided

I think we're going to see some manufacturers offer different wings for wave riding, slalom racing, free style and free riding. I see a market for different type wings starting to develop now and some companies will attempt to address these needs. There seems to be a huge amount of interest about winging from kiters, windsurfers, SUPers and surfers -- that's a solid market to draw from.

I expect Duotone to offer at least three different wings in 2021. Slingshot now has the Slingwing V2 and Dart with another wing expected in a few months. A number of companies will have at least two different wings on offer in 2021 (i.e. F-One).

Here's a video (first half of video) featuring the Eleveight wing, which only comes in a 4 metre size -- uses a solid boom with two rear straps. If there were more sizes it might be another boomed wing to consider. This wing looks somewhat similar to the Duotone Slick -- curved middle struct to accommodate the boom.

Here's Alan Cadiz riding the Duotone Slick (prototype?) last Fall (at 4:36). In a couple of shots you will see that the wing has a centre strut as well as the hard boom.

Goofcat said..
Inflated strut with pockets on each end to hold the carbon boom. Strut has a "cutout" in the middle where the boom sits. Wing is not much different than the Unit or Echo. Lighter than Echo, heavier than Unit. People who tried them really like them. Shipping in April.

I hope the carbon boom helps out with the weight....

Folks who tried the wing said it was lighter than echo but heavier than Unit.

www.mackiteboarding.com/2021-duotone-slick-wing/

I haven't looked into the Slick yet.

What is the chance that one mini boom will fit the whole range?

Here's another look at the Slick:

My favorite so far: unit 5m (like a feather)
Rest of my quiver: Echo 6m, 4m,3,3m (so far happy with it - especially the smaller ones - due to the trimmability!)

I will sell my 6m and order Slick 6,5m just to try it out (light wind:the inflated center strut should be better for the getting big wing out of water)

Depending on comparison Slick vs Unit - I might sell my Echo 4m and 3,3m and change to Unit or Echo.

A partial answer about wing span is found at around the 26:00 mark of the Blue Planet interview with Alan Cadiz attached below:

I guess you have to wait for the answer till people actually tried it.
So far only a handfull of sponsored riders use them.
For what its worth: specialisation will probably be a thing but yesterday Belgian Rad man Kjell showed us Yesterday at the Dutch coast (Europe) and air of +6C if you wonder the full suits) that even with the first Duotone wing you can go rad in the waves. Not sure what size wing he was using, but with my 97kg I was wavesailing with a 3.7 fully powered.So of course one wing will be better in this and the other better in that, but its still the skills that count the most and can make pretty much everything work in each discipline. Pics by Benny Jansenwww.facebook.com/bjsurfphoto

Jethrow said..
So what will be the perceived differences/ upgrades between the Echo and the Slick?

I get that the Slick will be lighter, but are they aimed at difference disciplines or such i.e. Flat water vs Downwinding vs Surfing vs Freeride? Or do people just think the Slick is the replacement of the Echo?

Asking because I like my new 4m Echo and looking for a 6m with a boom...

If you listen to Alan's interview he specifically says that the Slick is "heads and shoulders above" any other wing he has used (he also says it's very "tight" and hauls upwind). He's used Duotone wings for the last couple of years but mostly the Echo and anything else he's had a chance to try on Maui. That's a pretty good endorsement of the Slick coming from a top guy. There are videos of Alan on the Slick (check out Youtube) just flying on this wing -- in fact he showed a video during the interview where he hit 28 m.p.h. Apparently the boom is shorter and lighter than the Echo's boom, which is nice if you're looking for a lighter "boomed" wing.

The one thing the Echo does that the Slick does not -- the draft on the Echo can be tuned by extending or contracting the adjustable boom. That may give it more range than the Slick and just about any other wing on the market. I doubt the Slick will replace the Echo. We'll just have to wait and see.

Here's a short summary in English: