Been using the Thirst 8RW this season for GS racing and carving this season. This season is my first racing Slalom and Giant Slalom, I have been riding soft boot racing boards for the last decade. I have ridden all the super expensive boards out there, I even regretfully own a couple of them. The first day I rode the Thirst 8RW it held a better edge than any of my other boards. Every time I go out on the 8RW I find a new gear and I go faster than the time before. I raced the 8RW on Presidents day at White Pass in a GS race. I won two gold medals and the Thirst board was amazing! I would race this board at any level of competition. I qualified for Nationals at Copper Mtn. I hope to go but I'm still trying to figure out if I can. The Thirst board that I'm borrowing has more power than my Donek and holds a better edge than my Kessler. If your wanting a high end board with a ton of power the 8RW is the one.