Finally got some time to put together a review on the OES 100lt Quad
Rider stats:
Weight: 95kg
Height 6"4'
Conditions:
20 - 25 knots cross shore
Small shoulder to head high waves
Sail:
5.4m
Fins
13cm fronts
16.5cm rears
Had been hanging to test the board since receiving it but too much work and travel had it spending the majority of time in the racks in the shed and not on the water.
Have to say it was worth the wait when I finally got it in the water.
It was windy and I could have gotten away with ridding my high wind board but was super keen to test the OES
*I ran with the big sized fins that I set up for light winds as I wanted to try and set up a balanced feel (true quad as opposed to small fronts and big backs or visa versa as I have been riding a quad surf board for the past 4 years and prefer the feel of similar sized fins all round)
First run out and I was stoked at how high the board would point, and had no problems working up wind to the wave zone.
The thin drawn out pin tail is an absolute beast to ride when on a wave. Make no mistake, this is no token light wind board to get bigger guys out on the water, the OES Ice Quad series are true wave machines in every aspect and belong in the waves.
Fully loaded on the bottom turn (full weight to rail and fully powered sail) and the thing just cranks around, tight, solid and fully engaged.
Transition from rail to rail was seamless, with zero bounce, stall out or twitch.
Top turns could be entered into at full speed with full commitment and no thought... just look, lean and go !
I'm guessing the big fins helped keep the rail engaged and there was no sign or sensation of traction loss or tail slide.
At one point I attempted to carve off the top and the board simply went where I was leaning/pushing... resulting in my going all the way round and back through the wind before being biatch slapped through the wave as the sail re-loaded !
Any less of a kook would have made it look like they knew what they were doing but even still, I couldn't wipe the smile off my dial 
Managed a couple of jumps on the way out along with an attempted pushy.
Was totally blown away by how small the board felt on the water and in the air.
Am absolutely stoked with board and have no affiliation with OES... unless you count contacting Pete Ross and ordering an 85 QUAD ICe to replace my much loved high wind twin fin !
Anyone who is toying with the idea of a big wave board for the 'larger' sailor needs to ride one of these boards. Hell, I'm so wrapped with the thing if you are ever in the Bay (Nelson Bay NSW) and want to know what all the hype is about, drop me a PM and you can take it for a blast.
STOKED
The Beast, Front and Back !
*This is not the fin setup I used as covered in the review
Thanks for taking the time to write the review windwarrior.
I have been eyeing off these OES larger wave boards for some time but need to wait for the extra cash. In Qld I think one of the 115's would be perfect for lighter winds.
^^^^+1 the 115, I've had it for half a season and to be honest I'd rather ride it then any other board in my quiver....Even in flatwater!
It's just such a comfortable board to ride in every condition, big or small...but it still has it's limitations but it's a fine line.
I've seen only a few big quads this season but those that have them, love them.....They have their place.
There's a few die hard wave rider that think you need to be on a 60L board to be a wave sailor....No longer the case as theses boards really perform.
Once again I say, If you have doubts my board is on offer to try. Just send me a PM when your down at gerroa and I'll sort you out.
...Big quads ROCK!
For the chubby guy anyways
Got to take the Quad out again on the weekend.
Smoking 20 - 25 knots, sometimes more in the gusts.
In this type of wind strength I would normally go straight for my high wind machine (84Lt twin) but I simply can't get enough of using the quad.
It tracks up wind like a bullet train, this might have something to do with the oversized fins I am running in the front (K4 13cm in the front and G10 16cms in the back)
The big fronts don't seem to impact on board speed but certainly give it an insane amount of grip in the turn.
The board shape certainly does not feel like the 100 lts it is... 6 months ago if someone told me I would be using a 100 lt board in 25 + knots and loving I would have told they they had their hand on it.
Even in the air the board does not suffer from excess buffering in windy conditions like other big volume boards I have ridden.
Initiating the rail into a bottom turn is like running a hot knife through butter except the fins allow additional pressure to be applied to the inside rail without fear or consequence of the board letting go.
Look, lean, turn and then repeat !
I simply can not get over how well the thing performs on a wave. Every now and then I catch sight of the 100 lt stamped on the side and find myself having a little chuckle to myself.
It certainly does not feel or behave like a big board, in fact without the stats stamped on the side you would never even know... except when it comes to light winds when I would normally be sitting on the beach mumbling about the sub 80kg whippet brigade out on the water.
I have had to re-asses my purchase and in fact my entire quiver.
Initially the 100 lt Quad was bought for sub planning light wind waves... but it's fast shaping up as my all rounder !
Great review. It is amazing to find tall wavesailor reviews. That board looks amazing. Great to hear you are stoked with it as well.
I strongly considered OES too, but I had the opportunity to sit down with Keith Teboul this spring face to face and talk about what I liked and did not like in the boards I have ridden to date. The biggest production boards are geared toward light wind use, and tend to be a bit odd.
I am sure just like Pete, Keith was genuinely interested in helping me get what I needed. I just took delivery last week. I have not sailed it, so no review yet. I am 6'6"/105kg ---233 X 64.5, 112 liters. He has me with 16.5cm rears and 10cm fronts. I sailed the Goya 104 Wave that week and felt the 400 quad fins were just a little too small. This is what Pio and Keith came up with (that was not custom fins)
OES boards are truely, the ducks nuts in custom wave, boards, please find the photo of mine, its up for sale as i want to order the same in 100 L for east conditions and my weight
95kg. As i just don't get enough wind for this size board, with my home conditions.
Thanks Kev , the oes looks the goods for the big guys, very concise report.
Now a little report on the recent escape to la paradiso would round it off nicely for us here in the chilly boonies
