The RRD Longrider
This is RRD’s one and only windsurfing longboard, marketed as having “the performance of a freeride board with the accessibility of a beginner board.”
Being long yet light, the board really comes into its own as a light-wind freestyle machine. It’s definitely the easiest board on test to railride, but also great fun to put a smaller rig on and practice your sail-spinning tricks.
Character & Performance: In light winds, the RRD has a very lively and playful feel. It cruises upwind well with the daggerboard engaged, although not pointing quite as high as the Kona. Upwind performance can be improved slightly by using a larger fin. It reacts very well to footsteering and can be tacked very swiftly. Gybing, while still not being as snappy as the shorter boards in the test, can be done around a shorter arc than the Kona. As the wind increases, it’s fairly easy to disengage the daggerboard and the board eases onto the plane quite early. Once planing, the RRD’s pretty lively underfoot (for such a big board). Being very flat, it is a little scary in choppy water as there’s a lot of nose to bury! “It’s like trying to tame a wild beast” (Jon Wilburn).
The RRD seems to respond best to nice, gentle carve gybes, as it has a tendency to straighten up again if you try to carve it too hard. In waves, being so long it requires a lot of effort to get into the right place. Lacking a back strap means that any waveriding has to be done with the back foot out.
Fittings: The entire deck and rails are EVA covered. The daggerboard is easy to move and is removable. It protrudes 58cm. The fin is a (small) 34cm MFC in a freeride shape. The board has a lot of footstrap positions, including very inboard beginner inserts. Our test board was supplied with RRD footstraps by DaKine, which were well padded and comfy.
The board was one of the lightest and easiest to carry on the test, balancing well on the daggerboard pedal.
Popularity: It was one of the favourite boards on the test, enjoyed by all for its playful feel.
Strengths: Ease, manoeuvrability and freestyle in light winds.
Weaknesses: Control in rougher water states.
Overall: Great for anyone wanting a longboard to cruise around on and enjoy primarily in lighter winds.
Courtesy of: Boards UK
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