The new Smik will be fine on a lake.

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hilly said..
The new Smik will be fine on a lake.

Thanks. Sometimes I just need reassuring.

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Seastudent said..

hilly said..
The new Smik will be fine on a lake.

Thanks. Sometimes I just need reassuring.

It is more powerful, goes better upwind and jumps better (Not that I would know). Seems to tack easier too, less flutter.

and its fast too.The only wing I prefer more when powered up sailing long reaches back and forth is the duotone Slick because with the boom you can mico adjust you grip. but getting going, jibing etc I prefer the Smik (and I do have both in 5m).

Andy testing out the robustness. The wing passed with flying colours, Andy a bit bruised.


Photo credit - Jason M

Does anyone know how the Smik 5m bottom end and pumping onto foil compares to PPC Surge 4.8m, Ensis Spin 4.6m, Naish S26 Wingsurfer 5.3m?

Haven't tried the PPC as they are very rare in europe but it its low end is heaps better as the Naish.There is an decent profile and its tensioned so pumping is way more effective as with the Naish that is very baggy and needs to fill up first and let go most of the power the next pump.Ensis spin: No clue, bit size-wise is Ensis a bit off in the sizes imo: when you put them over most wings the Ensis are like 0.5-1m bigger and feel like that. The Score 5.2 was a tiny bit earlier on the foil as my 5m Smik but in feel and handling a 6m, and it can,t compete with that.

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patronus said..
Does anyone know how the Smik 5m bottom end and pumping onto foil compares to PPC Surge 4.8m,

The V2 Smik has a little less low end, the PPCs are over size. The Smik is lighter and handles better in stronger wind. They are both good wings.

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Jeroensurf said..
Haven't tried the PPC as they are very rare in europe but it its low end is heaps better as the Naish.There is an decent profile and its tensioned so pumping is way more effective as with the Naish that is very baggy and needs to fill up first and let go most of the power the next pump.Ensis spin: No clue, bit size-wise is Ensis a bit off in the sizes imo: when you put them over most wings the Ensis are like 0.5-1m bigger and feel like that. The Score 5.2 was a tiny bit earlier on the foil as my 5m Smik but in feel and handling a 6m, and it can,t compete with that.

try the Naish Matador LT, miles tighter canopy and low end traction than the wing surfer 2021 or older. not sure about the 2022 wind surfer ...

I like the colours and build quality of Naish but wasn't really impressed by the matador...Its needs some work before coming close to Smik.A friend of me has an MK4, have to try that soon

Anyone used the 7m Smik wing? any comparisons in dimensions and power to the 6m

I recently got myself a couple of Smik wings (4, 5 and 6 m2) to replace my Ozone Wasp V2 wings. Thanks @jeroensurf for showing me your 5m wing on the Westeinder last winter, that got me over the line! I have been using the 5m2 a couple of times now, but recently also got the 6m2 and that one really impressed me. I was using it in about 16-18 knots of wind (everyone else was on 5m2 or smaller) just to try it for the first time and loved it so much. Didn't feel big at all, super stable, just perfect. Based on this experience I would consider buying a 7m2 as well if there was one, but I think 6m2 currently is the largest size available. If any of you have any other inside information (being closer to the source) let me know..

cool

Came across this test report in Dutch, on the website of Wake Style, a Dutch retailer, and translated it for you guys...
Words are not mine; just thought I'd share the info.

Original report here: www.wake-style.com/blogs/news/review-smik-wing-v2-4-5mt

Test Period: end of December to present.

Introduction: I am a 48 year old "average-Joe" winger. I don't have any talent for freestyle and if you see me flying, something goes wrong because I always sail strapless. :) Besides just sailing, golfing is my great passion. SMIK is the brand of Scott McKercher, ex world wave champion in windsurfing, ex shaper/designer at starboard for waveboards and sups until he decided to start his own brand SMIK. They are very popular with the wave sups and a year and a half ago he also came up with a wing, the V1. This was tested by SUPboarder mag and came out as the best for the wave. I really liked this one and I discussed it with various people, which led to Marco Angilella from Wake-Style also including them in his range.

