Really keen on a hellfire but strugling for size

[timmy]

Hey guys, Name is Tim and I'm from Vic (Melbourne, Australia)

I am looking for a new DD (Daily Driver) and struggling to find something. Current quiver is Simon Anderson XFC 6'1x18 1/2x 2 3/8 (used for big days 4-6ft range dependent on wave type) and a lost Sub Scorcher 6'0x 19 1/2x 2.44 (bit to much volume but i got it brand new for $400 at a closing down sale and they didnt have a 5'11 which would of been better and its my groveler so the volume help on fat and slow days 1-4ft but starts to struggle with late drops at 4ft)

My stats are im 24 Y.O, 5'10 and 74kgs been surfing for 3-4 years, consider myself and intermediate to low intermediate
(surf 1-6ft waves ie, 13th Beacon, Juc, Bells, Flynns reef, Smiths, Forest caves / waves which tend to be ledgey fast and hollow to sometimes fat to powerful beachies dependent on tide, swell and wind)

was originally looking at a Alternator (still considering it) in 6'0 which is 28.7L according to the Firewire website which is the volume that works pretty well for me, although I've seen the response the hellfire has had and it gets me excited especially if it really goes as well as everyone says it does but i have the problem that there just isn't a size for me closest thing being a 5'10 which i feel is to small for me to feel comfortable on and i wouldn't be confident paddling something that small into bigger waves (3-4ft no worries but not any bigger) and it cant be CBD.

Ive ridden a 5'11 Taj in Bali (probably as small as i would want to go) and it was pretty sweet and loved how the firewire felt in the water although i dont always get to ride waves like they have very often so i need something with versatility + i already have the xfc for big point break/reef days

Opinions? Options? Advice? anything else you wanna lay on me

[prjwebb]

I'd say 511 HellRazor would fit you well. It's got the versatility to handle a pretty broad range or conditions thanks to the extra width and thicker tail but is still refined enough to surf full tilt in good waves.

[Piha Local]

Hi Tim, I have not ridden a Taj but I have ridden a Flexfire and currently ride a 6/4 Hellfire. I would think a 5/10 Hellfire will feel a lot bigger on the wave than a 5/11 Taj. Check the board compare section and the relative planing surface areas which I think will give a good idea of how much lift/support you are going to feel from the board once it is up and running on a wave. The Hellfire feels nice and loose, but with much less rocker than the Taj and more area in the tail it will be more consistent in its flow and more versatile through varying wave qualities. Coincidentally, I called a good friend of mine this afternoon to see what he was up to in Auckland NZ, [our home city] only to have him tell me he had just got out of the water at Jan Juc after a nice surf in 2-3 ft waves! Small world.

[timmy]

Piha thats crazy mate i was out there this arvo

such a shame that you cant CBD one and that they don't make a 5' 11 god knows why they make some models in 5 '11 but other models they dont?

6'0 has to much volume not sure if the hellfire is in store in aus yet to be able to throw a 5'10 under the arm although i highly doubt i would buy a 5'10 without demoing it and firewire demo's are as rare as rocking horse shit in vic

[indodreaming]

I live down Phillip island and ride a 5,10 hellfire mostly surf beachies between magic lands and Forrest caves, I'm about 5,8 about 75kg the board goes fine in the island waves ride it mostly as a quad, I ride my 6,3 flex fire (that is similar to a taj model) on better days.

Full circle surf shop stock Firewires but don't have many test boards and any they do have are in boat like dimens you can also order in any FW board they also normally have a few second hand FW boards, but mostly taj and flex fires, dominators.

[timmy]

the woolies store yer? been in there before and your on the money with the demo range being boats, what size waves you riding it in at the island?

starting to think about a stacey or chilli now hhhhmmmm

[Will.]

I'm with Phill, get the 5'11 hellrazor!

[Chris]

Yeah both the Razor and the Alternator are great options.

Keep in mind the Hellfire is a little more like a hybrid so if you go that route, remember it has a bit of a different feeling than your more traditional thruster short board.

Cheers!

[timmy]

i do like the Alt shape but from what i have read on here from opinions its more geared to wards the good days 4ft+ and clean only? how does the Razor compare? and how well will either board go in the 3-5 junk to the 4-6 clean and pumping

[prjwebb]

I'd say both boards would do well in anything a little over waist high up to 1.5x overhead as long as you're light on your feet. Bigger guys seem to prefer the Alt in bigger waves, for smaller guys its a fuller, more versatile shortboard.