Firewire Community - Vanguard (Tomo) - New

So....order my 5'6 but not sure if is too much ..

Surfnomada — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:58:35 GMT

Hi there,
i have been waiting for ages to be able to put my hands on this design and finally it comes to Spain!
Now Imam struggling to decide if I should go for the 5'6 or the 5'4..
I am 5'7 and 70kg(154 lb) ,average surfer but fit.My everyday board is a clayton trickster 5'10 19 2 3/8
So...any help there?
Thanks a lot!

Vanguard as a kitesurf board

KiterStan — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:55:32 GMT

So stoked! I bought a 5'0" Vanguard on the recommendations/reviews/intel gathered from this forum. I got it on Saturday and took it out kitesurfing on Sunday and Monday. I'm 145lbs or 66kg and find that the board is just about the right size if I'm powered. I'd go a bit bigger for more volume/float if your intention is to use it as a lightwind board. I rode it as a quad with TC Aqualine fins. 9m kite both days (though, way overpowered and should've been on a 7m on Monday).

Stoke: OMG is the board fun! Crazy fast, ridiculously light, strapless airs are super easy, turns on a dime, and the board will fit in a kiting "golf" travel bag. Say goodbye to oversize fees or having to rent a sub-par board when I fly.

Issues/concerns: Really worried about how durable the board will be. I've already put some good heel dents in it. I know... it's not reinforced for kitesurfing and it's not FST construction, but my TL2 Stretch F4 has held up nicely over the past two years.

What next: Getting into some real waves (nothing but wind swell where I am). Riding it as a tri-fin.

Thanks all for the info/reviews in this forum; was super helpful for sizing. Thanks Surfride for getting me the board and fins - they were packaged really nicely.

NEW Amped Out Video (Vanguard & V4)!

PokerSurfer — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:40:00 GMT

Thanks _mAdNeSs_ (from Surfer Mag MPH Message Board):

Frothin' -- PS

Brand Spankin' New 5'4

PokerSurfer — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:51:38 GMT

New FireWire Top.jpg[[/ATTACH]New FireWire After.jpg

Check out this surf report (Hawaiian scale) for the SOUTH shore ALL week (are you kidding me....... THIS has got to be a dream): http://www.surfnewsnetwork.com/

Will give session report ASAP with the K2.1 fins (original blue & whites) as well as H3 Nexus quad rears. My next purchase IF this fails me will be the matching H3 Nexus in large but thinking FOR ME with this larger Vanguard template that the smaller fins may be just right.

Board feels well balanced, SUPER light AND the craftsmanship is superb. It has characteristics as my custom Tomos from the past like deep contours etc....... CAN'T WAIT and I can't sleep!

PS:

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Vanguard Update From Mark Via Surfer Magazine Board/Stu Kennedy Info

PokerSurfer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:20:38 GMT

"Guys, here is the full run down. Firewire has partnered with Dan on a number of fronts, including building him a state of the art shaping bay at our San Diego headquarters.

2013: FW/Tomo branded Vanguards and V-4's will be released globally and sold exclusively through existing FW retailers.

2014 and beyond: Ongoing FW/Tomo boards as per 2013 with the addition of another 2-3 Tomo designs (Nano for sure) which will also be sold through Firewire dealers, but they will be in a flex tech unique to Tomo, and will not carry the Firewire logo.

Customs: Tomo is free to continue building custom boards but he will not be shaping stock boards for any retailers. All Tomo stock boards at retail will be either the Firewire/Tomo boards or the Tomo-only models in 2014, all built by Firewire.

I think you’ve got to see it from Dan’s perspective. With his popularity he had a simple choice. Remain focused on pushing the envelop with surfboard design, and enjoying the freedom to travel etc. without the headaches of running an ever-expanding business as his designs take hold. Or start putting the entire infrastructure in place to set up his own company with all of the headaches involved, and thereafter all of the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business. Sure he could have found a partner to help, but he would still have had to carry a load way beyond just board design, never mind raising capital etc.

As a strong believer in Firewire’s tech already and with our own factory capabilities, as well as collaborating with Dan to create unique flex ‘recipes’ for his 2014 Tomo-only branded boards, this approach makes sense for him.

I’m sure there are many shapers who would have made the same decision, or a very similar one, if faced with these options.

What would you do in the same situation?"

FWIW Stu Kennedy is 5'10 and weighs 140 lbs or 64kg and commonly rides a 5'2 & 5'3 17.5 2.25 Vader/DeathStar (XTR). I owned one of his Prototype DeathStar (personally purchased from Dan) boards which measured 5'3 17.5 2.25 (XTR) and a friend of mine currently owns one (personally purchased from Dan) @ 5'1 17 1/8 2 1/8 DeathStar (XTR) . The 5'4" version would be too bouyant for someone at 140 lbs for sure in which 5'1 & 5'2 are ideal.

PS

Vanguard vs HPSB comparison photos

prjwebb — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:48:23 GMT

Although most have probably got to check out a Vanguard in the flesh now I thought this might be helpful for some folks to see a direct comparison between a 5'6 x 18.5" x 2.38" - 28.8l Vanguard and a 6'0" x 18.81" x 2.38" 28.0l CBD Taj.

The photo quality isn't the best and there isn't every angle covered but I think it shows the area, thickness, rockers and foam distribution of the two boards fairly well.

IMG_0189.jpg IMG_0197.jpg
6" less length but with the area in the nose and tail and the straighter effective rail line you wouldn't know it. Despite the small dims it doesn't look or feel like a tiny board.
At least my deck denting is consistent!
IMG_0190.jpg IMG_0196.jpg
Lower tail rocker and a lot more foam held through there. Combined with the width you've got to be very back footed with this board.
IMG_0193.jpg
Trying to show the concave here. The VG has a LOT more concave than even the Taj, despite having less rocker.

A couple more in the next post.

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Heads Up -- Oahu FireWire Vanguard Alert

PokerSurfer — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:32:24 GMT

Drift.jpgJUST IN.......http://www.driftsurf.com/surfboards/5'0 through 5'6 (RARE shipment)!

Passed due to only Futures availability.

PS

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