FireWire fun bag

[K24Surfer]

I am 5'10" 165 and have had several FW dating back to my first three Quadraflexes. At one point I had five different boards but now five years later I have settled on these: 5'2" Sweet Potato for the really small weak days 1-3 ft. (a really fat mushy three feet), 5'10" Hellfire for the bigger punchier 2-3foot, and a 6'1" Flexfire Direct Drive for everything else.

I do admit though, I have ordered and am waiting to get a 5'6" Potatonator, and a 5'11" Hellrazor to possibly take the place of or compliment the sweet potato and Hellfire. I will never sell or get rid of my Direct Drive and god forbid if it ever breaks I will immediately buy another one with the same dimensions. I have ridden this board in double and approaching triple Overhead waves in Cost Rica and Hurricane swells in Florida and it has never let me down and fills me up with confidence when the waves are consequential. Please do add this to your quiver!

[Chris]

The 600 thick performs REALLY well....

I think you'd be happier without the extra length...

[K24Surfer]

Hey Chris, is there a board that you recommend above others for larger, more powerful surf? I have the 6'1" FFDD and I rode my 5'11" HZ during Hurricane Sandy and they went fine but I go to Costa Rica Playa Hermosa a lot and it's sometimes scary big. I saw where you have the artillery series board. How are these to paddle, duck dive, ride etc. I want to go out but want to surf and not just get punished. Thanks a lot for your input!

[prjwebb]

From what Chris has said to me the Artillery 603 would be right up your street. I think it's something like 6'3 x 18"3/8 x 2"1/2 - 29.3l

On the right
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I'd imagine that'd get you into anything you'd want to surf in CR. There's the 606 and 608 Pin tail Flexfires too if you're nuts.... :)

[Chris]

Hey K24,
Stoked on the support. The thing to obviously remember is paddling out in costa in bigger surf, unless you are going to one of the few perfect points, you are going to get pounded no matter what board you are on. The big deal is choosing a board that fits waves that you are paddling into in respect to size. How big are you talking? Double overhead and hollow?

The Artillery is a great board but it is a board that is truly designed for bigger barrel riding, NOT as much for turning and performance. It has a wider point forward and volume under the front foot for pumping under the lip of a wave. An example, Timmy Reyes rides a 603 and 605 at solid Pipe and Backdoor so that helps give you a little perspective on the wave it was designed for.

Personally, I am looking at Alternator and Flexfire round tails long before the artillery unless you are CERTAIN you are going to have massive ones. If I were heading to Indo, off the cuff, I would have a 604 flexfire roundtail before an artillery because I want a little more of a shortboard feel. Those boards have good big wave applications but will be far more usable in slightly smaller conditions that you are more likely to see on your trip and around home. I think going from a 601 to an Artillery is too big of a step without having a more traditional step up.

I would encourage you to look at those.

[K24Surfer]

Hey thanks very much! Your advice is spot on and I agree completely with you. Does Firewire still make the Flexfire in DD or do you recommend something with a springer with a roundtail? As far as big goes: I train with Jim Hogan in CR and he will call it head to three feet overhead but there are sneaker sets that come up every hour or so that are twice that! I have ridden there when Surfline has called it 8-10+ and it's hollow. Not as Hollow as Pipe or Puerto Escondido but plenty of power for sure. I live in Florida and want to start going to Puerto Rico as well and know that it gets very heavy there. I have a hard time judging size coming from Florida and also once I drop in I'm not thinking about how big the wave is. I'm getting along in age and have been surfing for 25 years but have recently learned I was doing it all wrong (arms and upper body out of whack). It's actually really cool though because I am getting to apply world class coaching and am filled with new confidence. It's like learning to surf all over again but on a professional level. Can't recommend Jim Hogan enough!

Thanks as always for your help.

[Chris]

yeah anything listed on our site in Direct Drive can be ordered/special ordered if its not in stock.

but yeah over in PR you could certainly find use for the Artillery series on the waves. Costa Rica I am sure you could as well. Talk with your coach too. He might have a few thoughts, plus he knows your surfing...

[Chris]

yeah anything listed on our site in Direct Drive can be ordered/special ordered if its not in stock.

but yeah over in PR you could certainly find use for the Artillery series on the waves. Costa Rica I am sure you could as well. Talk with your coach too. He might have a few thoughts, plus he knows your surfing...