Why the Slingshot UFO V3 is Fred Hope's Favorite for Kite Foiling

MACkite's Pat Taylor is at KoGL with Fred Hope of Slingshot, checking out the new 2024 Slingshot foiling lineup.

Fred: We've got the brand new UFO for this year. This is my baby: the no-strut kite. It's the weirdest-looking kite on the beach because it just sits flat against the ground, but it's the best-looking kite in the air because of how different it looks when you're flying. There's no skeleton to the frame other than the leading edge, so it makes it really light and responsive because the whole frame can flex.

Pat: It's been my go-to foil kite for the last three years now. I always have one in my truck for the light wind days, and the new design looks great.

Fred: We have a new logo this year; it's just a simple "S", much cleaner. For the UFO specifically, we made a new size, the 10m, which has been my go-to kite now in the super light winds. The 11m is a little bit big for me for my weight, so the 10 is what I like. I have a 6/8/10m quiver, and that works quite well.

In addition to that, we tweaked the bridle a little on every side, just to make it fly a bit more well-behaved in the gustier conditions.

Pat: When someone's out in the water and needs to relaunch, what's one tip you'd give them?

Fred: Because there's no strut, a lot of people have the fear that the canopy is going to lay flat on the water and not refill with wind. The key to getting it to refill is to get it downwind, perpendicular to you. We have these great swept-up wingtips that allow the wind to go in equally through both sides of the wingtips and fill the center. It's important that it is directly perpendicular to the wind, because if it's slightly to the side, the wind fills one side but it doesn't fill the other side. If one side is filling up and the other side isn't, pull the side that's filling up a little bit to it bring it around, and then it will start filling the other side, too.

Pat: That makes perfect sense. I think for anybody looking for a foiling kite, this is a great option.

Fred: This year we have the foil category as fine-tuned as possible. You have the Joystick with the UFO, and then the Hope Craft as well. Everything is made for the highest level of kite foiling imaginable. It's pretty exciting to have all the different pieces come together, finally. It's going to be awesome to see how the whole package is received by people on the beach.

Pat: The lineup's looking great for this year. I'm really excited to get my own Joystick now and get on the new UFO.

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