Lost Stealth or Hellfire or..?

[robhero]

Hi! I need some help with which one to get. I ride a 5'4 SP on the small days and on slow/flat waves. Now I need a board that I can ride on faster waves and on bigger days. It'll be on beachbreaks and pointbreaks. I am intermediate and surf all year round here and away. I have tried a 5'11 El fuego, didn't like it, thought that it was way to flat in the nose and a bit big. I have a Semente 6'3 performance board with rounded pin as a step up board. I have been looking at a 5'10 Hellfire and a 6'0 Stealth. What I actually want is a board with performance rocker but wide (19-19 1/2) and a bit wider tail and nose than a normal performance board. Has anyone tried em both? If you have any other suggestions on boards please let me know. All help is appreciated. Peace!!

[prjwebb]

I think the Stealth has a relatively flat entry rocker with quite a bit of tail rocker. It's high performance, but low in the nose rocker. The Hellfire doesn't have a whole bunch of rocker, but a nice smooth even curve I think. Everyone that's ridden it seems to really like it especially it bigger and hollower stuff. I think that'd be the pick based on the information you've given.

[mrees]

Hey robhero i was torn between the same two boards a short while back in the same sizes too. don't think you'll go too far wrong on either of those for what you want. In the end i went for the hellfire and i can say with confidence its a super sweet board. Couldn't comment properly on the lost stealth as i haven't seen or surfed one but hellfire seems to be pretty magic so far. Its replaced my standard shortboard (previously a 600 alternator) and as prjebb says the rocker is fairly continuous but it has a nice flip in the last 3-4 inches on the nose. much more than i was expecting but then again i have been used to the dom which has little rocker. All in all its a very good allrounder that should go well in the juice at home or abroad.

[core personal training]

robhero...if by "performance rocker" you mean normal curves then the HF does not have that..BUT...it sure rides like it does...the 5'10 is the only "flatter" board i have ever enjoyed...i ride it in place of my full rockered shortboard in pretty much everything...if your really stuck on more rocker then look at something like the futura...it takes your performance surfing into lesser waves....but ... the 5'10 HF really is a winner..!!

[robhero]

Hi! Tnx for the replies! I actually got to try a friends HF 5'10 yesterday. The waves were sloppy to good in waist to head high conditions, so it was very mixed. The board was really nice when it was cleaner and bigger. The board was surprisingly loose, I rode it as a thruster and it felt really good. On the small waves it felt like it got stuck on the face, I had to work it hard to get it going. I must say that the volume(29,4) is really well hidden and so is the width. The board really is a "performance hybrid". I still haven't decided yet if its gonna be a Stealth or a HF. My initial thoughts of my quiver was SP for the small and HF for normal days and a F1 as step up but now I am thinking of selling the SP for a Dom and getting a Stealth for normal days. I guess its just time to make up my mind... Don't think I'll get disappointed on any of the boards... Peace

[mattgenton]

hi to all at www.firewiresurfboards.com i thought i had sent this newyears eve but it didnt send so i have sent it again all the best for new year to every one
- matty

[donniedarko]

Really two different shapes IMO. The bottom contours are very different, and the rail lines as well. The Stealth I felt works good in flat faced surf and went really well for me as a quad. The Hellfire I only got a few waves on, cant say I clicked with it, but it was good enough were I have been on the fence to get one. It was a motivated board. The Hell Razor looks closer to what I would like

[Chris]

good points folks. Robhero i do think both the HF and Stealth are good options. I think i have heard a more consistently positive feedback from the stealth, but that is just my experience. I think the stealth has a bit more rocker and a bit less volume than some people expected.

Cheers!

[buzzy]

So Chris, just to very belatedly explore that more, you have been getting better feedback on the Stealth? That's a big (good) call given all the positive feedback on the Hellfire.

I'm contemplating a board to sit above my Dom but below my Alt and these two boards (the HF and Stealth, together with the quadrafive) are the ones in contemplation, with the HF the more likely pick. Given the Dom deals with up to head high completely fine I'd imagine the HF/Stealth would be for shoulder high to 1.5x overhead; I have in mind the autumn/winter ground swells we get here for all but the very biggest days. Conditions would likely range from Bells'ish to hollow, beach and rocky point breaks. How would they work relative to each other?

[iggy]

Tough call, the Stealth is an often not considered board and it's a fun one to ride.
But I will have to go for the Hellfire