Quote Originally Posted by Desmond View Post
Hi guys, I am new to firewire but already owned and loved a tomo nano (a model that is less progressive than the vanguard they are making). I lived in Asia so it did take quite a lot of time to sort out delivery with tomo during my last custom. Got a firewire distributor in my area so hopefully they can bring me a vanguard of my size. Still not decided between the 5'0 and 5'2.

So my understanding of the construction is rapid fire is like a eps+epoxy with bamboo deck? How does the white rapidfire (without bamboo) differs with the original bamboo version in terms of resistance to dents and flex? And the FST is parabolic balsa rail with PU? Seems like you guys prefer the FST because of more flex despite higher price.

Can't wait for the new stick! Hopefully there will be more tomo models come up soon
If you go to the websites main page and click on explore then technology you can get all the info about Rapid fire and FST.

Personally I prefer FST construction not so much for the flex but for the durability standard PU boards generally last me 6 months(if lightly glassed) to a year(if good glass job) before there kind of lost there magic, deck sunk(dont mind that actually, but snapped boards from it), few dings on bottom, tail or rail shatters, Im coming up to 12 months on both my FW,s and both dont have one pressure ding on the bottom and on the deck only a very slight sunk/ding from front foot and tiny pressure dings from my duck diving knee, very slight shatter on nose from slamming it real hard into rock cliff.

I haven't had a rapid fire but a mate who is far nicer on his boards than me has a few dings on his (has a few) and the second hand ones i see around for sale are generally more dinged up than the FST,s i see for sale second hand.

Personally from what ive seen, rapid fire construction seems roughly twice as durable than a standard(not lightly glassed) PU board while FST construction seems twice as durable as rapid fire, but this is just my personal view and others may beg to differ.

About flex, i honestly dont know to many variables for me to tell, but performance wise both my FW FST boards go great up there with some of the best boards of ridden (ridden over 50+ boards)