Neilpryde RS:Slalom MKIII or RS:Racing Evo2?

I didn't want to rush this experiment, but now with lots of Time on Water with both sails I think to have found the differences. I have only sailed the RS:Slalom MKIII with X9 masts, but have seen the X6 mast as well. The RS:Racing Evo2 was also on the same X9 masts. I chose to compare with the same mast, this makes it easier to see/feel the difference.

Believe it or not, the RS:Racing Evo2 is easier to pop the cambers on the X9 mast (more space). If the cams are on the mast the RS:Slalom MKIII is just easier, haven't measured it but the RS:Slalom MKIII seems to have a touch more downhaul tension compared to last years RS:Racing (EVO1). Both the RS:Slalom MKIII/RS:Racing Evo2 accelerate fastest with recommended downhaul, I do like some less downhaul too. More downhaul is giving only control, in other words its putting a part of your sail in neutral instead of drive... I use a bit less outhaul tension than recommended, however I saw Martin van Meurs using some tension and going faster than many other RS:Racings (including myself on RSR E1 6.2)

On shore performance
The RS:Slalom MKIII has so far proven to more durable, haven't experienced a broken cross-batten. For people that don't know: "fanatical speedsurfers often walk around their gear to good spots, I do walk over 5km for one good session"
You can imagen that crossbatten will hit the ground sometimes... And yes broken crossbattens are quite normal, but the RS:Slalom didn't break after now +- 15km walking. The materials used in the RS:Slalom MKIII feel a bit more durable.
When trying to rotate the sails onshore imdiately most will be suprised, the RS:Racing Evo2 does rotate better... further more about this

On the water
There are just a few things I felt from first moment. The RS:Slalom MKIII makes it easier to fly, quite a bit less mastfootpressure (especially the 5.5). THe handling is more personal, I like a sail to be stiff enough to keep the mastfootpressure constant. This is what the RS:Slalom MKIII delivers, in strong gusts the sail can be trimmed easy. The RS:Racing Evo2 has to be handled more extreme, I have to adjust my stance a bit more. The RS:Racing Evo2 is a touch stiffer, but also more mastcurve. I wouldn't be suprised if it is the same as RS:Slalom MKIII in gusts (bends towards RS:Racing E2 shape)...

"The RS:Slalom MKIII is the best value for money speedsail by Neilpryde, you will be competitive in all conditions! It does take a bit more energy upwind/deaccelerating compared to the RS:Racing Evo2, but it will pay back in easyness downwind"

When sailing in the "sweetspot" I don't see a difference in performance between RS:Racing Evo2 & RS:Slalom MKIII. I did one underpowered session with both RS:Slalom MKIII 5.5 and RS:Racing EVO2 5.5, suprisingly the RS:Slalom MKIII was a bit faster 68kmh against 71kmh...
Overpowered there is a little problem with the Neilpryde RS:Slalom MKIII, the mastsleef/tension is somehow a lot less locked. The RS:Slalom MKIII needs a lot battentension on cam-battens, this makes the sail rotate bad. With loads of battentension I came last session from the water with my RS:Slalom MKIII 5.5 feeling a bit flighty, a kitesurfer told me he measures constantly 45-48kn gusts... And the RS:Slalom MKIII was stable (I still don't believe). I was surfing close to 40kn over 0,4m-0,5m chop, thanks to the lesser mastfootpressure I can fly over shit.

Accelerating I would prefer the RS:Slalom MKIII because it lifts the gear a good out of the water. In really strong gusts the softness of the sail keep you on the water, what can go wrong? Deacceleration (on the edge sailing/ trying to keep the sail against neutral/upwind sailing) the RS:Racing EVO2 is quite a bit better.

Hope this helps breaking personal records!

Used for this sailreview:
50 surfsessions stats from myself
My own bucks
Neilpryde RS:Racing Evo1 6.2
Neilpryde RS:Racing Evo2 5.5/6.2/7.0
Neilpryde RS:Slalom MKIII 5.5/6.2
Neilpryde X9 430 '09
Neilpryde X9 400 '08 (wave)
Neilpryde X9 430 '07
X9 160-210 boom
Carbon Art Speed 44
Fanatic Falcon Speed
Fanatic Falcon 79
Fanatic Falcon 91
Select Fins




  1. Nice review of the 2 sails Eric, I am still not sure what to do. I am goint RSS in 7.8 & 9.5 but 7 down is the problem. I used my 6.7RSR the other day and 35knot gusts were not a problem. I think I need to sail the 6.2 RSS more when I am not under pressure to get results, and I can spend a little time playing around with settings.

  2. indeed nice review. I have also already ordered a rss mk3 7.8 and 9.5. Those are the sailsizes I use the most, so should be good...

  3. Hi Tim/Herm,

    The Neilpryde importer told me RS:Slalom the bigger the better (compared to the RS:Racing)

    So I guess with the 7.8 & 9.5 you can't go wrong.



  4. HyperPlanesDrifterMarch 06, 2010


    Has anybody (under the power of their own bucks) managed to compare the larger sizes (7.8-9.5) of RS:Slalom and RS:Racing?