The board is the Fireball Evolution 2, or EvoII. Essentially it is a more high performance version of the trusted Fireball.

Board Test Location - ThePop, WinkiPop Victoria right next to Bells.
Conditions - 1.5-3.0m South West Swell.

For me, it was like meeting an old friend. In many ways it is very similar to my old 9'1 McTavish Original. As soon as I saw the board, I knew I was going to like it. I waited until today for some decent quality waves to take it out in. The board more than impressed me on every wave. The very first wave was a jacking peaky takeoff and I was in the perfect spot. I didn't expect it to jack quite so much, and it turned into a beautiful smooth late take off, long smooth bottom turn on the rail, and loaded the legs up off the bottom, and the board responded perfectly, plenty of speed and projection.

Another highlight was racing down the line past lowers, coming off the bottom and back off the top about 5 times. So much speed, so much control. Extremely predictable (which is a very good thing!).

It helped that someone had already marked out where to place the Centre fin!

Mine is 9'1 x 22"3/4 x 2"7/8. Pretty standard dimensions. I'm about 88kegs and about 182cm tall, which is roughly bang on 6 foot. I find these dimensions pretty perfect for me. If you're heavier and bigger, you would consider 23 x 3, and vice versa for smaller, consider 22"1/2 or 22"1/4 x 2"5/8. or 2"3/4.

Board Rating - 10 out of 10. 6 Stars out of 5!
Hands down the best 9'0+ Malibu I have ever ridden.
Looking forward to testing it in smaller conditions.

I can't recall if the board is PU or Epoxy. Pretty sure it's PU, but without the Gloss Coat which saves weight.

http://www.mctavish.com.au/surfboards-buy/performance-longboards/fireball-evo-ii

www.mctavish.com.au/surfboard/fireball-evolution-ii


Ph 02 6685 6736
www.mctavish.com.au/contact

Very nice review Simondo,its just a shame the guy who sold it to you put on so much weight he was no longer able to ride it
and as we speak he is at the pub eating and drinking

Sounds good Simondo I just wish I had the chance to get out onto mine. Sh@t happens I suppose. It sounds like a good all rounder which is why I ordered one but mine was 9'4 x 23 x 2 7/8. Those dims would probably suit asea.

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smh said...

Sounds good Simondo I just wish I had the chance to get out onto mine. Sh@t happens I suppose. It sounds like a good all rounder which is why I ordered one but mine was 9'4 x 23 x 2 7/8. Those dims would probably suit asea.

well done simondo touch wood to this day i haven't ever bought a pig of a board imo and SMH i've crept into the 3 to 3 1/8 '' thickness on my boards now and tapering off to the rails

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asea said...

smh said...

Sounds good Simondo I just wish I had the chance to get out onto mine. Sh@t happens I suppose. It sounds like a good all rounder which is why I ordered one but mine was 9'4 x 23 x 2 7/8. Those dims would probably suit asea.

well done simondo touch wood to this day i haven't ever bought a pig of a board imo and SMH i've crept into the 3 to 3 1/8 '' thickness on my boards now and tapering off to the rails

I dont know that red and yellow one didnt last too long the second time around
How was the pub did they refuse you entry

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asea said...

smh said...

Sounds good Simondo I just wish I had the chance to get out onto mine. Sh@t happens I suppose. It sounds like a good all rounder which is why I ordered one but mine was 9'4 x 23 x 2 7/8. Those dims would probably suit asea.

well done simondo touch wood to this day i haven't ever bought a pig of a board imo and SMH i've crept into the 3 to 3 1/8 '' thickness on my boards now and tapering off to the rails

That's alright asea you can always work it off and come back down in dims.

Thanks for the review Simo , looking at something 901 now and your Dim's advice was all good thought-food - cheers

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smh said...


That's alright asea you can always work it off and come back down in dims.

Sadly no hope of that,he ate two pizza's a couple of beers now he is on the reds

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62mac said...

smh said...


