hellfire or sub schorcher

[sunny]

Has any one surfed both boards if so can you help me descide between the two boards. I have surfed 6'0 hellfire and thought it was a good board but was a bit chunky, was thinking the 5'10 would be better? I love the look of the sub but dont know any one who has surfed it, Iwant the board to cover variaty of waves at local breaks (East coast England) slow to punchy beach breaks and the odd point break when they work. I do have a6'2 alt round tail, i have owned a few firewire boards; sweet potato,el feugo ,dom and futura so familiar with the tech. I have placed a order months ago for taj custom in the hope of getting it for my Mentawai trip in April (looking like i might not see that board before i go which i was suprised ordering it so early...... but thats another story) I have read threads on the sub and hellfire both sing each ones praises so if anyone could help me descide between the two would be great help.

[kdropin]

see sub scorcher thread.. and you can check the old forum about prjwebb 5'8 that he's rocking.. him and chris seem to have a pretty good feel for it.. i'm debating the same issue.. it driving me nuts! 5'8 or 5'10 5'8 or 5'10!???????

[sunny]

Thanks kdropin i have read pretty much every thread on the old site about each board, but have yet to read about anybody who has surfed both boards to compare the two, it seems like both have very good reports individualy. I was looking for comparison like which paddles better? which is better in the good surf? or better still which is going to be the one to take to the mentawai's? As for which size the 5'10 in both models should be a good fit. At 5'11 and 90kg, and should hopefully be less before i go (i have a marathon to run 7 days before i go - ha ha). I have surfed the 6'0 hellfire, and thought it was a great board, could paddle on to anything that was in 5mm suit, boots, gloves and hood, so in a pair of board shorts at fighting weight should be ok on 5'10. Wish i could try the sub before buying! Although i liked the hellfire the sub keeps calling to me?!

[prjwebb]

I think the HF might excel is better waves, due to the bottom contours, although the Sub is a little narrower at the widest point and a little more knifey through the tail. I think the HF has a thicker tail more like the Spitfire, but I guess with the step rail and 90kg pushing it a little meat in the tail isn't going to be a problem.
I think the rockers will be your deciding point. I'd want the one with more rocker in Mentawai waves.

[Chris]

Yeah the Hellfire feels a bit more like a hybrid. Its got a little more width throughout and rides a bit more like a hybrid while the sub was born from a shortboard template and rides a bit more like a shortboard.

The other thing to remember about the hellfire is that it has a relatively pronounced double concave. This helps with loosening up the board and making it more maneuverable, but its slightly different than a standard short board. The board goes rail to rail really well and feels more maneuverable than you would expect. So essentially you have a tricked out hybrid and the double concave adds a new element to the already proven template of the hellfire.

[sunny]

Thanks for your replys, does the sub have a little more rocker then hellfire? looks like it has a little more kick in the tail?

[prjwebb]

I'm not too sure about the rocker differences, Chris might be able to get you some numbers. The Sub has a pretty low entry rocker which makes it paddle well and get through flatter sections, but it has just enough nose flip to keep the nose up when conditions get steeper. It's fairly low on the tail rocker too but has a bit of kick right out the end that lets it fit nice in the pocket and keep it really loose. Here's a rocker shot of the Sub for you.

I'm not too sure about the Hellfire's rocker, maybe someone can post a shot of the Hellfire in the same position.

[core personal training]

thats looking more than the 510 hf...i'll click off a pic in the morning to compare...going dark here now and my camera is crap in low light...btw...i'm 90kg on the 510 hellfire...if your fit and can surf it is FUN...

heres a quicky..will set up like phills tomorrowhfrock.jpg

[Chris]

Here is the other thing about the sub scorcher that i would add. The sub is a good small wave board, period. I think you want to ride this board short because its a really flat and wide SHORTBOARD. When you ride it longer it feels too full and stops working like a SHORTBOARD. Because you ride it shorter, you kind of want to keep it in smaller waves, tight pockets, etc.

The hellfire, to me, can be ridden in a wider range of conditions and has high performance hybrid characteristics that allow the board to work well in smaller surf and bigger surf. Lets say you had slightly over head surf, pretty fast and you were looking at either the hellfire or sub scorcher. In surf that size I would want a 510 sub scorcher and a 510 Hellfire. The 510 sub, however has too much volume and I would have a hard time getting the tail to bite. With the double concave and chime rail of the Hellfire, however, I would have an easier time drawing deep off the bottom and hooking the board with speed. That is my take.

Cheers

[prjwebb]

That's really good insight actually Chris.