Inbound: APPLETREE APPLESLICE V4

Oh, we do love a chat with the Appletree family, so when we got an email about the release of their fourth generation AppleSlice wingfoil board, it was nothing but a pleasure to hit them up at their Portugal HQ…

What were the core design goals when moving from the AppleSlice V3 to the V4, and what are the headline changes?

We wanted to update the shape and implement some new design aspects that we learned from other models we launched and from numerous prototypes we made over the years. At the same time, we wanted to stay true to the original design as a super all-round wingboard.

The headline changes are a new length width ratio, slightly longer throughout the range. A deeper recess in the deck and the volume has moved a bit to the front. 

The outline looks noticeably refined. What kind of rider or riding style benefits most from this change?

We wanted to refine and update the tail section a bit. And we made the back edge release a bit better. Further we moved the volume to the front, by means of the recess deck and the wide point moved forward. This pushes the board up a bit more naturally. Which helps when starting, especially on sinker sizes and when parawinging.

And what advantages does that deeper concave deck bring?

The concave really locks in your front foot, and it gives you something to push against. This feels really nice in turns as it follows and “hugs” your front foot. It’s also very nice with the parawing, especially combined with the volume up front. The parawing tends to pull more forward where the wing creates more upward lift. So when you need to get going on the parawing it’s nice to have something to push back against and really transfer that energy into forward momentum of the board, without risking stuffing the nose under water. 

How important was weight reduction in this updated AppleSlice, and where did you manage to cut grams without sacrificing durability?

We have always put durability and stiffness above board weight, but we are very aware that our boards, especially over 70L of volume, are not the lightest. We have tried many things to reduce the weight, but it always resulted in a less stiff or less durable board, so we always went back to the original construction and carbon layup which is definitely the strongest and stiffest available. But now we have found a totally new material to finish the boards. This new material is called “coat25” and it’s not your standard epoxy. The weight that is added by the finishing or “hotcoat” layers as they are called is quite substantial. So with this new material we are able to save up to 10% of weight. And as a bonus it’s also more scratch resistant and more durable! But more on this new finish will be revealed in 2026

With so many sizes available, what guidance would you give riders choosing between the compact mid-sizes and the larger volume options?

Volume is an everlasting debate in the wingfoil scene. With so many riding styles, foils, wings and riding locations, it’s very hard to give advice that suits everyone. But in general we advise people to look at a board on or slightly over their weight in KG, in a L volume board. This way you will have a board that you can almost always ride, no matter the wind conditions. If you go just under, you will end up having a very corky board that sits just under the water’s surface and is very prone to chops and currents and hard to control. So I usually advise that if you want to go sinker, go proper sinker and go 20% under your weight. It’s really easier to learn this way. Of course, the bigger sizes are great for intermediate riders that like to have some volume. And the really small sizes for very experienced riders and to double up as a prone foil board. 

What else is cooking down in Portugal right now? Anything else that’s new you want to mention?

We are always working on new things! The Radix single track foil connection we presented at AWSI last year is steadily developing and you will see more of it as the year progresses. We are also working on some other really cool and innovative products, but I can’t say anything about those just yet!