Konrad SUP GLIDR S5 (2021) Wing/Sup Foil Board Review
On the Beach
The first thing you notice about the new SUP GLIDR is that it features a radically different shape, the difference here is very obvious! With Wing/SUP foiling being such a new and rapidly evolving sport we’re seeing big changes in design and performance on the regular and the new Konrad SUP GLIDR is no different.
The bottom hull shape has an extremely rounded profile, no sharp chine line at the bottom of the rail like the previous model. The idea behind this is to create even more “slip” on the water and get the board off the water as quick and easy as possible.
Additionally the rear tail cutout is quite different too, featuring a prominent hydrosheer step and a V shape in the stepped section, the nose also has increased lift and this same very rounded shape from the rails. Everything about the bottom of this board is designed to minimize friction and contact with the water to reduce the “stick” factor.
We’re seeing some big upgrades in usability features too, the new board being fitted out with pop-out style handles on both the top and bottom deck. Anyone who’s winging will know just how important this bottom handle is, as keeping your wing away from the foil when carrying your kit is a top priority!
The foil box features the same measurements and markings as last year making sure you can tune your foil performance just how you like it, and another nifty little feature is the front fin box. This is designed for SUP foilers who need a little more tracking, with all this focus on the “slip” factor and boards getting super short, straight line paddling is getting harder and harder on most foiling boards, so this little front fin option is a great addition. Obviously as soon as you’re up on the foil the fin is clear of the water and has no impact on performance.
The top deck is very similar, the deckpad is a new design with separate pieces making it easier to repair, modify or replace sections if necessary, and there are a few more footstrap insert options giving more freedom to decide where you want to place your straps.
The overall finish is a little more matte again than last years but overall quite a similar brushed carbon look, and weight wise they’re still a very light board with the 6’0” weighing in at ~7kgs.
On the Water:
We’ve mostly been using the new Konrad SUP GLIDR for wing foiling, and the performance here has been very impressive, with a significant increase from last season's board it’s definitely competing with some of the best.
The design changes to the bottom shaping have a very significant impact on the on water performance, it feels extremely free and loose on the surface of the water and the moment you get any lift generation kick in from the foil you can feel it wanting to leave the surface, this thing just wants to fly!
The increased nose lift and tweaks to the rail profile really do increase that “slip” factor, touching down or catching a bit of chop you can feel the board wanting to bounce back off the water straight away. With nothing to catch the water on the hull of the board you’re definitely not punished for your mistakes the way you are on some older style boards, and especially for beginners this is huge, being able to recover quickly and easily rather that stall or stack is going to increase your progression massively.
Being so short and slippery on the water your straight line paddling/tracking is definitely impacted, so if you’re SUP foiling somewhere with a long paddle involved you’ll definitely want to make use of that front fin box. Still, with good paddle technique it’s not a huge setback and it tracks better than we’d expected given the shape.
This new bottom profile does decrease stability a little, but the new boards also have a significant increase in volume from last year's boards which seems to make up for it so we’d say on a whole stability is pretty comparable to last year's range. That being said, if you’re a novice paddler and SUP foiling it’s probably better to stick with a touch larger size rather than go too small.
Overall we’re definitely impressed with the new board this year, it’s pretty much an upgrade all around and we can’t really fault any of the changes or developments. It’s quite suitable for a beginner foiler in the larger sizes but won’t disappoint for even fairly advanced riders either.
Check out our video review below with an overview of the new board. We’ve got the new board available online here and you can check out the sizes and options. As always, if you’ve got questions on the range feel free to contact us for details!
