jueves, 17 de septiembre de 2020

The Fire has changed focus slightly for 2020, maturing into a truly adaptable workhorse. From light wind freeride cruising to high-end blasting, it is equally happy fulfilling a number of roles across a wide tuneable wind range.

OVERVIEW

The Fire is in RRD’s Y25 range as their ‘Performance Freeride’ model, offering a wide base of nine sizes from 5.0m to 9.0m. The brief and focus of each size evolves though the series, from bump and jump in the smaller sizes right through to a twin-cam in the three largest sizes. This 7.6m is the largest no-cam option, fashioned with seven battens (many of which are tubed), a negative leech outline, double clew eyelets and reduced head size – all measures to improve handling and top end control. Rigged here on a Dynamic Pro Comp SDM (whilst still compatible with an RDM), it is easy to tune thanks to the marker in the top panel, (dubbed their “integrated trim system”) which helps to achieve the right amount of tension prescribed by RRD’s sail designer John Skye. And with a luff of 482 cm, it is certainly a tall sail, its size accentuated by the long boom length and concave leech outline. Displaying a moderate amount of luff curve amongst its peers, the Fire possesses a good amount of depth to its profile at rest, with all four lower battens exhibiting rotation around the mast. Sporting x-ply in the luff and clew panels, the rest of the Fire’s body is fabricated in monofilm, with a clean set and visually striking in its 25-year anniversary colours. Alternatively you can opt for the more monochrome orange livery.

BRAND CLAIM

“The ultimate in performance freeride … Lots of low end juice to get you up and moving quickly and plenty of control at the top end to hit top speeds with the GPS. This really is the perfect freeride solution.”

PERFORMANCE

We’ve had the chance to test the Fire’s iterations over several seasons now and have been impressed in how it has evolved. This year marks the biggest change in the series, no longer simply a no-cam performance range, but an extended line of sails whose structure alters through the sizes. Nevertheless, in this size, the remit for the Fire remains very much in line with the heritage set out by its predecessors. Bold and full-bodied in the hands from the off, this 7.6m possesses the largest dimensions of all the sails in the test group and develops the bottom end power to justify its form. As the pressure builds, the Fire pulls positively, its centre of effort locked firmly, yet positioned a little further back and focussed around the rider. As a result the power is tangible through both hands, giving the Fire a really balanced and comfortable nature. Using the upper clew eyelet to maximise the feedback supplied, the Fire’s power delivery is smooth and fluid, bestowing the sail with an alert yet accessible character. Applicable for the intermediate rider, it can partner the progressive freeride platform admirably, covering distance easily and powering consistently through varying winds and on all points of sail. As the wind increases, the Fire can be tuned with more tension to explore its freerace credentials – the side of this new Fire’s personality that is undoubtedly derived from its legacy. As the wind increases, the Fire comes alive, actively accelerating in gusts and generating the lift to help fly the board on its fin. The extra clew eyelet is an added bonus, encouraging a more compressed stance and enhancing its sense of control. It may not be as potent as some here in its top end performance, but what it loses in drag-racing efficacy, it more than makes up for with its newfound versatility. And whilst the size of the Fire is not lost in transition, the battens rotate tidily onto the new side, the power returning in a flowing predictable manner.

www.robertoriccidesigns.com

SPECS

Size: 7.6

Luff: 482 cm

Boom: 209 or 214 cm

Battens: 7

Ideal Mast: RRD 460 cm RDM / SDM

Available Sizes: 5.0, 5.7, 6.3, 6.8, 7.2, 7.6, 7.8, 8.4, 9.0.

PRICE: £764.00

OTHER SAILS IN TEST

NEIL PRYDE SPEEDSTER 7.2

POINT-7 AC-X 7.5

Back to test overview page..

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lunes, 14 de septiembre de 2020

Ethan Ewing Puts Up an EXCELLENT Score VS Owen Wright | Tweed Coast Pro Quarterfinals HEAT RECAP

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL7YYIHGZwM

Jack Robinson Steps Up His Air Game VS Julian Wilson HEAT RECAP | Tweed Coast Pro

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk-vGVDW7Pc

Surf Day w/ COCO HO | GOOD VIBES OF THE WEEK

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvRS1Cq6If8

domingo, 13 de septiembre de 2020

#Windsurf SILVAPLANA | FREEZE FRAMES GALLERY

SILVAPLANA | FREEZE FRAMES GALLERY

Balz Müller is known for taking foiling to new levels; here he tells us of his latest escapade in the Swiss Alps – foiling high altitude waters in freezing low temperatures!

Words Balz Müller // Photos Fabian Gattlen & Chris Czadilek

ICE CHASE
As a windsurfing pro you are constantly chasing summer. But this year, typically Swiss, I went skiing instead in the Alps at the famous summer foil windsurfing paradise of Silvaplana. During the first gondola ride up to Corvatsch, Silvaplana’s local mountain, I cheerfully discovered a small pool had formed in a frozen lake, created by a wild mountain creek. It was a no-brainer as soon as I saw it, I needed to swap my snowboard for a foil board, the challenge to sail it was on! Luckily I had all my windsurf equipment with me in my van; all I needed now was some wind!

A few days later a stormy north wind started to blow, shutting down the ski lifts but giving me the green light to go sail. The mission was on! So I walked to the lake in my wetsuit and rigged my equipment full of excitement. The nature around the lake was mystically beautiful; this was going to be a session to remember one way or another! After only a few seconds on the water though I realized that this was not an easy task. The boom froze instantly and always wanted to slip through my hands. The sail became a stiff, heavy object; it felt almost impossible to pump it. On top of that, the water on the frozen lake was unreadable. The only way to see the gusts was by looking for blown along snow and by the time I had spotted the snow the gust had usually already pushed me abruptly into the water! One gust of wind threw me off my foil flight path and directly onto the ice, which I then fell through, ending up under the sail. It is truly a nightmare to swim under frozen water. Up to this point I never thought it would ever be too cold for a windsurfing session, but sailing in temperatures below zero degrees Celsius taught me a valuable lesson – I need a heated boom!

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The Tweed Coast Pro - FINALS DAY Continued!

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIPbSyG2c6U

The Tweed Coast Pro - Finals Day!!!

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUINfpSO-Fc

2020 World Champion Georgia Taylor-Brown in Karlovy Vary

World Triathlon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4pMeHo87hI

World Champion Vincent Luis in Karlovy Vary

World Triathlon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goIcuGEGGXk

#Windsurf NICO PRIEN SLALOM POV WITH ANDY LAUFER

NICO PRIEN SLALOM POV WITH ANDY LAUFER

Nico Prien takes a slalom session with Andy Laufer and they score some awesome point of view footage!

Via Nico Prien

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sábado, 12 de septiembre de 2020

The Tweed Coast Pro - Event Continued

World Surf League https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJe1zbv30_0

viernes, 11 de septiembre de 2020

#Windsurf TOM SQUIRES: INTRODUCTION TO WINDSURFING

TOM SQUIRES: INTRODUCTION TO WINDSURFING

Tom Squires will be Team GB’s male representative in the RS:X windsurfing competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – part of a 12-strong British sailing team. As part of our brand new ‘Destination Tokyo’ series, Tom introduces us to the sport of windsurfing and provides an insight into the life of a sailor from his training base in Weymouth.

via Tom Squires

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