Gin have upgraded both of their speedriding wings for the 2012 season: the beginner / intermediate Nano and the expert-only Fluid.
Nano
The Nano is an “easy, safe and fun” speedriding wing for schooling and regular practice. Gin have made no major changes to it, but say they have improved the canopy’s trim and made it possible to fly it slower. They say the materials are better too, better able to withstand the harsh environments they are subjected to.
Gin say the Nano will follow your ride gently, damping air movements and the terrain, and giving you the feedback that makes it easy to pilot.
It has a wide speed range with a trim system to vary the glide angle, and the turn is highly ‘skiable’ and better balanced between yaw and roll, without parasitic lift. Lift comes “clearly and obviously” when you want it to.
In summary, Gin say the Nano is easy to inflate and launch, solid in flight, with progressive and responsive braking.
Choose your size according to your weight and experience. As a rough guide, the 14m2 is for heavyweight beginners and intermediate pilots; 12.5 m2 for lightweight beginners and intermediate pilots; 11m2 for very lightweight beginners and intermediate pilots; and the 9.5 m2 is suitable for intermediate and advanced pilots who want to take their freeriding further.
The Nano comes with a specially designed ‘Speedride 2012’ convertible harness/rucksack, karabiners and a fast-packing bag. There is also a ‘zip and clip’ airbag.
Fluid
The Fluid is for expert speedriders only. Gin say it is precise, reactive and fast, able to contour the ground on gentle slopes as on very steep ones but with astonishing energy retention that allows you to take you off whenever needed.
The three-riser system, constantly improved by the Gin team during winters, allows you to trim the glide angle without losing stability and profile qualities.
The Fluid is available in three sizes. As a general guide the optimum wing loading is between 8,5 and 10 kg/m2 for experienced and experts riders, so the 11m2 is for heavyweight advanced and expert pilots; the 9.5m2 for expert pilots only and the 8m2 is for extreme experts.
The Fluid comes with the new lighter and more compact Freeride convertible harness/rucksack, karabiners, and the new fast-packing bag. The harness has a sock pocket for the storage of poles or ice axe.
Here’s Gin’s colourful preview of the Nano 2012:
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