What size Hellfire to get?

[waverdr]

Hey guys,
Great forum with heaps of informative info, love it.
My conundrum is what size Hellfire do i get. I am currently surfing a 6'6 hybrid which is a swallowtail and based on a fish with a little more performance built in. It surfs great in all conditions and went extremely well on a recent trip to Lombok in overhead waves. Problem is im getting older 45 and hate paddling out the back through tons of white water and then paddling for waves. All my mates are on Firewires and during an average 3 hr session get probably double the waves i get. We will paddle for the same waves and whereas i will just miss it they are up and riding while im still paddling. I grabbed my mates spitfire 6'4 quad setup and oh my god. Great for paddling and caught heaps of waves. was a little skatey for my liking as i am use to a thruster but gee it went well. If anything it maybe could have been a little bigger (longer in size). Im 200lb (around 90kg) 6ft'2 have been surfing for around 33 years and hit the water nowadays once to twice a week sometimes more if its good. So im now looking at a hellfire as my all rounder and am considering a 6'6 instead of a 6'4
Im also looking at using it as a thruster setup with FCS PC-7 fins.
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

[prjwebb]

I reckon the 6'6" could be the ticket for you if you went alright on the 6'4" Spitfire. If you felt like you would rather be on the 6'6" Spitfire then you could consider the 6'8" HF but I think the 6'6" will be plenty.

[waverdr]

Thanks prjwebb for your feedback,
I was considering the 6'6 spitfire but im thinking the hellfire would be a little more suitable as an all-rounder.
Yes the 6'4 spitfire was just right and paddled heaps better than my 6'6 fish but i thought i could have maybe tried a 6'6 for the paddling flotation but then again it may have been to much volume and floatation.
My weight fluctuates between 85 and 90 but mainly around the 85 kilo so a 6'6 hellfire is prob the way to go.
Has anyone tried the FCS PC-7 fins in a hellfire as a thruster? Im thinking for the size board and my weight these would be the way to go.
Cheers

[Magnet]

I'm exactly your age weight and height and went 6'4" and love it. Not the best paddler in terms of speed but catches waves very easily. 6'6 would be a nice easy paddle, but has much thicker rails so may lose a bit of performance in good waves.

[waverdr]

I'm exactly your age weight and height and went 6'4" and love it. Not the best paddler in terms of speed but catches waves very easily. 6'6 would be a nice easy paddle, but has much thicker rails so may lose a bit of performance in good waves.

Thanks for the feedback Magnet,
Im just about sold on the 6'6 :-)
What sort of fin set up are you using and what type of fins do you use, im hoping the 6'6 will still handle well in double over head height as i frequently head over the west coast and think one of the benefits of it would be getting into the waves a little earlier.

[buzzy]

I reckon 6'6" or 6'4" Hellfire would be perfect. The PC7 set up would also be ideal.

[waverdr]

I reckon 6'6" or 6'4" Hellfire would be perfect. The PC7 set up would also be ideal.

Thanks Buzzy im just about sold on the 6'6 Hellfire now with the PC7 fins. I will prob order it Tuesday if all goes well. Apparently none in stock in Adelaide at the moment so will have to order online, maybe from Natural Necessity as a fair few of my mates have done so.
Cheers

[Fritzkat]

I agree with Maqnet, 6-4... but you will need to stay in shape in your arms especially (cross train also) to paddle her if you dont surf but once a week.

[core personal training]

short as you can mate...thats what its made for....its supposed to disappear under your feet...you dont need to go as far down as me, but i ride a 510 and am 90kg and 6ft...i would love to go bigger to increase the paddling but then you lose the freedom of movement...work off the volume that you feel most comfortable with and order accordingly, or ONE step up at most...

[waverdr]

Thanks core, my mates spitfire that I tried was a 6'4 and it has a touch more volume than the 6'6 hellfire, it was perfect for me in terms of paddling and getting waves so I'm thinking it would be spot on. I keep pretty fit and do plenty of shoulder training as I've had two shoulder reconstructions due to bad wipeouts in the past so would be happy if the 6'6 is a bit easier to paddle :-)
Thanks for the feedback everyone, much appreciated

[Magnet]

Am2s seem to go well as a tri, yet to use as a quad, main thing is make sure it's a large size fin.

