The Airush Slayer board looks interesting with its stepped base and strakes. Airush says it works well strapless in light winds and chop + messy small surf. Has anyone used one? If so what size (54 or 60), and how did you find it?

The new V2 version for 2014 now only has tri fin option and comes in 54 & 58 sizes.

Hi, I had a Slayer 60 for most of last year. Its really fun easy to ride board. I always rode it strapless. Its great for learning jibes and tacks. I rode it with the stock Tri fin and with some more pointer style fins I had from previous Sectors. Its pretty quick to accelerate onto plane but compared to a Sector, the top end speed is not the same. The Slayer is in its wheel house in small sloppy surf in onshore or cross onshore conditions. I'm 87 Kg and if I get another one this year I think I'd go 54. The 54(or 52) was my favourite size in the Sectors. They required a bit more wind but not much. I mostly rode the Slayer with a 14m SS Rally on the lighter days. I rode it also with a 17m SS Turbine and I had more fun naturally on the smaller kite. Like you, this year I'm riding Airush kites, Lithium Zero, Lithium and Varial X so maybe another Slayer is in my plans. If you get a chance to demo one I'm sure you'll enjoy it. IMO its more fun than a surfboard on the lighter days.

Bigwave, thanks for the information - that was my impression of the board gleaned for discussions in a shop and looking at reviews. The smaller size 54 seems to be the go as I already have a Sector 60 and will hang onto it.

The Sector 60 is great for zooming in around in wind 10-25 knots but its not great for surf style turns and choppy waves. The Firewire Flexfire board I have been using strapless is also a bit skittish in chop, hence my interest in the Slayer. The Slayers seems to be equivalent to a North Nuggett.

I just need to decide whether to go for last year's Slayer or get the new 2014 model.

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Peterc150 said..

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The Sector 60 is great for zooming in around in wind 10-25 knots but its not great for surf style turns and choppy waves. ...

The Sector 60 is excellent in surf and sloppy waves. Think carving a longboard. not snapping a short board. You just have to get your back foot out of the strap onto the rail about mid way forward and carve the turns a little. You have to ride the board through a clean arc, not just jump on the rail and hope it turns. It doesn't like to snap (unless you do it slowly, more of a flare gybe than a snap turn) and boosting off surf waves can be terrifying with all that weight attached to your feet. A smaller kite helps as well.

Catching a small ocean wave in cross offshore conditions on the Sector 60 is pure joy.

I spent a week on the Slayer 54 over New Years in Torquay. I rode it strapless with thruster fin set up. It took me a little adjusting to it, but I ended up loving it. Light wind performance was fantastic. I was trucking upwind on my 10m catalyst while mates couldn't stay upwind on twin tips and 12m kites. I found the board super stable and really easy to move around on. I also did some down winders along 13th beach with 4 ft faces. The board felt great and I could easily break traction on some harder turns. Great fun board. Apart from less fin boxes, are there any other differences on the 2014 model?

so any news of review on the Slayer v2 54 for exmaple compare to the Slayer v2 58
and the Slayer V2 58 compared to the sector 60?
I had the sector V4 60 I have 80kg, and want an easier to handle board than the Sector 60 V4, but still want to cruise and gather some upwind..
I had Sector 60 in V1/v1.5/v2...and these models all were sofa cruisers....perfect, then I purchased the V4 60...man this board is completely the opposite..it is very technical to ride and yes it goes faster , higher upwind and bottom end is amazing too...but it kills my old(nearly 60yo) legs , compared to the V2!

so now I am looking at the Slayer....but have to be sure that I still can make some upwind and that the board is easier than the Sector v4.The sector 60 V5 should be back towards the V2 I was told, but will try to test the board before purchase, although not easy to get!
I have 80kg, some good lightwindskills, biggest kite is 13m ozone edge 2013..and want to go out at 9/ 10 knots minimum

any advice
cheers
Frank

I had a light wind day in thailand the other month there was a slayer siting in the shop and the guy said i could have a demo.There was no waves though.I dont rate it as a good light wind board as its to heavy and there is to much drag and heaps of bounce in stuff all chop .I was going better up wind on my shinn speed ball w18.I like the north nugget as its faster better up wind it turns quicker ,its much more fun.Its dynamite in the air and spins quick.The sector is abetter choice if its really light,but there not as good on the waves as a nugget.

The Slayer is a fun board to ride but the North nugget is WAAAY better. It gets on the plane quicker and is also real fun in waves.

I have used the nugget with a 17 metre Zephyr and when it gets windier just change down to a 10 Metre North Rebel (Hopefully upgrading soon).

Nuggets are hard to come by second hand as they are a great board to have in the quiver. When I borrowed my mates I did not want to give it back.

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HappyG said..

The Slayer is a fun board to ride but the North nugget is WAAAY better. It gets on the plane quicker and is also real fun in waves.

I have used the nugget with a 17 metre Zephyr and when it gets windier just change down to a 10 Metre North Rebel (Hopefully upgrading soon).

Nuggets are hard to come by second hand as they are a great board to have in the quiver. When I borrowed my mates I did not want to give it back.

..and my buddy has the earlier now the 2014 as well and just can't stop raving about the new one! ...as he's riding in to shore mind you...he's principally a sB rider but does have a TT for the flat water, but ultimately a surfboard head, and really rates the 2014 model.

I do not mind it is not as wavy as a waveboard...the bouncy part is not that good..I am looking for a board that fits inbetween the "free raceboard" like sector and a waveboard...
I know the slayer 2013 was a bit heavy, as the 2014 is only with 3 finboxes it will be lighter for sure...

Fortunatly I get a 2014 Slayer V2 54 for test tomorrow...coming from the Airush sector 60 V4 that will be a whole different game...
I will try to get a test at the same time on a Fone fish 5'6 or 5'10 as they go pretty well upwind too..

the best would be to try the sector v5 60 too just to feel if itis true that they have "un"raced them and the board is back to the sofa cruiser like the V2 was!...

thx for your effort
Dude

Rode the Slayer V2 58 today for the first time today (I need the bigger size). It was awesome, easy to ride, amazing upwind performance - almost as good as a Sector. Really stable and easy to turn. I can't compare it to the V1 or the Nugget, but it felt light under foot to me. Apparently the V2 is a lot lighter than the V1. Definitely recommend taking it for a rest ride.

I tested the slyer 2014 54 with a 9m Switch method v2 and me 80 kg in 16 to 19 knts of wind, and l did not like the board...it was sticky...and too heavy..have to go back to sector l assume, as this board could not convince me in getting into planing...nor the jibing...short fatty rails
Dude