Hey Nev/anybody...
Im looking for a bit of guidance with buying a firewire board. I have never owned one but like all I have read and heard about them so have decided to make one my next purchase. Anyways, I am 6'1" and 84kgs and my long term shortboard in the UK was a 6'3" x 18.5 x 2.5 and was a well rounded board which was awesome at any location I used it, beachies, pointbreaks whatever. I used it in 6'-8' surf max and it wasnt the best paddler at that size but felt comfortable once riding. I moved to Perth West Oz and hadnt surfed for a while so bought a 6'6" da lewy thinking the surf would be more powerful and the extra float would do me good except Perth is pretty poor for surfing and felt like a boat! It is great in bigger surf 8'-10' (south west wa) but very directional.
Im moving to the East coast soon around Newcastle and want a new board, something that would allow me to catch a heap of waves from waist high to the 6-8 foot range. I will use the 6'6" if it get a bit bigger.
I want something that is fun to surf and suits my preferred power turn style rather than snappy tight turns and loose surfing. I havent really surfed much at all in the last 2-3 years so I wouldnt mind a fairly forgiving board with a bit of paddle, but something that will perform as I get back into it after a while. The Dominator was an option but I feel I may want to progress onto a more higher performance after a while so I looked at the Spitfire. Then I thought how will it go in good solid 4-6 foot surf, will it be too wide and small? So im also considering the Hellfire! Im really not sure which one will be the more versatile and bet 'one board for all conditions' (up to 6-8'). Im looking at the 6' SPitfire and the 6'2" Hellfire, are these even the right sizes I should be looking at? The 5'10" could also be a goer? I am more inclined to the SPitfire for some reason.
Also which fins are best all round. Im maybe looking at the FCS PC-7's, SF-4's or the K3's. They are all a little different but which are more suited to a thruster setup on the Spitfire (that is the board I do end up getting).
Ive just noticed this is a massive long winded lifestory but I sure aint re writing it now!
Any help would be great from people who know these boards well.
Cheers