Slingshot PTM 899 Front Wing Overview

Welcome back to MACkiteboarding Foil Fridays with Tucker. Today we're going to look at a fun new release, the Slingshot Phantasm 899 PTM Front Wing. It is a high-aspect wing, and it's very thin and sleek with a lot of anhedral and wingtips that curl back up.

What is the PTM 899?

It is a very special wing in Slingshot's line. I expect it to be a bestseller for intermediate-plus wing foilers because it has a massive range. The aspect ratio and foil section gives it great low-speed lift, but an impressive top end as well. It's very quick and predictable, yet nimble and agile in turns. You don't often find all that in one foil, but here you're getting the best of both worlds. It could even be a one-foil quiver for a lot of riders.

Specs

Compared to most other foils in this size range, it has a lot of low-speed lift with a similar top-end speed. It has an 8.8 aspect ratio, so it's a fairly high aspect wing. The wingspan is quite manageable at 899, and I could bank hard turns even on the 82cm mast I was using with it.

The surface area is 925 cm2. Even though that's fairly small for what a lot of intermediate riders might be used to, you shouldn't be afraid of it. It's got a high lift profile, so compared to a 1200-1300 medium aspect wing, it's going to have a similar low end if you're proficient at pumping your wing to get up.

Riding Characteristics

With the added benefit of the reduced drag, you're going to get a better top speed and better upwind ability, so there are some nice benefits to be had. Do be sure to get a couple sessions in adequate wind to get a good feel for the wing, and then you'll be able to go out and begin to maximize your light wind days on this wing.

If you're used to other high-aspect wings, you'll probably find that this wing has more lift than you expect while still providing nice top speeds. This makes it very versatile. I could even wake foil on this or bring it out in small waves.

Tucker's Setup

I've been primarily riding it on the 710 fuselage to wing foil right now. I'm using the new Jet stabilizer as well as the V stabilizer. Both worked great with this wing, though I have a slight preference for the Jet stabilizer because at these speeds, the foil does benefit from the reduced drag and agility in and out of turns. If you're pushing the top end of the range and ripping some turns, the V stabilizer will hold you back a bit since it's more locked-in. When you find yourself in the middle to the lower end of the range, the V stabilizer is going to lend more stability in the pitch and better pumping. You can even ride it with a 400 stabilizer for even more stability and ease-of-use.

You'll gain some extra tip clearance with the extra anhedral, as well as a bit more traction once you come up to speed. This eliminates the need for winglets or much curve on your stabilizer.

Summary

It's a very fun, versatile, easy-to-ride wing, and something that you could easily progress into. Even in hard turns, chop, and cross-currents, it's predictable. It's now my favorite wing in the Phantasm lineup. I like all the PTM wings, but this one is a solid replacement for the 930. It has a lot of the same characteristics, but the reduced wingspan makes it a lot more of a pleasure to ride. I rarely need the extra speed of the 825, and when I do ride it, it's for the extra rolling maneuverability that comes with the shorter wingspan, so this 899 can replace that wing as well. I could definitely ride this as a one-wing quiver in a lot of disciplines.

This is going to be a popular wing, so be sure to reach out to us with any questions. We can help you figure out which fuselage, stabilizer, and mast will work best in your situation. This has been Tucker with MACkiteboarding.com, and I'll see you next time.

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