[core personal training]

yep larger fins....if futures am2s feel a little stiff in smaller stuff try sa3's...loosens it up fully but similar drive

[iggy]

Yes indeed, those AM2 are gonna come handy on bigger surf, Tried them on 5-6ft and went super nice, tried them again on our little wave ant you could see the difference right away

[waverdr]

Cheers guys,
What would the equivalent be to the Am2's in the FCS, would it be the PC-7s
I also have a couple of spare sets of FCS fins at home which are G6's and G'5s wondering if the G6's would suit as all rounders?

[core personal training]

am1 is the fcs large......i have original 6's from the early fcs days...loved em....

[core personal training]

not sure how the simons are labeled in fcs

[core personal training]

try the 6's before paying for am's...the only downside might be that they are softer flex...or did they continue that template when they brought in honeycomb etc??

[Slowman]

Well, I believe the GAM is the FCS equivalent of the Futures AM2. I think the AM1 is what it was called in glass flex some time ago. I've ridden this fin as a quad (with 80/20 Q1000 rears) but on a JS Kingpin nice; drive and release with that rake and flexy tip. In FCS SA2s are the large size and SA1s are the mediums.

[waverdr]

Thanks for all your feedback guys, I placed an order today for a 6'6 Future Shape Hellfire with Futures fins. The fins are a cross between the am1 and the am2, they are a no name brand made in Queensland with a nice amount of flex and not to stiff (according to the place im buying the board from)
Decided to go for the Future Shape as no Rapidfire 6'6 available until June in Aust (apparently)
I tried all the local shops in Adelaide and a few interstate and no one had them available apart from the shop ive bought it from.
Will let you know when i get it and how it goes :-)

[buzzy]

Yeah, I have a June ETA on a Futura in Sydney Oz, so that makes sense.

I know the horse has bolted by the way but I just thought I'd add I'm now using the GAM's in Performance Core pretty much exclusively on my Dom in big and small waves and they go great. Lots of drive without getting hung up. I'm going to try some K3's on the new Futura when it arrives on the theory a smaller board doesn't need as much fin. I'll see how that goes.

I also use a PC7 and to be honest I can't tell an awful lot of difference between the GAM PC and PC7. The smaller trailer fin should result in easier release off the top and I imagine that's the case but it's hard to separate the placebo effect from objective feedback.

[waverdr]

WOW,
Tried the Hellfire out yesterday in sucky barrelling 3-4 foot waves (over head high)
The board goes unbelievably well. Couldn't believe the speed that it generates and was able to make sections that previously i would have been struggling to make. Held well in the face and was easy to paddle and catch waves. Actually i was able to get into waves well before they were pitching which made life easier. The conditions were perfect and clean with a offshore blowing and we had the point to ourselves for the 3 hours we were in the water. The board was very responsive and i was able to throw some decent rooster tails of the back of the waves with ease. I am using a thruster set-up and the fins are the Proteck power flex 4.50"
This board rocks and i am totally impressed with it. Cant wait to get it back in the water again.

[buzzy]

Great to hear.

[Chris]

hey waverdr where were you surfing? Great to read your feedback. stoked the board is working for you!!

Cheers

[core personal training]

good stuff wavedr....yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew..!!!!!!!!!!

[Fritzkat]

wavedr, Hellfire, Its a killer board, i rode mine yesterday as well. I am always confident on it now. Just hard for me to stay inshape between swells this spring season. After I ride the Dominator on mush crap it takes me a few waves to remember the sweet spot on the Hellfire board when I take it out on clean days. I am staying thruster on it mostly..

[waverdr]

Hey Chris, was surfing Waits point in South Aust, mid week is always quiet, especially when the salmon are running and thoughts of white pointers are never far away lol.
The last few weeks have been great and at most mid week you may have to share the waves with 2 or 3 others.
I've found the hellfire to be an awesome board And surfs really well with the back foot right over the tail. It's my go to board for just about all conditions now.

[waverdr]

Hey Fritzkat, I know what you mean with trying to stay in shape, I surf usually once a week sometimes twice if I can work it :-)
I've found the older you are the harder it is to keep in shape for surfing. I usually walk into work each day about a good 30 minutes fast paced each way, then do the stairs which is 17 flights. 3 times a week once I've walked in I crank out about 80 pushups and then I also swim 2 k once a week. I find doing that combined with a surf once or twice a week pretty good exercise. I've found the hellfire very easy to paddle and get into waves with and it's also a good performance board.

