SEVERNE PYRO 87 2021 TEST REVIEW
SEVERNE PYRO 87 2021 TEST REVIEW
SEVERNE PYRO 87 2021 TEST REVIEW
VERDICT:
As you’d expect from anything with Köster’s name on it, this board is fast and it’s amazing what speed can do to most elements of your wave sailing. Each fin setup dramatically changes the board, and all should be used to make the most of the conditions present. A fast, extremely versatile board that can be tuned from super loose to more sure footed than a mountain goat.
THE LOWDOWN:
The Pyro is an all-new shape from Severne, specifically developed in collaboration with their newest signing, Philip Köster. Philip is well known as being one of the few sailors on the world tour that still uses a twin fin setup, and so the Pyro comes with three different fin configurations. Severne say that the, “Twin fin setup offers the loosest feel to make the board fun and manoeuvrable. Thruster is the go-to option for high speeds to deal with strong currents and gusty conditions and Quad offers the most stability and grip.”
The Pyro is delivered as a quad, and the board is striking in appearance, with bold black and white graphics on the deck and orange underneath. In terms of performance, the design certainly fits with what we’d expect from a board designed around Köster’s sailing style, with speed being a key function of the board.
A single concave morphs into vee through the tail, with minimal tail rocker and a fish tail to finish.
The rocker profile of the board is relatively flat, with an overall width of 59 cm, making it the widest overall board on test. The plan shape of the board shows relatively even volume distribution, with a little more of the bulk of the volume towards the middle of the board. Five slot boxes in the board give the full range of tuning options, but this has been achieved whilst keeping the board down to an impressive overall weight of 6.0 kg. All sizes come with quad fins that are fitted with the Severne Hex 4 system, meaning only one tool is needed for all fittings including the footstraps.
BRAND CLAIM: “Designed in collaboration with 5 x World Champion Philip Köster, the PYRO will ignite your fire. Speed rules. The faster you go, the higher you go. Specifically designed as a launch vehicle to propel Koster into the stratosphere, the Pyro prioritizes speed and power. Own the air.”
PERFORMANCE:
With three different fin setups, we had quite a bit to do to test the new Pyro to find all its attributes. We first tried the board in quad setup, where planted, stable and grip were the primary areas of feedback. The board planed well and made ground to windward with ease. You very much felt on top of the board, highly in control, and a good volume distribution under the rider made for easy transitions. On the wave the board had plenty of drive, but even more grip and carried great speed through the bottom turn. Severne claim that, “once the conditions really turn on, you will be able to push this setup to the max and get the most out of your riding.”
In thruster mode we found the Pyro found an extra gear and planed quicker, though Severne reckon it planes just as quick as a quad. The highly planted feel of the quad setup is replaced with a much livelier beast under your feet as a thruster, which accelerates up to rocket ship speeds, making it plenty of fun on the way out. This liveliness finds its place on the way in as well, as the board becomes quicker to transfer from rail to rail, still with good drive and speed, but a little less grip in the top turn, making it more fun in lesser conditions.
In twin mode, very little of the speed is lost, and in fact is coupled with a bit of the planted feel of the quad setup, albeit much looser underfoot. Early planing and super loose, this setup was extremely fun on both the way out, but also on the way in, where the board still bit well in the bottom turn. This was coupled with much more ability to change arc and bust the fins out with ease on the top turn, but still with the hope of bringing them back.
VITAL STATS:
Volume (quoted): 87 litres.
Length: 220 cm.
Width: 59 cm.
1ft off (tail width): 38.9 cm.
Bottom Shape: Monoconcave to vee.
Weight (‘naked’): 6.0 kg.
Fins: 5 x slot box; quad fins (supplied) 2 x 14 cm + 2 x 11 cm.
Sail range (Quoted): 4.2m – 5.7m.
Sizes available: 74, 79, 83, 87, 93, 99, 105.
PRICE: £2099.00
THE LINEUP
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