RRD Poison 131 x 39cm 2010
Reviews / Twin Tips
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At a Glance
Last issue we looked at the 2010 Poison Limited Edition, this issue it is the turn of its more readily available brother, the Classic Poison is a dedicated freestyle board from RRD, aimed at the top end of the market looking for the ultimate in performance. It features a snowboard style laminated wood core but lacks the polished finish of the Limited Edition. There is a step cap construction in the tips and the board has a very thin edge profile. Perfect for cutting through the chop. The tips are very wide, as you would expect from a board of this style. The board comes equipped with RRD’s Screw-it system, which makes putting the straps on a breeze. You don’t even need a screwdriver! Just twist the plastic pieces into place and then put the strap on top. Easy and simple!
On the Water
The board itself feels very crisp under foot, perhaps a touch less lively than the Limited version, the stiff mid section makes for a fast ride. In the chop the thin rails cut through really well, get the board on some flat water though and you start to see its true potential. The pop is excellent with the wide tips giving the rider a huge platform to boost off and also offering a super wide and stable landing platform. Upwind the board flies too, those sharp hard rails allowing it to point really high. If you like a fast board with plenty of pop for your freestyle then the Poison Classic certainly delivers. It is worth mentioning that the first point of contact, the footpads, can make or break a ride on a board. They need to be comfortable, offer plenty of grip and also allow the rider to still feel connected to the board beneath, rather than giving the feeling of being sat on top of it. The new Screw-it foot strap and pad system from RRD fills all these criteria perfectly and offers a super comfy connection to the board. Plenty of padding for those big powered moves and also lots of grip so there is no chance of the board flying off your feet after you pop for a trick.
For
Interesting looks, it will be a love or hate affair with some riders. Excellent fittings and some fantastic top end freestyle performance. Great pop and excellent upwind ability.
Against
It is actually really hard to tell the difference between this board and the Limited version; aside from the looks once they are on the water they feel very similar. Obviously this is no bad thing, as you could save yourself some cash, go for the Classic and enjoy a lot of the benefits you would get with the Limited version!
Overall
For freestyle heads out there the Poison offers a perfect balance of speed and pop with a huge landing platform to help you nail those tricks.
This review was in Issue 16 of IKSURFMAG.
For more information visit RRDRelated
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!
