Soms moet je wel eens iets testen, omdat je er ineens zoveel over leest...
Dit had ik bij Xenon, vanwege hun mooie reclame, en hun mooie test resultaten in diverse magazines...


Tijd dus voor een ouderwetse hanglos test! (in het engels, want het is ook voor hangls.net)

New kid on the block: Xenon Kiteboards.
Seen in many magazines, and seen all over the internet it was time to meet this new brand!

Boards tested:Rayo: 134x41
Laluz: 132x40
Both boards have 54mm vins (50mm option) and a similar outline;
nice round concave and rocker around 5cm



Build construction (site info)
both boards have a wood core,
the rayo is wood reinforced with biax fiber glass
the laluz is a bit more advance with carbon stringers and a triax reinforcement.

First impression:
the boards look sweet, almost like candy specially the Rayo
So design wise the boards have passed. Plain simple and easy
However the Laluz cause its so white on the top, its hard to find in the foam/chop.
The Rayo is a real eye-catcher, but not every likes it based on the looks
.


Holding the boards gives a light impression...
Testing the flex, both boards have lots of flex
Specially the Rayo, lots en lots off flex in the tips and true the entire board.
The Laluz is a bit stiffer, but still has a lot of flex.
Xenon offers a 3 years extended breakage warranty! So the boards better te though!

Assembling the boards:
The pads & straps is a piece of cake, quick and easy. (also this assembling is great for when you go on holiday)
Also adjustment goes nice and smooth, you can make the straps really big, our as small as you want.



The board has 2 inserts, so you can choose your stance,
The pads have a wide adjustment so you can play a bit for the stance,
however now if you don't screw the straps hard enough the pads can have some friction and move, so be sure to really tighten the screws!


The pads are simple, no “air” but comfortable and not to soft.
The straps however are a bit to hard to what i’m used to
however when i’m riding the board it gives me lots of support
but i still feel a bit to hard.
Also i’m not really comfortable with the plastic moulds, cause i work my feet a lot sometimes i have direct contact with this mould. (must get used to this i guess)

Riding experience:
2 days wind & Sun!
wind speed: 24 knots
conditions, side shore, chop, small waves

First i get the Laluz out, directly i feel comfortable on the board and it has no problem with the chop.
The board goes really easy upwind and has a nice riding speed. Making turns, you directly feel the 54 mm fins working.
Testing the pop, the board has a nice smooth pop, not really aggressive but smooth...
For a freestyle board i think it has a bit to much flex, since a stiffer board can produce more pop. This is not a bad thing, cause I think hard landings will be soft and don't mess up your knees, and riding in the chop feels good, and since we have lots of chop here its all good!

Switching over to the Rayo, now I go even more upwind but I directly feel that this board even has more flex, what results in less pop.
I feels really comfortable, and I didn't feel the chop at all.
The Rayo is not my kind of board, but im pretty sure most riders would feel very safe on the boards and it invites to try tricks.

conclusion:


Xenon has a good fresh start, and the future looks promising.
The boards ride good for the dutch conditions, a bit to much flex in my opinion, but then again for the chop we always have a bit extra flex is nice!

Looking forward what xenon has to bring coming year!

For more info go to: www.xenonboards.com