Looks like Greg is close to releasing a light wind specific version of the S3. For me at 195 I can start to use my 5.3 S3 when it starts to gust to 13mph. So this 6.5 would be useful for the weaker summer seabreeze days where it hangs out in the 10-12 zone.
Dang, Greg had the 6.5 out when others were on 3M by the looks of it. Good depower I guess!
looks massive
Looks HUGE!
Officially launched
Tested the 5.5 briefly today in crazy light wind. Need a lot more time before giving it a proper review but best way to describe it was an S3 with training wheels. It is very very stable in light winds. The bridle is much simpler and the lines are a lot shorter. The 5.5 feels a lot smaller than I thought it would. Figured the 6.5 would feel massive but now I actually think it probably feels a lot smaller than you would think. Low end of the 5.5 L1 feels similar to the S3 5.3 but so much easier to launch and taxi with in super light conditions. I haven’t gotten to test its top end or its upwind capability yet. I don’t think I would have been able to keep the 5.3 S3 flying in the lulls but the L1 stayed in the air without having to play with the A lines etc. Wind was maybe 8mph gusting 12 or 13mph. Armstrong 75mkii ML and UHA1070.
I’ve got a demo here in San Diego if anyone wants to try it out. In a week I’ll be driving up the west coast to British Columbia and will have L1 and S3 demos with me.
Watch the wind at Topanga and I’ll grab a demo if you’re around early afternoon when you drive up.
Come do a demo at Belmont shore in Long Beach pls!!!
I might actually come up there this next week for an afternoon.
Had a weak moment after a light wind session a few days ago, and ordered a 6.5.
Got 777 hybrids 2.5, 3.1, 4.3, and a 5.4 PT Skin. So very curious to try the L1 and se how it compares. Also a good way for me to test how the shovel grip feels, very curious about that as well.
Looks like it will be delivered on Friday.
Exciting times with designs going in all directions
Looks really stable. Dwight said he would have had plenty of power to go but the storms were to close
Keen to demo if you’re coming through Squamish!
I may! I’m headed up to Powell River for a few weeks. I’ll be watching the forecast next week. If things along I may cut my time in hood river short and stop through Squamish instead. Let me know if the forecast is looking good around the 12th-13th. I may also pass back through there at the end of the month.
I rode the 5.5 yesterday and the 6.5 today. They are extremely stable. Can fly them no handed easily.
Forecast looks good so far, but hasn’t been that strong lately even when forecasts look right. Likely not as good as hood River, but nowhere really is lol
Got my L1 6.5 yesterday, and had a session on a lake in Sweden in all sorts of conditions. Tried the low end and the top end in the same session.
Hopefully I will try it more during the weekend. So far I will just say I like it, and that it was easy to adapt to.
Now I am thinking about replacing my PT Skin 5.4 as well, so I have two parawings with D-bar and similar behaviour. Next size down is a hybrid 4.3.
Question is, when you have the 6.5 LT in the quiver, should I go with a 5.5 LT or a 5.3 S3?
I would say it depends on what you’re after and what your skill level is. The 5.5L1 flies just the lik the 6.5. Super easy to fly. Very stable. I was surprised that the top end still feels comparable to the 5.3s3. The s3 feels faster and I think I get better upwind angles with it. However I’m really light conditions it takes more skill and attention to fly. You’ll need to use its launching line and occasionally grab an A-line to fly it when taxiing or launching. I love the S3 but it rewards good flying. I’ve already sold a 5.5L1 to a complete day 1 beginner and they had no problem flying them and getting on foil. If you live somewhere where the lulls are really low I think I would recommend the L1.
Ordered an S3 5.3 now. Figured I will always use the 6.5 if it is light, or have it in my backpack. So will not really use the 5.3 in marginal conditions.
And I am curious on how the S3 feels, and I will not satisfy my curiosity by ordering another L1
Thanks for your input
the sizing is a bit strange. I have the S3 in 5,3 / 4,2 and find there is not so much overlap.
There is a 4,7 missing if you want the L1 5,5 and then go down to 4,2
Interesting. I have the 5.3 and 3.4 S3 and I am very happy with that spacing. Plan to get the 2.1 next. I was actually going to respond that if you have the 6.5 L1 you could skip to the 4.2 S3(or the 4m hybrid). But hey if the budget allows why not have the perfect size available I guess. Personally like the big gaps because it make my choice really easy.
Second session today on the L1 6.5.
The forecast for a spot about 1.5 hour drive away looked okay for 6.5. If I didn’t have it, I would have selected a different spot 2.5 hours away with a better forecast. Already there, there is a win.
For me it was light. It would not have been a good day with the 5.4 at all. But BRM-Greg would probably be flying around with a 4.x on a small board.
There were a few kiters out on Twin tips and 14-15m2 kites, going slowly and not happy. And there was one guy on a 5.5 wing that looked okay.
I was on Orca 1050, Julitta 100l, and of course the 6.5.
Had a really good session. The wing is very easy to use, and while waiting for a gust to get going, it stays perfectly fine in the air without any input. It actually gives support and stability I would say.
Getting on foil, I start to figure out how to pump it. If I keep it low, and pump towards me, its not really good. The part closest to the water starts to deform after some pumps. But keeping it higher and pump with more downward pulls, like Greg shows in one of the S3 videos, works. I am not at the level where I would say it pumps like a wing. But I can see that with time I will get quite efficient.
Sailing upwind it has a comfortable pull. And I naturally goes into a stance with the board banked over. The upwind angles Ive been getting doesnt impress, but i have good speed. I like the feel of sailing it, and should be able to improve the angles.
Gybing works well, without any trouble. Last week I tried the Heineken, or downloop, or what it is called with PW on the PT Skin 5.4 for the first time. And after some tries it worked perfectly on the 6.5.
Toeside I do that, and heel side I do a more regular with a bit of line touch.
Although it was light, and I was on a lake, there were some nice slow mowing bumps. After all, there is probably 60km fetch towards the spot.
Did many short runs with the thing dangling in my right hand, as I usually do. And not once were there any issues when I sendt ut back in the air. Stuffed it in my belt two times also (my very first ever on PW).
The shovel, I really like. I think that instead of Greg making replacement bars, the other brands could of replacement shovel bars. There is a reason for why there is a D-handle on a good shovel.
There is so many way I realise how good the D-handle works. And I just love how short it is.
Keep in mind, I never ride toeside more than a few meters after a gybe. Like to ride properly powered up, with both hands on the bar. Have more of a wing/windfoil race background. And very little surf.
How much wind do I need to get going? No idea, less than with my 5.4, and I am happy 
Top end? First day I was out, there were a period were I could have been on a 3.0. The 6.5 didn’t misbehave in any way, but I crashed once because it was about to lift me out of the water. And it was for sure not comfortable.
Overall I am very happy with the purchase. It went a lot better than my first purchase from BRM. A 5.3 Paia for learning parawing.
