This season I bought two Tribal Radix boards: 110 (68 wide) and 128 (78 wide). I have been using '21 FMX Invictus 98, 108, 128 during the last few years. Have to reckon the Invictus are very nice boards, with extremely high performances, easy to be made go fast, and with exceptional control. Decided for just 2 sizes this time, because I was using the 98 very little and only in the lowest part of its wind range: mostly with a 6.8 sail, very seldom with 6.2 and I have got no smaller sails such as 5.5 - 5.8. So I was assuming that: 1) the Radix 110 will carry with ease a 6.7 - 6.8 in its full range, will be OK even with a 6.2, will be very nice with a powered up 7.5 with a larger fin; and 2) the 128 will carry with ease an 8.2 and still be very nice with a 7.5 in its lower wind range. My first session with the 128. Conditions: Talamone as always, NNW, slightly more offshore than usual so presumably very gusty, forecast around 15 - 20 kts. So I decided for the larger board, 7.5 S2Maui Venom and 38 cms Tribal Mk3 fin: large board to pass the presumably big lulls, smallish fin and sail in order to withstand stronger gusts and not to stress too much my old body during my first slalom session this year. When I go out I find out I was totally wrong! Wind is pretty consistent, practically always over 20 kts, with plenty of unforecasted strong gusts outside, probably around 25 kts. In such conditions I could as well be on the Radix 110, and I know that with the FMX Invictus 128 I would be scared to sheet in the sail ... The first surprise is how easily the Radix gets up and planing in the weaker winds in the inside, it just need some pressure in the sail and I am going. Second surprise: accelleration is easily controllable, the board really has a "gas pedal" you may decide how much to push on (while by comparison the FMX has just a full on / full off "switch"), and this leaves me plenty of time if I need to comfortably assume the right stance. Third surprise: no matter how strong the gusts, I feel totally comfortable and at ease with the board, even if I have to struggle against the sail to keep it sheeted in. Indeed, the Radix 128 will be a good light wind board for me (190 cms, 85 kg) but will also double up as a medium wind board useable with no problems in the full range of my 7.5 sail, maybe (presumably) not as fun as the 110 in 20 + kts but plenty useable and easy. Wow. And, I forgot, third surprise, the biggest one: after being hit by those overpowering gusts, when I got out of the water, I discovered that I was not stressed or fatigued at all!!! Summary of my experiences with the Radix 110. The board behaves pretty much the same as the 128 (no surprise). Very easy to get planing, one does not need to perform the classic slalom planing manouvre (move the weight back, sheet in, head downwind) but may plane by just pumping (of course heading downwind makes things even quicker). Total comfort even in strong gusts, even better control than with the FMX Invictus 108 as the nose moves up/down very little. The board flies stable and tall over chop, with a super steady trim. HUGE wind range, can be fun in 15 - 18 kts with a 38 cms fin and 7.5 and also cover a good deal of the typical wind range of a 63 cms board with a 35 cms fin, by sure it covers all of the range of my 6.8 Venom. 128 in light wind. I had a nice chance to thoroughly test the 128 with a 42 cms Tribal Mk3 and 8.2 sail. Planing is perfectly easy, much easier than with the FMX 128. Very very easy to get a good trim and go fast. Upwind is easy even if underpowered, which is a great asset in light wind (probably the fin has its merits in this). Everything is easy and fun, one enjoys the gusts and still planes through the lulls. "Fun" range is huge. To sum it up. Both boards, Radix 110 and 128, are very easy to get planing, incredibly stable and comfortable, make the rider totally confident when facing challenging conditions such as strong wind gusts and nasty chop. They remind me very much of my Mistral boards, that I used for 7 years in a row before purchasing the FMX's, but WITHOUT the drawbacks coming from a somewhat "sticky" behaviour and a bit too heavy build (expecially the m° 137 - Radix boards are light and brisk by comparison). So, what is the downside? Maybe there is no downside ... after all, the Radix boards are born from a totally genuine design approach, based on logic and a good understanding of how a slalom board works and what is needed. As for speed, there is nothing to be said if one looks at the GPS results attained by Chris Lockwood: speed well beyond my personal limits, and/or those posed by the conditions in my usual sailing spot. Have to reckon anyhow that the FMX (and I guess it is probably the same with other competition slalom boards from other makes) may show an immediate accelleration and will compel the rider to sail at full throttle all of the time, which may prove good in competition. But note, this may be a plus or a minus, depending whether one is a PWA racer aiming for the podium, or a not-so-much-trained recreational rider looking for a few hours of fun on the water. And anyhow, everything may get quicker on the Radix boards if one pushes a bit more on the back foot. Ooops, I forgot to mention, with the Radix boards I find it less fatiguing to keep sailing for longer times, which is among the most important things for me. Ooops again ... at one point I found me thinking that the Radix boards are much easier to control than even my freewave boards ...! So please do not misunderstand me: I am not saying that the Radix boards are "better than FMX's"!!! What I am saying is that the FMX Invictus are fantastic COMPETITION boards at the highest conceivable level and deserve total respect, while the Radix boards are easier and more fun to be exploited by a less tuned-up sailor, even if it is not said that the possibly faster reach speed enabled by better comfort and confidence with a Radix board will make up for the quicker accelleration out of the jibe of a full-on race board (wider and thicker tail, larger and deeper cutouts) piloted by a slalom racer. Maybe a slalom racer will find it easier to win races with an Invictus, probably a recreational sailor will find it easier to enjoy a windy day with a Radix and even be faster on it. Probably. As for my personal feel, it's DEFINITELY much easier for me to go fast and have fun with the Tribal Radix boards. Totally happy.
_________________ .g.e.o. Tribal Radix 110, 128 S2Maui Venom '25 6.7, 7.5, 8.2 Tribal Slalom Mk3
Dernière édition par .g.e.o. le 28 Mai 2025, 14:13, édité 5 fois.
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