I've been looking at these myself. I'm an intermediate sailor, 72kg.
I've tried the 100, xtech construction. Std MFC fin. Great looking board in the flesh, finish and graphics a standout.
Open ocean 18-28knots with a 5.4 Ezzy wave sail. Water was quite choppy and gusts were strong. I was advised against taking it out as the conditions were rough. But I've been wanting to test one so I had to take it out. I only sailed it for about an hour, so definitely not a thorough test in the right conditions but enough to get an idea.
What I liked about this board was the stability when the wind dropped (it was quite wide, 70??). Quick to get on the plane and no special technique required, similar feel to free ride boards. It was forgiving when I fluffed the gybes, extra width allowed me to stay upright. Top speed was good, though it felt a little uneasy at high speed perhaps due to the width and wild ocean chop.
As a comparison, I jumped on to an RRD FSW straight after, and felt better for me in those conditions. My opinion is the firemove would be best suited to flatter conditions, eg lighter wind, bays, etc.
Final thoughts; flat water, I would say a slightly longer freeride board would be my preference. In the rough, I'd go for the FSW. If you want a board in between, that can do bit of both, this one is worth considering. Especially for those with one board quiver.
I have the 110l, it's my big board for light wind days, biggest sail for me is 6.5m, I can plane on it in v light wind with the 6.5m. Have also taken it out in stronger wind because I didn't bring smaller board, was a handful but good fun. Have been trying diff fins and finding the board range is bigger than I realised. Its short length makes for no trouble in chop, gybes are great, love it!!!!! Don't see many around.
I tried one as a rental in New Cal. It was the 100L and I was very impressed with the board, you could lock it into a slalom stance with good speed ( it had a slalom fin on it) but I could gybe it like a wave board, it can gybe tight and was very forgiving. I thought it handled chop really well. For me the RRD fsw felt a bit dull in comparison. I think it would make for a great all rounder.
Totally agree with you M4m.
That & the 101 FireStorm were my most used boards in Cocos this year.
Great turn of speed, yet so comfortable.. floats over chop & gybes however you like to set it.
As with any new board, you do have to adapt to it's characteristics, though you quickly get used to the mast foot pressure & front/back foot pressure
needed to get the best out of the board....
Great board!
Jez
