Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days

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Report on New RRD Firemove 122

If you’re like me, you love days when whitecaps cover area lakes. Steady, strong wind makes sailing easy. But light and gusty conditions are far more common. Rather than complain about the lack of good wind, I recently upgraded to a new board that turns many marginal days into fun days on the water.

The board is the RRD Firemove 122 liter. The Firemove captures the excitement of short-board sailing in lower winds than I previously thought possible. It works great with both my 8.5 and 7.0 meter Ezzy sails. In Bonaire I rented this RRD board and thought it was also a good match with a 6.5 meter sail. The 122 liter Firemove handles a wide wind range and smooths out chop. A big advantage of the design is that it stays on a plane, coasting through lulls, without sacrificing turning ability. This board is extremely easy to jibe and effortlessly turns to ride small waves.

I have to credit Alain Ciclet for introducing me to the Firemove. He’s an experienced windsurfer who learned on the south coast of France where Mistral winds create epic conditions. He wanted a board that preserved the excitement and feel of short-board sailing in lower winds. Alain brought his new Firemove to Nags Head where I saw him sail in a variety of conditions.

The Firemove is made in a range of sizes between 100 - 135 liters focusing on all-around freeride performance. The new 120 liter and last year’s 122 liter board come with a quality 42 cm Powerbox fin. JP makes a similar line called “Magic Ride" of wide, short, thin boards. An extra-wide Formula, or Super lightwind board will plane in even lower wind, but can’t match the sheer fun and turning ability of RRD’s new design. This was the most popular board in the rental fleet at Jibe City in Bonaire. I’ve found it’s equally at home on Lake Lanier or the Outer Banks.

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Barrett

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nitro
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Joined: 08/26/2003 - 15:07
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days

Thanks for the write-up Barrett. I am being tempted by these newer wide, thin free-ride boards. Putting the Firemove 112 on my short list!

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webguy
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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days

This board and ones like it are why I hate to see people struggle on old, outdated equipment. I understand that newer equipment is more expensive and realize that many of us have budget constraints or competing needs at home. But, struggling unnecessarily has its own costs - your spending time and money to get frustration rather than joy and progress. It's like buying the bargain brand and getting watered down product. That's not value - it's a waste of money.

Most of the newer windsurfers I've seen who've made a lot of progress in the last couple of years are ones who made the decision to buy decent kit - recent or new boards and sails. They've learned faster, windsurfed in a wider range of conditions and generally had a more positive experience.

If you are on gear that's more than about 10-12 years old, at least consider demoing or trying newer gear.

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teleclimber
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Joined: 01/20/2016 - 17:35
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days
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teleclimber
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days
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teleclimber
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Joined: 01/20/2016 - 17:35
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days

We were in Jibe City in December and really enjoyed sailing the RRDs they have there.

My impression was that the 122 Firemove feels a bit big. So it's great as a light wind board or early beginner board. Personally I really felt all of that width was cumbersome during jibes. You can't have it both ways obviously. Also, I'm quite skinny so that may be a factor.

The 112 and 102 are very fun and great to learn to jibe on. Those do feel like sprightly small boards.

My go to board there was the FireStorm 112 (with a Severne NCX 6.5) which is awesome if you like to go fast. It's a bit more technical but still easy to jibe.

Here is our video from that trip: Video

To your point: At the very end of the video (4:50) you can see me planing on the 122 FireMove with an 8.5 during a late-evening lull. There was so little wind I don't know how it kept going. (Granted I was nursing it downwind and using the small chop to my advantage, but still!) This makes me want a big wide board like that here in Nashville. If I had that I could sail a lot in the Summer! Hmmm.. $$$

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Barrett
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Joined: 12/23/2003 - 23:07
Posts: 3395
Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days

I featured the 122 liter Firemove in my article because the wider board, combined with a 7.0 - 8.5m sail, turns our area's light wind days into fun days on the water.

Barrett

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webguy
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Re: Turning Marginal Days into Fun Days
teleclimber wrote:

We were in Jibe City in December and really enjoyed sailing the RRDs they have there.

My impression was that the 122 Firemove feels a bit big. So it's great as a light wind board or early beginner board. Personally I really felt all of that width was cumbersome during jibes. You can't have it both ways obviously. Also, I'm quite skinny so that may be a factor.

The 112 and 102 are very fun and great to learn to jibe on. Those do feel like sprightly small boards.

My go to board there was the FireStorm 112 (with a Severne NCX 6.5) which is awesome if you like to go fast. It's a bit more technical but still easy to jibe.

Here is our video from that trip: Video

To your point: At the very end of the video (4:50) you can see me planing on the 122 FireMove with an 8.5 during a late-evening lull. There was so little wind I don't know how it kept going. (Granted I was nursing it downwind and using the small chop to my advantage, but still!) This makes me want a big wide board like that here in Nashville. If I had that I could sail a lot in the Summer! Hmmm.. $$$

Obviously, fresh water has less buoyancy than salt so a 122 that feels like a battleship in salt water will feel a bit smaller here, at home. And, with big boards, you eventually get used to the step across to jibe. Even my 100cm formula board will carve pretty well. It's a long step across but it's actually pretty fun when it's powered up to crank it around.

Here's some wider boards, mostly in S. FL, but perhaps worth the drive to get a board and sail in warm water:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/425661507450784/

Edit: fml, I just watched your video. That really is a beautiful place.

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