Two Twin Tip reviews: putting it all in perspective

15th Apr 2010 @ 08:24:02 PM

sSs Team Riders, Adam Sims and Ollie Scott are two UK sailors who have already proven they are destined for great things in the grand world of freestyle. They are perfectly placed to give us some hard core users feedback on this years twin tips:

First heres an overview, before we get to some individual feedback:

The new 2010 TT’s have changed a fair bit from the 2009 outlines.

The Range of three boards from 88l, 100l, and the 109l are now shorter and narrower with more V throughout the length. The boards are faster at the top end and also plane a lot earlier, which is great for the new school freestyle stunts we are training for.

The mid section of the new TT’s is less domed and flatter, which again has increased the board’s speed, so much required for the windier more radical air moves. The volume has been spread throughout the board but mostly in the nose and tail for ultimate sliding potential.

The deck underneath the foot pads is lower at the heel and higher under the ball of your foot so you can gain more grip when popping the board, this helps when you are airborn, giving you more control, as you land sliding you can now control the slide with ease pushing with the back foot enabling you to pivot around the mast foot and plane out of more moves.

We are now on the US box system which is excellent for tuning because we can move the fin forward or back to change the dynamics of how the boards feels depending on if you want more grip or a looser feel, fin back or fin forward respectively.

Over to Ollie Scott who is high level instructor, EFPT freestyle competitor and Club Vass Manager:

Since I have been sailing the new RRD TT for 2010 I have found that they are still sick boards for all the sliding moves from Spocks and Grubby’s to double moves.
The Main qualities of the new TT’s are that they are more compact as a freestyle shape, top end speeds are faster compared to last years boards and the new shape of the deck in and around the pads helps you grip the board when popping or when air-born, again the graphics are amazing.

The 08 TT’s were a lot bigger making them a tad slower but great when sliding as they were so stable and then the 09 TT’s were made smaller in length and the rail shape changed which then made the boards faster. Now for 2010 the Twin Tips have gone smaller again but with their volume spread across the whole length of the board, which has helped to increase the speed again and alongside the new deck shape the TT now has more control when sliding so double moves are now way more achievable. I have found that the subtle blend of speed, pop and ease whilst sliding makes up the perfect blend for a ripping freestyle board for all riders.

The new boards have really helped me nail some new moves especially some of the radical moves we can now do. If you have never owned a TT then the time has come to embrace a bit of freestyle joy. The TT’s have got what it takes to get any freestyler to the next level. The 2010 TT’s still perform in all the carving moves and you can crank turns or glide around gybes with ease, feeling comfortable at high speed

All in all I’m very happy with the new TT’s, if your learning new moves or a bit of an old pro at freestyle then the TT’s are great fun to sail, you won’t be disappointed with how they perform from the basics to the radical stuff.

And now feedback from Adam Sims, SeaSpriteSports Team Rider and Student Freestyle and Wave Champion 2008/09:

An awesome looking board for 2010 and an even better performing one. The RRD team have managed to develop a board this year that feels smaller than boards from previous years of the same volume. The more compact length and width, makes it awesome in the double sliding moves and you can still get that pop from it that was so good in the 2008/9 boards. The TT’s have really helped me from day one when learning to Vulcan up until now when I’m pushing to land some of the hardest moves I can.

The shorter length in the 2010 boards compared to the 2008/9 boards really help it rotate that little bit quicker, smoother and with more stability when going super fast. The stability in previous years boards is awesome when doing the earlier single freestyle moves but when it gets to those doubles there is something that kicks in with the 2010 TT’s, that flatter mid-section gets it sliding for longer, creating a sliding machine. The speed that comes from it boosts you high into power moves and helps you come out planning. The slight decrease in width and length helps soften the landing of the high new skool moves that extra bit, making it more comfortable to ride. This decrease in width from the 08/09 boards has improved it in the chop and waves, bouncing less and powering through, it holds a straighter course, ideal for getting into switch, ducking the sail or in the unpredictable less than perfect UK conditions.

The early planing potential of it is great for just blasting about on and throwing down the odd move at the end of each run especially with its smaller feel to that of previous years boards. Before it came out I wondered how they could improve on the 09 boards, but again RRD have pulled one out the bag. I’m really excited about using it this year at all the events I plan to attend. I really feel it’s developed well to suit the needs of riders who blast around in the chop, but it comes to life in the perfect flat waters at locations like Jericoacoara, Dahab and El Tur, or closer to home; Weymouth, West Kirby and Hayling Island. It is a freestyle machine and it performs in chop and flat-water but also in the air and whilst sliding…ideal!

Ollie

Adam

Ollie

Adam