Tribal Boards - Radix and new Libero

Hi late last season and leading into this season I made a move to Tribal boards. Great to see them on the scene with some Australian flavour in the design.
For about 15yrs I have been a Tabou fan boy and so really familiar with the benefits of double concave to V bottom shapes. I also dabbled in a JP pro slalom but, found despite being reasonably quick they were way off the mark with handling comfort.
The Tribal Radix and new Libero boards incorporate a really well defined double concave to V bottom. This is paired with bevelled edges coming into the rails which is a significantly different design feature to other boards.
The Radix slalom boards have a super low (length wise) deck profile to maximise trim control especially in nuking winds where you might consider a smaller board.
The rails work really nicely when carving to the point that I have found rolling/surfable knee high chop no longer has any bounce type impact on gybe control or speed - just carve it strap to strap without slowing down.
So far in my sails I can confirm this bottom shape really works. I have run full on into square edged thigh high chop this winter and found I can just run over it almost like it was not there. The impact of doing this compared to my recently sold JP was totally incomparable - these things run really smooth and I judge beat Tabou in this regard as well which is commendable.
In my opinion better ride = control = access to higher speeds.
I expect to set some PB's on this gear this year. Recently I picked up a 108 Libero (freestyle slalom board) the goal here is a drag racer that can handle the most evil chop and be fun to sail.
I took it out last weekend for some river chop on the easterly. I can confirm it is going to deliver on my expectation.
I had a great sail and it totally killed the chop which is renowned for being gnarly when the tide is running.
So cutting to the chase I am an enthusiast sailor not related to the company but feel confident saying Tribal have something really different and worthwhile considering on the market. Also the construction appears to be first rate and I expect these will be very durable yet high performance boards.

AL, any additional thoughts to share now you've had them for a while?

Anyone else got the tribal boards?

Im considering a radix 102 as my first slalom board. Fast and proper slalom but not quite pwa level where the small boards really only work when super over powered?

Great write up Alex. I recently swapped from my Patrik Slalom 115 to a Tribal Radix 110. It's great in chop...smoother than the Patrik which is good for an old bugger like me. The bonus is that it carries both my 7.0 and 7.8 Severnes perfectly. So highly recommended.

I tried the 118 yesterday with a 34 carbon Tribal fin and my 5.6 slalom sail in 12 to 17 knots.

Got it going for 500 metres but underpowered.

Board felt very smooth and felt way smaller than bigger 80cm wide boards that i really do not like.

Fin was way too small, needs at least a 36 minimum.

Want to try it another time with my 39 Leading Edge fin and my 6.3 or 6.7

Reckon it could be awesome in light winds but only with a big fin.

Although we put plenty of reinforcing in the boxes for slalom boards- more than other brands, its certainly not as much as we put in the foil boards, so we don't recommend using the Radix for foiling (read: its not covered by warranty). We do have foil boards though!

At last, yesterday I was able to use one of my new Tribal boards, the Radix 128.
Unusual conditions, with gusty offshore winds ranging form 15 - 18 up to probably 25 knots. My setup was the 128, Tribal Slalom Mk3 38 fin and S2Maui Venom 7.5. Have been using FMX Invictus boards since 2021.
First thing I noticed, the Radix planes "by itself": non need to head downwind and move my weight back. It just requires some wind to fill the sail, and it starts accellerating by itself. Getting in the straps is super easy, thanks to the smart positioning of the back straps, inside enough to make fitting them "almost-wave-board easy", yet still outside enough to push well on the rail.
Compared to "classic competition slalom boards", once up and going one notices the board not only eats the chop with ease (the Invictus too are top from this point of view), but also the nose moves up and down very little, making the ride comfortable and boosting confidence.
Also, when off of the gusts, the board keeps planing noticeably better than typical "classic competition slalom boards".
Most important to me, the Radix 128 succeeded in making me feel at ease in conditions I could ride a smaller board and sail in, leaving me eager to check what the board can do in its proper conditions (in light winds, with 8.2 sail and 42 cms fin).

Have to add some impressions I got after some more sessions.
Both boards seem to be happier when rightly powered, as opposed to "classic competition slalom boards" that need to be overpowered to work OK.
I feel to have found a sweet spot for the mast track slightly (+/- 1 cm) back of the center of where the graphic on the deck suggests to put it. This way the nose frees better and never sticks on the back of wave/chop when going downwind. Planing seems (even) easier too, the board feels lighter, hence better control and manouvrability. This may be sail dependent, I am using the S2Maui Venom sails, anyhow an accurate check and setup of mast position is important as the boards seem sensible to slight variations.
I just had an highwind session with my FMX Invictus 98, which is the last "classic competition slalom board" I still own. It has been enlighting. I kept the highwind FMX as I considered it a super controllable, comparatively (to the medium and light wind sizes) easy, forgiving board. But after some sessions on the Radix boards it appeared to me under a different light. Those "classic competition slalom boards" are superb COMPETITION boards, but at a cost. They NEED to be constantly overpowered and be sailed on the edge of control. I am sure they perform greatly when sailed by a true pro sailor, able to keep the pedal down and to jibe flawlessly in harsh conditions, strong, well trained, (young,) conditioned and willing to sacrifice fun for a place on the podium. I wonder how many among us "recreational slalom sailors" are truly that good. Personally, I have much more fun on the Radix board, at a fraction of the engagement, and with my sailing buds commenting my performances being better now.
I am planning to sell my Invictus 98 and get me another Radix, in 102 or 98 size.