Keen to capitalise on the re-emergence of speed
and slalom sailing, RRD have evolved the X-Fire
range from their world cup designs of the past,
using established rocker-lines and combining them
with the design theories behind modern board
shaping. The resulting line-up includes four boards
of which the 105 is the second largest. It has quite a
chunky profile and a round outline, making it visually
more ‘all-round freeride’ than ‘dedicated slalom
machine’ at first glance. On the underside it sees
pronounced double concaves by the shoulders
before translating to pronounced vee in the tail, the
rails experiencing moderate tuck from the board’s
mid-point. Coming complete with an extended
deckpad including inset heel cushions, a Maui Fin
Co. fin and flexible straps from DaKine, the RRD is a
classy looking board with its polished hull and
distinctive graphics.
Ride and Handling
On the water the X-Fire was a smooth and practical
board to sail, offering a level of performance that
was easily applicable to competent sailors and
above. Best described as a fast freeride board rather
than a no-compromise slalom hull like its
predecessor the Spitfire, it has enough speed and
life to satisfy most recreational sailors. With the
footstraps inset, the board encourages a more
relaxed sailing stance over the board, responding
well to foot pressure and manoeuvring effortlessly.
The deckpad provides great adhesion to the board
(the raised cushions giving the heels of the rider’s
feet something to push against) and the straps are
very comfortable, although we did find them a little
flexible for really driving the board forcefully. Place
the straps in their outboard positions and the X-Fire
can be loaded more, releasing it further onto its fin
to explore an extra gear. Such is its calm composed
nature that it doesn’t feel fast or nervous underfoot,
being smooth and responsive to allow the rider to
pick their course instead. Compared with the others
in this group it is a little off the pace of the quicker
boards… yet for all but the expert/pro rider, the
control and ease of the ride means that it can be
used confidently in any environment.
Manoeuvres
Cutting in smoothly, the X-Fire is easy to engage into
the gybe, the dome of the rear half of the deck
helping the rider to commit their weight into the turn.
Offering a great deal of versatility in the arc that it
adopts, the X-Fire can be ploughed into the corner
using an aggressive style, or driven round a more
prolonged arc with a more casual posture – it will
respond equally well to both. The addition of the
inset strap positions also give the X-Fire a new
dimension, making it a realistic option for those that
are getting to grips with planing manoeuvres, yet are
looking for a board with masses of room for growth.
For: Ease and practicality for a wide user range.
Against: More freeride than slalom– doesn’t have
the edge for competition use.
Verdict
The X-Fire is a fast freeride board, which, whilst
out of its depth being compared to the other
slalom boards in this group, comes
recommended for recreational sailors looking
for a rapid board with an easy controlled nature
Length (cm) 244
Width (cm) 62
Vol (L) 105
Weight (Kg) 8.65
Fin Maui Fin Co Liquid 34cm (Tuttle)
Sail Range 5.5-7.5m
Price £995.00
