There were a couple days when the wind came up just enough that the kiters could launch their kites but not windy enough for them to stay upwind. Instead of battling the breeze with my paddle, I pumped up my 5.4m Slingwing V2 again paired with the FWing hydrofoil and headed out to snatch a few waves. I am a proficient winger, but I did not have enough wind to get on foil with the wing and was starting to get a little bummed, but that is exactly when the Shred Sled surprised me the most.
The thing would go upwind like crazy while underpowered and not on foil, it was like a dream, insane upwind ability while barely slogging along.
I could motor right to the takeoff point and just stand there on my nice stable board waiting for one of the bigger set waves expending no energy at all. Then, when the wave came I was already standing in the perfect spot and the wind that the wave generated was just enough to bring me up onto foil and make the drop. I was laughing taking 200m long rides and then cruising right back upwind to the peak, time and time again. I just could not believe how well the Shred Sled went upwind without enough wind to get on foil. Kiter after kiter ended up downwind walking home, while I just motored 200m back up to the takeoff point. I had never caught waves on a SUP foil without being on foil first and was absolutely amazed how the Shred Sled let me sit at the peak and pulled me right into the set waves from a dead slog. So fun!