Just before Christmas 2021, the V2,s arrived with a 4+5m in front of me.

Price/Construction/Finish: The SMIKs are relatively affordable for wings that you can buy in a shop: the 5m costs 750?, - which is quickly 20-30% less expensive than most other brands. Yet you can't tell and in my opinion the finish is not inferior to renowned brands such as Slingshot. I am completely in love with the bright colors of the 5m. :) The SMIK has a tight leech and a fairly firm profile that is not too deep. It is also striking that the front tube has been kept quite modest compared to newer wings. The finish is downright neat and detailed, has a standard valve with 2 hoses to the center strut instead of a dump valve. In practice, therefore, it fills up just a little easier and just as quickly as a wing with a dump valve.

The wing features many loop handles that are quite firm, but soften over time. I find these handles very nice. The wing comes with a nice backpack and a cord leash that is nothing special, but works fine. The SMIK has no attachment for trapeze/harness lines. Weight: 2.31kg for the 5m and 2.1kg for the 4m. Well, some brands claim all kinds of things on the internet, but for a normal wing without High-tech fabrics like Hookipa or Aluula, I think that's very neat.

On the water: The SMIK is a very light sailing and efficient wing. The 5m just feels like a 5. There are wings with more low end grunt when planing like the Ensis Score, but they also immediately feel 0.5/0.8 bigger and heavier in the handling. The SMIK therefore starts up fairly normally and can be pumped up quite efficiently due to the fabric tension and afterwards remains stable and light in the sailing feeling from low end to high end, range is quiet and slightly light in the hands.

The handles are a thing: some like it, others prefer Loops a la Ensis or the Slingshot V3, a boom or hard handles. Personally, I like the loops of the SMIK better than a boom like my 5m Duotone Slick, because of the lighter weight. The disadvantage is that micro adjustment is limited and you sometimes have to take another loop (these were still easy to sail last winter with gloves). The only handles that I really like better so far are those of the Cabrinha Mantis2.

Upwind and Downwind, the SMIK is unobtrusive. In the surf on a wave, the wing can be flagged beautifully. The front handle is easily accessible, but in slacker waves, the wing can also be easily controlled from the front loop. The wind range is also more than fine. The only 5m I can get away with a little faster is the Cabrinha Mantis 2 that I have on loan in 5m to try and with the 4m I sailed a few weeks at sea with more than 30 knots trot I was able to switch to windsurfing with 4.1 full bin.

Satisfied? Absolute! Winging is not cheap and developments are going very fast, but with the SMIK I really feel that I have a wing for a relatively affordable amount that is not inferior to the rest. Frankly, I'm surprised I see so few of them.

I wrote that and just come back from a very nuce sess with the 5m (day 6 in a row with it).

Here's a translated review of the SMIK Wing Dings V2, by the guys at Wake Style, in the Netherlands.

Thought I would share it with you: www.wake-style.com/blogs/news/review-smik-wing-v2-4-5mt

Test period: end of December to present.

Introduction: I am a 48 year old "average-Joe" winger. I don't have any talent for freestyle and if you see me flying, something goes wrong because I always sail strapless. :) Besides just sailing, golfing is my great passion. Smik is the brand of Scott McKercher, ex world wave champion in windsurfing, ex shaper/designer at starboard for waveboards and sups until he decided to start his own brand Smik. They are very popular with the wave sups and a year and a half ago he also came up with a wing, the V1. This was tested by supboarder mag and came out as the best for the wave. I really liked this one and I discussed it with various people, which led to Marco Angilella from Wake-Style also including them in his range.

Just before Christmas the V2,s arrived with a 4+5m in front of me.

