RRD HARDCORE S 74
" One of the easiest and most reliable boards to sail" Boards Mag
This year’s Hardcore makes a very interesting comparison to last year’s board. The max, planing and tail widths are nearly identical but RRD have reduced the length by a couple of inches. So it remains a distinctly trad outline but takes on the modern trend of shorter lengths. Underneath though, it has changed a lot. Although there’s less tail-kick, the rocker through the planing area has increased significantly, with a much earlier take-off into the nose rocker giving a shorter flat, and more overall nose rocker than last year. Meanwhile, bucking the trend towards single concave RRD have returned from last year’s concave beneath the front straps and come back to good old fashioned vee (with a hint of double concave).
On the water:
It is clearly a more radical board than the 2006 design. It needs a tiny bit more wind to start working properly and isn’t quite as composed or quick when blasting through chop, but it is clearly more manoeuvrable and better for jumping. It’s a high grip board which tracks very securely and gives instant response to foot pressure, turning quickly and precisely and cutting very securely up into jumps, allowing an energetic kick into take-off. Most noticeable in comparison to the other trads is how predictable it is. It doesn’t have quite the same loose feel and flow in low power or low speed situations of the looser trads, but is utterly secure and reliable underfoot, giving excellent control in stronger winds and hectic conditions and tracking very solidly upwind. It will undoubtedly hold in very well in high speed bottom turns and is extremely agile in carving manoeuvres on waves.
Sail sizes:
It has a wide wind range taking 4.0-5.3m in relative comfort.
Fittings:
The straps are very comfortable but can twist a bit and seem to wear quite quickly. The fin seems good and the pads are very comfortable.
Overall:
Although not quite a return to the very high vee and narrow widths of old style trad boards, the ’06 Hardcore does vaunt the traditional virtues of high grip, high control and agility – albeit in a fully modern shape. Less of a high wind blaster than last year’s board – and by no means the most loose, pivotal or freestyle oriented board – but it’s clearly more of a true ‘waveboard’; extremely precise, predictable and easy to sail – and one of the easiest and most reliable boards to sail, particularly in a decent blow. It will suit those who like to hold a fair bit of power, never want to feel that their board is too bouncy, and like to jump aggressively and take their waves at speed.
Price: £1049 in Carbon / Kevlar construction with 21cm fin. |
