Quadraflex vs. Hellfire?

[buzzy]

i'm the same, i ride full hp boards in all conditions...i DONT ride fish...i dont even like hybrids...until nev talked me into the hellfire..!!...probably because if ridden small it behaves as a full hp....

i've pretty much always ridden nevs...dont buy others...i hand them out to demo continually and that is how i test all the other boards...

oh, you just removed the "blah" that my post referenced.....

Sorry about that. Just for posterity for others reading I was saying how I didn't get off on the sensitivity or reactivity of a true, narrow, rockered hi-per shortboard. I preferred them a little wider. I was also observing that Webber was making his Afterburners wider as the standard shorty started getting a little wider more recently. I was also saying I hated true fish, and had a DVS epoxy fish which looked great but I hated surfing. I like a little more "neutrality" for want of a better word in my boards, which I think width and a slightly flatter rocker gives you, at least to a point. So I personally don't find say the Dom overly fishy (compared to a true fish) but just find it very neutral, and less reactive to minor pilot input. The Alt is a little more reactive, but still more neutral than a true Hi-Fi board.

Sorry, nothing worse than responding to a post and then finding the original has disappeared!

[Fritzkat]

Buzzy
I bought a 6-6 Quadra Five FST last season, I found it ran best as a tri-fin in a large open faced wave, Over Head High to Double Over head no problem. Held its rail fine working bottom turns, snaps off the top which works in best in semi hollow and handles in Hollow waves.

My 6-4 Hell Fire FST on the other hand, as a tri-fin, seemed more responsive in all aspects of performance transitions, carved tighter and flew down the line picking up speed faster that my Q-5 on the same waves. I felt lighter on my feet on the Hell fire.. I would trade my 6-6 Q-5 for a 6-6 Hell fire So I could paddle into some double over head sets with some extra foam.

[Chris]

good stuff fritz.

buzzy, major differences between the quadrafive and alternator:
the quadrafive is a bit wider, overall, has the wide point pushed back slightly but the volume from the center to the rails falls off a bit more than the Alternator. The quadra5 has a very high performance feel to it while still having a little hybrid DNA mixed in. Also, the swallow really allows the board to bite. I feel they are close but the quadra5 skates a bit more and draws just a slightly longer line due to its width. The alternator just has a bit more of a traditional shortboard ride to it...

they are close and I am struggling a bit to give you MAJOR differences because there aren't any, but there are subtle differences pertaining to the width, wide point, tail shape and fin options.

cheers and hope this helps.

[SurfPilgrim]

Hi Chris -

So I talked to the fellas at Surf Ride (a couple times) about demo'ing a 0604 Hellfire FST, but they said that they are having trouble getting FW demos lately mentioning that the flooding in Thailand was affecting production of Firewire boards. After all of the great input here and on other threads on the Quadraflex/Q5 vs the Hellfire, I've basically decided on getting the 0604 Hellfire but now I'm a bit worried that I won't be able to get one in time.

Do you have any 0604 Hellfire FST with FCS set-ups at your San Diego warehouse? I leave for my trip in about 10 days - thinking I'll take the 0606 Quadraflex to S. America, S. Africa, W. Africa, and Taiwan but since friggin' Cathay Pacific is trying to charge me $600 to fly the board home from Taiwan I'll likely just leave it over there with friends. Was hoping to pick up the 0604 Hellfire either before I leave on 2/5 or maybe in April when I'm back in SD for 4 days before heading down to El Salvador. Stoked!

[prjwebb]

Production had slowed towards the end of last year but from what I've heard it's all systems are go now.

[Chris]

yeah production is cranking and boards are on their way, but inventories are still low for certain shapes/sizes at retail.

Surf Pilgrim,
That board we are out of and it would be tight getting it to you in 10 days. we do have a few scheduled to come in end of next week, but the delivery could very easily show up the week after next. If you want a shot at it, the best thing would be to place the order with Surfride and drop a deposit or whatever it is that they need. After you place it, have them email me directly at [email protected] and I'll enter it with the specific details of your circumstance and we'll go from there.

I am not sure on Surf Ride's purchase policies, but you may have to accept the risk of the board showing up after you leave....so you make the call.

Feel free to follow up over email, I will likely respond faster there.

Cheers