Xenon Rayo 134 x 41cm 2010
Reviews / Twin Tips
4,724
At a Glance
The Rayo from Xenon is their all round do it all board. That’s not to say it has been left behind in terms of features, far from it. It borrows much of the same technology from their higher spec La Luz model. The main differences being the construction, the Rayo uses a wood core and biax glass lay up, instead of a carbon one. This leads to a softer flex on this board, steering it more towards a forgiving ride than ultimate freestyle performance. Looks wise Xenon have hit the nail on the head again and this board is sure to be a head turner at the beach. The finish is excellent with a UV resistant gloss topcoat and a matt underside. G10 fins come as standard and the footstraps are not only easy to put on the board but also super comfy.
On the Water
The Rayo feels like an old friend when you slip it on your feet. Some boards feel a little unsure on the first outing and sometimes take a little getting used to. Not so with the Xenon though. The concave bottom and comfortable flex allow the board to carve through the chop with ease and offer a forgiving and rewarding ride. The 134, at 41cm, wide offers a good-sized platform from which to get going and the board is eager to get up onto the plane in light airs. When the wind picks up the performance of the board really comes out. Even though it is aimed at the beginner intermediate market the Rayo can swing punches with the best of them. Upwind ability is good, helped by the rail shape and the fins it carves a good line into the wind. Pop is easy to achieve too and doesn’t require legs of steel.
For
Accessible performance that won’t let you down, well made and well finished.
Against
We struggled last year to find fault with this board and this year once again there isn’t really anything bad to say about it!
Overall
Easy simple riding that looks great and packs enough of a performance punch to make you look twice when the wind gets up.
This review was in Issue 21 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit XenonRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou has been kiting since the sports inception and has been working as an editor and tester for magazines since 2004. He started IKSURFMAG with his brother in 2006 and has tested hundreds of different kites and travelled all over the world to kitesurf. He's a walking encyclopedia of all things kite and is just as passionate about the sport today as he was when he first started!
