I am a 50 year old ( 90 kg ) has been surfer, who has decided to get back into surfing after a 20 year break. I started on a 6' 10" fish and had a few waves, but struggled to paddle it and surf it. A friend of mine had a go on the board and said, I needed to rather get a longboard with a lot of float. I went off and swopped my 6'10" for an 84 litre Walden 8 foot mega magic. I found this board much easier to surf and paddle, but almost impossible to get through the beach break as it is almost impossible to duck dive. I also found the long board expereince not quite for me. The boards need to be walked arround on and very different to surfing a short board where you dont move your feet much. Sitting on a longboard is also odd when you are not used to it and turning for a wave takes a lot longer. So.........I swopped my longboard for a 7'6" high volume firewire addvance.It is a fish shaped Quad. What a great mix between short and long. I find the board paddles well and I can duck dive it when needed. You just have to start your duck dive early. It also catches waves easily, Im starting to feel like the old days again, just a lot unfitter. It will probably still be difficult to paddle out into any surf over 4 foot, but that is not a problem for me, as I will be sitting in the car, not in the line up. This is not an advert for a fire wire It is just to let anybody know that if you dont want to make the move to a full longboard as you get older and grayer, the fish mid range is a great option that still feels like a short board. It still needs a little step forward to get it moving on some occassions, but a lot less movement than a long board. I was also looking at a Walden Mini mega magic also looks like a great option. But decided on this 69 litre volume firewire instead and very happy I did. Construction I am not sure about yet as I have only had the board for a few months. I will let you know in 2 years time.

Have seen old Vance himself ripping it up on one at a certain outer reef. He loves it.

This is Vance on the ADDvance !!!