FEEDBACK: HIPE PRO 5'1

On the release of the HIPE Pro a few weeks ago, the latest version of the HIPE went for a tour of Europe to visit our most active ambassadors. First leg of the HIPE Pro Tour at François aka FantoSlate who was able to test this new toy in light to very very light conditions.

“Hello, the conditions, 8/10 knots then 10/12 and 12/14 knots side-off with 50/60cm peeling waves. Equipped with a 6m Neutra v2 and a Fluid XL-T / Fluid 43 set-up for my 86kg. Superb sunshine, and a very light breeze, the HIPE Pro is inflated and I’m going to test this pretty toy no matter how light the conditions are.

“More stable than its FSP sister”

No miracle, I’m not flying at first in 8/10 knots, but I’m heading up nicely and I find the HIPE Pro more stable than its FSP sister, the Lethal 5’1, in the same conditions. I try to take off in the gusts at 10 knots… but in vain, I would have needed a Fluid XXL-S with which I would have taken off for sure.

In the end….I’m being patient, I believe I can fly…, and 45 minutes later…a little tired from pumping with both the wing and the board like a psychopath ?, I finally take off when the wind rises to 12 knots…but not without a little effort…. at 13 knots, I take off easily without having to pump like crazy.. at 11/12, I take off with a lot of focus on pumping.

I would say that the HIPE takes off like my FSP, difficult to confirm if it’s identical, slightly later or slightly better… hard to tell the difference…

Once in the air

I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SPLIT THE HIPE PRO AND THE FSP in these conditions apart from the comfort of the inflatable to the touch of your feet… very pleasant ?.

Accustomed to the old HIPE v1, I really feel a difference between these 2 boards in the waves. It’s much more incisive with this HIPE Pro. It’s not even close… Besides, everything is intuitive as with my Lethal FSP…

Indeed, I succeed in all my maneuvers identically, without thinking that I’m on an inflatable board. In fact, I don’t feel any difference in performance… just the comfort that the inflatable brings to the touch. So yes, FSP technology will always be incomparable… We have to be clear on this, but…. We are clearly not in talking about cheap inflatable junk you can find in so-called surf shops. This HIPE Pro is top notch ??

“the advantage of never damaging it”

In the waves, I have fun just as much, and I tell myself that this HIPE Pro could indeed be my only board like my FSP currently is, but with the advantage of never damaging it… What a pleasure to let it slip from my hands and let it fall on the lawn of the spot without shouting: ” Ooooooh f*#@€* sh#@€&!!! Noooooooooo!!! ???

This HIPE is just stunning, that’s all, I don’t do jumps but I imagine it must be the same with this board, because you don’t feel any flexibility in flight. The relative flexibility of the inflatable, I would say that you can feel it during the take off, during the pumping phase…but it is not counterproductive.

Too bad, I have no drone images (out of battery). It would have been nice, because frankly I was surfing exactly the same way as with my FSP… To finish I would say that with this board, you can really ask yourself the question of having it as a single board ???. For future owners, don’t worry, this board is really amazing ?”