Firewire dealer in Taiwan with demo models

[Slowman]

I'm putting this up for a couple of reasons; one to help a friend and two, because there is no information on the dealers page (yet!). I was looking to get a Hellfire in Taiwan to save the hassle of taking one over it turned out by fortunate coincidence a friend is a dealer.

My friend, Turtle, owns a surf shop called the Surfer Inn ( see http://www.surferinn.com.tw/ ) and he has demo boards available too. It's on the NE coast of Taiwan in Toucheng (about 40-50 minutes drive from Taipei). Go to his website for contact details (his Chinese name is Lee, Yo-Lin but Turtle is easy to remember). There is even a Facebook page with a few pictures of the demo models. He speaks English too in case you were wondering.

Here's a picture so you know what you are looking for:
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It's tricky to locate here's a map link It's just off highway #2.

I have seen another surf shop on highway #2 with the Firewire logo on a sign outside so I'm guessing they are also a dealer. May as well add if you know of any.

[prjwebb]

How's the surf in Taiwan Slowman? And what time of year is the best season? Never really looked into it before.

[Slowman]

Ha ha PRJ, July is about the worst month! Unless there is a typhoon the waves are typically small summer dribble in the 1-3' range. It's been 1' all this week. Winter is usually good but there are no typhoons but usually plenty of swell anyway varying from 2' to 10'. I've had good waves quite a few times around November/December but a lot of the time my visits are based on other timing factors and yet most times I come here I score something good. Different parts of the island have different optimum times but nowhere is more than 5 hours away, so it is possible to chase waves if you have the time.

Surfing here in the last 5 years has seen an explosion like Japan did back in the 80s and 90s. Plenty of Japanese surfers have been coming here (some even settled) to visit to escape their own crowds. There are a few good quality spots but more akin to a Trestles type wave though there some barreling waves too. The thing is, there is still the potential to locate new spots. The crowds stick to the popular spots. It's a bit of crazy place...I surfed this morning just out the front at Toucheng with at least a 100 guys in the water at 6am. Yet 5 minutes up the road, same quality and it was deserted, so I had a surf there afterwards too.

[prjwebb]

Sounds pretty interesting... Get some photos if you can!

[Slowman]

Pictures? Why of course! Summer silly season is in full swing here, 6PM and the party is still going...
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hopefully I catch a decent swell in the next 10 days and have some photos of real waves

[prjwebb]

Haha party time indeed!

[Slowman]

Here's what it can get like...
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[Chris]

favorite wave, bottom left.

[prjwebb]

The 'Ours' of Taiwan.

[tallkook]

Cheers Slowman, thanks for the info mate. Taiwan is definitely on my radar.