Review: Tez Plavenieks
Pics: Oli Lane Peirce, Fi Plavenieks, Tez Plavenieks
Slingshot’s Outwit SUP foil range was well received in previous seasons, being a decent flight board that more recently has been doubling as a wing foil sled for many peeps. Replaced for 2021 in many ways SS’s Shred Sled resembles the Outwit (especially viewed side on) but with the addition of a windsurf mast track and a refurbished nose, plus a couple of other tweaks. Now billed as the brand’s 3in1 multi-tool (windfoil, wing foil, SUP foil board) the Shred Sled is poised to get you windfoilin’, wingin’ and paddlin’ as easily as possible whilst covering all conditions bases.
Stepping aboard the Shred Sled at rest the board feels lively. There’s plenty of stability but those big rail chines and tail kick do lend it a degree of roll. With SS’s bigger Infinity 99 foil wing attached the get up and fly traits of the Shred Sled are second to none in the lightest of breeze. In fact, it’s probably one of the earliest to foil boards I’ve ever used with its release absolutely bang on!
Even using smaller or higher aspect foils the Shred Sled does its level best to help you get it up!You don’t so much as pump (wing, sail or foil) instead just allow the whole thing to glide up to ride height effortlessly. With the barest of momentum, a little weighting of the tail, you’re foiling and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Just remember to stand upright, inboard and forwards. That way you’ll be comfy as. It’s not a board that requires an outboard race stance.
I tested the Shred Sled/Infinity combo (84 and 99 wings) in a variety of settings across windsurf, wing and SUP foil disciplines and found the whole thing to be super easy yet as new school performance orientated as you need. If you have the skills then all manner of transitions are possible as well as pops and rotations with footstraps affixed in wingsurf mode. (The footstrap inserts don’t lend themselves to windfoiling so you’ll be sans straps there. Also, note the straps inserts are an offset configuration). And the Shred Sled’s light but bombproof ensures longevity which is super welcome when you consider all the knocks, bangs and scrapes a foil board can end up with – through carrying alone.
As an added bit of fact finding I also used the Shred Sled for small wavelet catching in standard stand up paddle board mode. Surprisingly this works. You can attach normal US box fins if you fancy doing the same. Don’t expect high performance rip, shred ‘n’ tear action but a few glides are possible. And that means the same for windSUP mode. Basically, if you want some fun on the water with sessions guaranteed Slingshot’s Shred Sled could be your magic ride.
Conclusion
Slingshot deliver a very modern take on the multiple discipline board with a super direct windfoil, wing foil and SUP foil feel once in flight. It’s an early lifting machine, there’s no doubt, and all foilers will have immense fun either booting back and forth or chucking in a few moves. Don’t believe the hype when it comes to the latter. If you can whirl and twirl and put a bit of effort in you can do so aboard the SS therefore not needing a small, low volume board for winging (with average to heavyweight riders in mind).
Price:
£1799
Info:
https://www.slingshotsports.com/Shred-Sled-V1
This test was put together with help from –
Leave a Reply