That's alright asea you can always work it off and come back down in dims.

Sadly no hope of that,he ate two pizza's a couple of beers now he is on the reds

I guess the next step from here the is a $&@ or a bum stick (surf ski )

The Art of Tint !!
EvoII

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BulldogPup said...

Thanks for the review Simo , looking at something 901 now and your Dim's advice was all good thought-food - cheers

I'm really looking forward to some small wave testing. If this thing "performs" and "nose rides" on small waves... look out!

PS - Mac & Asea, this EvoII is a keeper!

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Simondo said...

The Art of Tint !!
EvoII

That looks familiar I got to admit that one came out pretty good. There will be others. What about this tint from the same laminator.

And again . This is my nephews log with some pigment art.

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Simondo said...

BulldogPup said...

Thanks for the review Simo , looking at something 901 now and your Dim's advice was all good thought-food - cheers

I'm really looking forward to some small wave testing. If this thing "performs" and "nose rides" on small waves... look out!

PS - Mac & Asea, this EvoII is a keeper!

haha another one that got away aseaDont worry it goes well in small stuff[}:)]

Simondo if you want to see some really nice board tints get on the Cooperfish site. It's a board builder in the States and it's not only the tints but some of the pin line work is unbelievable and something you would never see here.

tinting isn't rocket science boys.

dc does full sup race boards in tint on eps foam finished with protec- no fancy polish job -weight is the name of the game the less the better (sorry-phone camera)






by far the best tint job i've seen was a custom import c4 that the first owner from greenline had in his shop. i think scotty had it for a bit.

a mixture of colours that looked like grandma's knitted jumper. tight zig zag ish pattern in 4 different colours- absolutely brilliant work.

i'm guessing mac might of seen it visiting macca

Lacey, nice progression from BBQ to Milk Crate !

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Simondo said...

Lacey, nice progression from BBQ to Milk Crate !

an old photo, an old board. i like to think the bbq was a step up

classic

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laceys lane said...

Simondo said...

Lacey, nice progression from BBQ to Milk Crate !

an old photo, an old board. i like to think the bbq was a step up

I thought so - you used to always ride DC's........

Nice review Simondo.....I enjoyed that. Hoping to see some actIon shots shortly. Winki is a great wave - u r a fortunate man to have it so close - or a well planned man!!! I think the later.......

Hells Bells was really fun today. Had the EvoII dialed into some nice overhead drops, on the sets.

A summary of this morning on the EvoII;
- about 20 waves, including about 8 nice overhead sets and 12 lovely inside peeler sliders, 4 wave sets.
- didn't fall of at all, other than occasionally getting bucked off in the white water if a wave eventually shut down on me.
- made it out the end, into the channel on at least 75% of the waves

Highlights, with a noted contribution from the EvoII;
- continually driving of the bottom with loads of speed, drive, and projection.
- picking of solid sets and nailing several lovely take offs... the board does draw some lovely lines, and is extremely predictable. Handles a late take off very nicely.
- standing tall in the pocket tearing down the line, and the board just feels so great under foot
- some beautiful long cut backs thanks to a lovely board

Asea, I think I already mentioned she was a keeper!

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As with nearly all malibu's, about the only miniture negative is that the nose can try to catch and buck you off in steeper and more critical sections of the wave, including critical steep take offs. But provided you are aware of it, a good pilot can quite easily overcome those issues. I've only been bucked off her once down at lowers when the heel side nose rail caught when I was trying to straighten out to avoid the closeout, whist going at full throttle. But any other board will do this to you anyway...

simondo.I should give you a go on my 9 foot Jye Byrnes custom or my Pieter 9 footer and you just might think twice about the Mctavish

Tankchamp, I have no doubt that your boards are great ones, and that they work for you. Yes, I'd love to have a go on them. I'll PM you my address, and you can freight them on down !

I have a recurring dilemma.... Bells or Winki.... Bells or Winki.... I know I'll have fun, no matter what I ride!