Wind magazine | O2 FREERIDE CONCEPT – 5.9
Wind magazine 2006 test results Translation by Mauro Giffoni
FREERIDE WITH POWER-BOOST AND KNOWS HOW TO JIBE!
With its profile firmly maintained by six battens and a small flexible batten at the head with a pretty name (Sensitip), this O2 could very well have appeared in the category Performance Freeride!
Monty Spindler likes versatile sails, his designs are able to mark points in all the fields; the designs are not limited to only one single use. The definition of the profile is exemplary, the sail shape very harmonious and is well placed in the low part, while the work of leech is really neat, with a progressive and important twist in the higher part. One also assesses the quality of construction and assembly, with a choice of materials of most judicious, in particular of solids films woven in all the zone in front of the pilot, in order to offer a flexibility in use.
The finishing details are perfectly neat with good reinforcements, a high mast protection and thick and a good system roll-up strap; now almost standard on all the sails or almost.
Well balanced and very pleasant in hand, not too heavy in spite of the significant number of battens, it offers a power and accelerations widely higher than the average of this group and reached an excellent speed without one being obliged to work hard for the speed. Indeed, piloting is very natural and really powerful, the O2 is at the same time fast and very stable with high winds, the profile shape is stable, the four carbon battens and the very flexible leech fulfilling their role perfectly. One is fixed without any problem, and the handiness remains, even if the freestyle transitions are not as light as with a sail less constructed! The rotation of the profile is perfect and the exit of jibes really good.
+: Profile definition, acceleration, assembly, finishing details, feeling while navigating
-: transition
