RADIX - SLALOM

I am a sailor from Italy, riding slalom boards since decades. I am not a racer but I always preferred to use slalom kit on flat water: I started with a Mistral Screamer in the early ‘90s and kept on with fast kit since then, even when slalom was out of fashion and everybody was on freestyle or bump-and-jump boards in the early ‘00s. During the last years I had Carbon Art Slalom boards from 2008 to 2013, then the Mistral SL ‘14 boards designed by Lockwood for 7 seasons ‘14 to ‘20, and lately FMX Invictus ‘21 boards (98, 108, 128) until this season. This is my background and the boards I developed my “tastes” on. I am not a racer and I always had a liking for boards that let me enjoy fast sailing.
This year I decided to get me two Radix boards: 110 and 128. The sizes I chose are supposed to cover the range of my S2Maui Venom sails: 6.7, 7.5, 8.2, plus some use of 6.2. My idea is that if the Radix 110 is controllable enough in high winds, I will not need a smaller board than that (actually 60 – 63 cms wide boards are supposed to be used also with sail sizes that I do not need, such as 5.5 – 5.8, so a waste in my case); while the 128 should cover the 8.2 and lighter 7.5 range and still be enjoyable if the wind picks up to 20 + kts.
On receiving the boards I was impressed by the perfect packaging, the complimentary board bags provided with each board (!!!), and expecially the high quality construction and finish. I set up the straps using the double inserts (4 screws per strap), with the front straps in the second position from front and the back straps all the way back.
I happened to test both boards in varied conditions during the first half dozen slalom sailing sessions of this season, from barely planing up to too much wind to enjoy, but always with a 7.5 sail and 38 cms Tribal Mk3 fin. Both boards behave in the same way. Planing is super easy, no need to head downwind (even if doing so makes things quicker) as with “classic slalom racing boards”, just wait for the wind to fill the sail and you are going. Construction proves light and stiff, as one would rightly expect from a slalom board. Accelleration is gradual, but one can choose to push more on the back foot so to sprint quicker. I totally appreciate the choice to have the back straps positioned well back (about 2 cms further back than on the FMX boards), but not overly close to the rails, making it easy and secure to find and fit them. Once on the go the boards ride high over chop, always quiet and stable: control and comfort are something to be experienced to believe, even for one who sailed other Lockwood designed boards for years like I did.
Expecially my first session was an eye opener about the wind range of the Radix 128. It was forecasted a side-off wind, which is usually very gusty in my home spot Talamone; so I expected light 12 – 15 kts wind and big lulls on the inside of the bay, and the usual strong 20 kts + gusts close to the harbour. I decided to test the 128 board with a 38 cms Tribal Mk3 fin (smallish) and my 7.5 sail: big board to ensure floating and easy planing, and conservatively sized fin and sail in order to cater for the gusts. To my surprise, I found unusually consistent 20 – 22 kts all over the bay and extra powerful gusts, probably up to more than 25 kts, further out. As a result: the sail was an handful, but the board was always under control, perfectly stable and confidence inspiring, showing an humongous wind range that covers with ease a large part of that of my previous medium wind board!
To sum it up, I am more than satisfied with my Radix 110 and 128 boards: I am enthusiastic! Slalom board speed, with (much!) better than freewave board ease and control, not bad! And now, after the first sessions, I know that I will be able to cover the whole of my slalom sailing wind range with just two board sizes instead of three.

This is a first board from Tribal that I have bought.
Short notice about myself: I am surfing for the last thirty years. I am freeride and speed oriented surfer, participating in online and “live” speed events. Being a woman I am relatively light (58 kg) and small (165 cm). I have used previously following small slalom boards: Patrik Slalom 87 l, Patrik Slalom Airinside 95 l, RRD X-Fire 90, Goya proton 96 l, pre-Bringdal Mistral Slalom 80 l (2008?), RRD Anders Bringdal Slalom 75 l, Patrik Speed 80 l, Tabou Manta 74 l, F2 Thommen 95 l.
I have tried last month 63-liter Mistral speed board shaped by Chris Lockwood and I was really impressed by it! I was looking for the new small slalom board, and as soon as I have got to know that Tribal boards are shaped by Chris Lockwood I have ordered the Radix 88. I do not ride true slalom races, so I was looking for a fast freeride board, which I can use for fun and for some speed runs in medium wind and real-world conditions.
The board has arrived very carefully packed: a thick cardboard box outside, then a cardboard honeycomb structure, which protected the board, which was lying inside a board good quality bag (on the picture). The board is very light and the build quality is simply immaculate! Lying in the living room it was looking like a candy – simply irresistible!
As soon as the wind conditions have allowed me to use a 6.3 slalom sail I have taken the Radix to the local lake near Leipzig. The wind conditions here are normally pretty bad: the wind is very gusty – it means the gusts are pretty short and vary in strength from 10 to 30 knots multiple times on one leg. All the lakes here were previously an open brown coal mines – it means that they are pretty deep, normally around 50 m deep. As the wind picks up a pretty large chop and small rolling waves appear very quickly.
As soon as the first light gust arrived I have pumped the Radix on the plane and I have immediately recognized the feeling I know from the Mistral speed board. Even underpowered the board rides very high and free above the water having a great glide. Still it has a very directional feeling and it is always level to the water. Even when the wind picked up and the chop has built up the feeling still remained the same – the board was flying free and very controllable above the chop inviting to push your limits in every gust. Of course, I have accepted an invitation and I have immediately broken an old Saxonian speed record riding the whole 2 km faster which is really unbelievable in terms of speed surfing!
The Radix planes really early for its size and glides through lulls effortlessly, riding so high above the water and having so little water resistance. Tacking and jibing were also very easy and comfortable. The slalom riding stance is very natural on all courses. And the foot straps are very comfortable and still hard enough to control and rail the board.
All in all it is really a brilliant board offering a great combination of effortless gliding and control, which I was looking for a long time. It has a free feeling and acceleration of a speed board without sacrifices one has to make when riding a true speed board.