Have bad riding form? You need the....

J-Ro

Air Sling.....

I thought this was a joke but for $3,600 you can skip the wakeboard camp and get big air like the pros.

www.airsling.com

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I don't get it.. After reading most of the documentation.

And they have a credit card entry WITH NO SECURITY. No encription, nothing. SMART.

Ian_82 · Addict Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 803 City: Longview, WA

it looks to me like a extension with a shock absorber. supposedly it lets you load the line harder. who knows. it doesnt make that much sense to me....

J-Ro · Posted: Aug 30, 2005 1:40 pm Post subject:

I think when you load the shock, it releases when you leave the wake and pulls you higher. Not sure though.

I think it's a good idea Rolling Eyes

actiondcpd · Posted: Aug 30, 2005 2:14 pm Post subject:

Yeah they need a video or something. Is it supposed to slingshot you or something? That would be pretty tough to control IMO.

blairpoelman · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 595

Where the hell does the $3,600 value go? Seems pretty overpriced to me.
________
African cooking

nan0 · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 55 City: San Jose

Further investigation has uncovered the following information (i read the site)-

"For years there has been discussion on ways to increase tower height, but the safety issue was always a stopping point, as the rigid pressure during jumps could tip the boat. Similarly, if you were to just have a higher pole without a shock it would eventually do damage to the mounts on your tower. The AirSling adds almost three feet to your existing tower, which will give you more height & distance & the shock incorporated into the unit takes most of the stress off your tower. "

So it seems the use of the shock is more intended to reduce load on the tower. the package also comes with a compressor pump to fill the shock (can vary the load for different weight riders).

Probably within budget for schools, pros, or those of you with money to waste. At the current price it's definately not going to take off. Hell, they used a custom shock from Fox. couldn't they find something off the shelf?

nan0 · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 55 City: San Jose

blairpoelman,

custom shock from fox = $$$$
120v air compressor for loading shock before heading to lake= $$$
12v compressor for adjusting? on the lake = $$$
pressure guage, hose, etc = $$$
all the annodized aluminum = $$$
Total = WTM (way too much)

blairpoelman · Addict Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 595

Kento911 · Addict Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 958 City: Devore

it cant tip a boat but you will get to a point where your leverage will pull on the boat and you get no net gain in air. . I think if it really softens landings its a cool idea but Bubb Rubb me man go affordable it does not need to be that pricey

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

I saw one of these being used a couple weekends ago, didn't know what it was, but only saw hydrofoils using it, figured it must be some sort of shock system for them... really strange looking, and apparently pricey!

shaggyboarder · Posted: Aug 30, 2005 3:33 pm Post subject:

Was a feller on my lake few weeks ago with one of these attached to his calabria, yes they do look very expensive with the gaugues on the tower and compessor and whatnot.. he explained it to me as sort of like a sling shot and it would help save you on hard landings but to me this totally contradicts why we buy 130$ space age ropes to ride with? i only imagine it lessening the line tension created by the rider. if it will slacken the rope a little on a landing imagine on a raley baised manuever. also i would ponder how long will it be out before it retracts seems like it would increase handle poppage as well.
by the way he was also using it to hydrofoil

jason2454 · Outlaw Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 240 City: austin

Ian_82 · Addict Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 803 City: Longview, WA

shadowfox · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 156 City: N Tex

I dont get it, need more pictures.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Yes - It seems you would get more or less the same effect with a stretchy rope and a few more feet of AL on your tower.

This idea seems headed toward the same fate as Beta VCR tapes.

J_DOGG · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 9:18 am Post subject:

From what I see it does the following.

It WILL let you generate true line load as the shock will max out and the no stretch rope will then play its part.

It will give that little bit of extra lift of the wake when the shock retracts to it's starting position. Reason it might not be good for spin tricks and things like that and D-Rock mentions that in his interview.

It will absorb the abrupt handle jerk we all get when landing a trick not 100% correctly and or with out proper form as the shock will work in reverse and give a little cushion to the point the shock gets maxed out again but should be more than enough recovery time.

I don't know, I saw the D-Rock interview on that site and he clearly is being the spokesman but it did sound like it had potential to be a great learning tool. IMO - Most people will not drop that kind of cash to find out, not even fools like me with money to burn on toys.

joedirt00 · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 10:07 am Post subject:

There was a thread last year w/ video of the prototype and it looked NOTHING like that, But it did show guys riding with it.

I bet if someone lands the 1080, even inconsistanly, with one of those things they are going to sell a bunch of them, which is probably what they are banking on for now.

Bowen · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 10:45 am Post subject:

The owner of it came on here and posted because he was happy he 'signed' shapiro...then we all lambasted him. Remember? Laughing

joedirt00 · Posted: Aug 31, 2005 10:59 am Post subject: