I just picked up a firewire for a steal second hand. I have had tuff lites and didn't really like em. Mates had told me not to go for the firewire, to floaty, problems with the plugs etc.

So far so good. The firewire has been going sick. And hopefully won't break as quick as a normal fibreglass board. Pretty quick down the line.

Yeh I've got one and love it. Doesn't surf anything like a tufflite, don't find it too floaty at all.
I did manage to crease it on a sloppy small day. Repair looks alright and has held up so far.

quote or question???

your mates are right but you can use this to your advantage when choosing your size and shape.

what board did you get??

the range is huge

not a fan of em.

Had one. Swapped it for a tufflite. Laughing all the way.

Rode a mates "Lost" stealth model and loved it, but is that because it is desgined by Matt Biolas or because of the parabolic rails? who knows? I will probably never own one because of their price, and my mate snapped his on a grunty beach break, he could have saved a few hundred on that one.

For old fat fellas like me who need all the float you can get, Firewires are fantastic.

^^Not sure if I agree with the fat old guy remarks but I do own 4 of them and rate them.

I picked my board up today from a repair and spotted a firewire patatonator snapped in half after 2 surfs apparently. Now, im not the full bottle on board construction but this thing looked s%$t. The foam looked like it was pakaging foam really big balls of foam and it had 2 carbon tubes down each side, no stringer. I personally wouldn't touch them after seeinf that.

Snapped mine in waist high waves after 2 surfs. Crap.

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Mitts46 said...

I picked my board up today from a repair and spotted a firewire patatonator snapped in half after 2 surfs apparently. Now, im not the full bottle on board construction but this thing looked s%$t. The foam looked like it was pakaging foam really big balls of foam and it had 2 carbon tubes down each side, no stringer. I personally wouldn't touch them after seeinf that.

The board makers are quite open about its construction, parabolic rails instead of stringers, and EPS foam,(supposedly more environmentally friendly) which is vacuum sealed for greater strength.
They don't claim that they are unbreakable, just stronger.
Are they worth the extra cash? that's a personal decision.

I fixed my mates creased/snapped stealth not long ago, but the amount of labour involved made it something not really viable to do commercially. Plus the fact it wasn't vacuum sealed has probably left it quite weakened.

They are not for me just because of the price, but they really are the most viable alternative to PE foam.
They ride better than all the previous epoxy boards, i.e. tufflites

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fozzy said...

^^Not sure if I agree with the fat old guy remarks but I do own 4 of them and rate them.

only referring to me Fozzy.

I have had no construction issues on mine. The FST board I have seems much tougher than any PU board I have owned.

No worries Daneli, I'm probably closer than I'd like to admit.

Everyone has their own opinion on boards of all kinds and I certainly don't take it personally if someone claims the board I ride is sh1t. I've had nothing but positive experiences with these boards. As I said I own 4 of them.

One thing I will comment on though is the argument on price. I don't really get that one as you only need glance at the cost of a CI, Simon Anderson or other "big name" board manufacturer and they are at times even more costly than the Firewires or at least on par. Again though, everyone earns their own money and can spend it on whatever blows their hair back.

The construction of the board you described Mitts is a rapid fire construction board which I feel are only ever so slightly more durable than a standard PU board. The FST construction is the more robust and compared to a PU are way more durable, but as has been pointed out they don't claim to be indestructible.

Firewire claim to use a more dense foam than their rivals, so a board has 15-20% more 'float' than a PU board of similar dimensions.

Personally I find this great for short summer boards - I'm able to go shorter and lighter in gutless waves without sacrificing volume, and the 6'0 sub scorcher i'm riding now paddles and rides better than a 6'6 Blak Box i've had in the past.

I bought a 6'4 Hellfire last year as a step up/winter board for when its firing, but to be honest i've found the extra volume to be a hinderance in bigger swell - the board is more difficult to duck dive, at 85kgs i'm not quite heavy/good enough to get it on rail and the extra float means i'm getting into waves a fraction later, almost sitting on them instead of in them - more often than not resulting in a quick trip over the falls.

I love my FW boards in the smaller stuff (My daily is a 6'0 sub scorcher and a 6'2 Dominator as a groveller), but come next winter i'll probably hit up SDR or Katana for something with a bit more length thats better suited to me and my local.

If anyone wants to buy an 'as new' 6'4 Hellfire hit me up.

I would advise that as soon as you ding it you exit the water and dry it out thoroughly - if you don't the water will work some wonders and you will find yourself with a very big and ugly problem.

I love my firewire!

^ More of a problem for boards without a vent.

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LateStarter said...

Firewire claim to use a more dense foam than their rivals, so a board has 15-20% more 'float' than a PU board of similar dimensions.

More density == less float by definition.

I ride similar tech to firewire. Not the same by any means though.

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Legion said...

More density == less float by definition.

Correct Legion.

The extra float in firewire boards comes from a less-dense, expanded poly foam core.

My mistake, I wasn't trying to disprove Archimedes' Principle.

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fozzy said...


One thing I will comment on though is the argument on price. I don't really get that one as you only need glance at the cost of a CI, Simon Anderson or other "big name" board manufacturer and they are at times even more costly than the Firewires or at least on par. Again though, everyone earns their own money and can spend it on whatever blows their hair back.

The price issue for me comes because I live in Europe where a firewire costs around 700 euro, compared to a local shaper costing around 350 euro.

But if I want a JS or channel islands, they are also around 600 euro, so I guess the price isn't a big deal then.

It depends how important a major label on your board is.
Funny thing is that a Pukas board is also only about 350 euro and I guess they are a pretty big name in the buisness.

I was lucky to pick up mine second hand alternator for $150. Has a few ding repairs in the underside of the board. Not really a concern seeing I ride it in meaty waves down south. We'll see how long it takes to snap.

Are they tougher than a fiberglass board? Just spent 3 days repairing boards for a surf trip and have come back with more repairs to do. Getting over it, next step might be a tufflite...

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Torch said...

Are they tougher than a fiberglass board? Just spent 3 days repairing boards for a surf trip and have come back with more repairs to do. Getting over it, next step might be a tufflite...

^^*^^^
FireWire no sunova yes. Same principle but better construction and materials with sunova.

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swalkington said...

Snapped mine in waist high waves after 2 surfs. Crap.

I suppose most people would have the same opinion if this happened to them

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swalkington said...

Torch said...

Are they tougher than a fiberglass board? Just spent 3 days repairing boards for a surf trip and have come back with more repairs to do. Getting over it, next step might be a tufflite...

^^*^^^
FireWire no sunova yes. Same principle but better construction and materials with sunova.

I have ridden both (sunova / firewire) over several years and I think that they both outperform the classic fiberglass board - by a country mile - when it comes to strength and durability. They look new for a long long time compared to a PCU and you get limited deck dents as well. I have also had a tufflite and could sing their virtues as well but did not like the shape

Well I have never snapped a pu!

Never snapped a pu. Not trying hard enough

Creased a few, but no clean snap like fw

I see redz surfboards in Bali are pushing there boards through Perth Gumtree. Only snag is you have to fly to Bali for delivery.That would be a good one to explain to the home front. $400 for standard PU custom made which they deliver to your hotel. Don't know what the quality is like, Has anyone tried one or have any feedback on there quality? They have been around a while with there shop with the big sign on the road out to Canggu. They are also doing epoxy, eps, bamboo deck, carbon rail similar construction to the Firewire's and appear to be copying the designs from other shapers. Don't know how close a copy they would be though. Personally I try to support local but at $400 it doesn't make it easy for Aussie shapers.

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swalkington said...

Well I have never snapped a pu!

Same, I must not be trying

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remarc said...

I see redz surfboards in Bali are pushing there boards through Perth Gumtree. Only snag is you have to fly to Bali for delivery.That would be a good one to explain to the home front. $400 for standard PU custom made which they deliver to your hotel. Don't know what the quality is like, Has anyone tried one or have any feedback on there quality? They have been around a while with there shop with the big sign on the road out to Canggu. They are also doing epoxy, eps, bamboo deck, carbon rail similar construction to the Firewire's and appear to be copying the designs from other shapers. Don't know how close a copy they would be though. Personally I try to support local but at $400 it doesn't make it easy for Aussie shapers.

$400 + $1800 return airfare. $2200. I don't know but I reckon the Aussie shapers are still looking alright.

Ive been riding a 5'10 hellfire for the last few months... would have to say its the best board I have ever ridden. Catches waves like a dream, and goes fast when i want it to, and dosent dig rails easily. very versatile, dont have to take down my fish and my shortboard, this board covers both ends of the (crap perth) spectrum. So much nicer than a tuflite, had a few of them over the years and dont rate them, too corky, the rails crack too easy.

Mainly surf perth beachies, took it out in solid 6ft down margies and it was holding but only just. But thats not what its made for! definatly the wrong shape if you are looking for something to use in bigger waves.

Cant say about the build quality, but had it a few months and still in mint condition, ridden lots.

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LateStarter said...


I bought a 6'4 Hellfire last year as a step up/winter board for when its firing, but to be honest i've found the extra volume to be a hinderance in bigger swell - the board is more difficult to duck dive, at 85kgs i'm not quite heavy/good enough to get it on rail and the extra float means i'm getting into waves a fraction later, almost sitting on them instead of in them - more often than not resulting in a quick trip over the falls.

I love my FW boards in the smaller stuff (My daily is a 6'0 sub scorcher and a 6'2 Dominator as a groveller), but come next winter i'll probably hit up SDR or Katana for something with a bit more length thats better suited to me and my local.

Gee I wish I was in the same boat having never snapped a board
Gets expensive at the most inconvenient of times
I guess it's probably a reflection of where people live
I wonder how many boards the average bloke in Hawaii snaps