[waverdr]

Hey Chris,
This may be a stupid question but where can we get a firewire tshirt or cap from?
Are they even available to buy?

[prjwebb]

Not available to buy. There's the odd cap given away in facebook comps and it's possible t shirts could come in the future!

[Chris]

yeah thanks prj. in time we'll have some stuff like that. Our pipeline is so full of stuff to improve our boards, really good stuff, that softgoods are bit of an afterthought right now. I'll keep you posted.

you could reach out to the Currumbin offices...

FIREWIRE AUSTRALIA

1/49 Currumbin Creek Road
Currumbin Waters Qld 4223
P.O. Box 137
Currumbin Qld 4223
Phone: +61 7 5587 7700
Fax: +61 7 5559 5913

[kdropin]

wanted that damn hat from the board contest we had on the board here.... thing was sweeeet!

[Fritzkat]

just a heads up, there is an NEW 7-0 HELLFIRE FST for sale with "Futures fin box" at Pacific Vibrations in Kailua Kona, Hawaii Island

[Chris]

Yeah Fritz!

[nunoalves]

Hi,

Its great to have this forum. Thanks to the contribuitions I was able to change my EF fins to a MR TFX and the board just came to life with this "little" change.

I have/love the EF 6'3" but I would like to have a HF for better wave surf. Living in Portugal, since its a small country, one can have easy access to goog surf all year.

I'm 38 years, 80 kilos, in good shape and I'm an beginner/intermediate surfer.

In spite all that have been written I need help... is it wrong to shoose the HF 6'2" (33,7l) that is 15% less volume than my EF 6'3" (39,8)?

[prjwebb]

That should be plenty of board for you.

If in doubt you could look at the 604, but the 602 has loads of foam for someone 80kg.

[savagebee]

Nuno, I agree, 602 would be plenty of board. You could go smaller to 600 even. I am 82 kg 6'1 intermediate and recently bought 600 Hellfire. It has plenty of float for me, catches waves and surfs really easy. If anything I think I could have gone smaller to 510 as initial impression is that I am losing the fins a bit in high speed turns (futures AM2 fins).

[iggy]

Agreed there!!!. Tried the 5'10" and seemed a bit thin, the 6'0" was the answer at 84Kgs

[nunoalves]

Hi iggy, savagebee and prjwebb,

Thanks for your reply :-)

I'll get the HF 6'2" since we dont get that much boards in portuguese surf shops, one has to content with what is stock. Small country, small credit but great free waves... thats what you get from a low industrialized country!

I would be greatfull if you could also get some advice on FCS fins to go on this FireWire board.

[Slowman]

I'm riding my Hellfire as a quad using Rusty R2 set with a very small stabiliser in the 5th fin box. This works very well for me.

[savagebee]

Nuno, I've not ridden the new board enough to judge fins for sure, but from my experience and reading on this forum I will recommend that you go for fins on the larger side. In FCS that would be AMG, PC7, SA? or the like.

[nunoalves]

So, are you sure I could go for the 6'0?

The HF 6'2 was sold, there is only a 6'0 at the surf shop :-(

[iggy]

Hey Nuno try to contact Myles to see if something can be done

[nunoalves]

Hi, iggy

Thanks, do you happen to know where can I find this Myles?

I'm in a similar situation as you, just started my immigration process to Montreal :-) how knows if we wont meet soon (althtough there are no waves in Montreal)...

[prjwebb]

Shoot him an email at [email protected]

There's a shipment on route at the moment so depending on what your dealer has ordered and if you can wait there will be fresh boards in the next 3 weeks or so.

[iggy]

Hi, iggy

Thanks, do you happen to know where can I find this Myles?

I'm in a similar situation as you, just started my immigration process to Montreal :-) how knows if we wont meet soon (althtough there are no waves in Montreal)...

Nuno as soon as you get here let me know!.Is plenty of surf around, believe it or not!!!.We surf practically all year round that's of course if you are not afraid of the rubber!!!;)

[nunoalves]

As a surfer, you can imagine my fear to let go of my beautiful portuguese waves just 15 minutes away from my house. I cant imagine here is surf in Quebec but I'll trust your word for it :-)
Nuno as soon as you get here let me know!.Is plenty of surf around, believe it or not!!!.We surf practically all year round that's of course if you are not afraid of the rubber!!!;)

[nunoalves]

Again, thanks for the tip :-D
Shoot him an email at [email protected]

There's a shipment on route at the moment so depending on what your dealer has ordered and if you can wait there will be fresh boards in the next 3 weeks or so.

