Just got a 5.9 Activator, put a Rastovich future quad set of fins and went right to the beach. Here are my first impressions of the board:
1)The board looks meatier than on paper, specially at the thickness.Looks more a 2 1/2 thick board than a 2 5/16 correspondent to a 5.9 size. The volume of 29.1 looks a little underrated, feels like a board of more volume. So if you are doubious between the 5.7 or 5.9, take note of this.
2) Outline is beautifull,like a twin fin of the 80's, the rocker is low at the nose, compensated with a small rocker at the tail, that i think makes the board more loose. The tail is amazing, great way to reduce foam at the ending of the board.
3) Conditions: Choppy 2 footers, as usual here... i chose the board for this type of seas. First wave, front side, very easy paddling and speeding fast after bottom turn.I passed through sections without even positioning my feet well in the board...
4) The board feels loose ,very fast, and natural in transition, comming from a 5.9 El fuego.
5) It is snappier than El fuego and a lot faster. You don't have that fat nose in front of you...
6) Backside is natural as well, very predictable even with quad set of fins.
7) Overall first impression?: Another amazing board from Firewire. Fast, loose, and specially made for small conditions, great paddling and beautifull retro outline. Go for it!!

I recently got a CBD Alternator striking right around my best litrage: 29 lts. It is a 5.9 x 18 7/8 x 2 1/2 for small waves. You can reach your personal litrage varying different measures, this one was one of the five alternators i designed around the same volume before choosing it. I do not recommend to vary either the tail or the nose width. It is prefferrable to vary overal witdh than any of those measures. Unless you're a shaper. Those are vital ones for the proportions of the board. You will still be riding an Alternator's design if you mantain the outline of the board: A fatter alternator, a thinner alternator, a shorter alternator, a longer alternator, but an alternator anyway.
My board went as expected, very fast, turns in a dime, and supports my 79 Kg very well in small conditions up to solid three to four feets. Magic board!!!

Yes Bergie, i normally ride boards between 27 to 29L, but in the MB you only feel the volume in the paddling, which is good.
Seems that the volume is well centered at the middle of the standing point so the board respond easily when you get over rails. However, it likes hollow powerfull waves because of its rocker, not a board to surf mushy, small, flat waves. It is a shortboard anyway. One of the nicest and easiest to ride i've ever had.

Hi all: Got my first session on a 6.0 MB thicker version on a glass 3" lefts (my backhand). I'm 78 Kg and used to ride thinner boards,Fexfires, Quadfives,Fuegos,Predator(Formula Energy). I have been riding quads for a while, so i decided to try again a standard shortboard, and though the MB would fit me perfectly. The only one available was the thicker version which i though was going to have too much volume at 29.9 lts. In my hands, the board felt a little boxy,but i took in anyway.....
Let me tell you that on the first wave all those concerns disappeared.... The board is Magic!!!. Paddles very well and has a combination of nervousness of the Taj with an easy ride hard to describe. Very fast, goes to top when you order for it, like an extention of your feets. It still feels very solid at top speed, hard to understand,having those fat rails. Can't recommend it enough!!!

Thanks Chris, sounds like a perfect blend! Considering bringing some to Venezuela!
Regards

Hello Chris: Could you be more specific on the rocker of the MB model?. You said on an earlier post it had the same rocker as the Taj model. The rocker on Taj is very pronounced, i couldn't ride it propperly. My 6,2 Taj was so sensitive i coul'dnt make a strong bottom, the board went faster on one side than me and i always ended with my mouth or back in the water.
You have to be almost a Pro to ride that kind of rocker. I want to know if this is the case of the MB.
Thanks!!!!

Hello Chris: Could you be more specific on the rocker of the MB model?. You said on an earlier post it had the same rocker as the Taj model. The rocker on Taj is very pronounced, i couldn't ride it propperly. My 6,2 Taj was so sensitive i coul'dnt make a strong bottom, the board went faster on one side than me and i always ended with my mouth or back in the water.
You have to be almost a Pro to ride that kind of rocker. I want to know if this is the case of the MB.
Thanks!!!!

Understood Chris, thanks!!

Wonder why both WT Firewire surfers; Michael and Taj did not use Firewires boards in Hawai in most of their heats. I've seen photos of Gavin Gilette in big big hawaian waves, so the brand seems to work well in big surf. Please explain.
Regards,