To attract the best athletes in the world we need to create a contest format that will enable the best possible performances, and this requires state-of-the-art equipment. The main priority of the Neil Pryde RS:X is to ensure that the equipment used in the Olympics is both representative of the equipment used by most recreational windsurfers today, and still performance orientated and fun in the potentially wide wind range of most Olympic regattas, ie. from 3-30 knots.

The RS:X board has been shaped by Jean Bouldoires, a shaper well known in the windsurfing industry for producing very innovative and successful board shapes. The RS:X is a true cross over board in that it makes the best compromise between traditional raceboard sailing in sub-planing conditions, and exciting “Formula” racing in planing conditions starting from 8-10 knots.

The RS:X sail is closely based on the shaping and design of the RS4 Racing sail, a sail which is currently used by a large proportion of the world’s top Formula Windsurfing racers. The RS:X takes it’s draft stability from the RS4 to give it a “high performance” locked-in feel in planing conditions. At the same time, it has been further refined and developed to ensure that it has the softness needed for ease of handling in sub-planing conditions. Combined with the lightweight and high performance RS:X rig components, this sail performs exceptionally in both planing and non-planing conditions.

The RS:X enables Olympic sailors – both men and women – the chance to compete at the highest performance levels in the sport of windsurfing. Through doing so, the Olympic windsurfing class will attract the best windsurfers to these events and create the most interest from the general public and the Windsurfing community as a whole.