The shorter the board is, the more compact it feels. Subjectively, the board fits well between the choppy waves, which is of course primarily due to the fairly free planing position - at least with pressure in the sail. The GT is not one of those shapes that lie stoically on the water like a control freak, but instead dances slightly with its nose to the left and right, which on the one hand looks lively and sporty, but at least requires the rider not to take a nap. Under the soles, the waves hit the hull in a fairly cushioned manner, and the ride comfort is good.
The structure of the pads is less pleasing, as they appear smoother than usual. On the one hand, the fin shines with very little drag, but on the other hand it does not provide maximum grip for somewhat insecure riders. With a little more practice, the consistently good jibing characteristics can be better utilised, allowing you to vary the radii with ease, steer the board through the chop, turn tightly or carve far over the rail. Similar to the RRD, the I-99 board is also very tame in light winds and only really flies free at higher speeds.
Surf summary of the I-99 GT 76
The GT turns out to be an agile, lively board with low drag, sporty jibing qualities and decent proportions for occasional foil use.
Agile, light-footed, sporty jibes
Less grippy pads
Very long fin screws required
Technical data I-99 Grand Tour T 76
- Price: 2449 Euro
- Weight: 7.9 kg
- Fin: 43 cm, Box: Foil-Tuttlebox
- Info under i-99.it