[Chris]

THanks for the help Iggy and Prj!

[JUPITER HELLFIRE]

I'm coming down in size from riding 9' longboards for the past 23 years. I bought a 7' Hellfire last weekend..only had the chance to surf some closed out Hurricane swell so far..Gonna hit some local waist to chest high windchop tomorrow with the Hellfire! I figured I'd be more comfortable on the biggest Hellfire they offered based upon riding longboards for so long now!!

[hanaleisurfer]

Aloha wavedr, we are very similar in age and weight and surf experience. I have had the 6 6 Hellfire for about a year and I LOVE it!! You wont be disappointed. I am 210 pounds and it paddles well for me. The board works great as a quad or a thruster, though I do prefer it as a thruster most of the time (unless the waves are really fast down the line walls) It rides great from shoulder high to just about double overhead. Get the board, you wont regret it!!

[renmachado]

Olá Nuno,

sou de Aveiro, tenho uma Firewire Hellfire 6'4.
Se precisares de algumas dicas é só dizer.

Boas ondas.
Renato

[Rob.H]

any advice?

i usually ride my PU boards short with the wide point further up. thickness is usually 2 1/2 with the widths going in at 18 3/4 to 19 1/12 or thereabouts. between 5'10" - 6'0" ( only stuck on two currently ) i weigh in at 81kgs dry and stick out at about 185cm ( +-6ft?) surfing 3-5 das a week in season in waves from 2 to 6 (maybe 7ft)

Now my question? taking my current two board quiver into account looking at a 602 ALT or thick 600Mb for the better waves or the Hellfire for small wave support and fun? i can only get one now (its pricy here in RSA, but still worth it) should i be going more the performance orientated side of the catalogue? or maybe go for the Hellfire as an "introduction to firewire stoke"

taking into account the board i get will have go in just about anything, i tend to favour boards for long in a myriad of conditions nd def not shy of paddling my 5'10 into waves up to six foor if the board is going well for me. most often here in Cape Town, when the waves come with size they also bring wind rain and plummetting water temps. so i`m always suited up well. it helps therefore that i have confidence in the board i am riding. just looking for a firewire "In" board, so i can grow a quiver frm there.
any advice would be appreciated i realise its a broad question but you have to start somewhere.
cheers

[prjwebb]

I think all 3 options out have you covered in a range of conditions. Alternator will be a more forgiving but traditional shortboard feel, the MB will be full performance shortboard with some extra volume and the Hellfire will be the more Hybrid feeling board but it's still high performance and will handle good waves.
It comes down more to the type of feel you want from the board and the type of surfing you want to do.

[Chris]

yeah I agree with PRJ here. They are all going to actually work reasonable well in similar conditions just with subtle differences between each one.

In your situation i think its important to look back on your surfing history and choose a board that seems to fit your preferences. To me, you will be most stoked on a board with a bot more performance, especially given where you are geographically. Dial it between the Alternator and Michel!!

[Rob.H]

Chris / Prj you guys are legends shot for the advice. the MB is looking like the front runner in this little battle for a new board, mainly beause i like to ride my boards shorter and the MB is designed to be ridden shorter. checked out the video, def looks like a board that can be pushed into and over anything out there! and for CT thats exactly what you need. just one more question, ideally size for the MB to ridden in? it looks like it could work from waist high to a little overhead?

cheers.

[prjwebb]

1.5x overhead + I reckon. As long as the wave isn't turning it self inside out it'll handle whatever you're comfortable paddling your short board into.

[Rob.H]

Thanks alot Prj - i`m really excited about riding a board of the volume with a rocker like the Taj Models, i`ve always found that lots of normal boards with high performance rockers dont always cater for bigger guys and you`ll sometimes have to order the particular board "bigger than usual" to get the same volume. the forum also helps alot. any guess hwne CBD will be availible in RSA?
cheers (and onto the MB threads now)

[core personal training]

i totally missed these posts...your going to LOVE it mate...