Anyone seen these in the flesh?

I am contemplating updating my '22 Skywing 95 for a new Duotone 5'1 Sky Style 85...but a little unsure on which model as the Fluro Yellow looking bamboo contruction is considerably cheaper than the Carbon construction Purple/Yellow SLS model

- Any one have any insights into the weight differences? I dont do freestyle or jump, so dont care about the strongest "jump rated" construction - but wave ride.

- Does the SLS feel any different on the water?

@sunsetsailboards you seen them yet?

PS
am i correct thinking the foil box in these (and the '2023 TE) are a little further fwd than my 2022 purple Sky Wing?
Im running Axis (Spitfire, Art etc) and run them at the very front of the current box so a little further fwd would be good...

Cheers!

yep rode the new ones at the show in Hood River. I only rode the SLS versions as that's mostly what they had for demo. rode the 85 and 65l boards (I'm 195lbs)

Boards feel great. They did not get dramatically lighter or anything... the new shape are a refinement on old but ride pretty similarly. Compared to the red v2 Sky Wings, the foil tracks are further forward. Weight between regular and SLS versions is pretty similar. The SLS is stiffer and stronger for freestyle. the Downwinder boards are build lighter and do not have footstrap inserts... they don't want anybody jumping these ones. I rode the 7/2" 115l DW board w/ the Gide 1035 foil... felt remarkably normal when flying... was able to do around the world 360s no problem and hit 22kt.

Duotone adjusted the layups on all the boards and hired a full-time QC guy to live at the factory to make sure boards get made and finished correctly.

if you're looking for a board with tracks even further forward, the PPC Soar Pro has them a couple inches further forward. Nice light, stiff board for a nice price in the USA (more expensive elsewhere). New Duotone boards have more nose volume though and feel more stable on the water.

Now for me it's just a matter of figuring out what size I want. I was on the v2 Sky Wing 60 in 2022.... but I"m about 10lbs heavier this year and went for the 75l TE, but riding the 65l SLS felt really good... much better volume distribution wise vs. than another 60l board I tried and also compared to my v2 Sky Wing 60l. My wife also rode it and had zero problems (she has previously struggled a bit w/ my v2 60l). She is an intermediate foiler and knows nothing about gear but is pretty astute to changes.... I asked her how she liked the stuff she rode (65l SLS, 905 Glide, 3.5 Unit) and she said she liked the new angle of the handles of the new wings even though I had said nothing about it. Said the board an foil were easy and had nice glide.

also of note, there's a new 45l size for freestyle. this one has no bottom handle. looks so sexy... makes me almost want to get one despite the headaches it would likely give me.

Thanks for the write-up on the new edition. I have the v2 red 125L Sky Wing, my first board--just starting to make jibes now. Foil is Axis HPS 1050/425progressive/short black fuse/82cm mast. It feels balanced for me to position the foil near the rear of the tracks. I'm 82kg. I can't imagine tracks that are further forward. Keep in mind I'm still in the learning stage. Am I doing something wrong so far back in the tracks? I mostly wing with Duotone 6.5 Slick. Thanks for ideas.

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also of note, there's a new 45l size for freestyle. this one has no bottom handle. looks so sexy... makes me almost want to get one despite the headaches it would likely give me.

Is the new 45L board the same shape as the rest is the lineup?

Select to expand quote

marc5 said..
Thanks for the write-up on the new edition. I have the v2 red 125L Sky Wing, my first board--just starting to make jibes now. Foil is Axis HPS 1050/425progressive/short black fuse/82cm mast. It feels balanced for me to position the foil near the rear of the tracks. I'm 82kg. I can't imagine tracks that are further forward. Keep in mind I'm still in the learning stage. Am I doing something wrong so far back in the tracks? I mostly wing with Duotone 6.5 Slick. Thanks for ideas.

Thats really interesting you mention that. I'm at a similar stage froiling as you on a 5'4 95L Sky wing with a HPS980/425 900 mast positioned pretty central to the tracks & have been struggling the last few sessions feeling all over the place. I always felt like the 980 is like riding on the back of a shark - you have to always be in control of it compared to my old big SES starter foil. Anyway today I moved the mast right back in the tracks & I felt a lot more in control than normal. I wondered also about the trend to shift tracks forward on the new boards & that's why I hesitated shifting it back until now.
I'd also really like to try a board 20L under my weight to see if it is easier to start in choppy water.

i should have said im running my Axis on the Adv Crazy short - so mast 4cm further fwd to the std fuse, and hence nearer the front

On advance ultrashort with 1050 and 999 I need to have the mast all the way forward on my 2022 Skywing to get enough front foot pressure. Good thing they have moved the tracks.

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live2play said..

also of note, there's a new 45l size for freestyle. this one has no bottom handle. looks so sexy... makes me almost want to get one despite the headaches it would likely give me.

Is the new 45L board the same shape as the rest is the lineup?

yes, the new 4'5" 45l board is similar shape to the other Sky Style SLS boards. 4'5" x 21.8" 135cm x 55.4cm

They took the 45l board out of the Surf range and made it a freestyle/wing shape. the Sky Surf SLS range now only has two sizes.

Select to expand quote

marc5 said..
Thanks for the write-up on the new edition. I have the v2 red 125L Sky Wing, my first board--just starting to make jibes now. Foil is Axis HPS 1050/425progressive/short black fuse/82cm mast. It feels balanced for me to position the foil near the rear of the tracks. I'm 82kg. I can't imagine tracks that are further forward. Keep in mind I'm still in the learning stage. Am I doing something wrong so far back in the tracks? I mostly wing with Duotone 6.5 Slick. Thanks for ideas.

hard to tell without watching you ride. some of this depends on where your back foot is in relation to the mast.

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Microsurfer said..

marc5 said..
Thanks for the write-up on the new edition. I have the v2 red 125L Sky Wing, my first board--just starting to make jibes now. Foil is Axis HPS 1050/425progressive/short black fuse/82cm mast. It feels balanced for me to position the foil near the rear of the tracks. I'm 82kg. I can't imagine tracks that are further forward. Keep in mind I'm still in the learning stage. Am I doing something wrong so far back in the tracks? I mostly wing with Duotone 6.5 Slick. Thanks for ideas.

Thats really interesting you mention that. I'm at a similar stage froiling as you on a 5'4 95L Sky wing with a HPS980/425 900 mast positioned pretty central to the tracks & have been struggling the last few sessions feeling all over the place. I always felt like the 980 is like riding on the back of a shark - you have to always be in control of it compared to my old big SES starter foil. Anyway today I moved the mast right back in the tracks & I felt a lot more in control than normal. I wondered also about the trend to shift tracks forward on the new boards & that's why I hesitated shifting it back until now.
I'd also really like to try a board 20L under my weight to see if it is easier to start in choppy water.

I had a similar experience when I was learning wing foiling. Then I put foot straps on and had to move the foil forward to be able to use them. This taught me to use better pressure balance between my feet., (windsurfer of 20 years so too much back foot). Subsequently took the straps off again after a foot injury and never moved the foil back. Rides way better.

Loving the new Duotone Foiling International Sky Style 4'9.
Board is super responsive & feels great.
Check it out here

?si=CjK8c_qniOA055BV