RRD Slalom Xfire 122, 112, 102, 90 and 80
Declaration: Yes I am sponsored by RRD, although I know this might be seen as biased by some, I’d like to share my thoughts on these boards and some tips for tuning them, seeing as they are quite new to the market here.
Without going into the very details of the shape, I can say the front rails are nicely rounded which gives you a lot of comfort and effortless jibing. The tail of the board is a little narrower in comparison to some of the other brands, which allows a more comfortable ride. Normally the trade off is that some of the pointing performance is compromised- but not in this case. These boards points very well indeed. The narrower tail also makes the boards use smaller fins, which are more efficient and greater control in stronger winds. The boards sit really nicely in choppy water and never seem to tail ride.
I think the boards looks great with the black/ white graphic look. Don’t be scared of the black colour absorbing too much of the nice sunny WA weather. I had no problems with the boards getting too hot.
Like many slalom boards this year they are supplied without a fin. This means you can chose from a lot of good brands exactly the fin you want.
This is what I found best in all round size for the boards.
122 = 42
112 = 38
102 = 36
90 = 32
80 = 28 for slalom, smaller for speed
I’ve also tested with weed fins and as much as I normally dislike them these boards handle them surprising well.
There are many options to set the foot straps (comfortable Dakine straps) on these boards. For me the board has felt best with the mast track in the back half of the box and using the outside settings for foot straps, 2nd last from the back. The stance for me is the most comfortable I have experienced on any slalom board. There is no excess back leg pressure and your foot is on very comfortable angle. I never have the sensation to “loose” the front foot out of the front strap.
Sailors often ask me what is my favourite size, but truth be told I can’t pick one. They all have the same feeling through out the whole range and I like them all.
I have no doubt that the boards are fast, and am looking forward to racing on them this year in the PWA and to get some more PBs on the speed days.
Bottom line I would say, “easy and fun is back in slalom with those boards”. – Great
If anyone has questions regarding the set-up of these boards please feel free to contact me.
Jesper Orth
Jesper, I am very surprise that even though you mention fin sizes for the boards you are using you fail to mention what brand of fins you have find to work with this board the best. I am sure Jeff from Vector fins will be a bit dissappointed on that as you are his team and test rider.
Can you expalin what kind of fins are you running on this board?
Canefire G-10?
Canefire molded?
Rockit?
Or maybe another brand like Debs or Select??
Thanks
Hi Nonopr
Yes you are right,, I should mention that I'm using the Vector Fins Maui.
This is the kind of feedback I hoped for as it allows me to go a bit more in details,,
I did not try the Debochei or Select. But would for sure I would try them out if I had them here, just to compare. Just for your reference I still pay some $ towards many of my fins I get from Vector, - and I will happily keep doing this, as I find them the best,,
Back to the fins:
122 = Canefire G10 42, 44.
112 = Canefire G10 40, 38. Canefire Molded 38
102 = Canefire G10 36, 34. Rockit 34, 36.
90 = Canefire G10 30,32. Rockit G10 30,32
I’m currently waiting for some molded Canefire in the sizes 42, 36 to try in the 122 and 102.
The fins above already works really nice though,,
Vector Fins Maui is available and stocked by the Australian RRD importer (2nd Wind)
Regards
Jesper
Looks like you are happy with Vectors fins. I am surprise about the fin sizes in the XFire boards they seem small but maybe the rocker on the bard gives it a lot of lift and smaller fins = less Drag so you have a fast combination there.
I also pay for my fins with Vector and Jeff is super accomodating.
Thanks for the feedback.
Hi Jesper.
I got my Xfire 122 at Xmas and just love it, awesome machine.
I upgraded from a Carbon Art SL70 and have been happy with the change.
My Xfire 102 turns up end of this week.
I too noticed that your fin sizes seemed smaller than I would have anticipated.
I have been running 46cm(Profin) and 48cm(MRC RC) fins on the 122 with an 8.5.
In 11-15 knots the 48cm seems really great. I then use the 46cm when the wind is more in the 13-18 knot range and works great as well. No tail walking or over finning. I'm 88kg.
The 48cm is great for the light days so I was wondering, should I be using a smaller fin than the 46cm for the windier days.
I am also wanting to find out what foot strap positions you have found most comfortable and ideal mast track settings.
I have my back straps one forward from the back hole and outside yet I feel sometimes they could be forward more. The front straps all the way back on the outside hole and one forward from back on the inside hole.
Mast track is about 133-134cm.
The 122 has an awesome range. I only have the 8.5 for it as my next size down is a 7.0 but have been out in winds from 11 - 20+ knots and have had great sessions.
And totally agree these boards are so easy to jibe. Can't believe that a 77cm wide board can spin around so easy.
Thanks
Regards
Brett (NZ)
Hi Brett,
were you looking for a bigger board than the CA SL70? Sounds like the volume and width of the Xfire 122 is more like an SL75 or SL80?
Interested to know what year SL70 plus fin set-up you were on and what sort of improvements you see in the Xfire besides size and volume?
Underfinned.
My SL70 was an 07 model, 115ltrs. A bit more volume and fuller rails than the later models. Loved the board, had some great years on it but wanted to go a bit bigger as I mainly run an 8.5 now for the lighter days (I got a bit heavier).
I looked at the SL75 but a bit pricey and I am now a team rider for a local distributor that does RRD. I was after 75cm wide and was a gamble going a bit wider with the 77cm 122 but have been pleasantly suprised. As I said jibes much better than my SL70 and has almost the same top end control in strong winds. Of course better bottom end and suits the 8.5 better.
I also know it's faster in the low to mid range since sailing with my usually buddies.