Price/Construction/Finish. The Smiks are relatively affordable for wings that you can buy in a shop: the 5m costs 750, - which is quickly 20-30% less expensive than most other brands. Yet you can't tell and in my opinion the finish is not inferior to renowned brands such as Slingshot. I am completely in love with the bright colors of the 5m. :) The Smik has a tight leech and a fairly firm profile that is not too deep. It is also striking that the front tube has been kept quite modest compared to newer wings. The finish is downright neat and detailed, has a standard valve with 2 hoses to the center strut instead of a dump valve. In practice, therefore, it fills up just a little easier and just as quickly as a wing with a dump valve.

The wing features many loops that are quite firm, but soften over time. I find these handles very nice. The wing comes with a nice backpack and a cord leash that is nothing special, but works fine. The Smik has no attachment for trapeze lines. Weight: 2.31kg for the 5m and 2.1kg for the 4m. Well, some brands claim all kinds of things on the internet, but for a normal wing without High-tech fabrics like Hookipa or Oelala, I think that's very neat.

On the water: The Smik is a very light sailing and efficient wing. The 5m just feels like a 5. There are wings with more low end grunt when planing like the Ensis Score, but they also immediately feel 0.5/0.8 bigger and heavier in the handling. The Smik therefore starts up fairly normally and can be pumped up quite efficiently due to the fabric tension and afterwards remains stable and light in the sailing feeling from low end to high end, range is quiet and slightly light in the hands.

The loops are a thing: some like it, others prefer Loops a la Ensis or the Slingshot V3, a boom or hard handles. Personally, I like the loops of the Smik better than a boom like my 5m Duotone Slick, because of the lighter weight. The disadvantage is that micro adjustment is limited and you sometimes have to take another loop (these were still easy to sail last winter with gloves). The only handles that I really like better so far are those of the Cabrinha Mantis2

Upwind and Downwind, the Smik is unobtrusive. In the surf on a wave, the wing can be flagged beautifully. The front handle is easily accessible, but in slacker waves, the wing can also be easily controlled from the front loop. The wind range is also more than fine. The only 5m I can get away with a little faster is the Cabrinha Mantis 2 that I have on loan in 5m to try and with the 4m I sailed a few weeks at sea with more than 30 knots trot I was able to switch to windsurfing with 4.1 full bin.

Satisfied? Absolute! Wingen is not cheap and developments are going very fast, but with the Smik I really feel that I have a wing for a relatively affordable amount that is not inferior to the rest. Frankly, I'm surprised I see so few of them.

Thanks to Adriaan Van Dijk who took almost all the surf photos!

Cheers Legends

Anybody tried this one in 3m?
How did it go?.Behaviour in nasty,strong gusts is key for me.

Cannot decide wether to get used Smik V2 3m (almost new,very good price) or Fone Strike V1 2.8 (more used one or newer for +200eur morethan Smik).

I know both are great wings, leaning towards Smik for the price.

Haven,t tried the 3m, but had lpots of time in the 5 and 4m. They are both really really good wings, so I can,t imagine that the 3 is much different. I can,t compare them with the Strike V1 but IMO they are at almost as good as the Strike V2 wich feels slightly lighter/forgetable on a wave and the Smik seems for sure to last longer. I love the feel of the Strike V2, but if i look at the wings of the guys around me they bag out alarmly quick imo while the smiks are still pretty crisp.

btw: I recently Switched to the Cabrinha Mantis V2 because they are even more neutral in the waves and because I really like there handles.

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Jeroensurf said..
Haven,t tried the 3m, but had lpots of time in the 5 and 4m. They are both really really good wings, so I can,t imagine that the 3 is much different. I can,t compare them with the Strike V1 but IMO they are at almost as good as the Strike V2 wich feels slightly lighter/forgetable on a wave and the Smik seems for sure to last longer. I love the feel of the Strike V2, but if i look at the wings of the guys around me they bag out alarmly quick imo while the smiks are still pretty crisp.

btw: I recently Switched to the Cabrinha Mantis V2 because they are even more neutral in the waves and because I really like there handles.

Thx Jeroen.
Mostly very good reviews on the Smik so i have bought it :)
It is nice that we are starting to get good gear in good condition at realistic second hand prices here in Spain.