Kurosh Kiani reports on the new Falcon. Fanatics rapid new slalom machine…

The new year is well underway and before we know it we are going to have the first races on the PWA World Tour. So the time has to come to put all the new equipment to the test, to get prepared for the upcoming season.

A couple weeks ago, after picking up my new Falcon slalom boards, I made my way over to Maui, where I am planning on spending my time until I head over to the first PWA slalom event in Italy. Having all new boards, I was of course excited to feel something new below my feet, and the excitement really escalated when I hit the water after landing on Maui.

With me, I have the Falcon 89, 113 and 140, which are the sizes I intend on using in this years PWA world tour. The first couple of days it was super windy, so the 89 got out on the water for some real hardcore slalom testing. I used everything from 30-36cm fin on this board with sails from 5,5 to 7,0. The speed potential of this board was the first thing that hit me. I had the ability to accelerate within very short distances and wasn’t scared of attacking the hard chop that we tend to get on spots like Kanaha beach, here on Maui. What was the most striking was my ability to gybe with an amazing power and acceleration when hitting the buoys with the guys here. Maybe my abilities have become better, but this board has definitely helped me along the way.

I have also had the chance to get the 113 on the water for some time. Now I can see myself using this board in lots of scenarios during the season. I have used sails from 7,0 up to 8,6 on this board with great success. This board is all-round and leaves for so many tuning options, while being a real machine. Again the acceleration is amazing, along with the same gybing abilities as the 89. Fin wise I have used from 38-40cm fins on this board which I have tested in anything from absolute flatwater to big swell conditions.

Likewise, I have also managed to take the 140 out in some of the most rough conditions ever on my 9,5 sail and 48cm fin. What shines through on the 140 is the ease of use and the control. Having put the board to the test in some of the roughest conditions it will ever see, I am confident that it will be charging any other water conditions in the world with style. Again, the great acceleration and easy gybing, and of course the great control is what is going to make this board the perfect light wind racing weapon.

To sum up this last 10 days of testing on Maui, I would say the words explain themselves. Here you have a set of boards, that in my mind give you what you need for racing, and generally a great sailing experience. After all, in the end it comes down to having fun, and having easy boards makes you have fun. Along with the other sizes in the Falcon range, there is anything for anyone of any size, so I can just say get out there, the Falcon’s have my definite approval.

See you on the water.

Kurosh Kiani