Overall I'm happy with the change.
I am now upgrading from my SL62 to the RRD X-fire 102 65cm wide. Again I just wanted a bit more width.
The only thing that is a little trickier with the X-fires is bigger seas going upwind. The CA I found better and I think it's just due to the longer length.
I was running a 42cm tomcat on the SL70 which seemed to work in most conditions. (I had a 7.6 then which was perfect). I also used a 46cm fin with an 8.5 when light.
Thanks for the feedback Brett.
Interested to hear as I've just picked up a 2010 SL70 and have been totally amazed by the thing! Sailing it with a C3 Venom 44 and a 7.8 North S-Type. Seems to do it all really easily. Gybes like it's on rails, accelerates effortlessly and refuses to get nervous and twitchy at speed. I'd been a bit reluctant to take on a pure slalom board after owning a few back in the mid 90's, but it seems even less technical to sail than some of the freerace boards I had been trialling (Futura, SuperSports, Eagles etc). At 75kgs I might simply have lucked onto some sort of sweetspot with this set-up. Real test will be getting it out in 25+kts with a 6.6m to see where 70cm and 112lt crashes through my ability level
Jesper.
Still keen to find out a bit more on your choice of fin sizes for the X-fires.
As I previously wrote, mainly for the 122 with a 8.5, top end.
Also the 102 with a 7.0
Also what is your weight?, I'm 88kg.
Regards
Brett
Hi Brett
I'm 86kg
I'm surprised that you are using a 48 on the 122. But hey if it works ,- then it works,,
I would use 42 for the 8.5. I used this the other day and did not lack any lift from the fin (Vector molded Canefire 42).
I run all straps in the 2'nd last hole position.
With the 102 and 7.0 I would say that 36 is good.
Regards
Jesper
Jesper
Thanks for the feedback.
I take it your fin choices are for using the gear at the top end of it's range for racing.
We generally end up squeezing out the bottom end of our gear more than the top end so that why I have gone bigger in fin sizes.
Just got my X-fire 102 so will let you know how it goes when we get wind
nonopr - agree, fins is a huge part of the combo, also knowing peoples different weights, sail sizes etc.
Hi Brett
Did you try any smaller fins on the Xfire 122 and 102?
I'm still using the 42 Vector Canefire Carbon as the best all round on the 122 and 36 Vector Canefire Carbon for the 102..
I did test a 44 for 122 and a 38 for 102, and they worked OK, but still prefer the 2 smaller fins..
Jesper
Jesper
I used a 42cm Tomcat the other day with an 8.5 and agree the 122 went really well with a fin this size, plenty of drive. I ended up getting a 44cm C3 Sting for the 122 as an allround fin. It works better than the tomcat, better bottom end but more slippery and faster and better top end control. Great fin!!
I have also gone for a 38cm Sting for the 102 as I have a 36cm falcon for higher wind sailing. The 38 with a 7.0 felt great but I only had a short run and wasn't that powered. My mate also seems to prefer a 36cm fin on his 102 but due to always sailing in gusty wind sometimes going a size bigger heaps to get going.
Still really enjoying the 122, went out the other day on the 122 and 8.5 and 44cm Sting when the wind blew up to 7.0 weather. Cranked the outhaul and the board flew over the quite choppy conditions. I am still amazed at how well such a big board can handle these conditions.
As I said I only have have a short time on the 102 but found it stable and floaty for it's size and I really liked the way it rides really flat with no hint of lifting up in a gust.
Brett
I've just taken delivery of my X-fire 122 and have a dilemma like you guys about fins, I'm looking at the choco fins 46cm G10 TuttleBox 8.5 m2 but not sure what size to go for in the small range possible the 38 or 40 any suggestions. Not sailed the RRD yet looking forward to sailing with a 7m x15- 7.8 lighting and 8.5 lighting, looking at getting a 9.5 infinity but not sure. Have any of you sailed smaller than a 7.m on the x-fire? if so what fin size did you use with no drag>>>
Hi Martin
Great to hear that you got yourself a Xfire 122 :)
If your choice were 38 or 40 for the smaller sail you have, then I would go for the 40 fin.
I have sailed the 122 with sails down to 7.3 (KA Koncept) with no problems. I have been using my 42 for all sails 8.9, 8.3 and 7.3 and it worked great (Vector molded Canefire).
I still need to test a little more with my 44 and 40 fin, but so far the 42 have been doing the job.
Regards
Jesper
Cheers Jesper
so you think the 46 might be too big, i might need to point out here that i will sink this board I'm over a 100 kg and 6ft. 4inch so will need some wind to get going, I'm sure I'll get through the lulls!!!. Yea buying too to start with , I have a 48 cm drake slalom to try this weekend just to test fin and see if there is any drag.
Hi Martin
The 46 fin should be just fine, with the new info on your size.
Let me know when you have some testing done.
Cheers
Jesper
hello jersper
are you using rrd 122 in ulsan with big sails.
do you thÁnk that with your weight is a better option than 135 for races. and for normal use
are you using also 42 fin with 9.0 as the biggest fin
when the wind pick up for 8,3 or similar what board do you use
eduardo
rrd rider from spain
sorry but the interrogation keyboard does not work
Hi Eduardo
I have used the RRD Xfire 122 with 8.9, 8.3 and 7.3 here in Korea. Only fin I used was the 42.
My next board down is 102, but it is a bit risky here as the wind is very gusty.
For normal sailing the 135 will be great for any riders over 85+ kg or sailors using over 9.0 sails.
I don't need bigger than 122 for the PWA races for now.
If I had the 112 then i would probably have used it with 8.3 and 7.3 in some of the races.
Regards
Jesper
