by >I have been trying to find information about it. I always thought
>O'Brien only made poly boards.
made 2 other models, the 8'8 and 9'2. I found the construction very
good, in fact they had the stiffest rating in the WindRider board tests
if I remember correctly. The graphics also were real sweet for a production
custom board. A couple of comments:
1. This board was real stiff. I felt the bumps moreso than other production
boards I have sailed on.
2. Any production/epoxy board is a different animal than the poly boards.
They are much faster, lighter & require more care in handling. Most production
boards have an ASA skin which gives more durability to impacts. The O'Brien
is ample in this category.
3. This may be a broad jump down from an old slow poly board. You'll probably
get used to it after a while, but it will probably take some time to adjust
to. Remember also that this board is significantly smaller and has less
floatation for stability. The ride, however, should be exhilarating, but
somewhat stiff on the legs, unless you have good foot pads.
4. I don't know what the volume is on the HI-Fly, but you may want to research
a production board (like a giant slalom) which may afford a more comfortable
ride and slightly more volume. This would be especially helpful if you haven't
wired jibing just yet.
Incidentally, I did sell my 9'9 for a F2 Comet Slalom which better suited the
wind conditions I end up in. I'm also 225 lbs., so it serves as my giant slalom
board considering my size. The 9'9 did float me when I was 10 lbs. lighter, but
was very unstable when the wind died. All in all, I was satisfied with the
quality, construction and price.
My $.02
Keith