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Firewire's Design Philosophy
  • markpmarkp May 2009
    Posts: 1,287

    We believe that there are no longer exponential performance benefits to be gained from changes in shape. The basic design dynamics of today’s high performance surfboard have been refined to the point where only incremental improvements can be made.

    The quantum leaps forward in performance have to come from new materials and methods of construction, which in turn will allow for further changes in shape, and thereby push performance boundaries forward.

    Ironically many of the worlds top surfers already benefit from some of Firewire’s technological accomplishments, although only by default. For example, the average top 10 WCT surfer rides boards which are built so light that they do have a small amount of flex. But that flex comes at the price of durability - with many of those guys actually saving their best boards just for heats.

    Not only does Taj enjoy controlled flex that does not fatigue over time, but he’s free riding his same competition boards. I’m not suggesting our boards are indestructible, but in the whole PU versus FW technology debate, when people take a superficial look at the equipment endorsements of pro surfers and draw conclusions about what their own experience will be, this is overlooked.

    In the final analysis, its not so much that Firewire has developed a COMPLETELY new performance characteristic foreign to surfboard design, but rather that we have refined an aspect of surfboard performance that was previously only available, and to a very slight degree, in the lightest surfboards built for the worlds best surfers.

    Its a very subtle distinction, but the enhanced performance of controlled, sustainable flex, with the correct rate of rebound, built into a lightweight and durable surfboard cannot be overestimated.

  • corepersonaltrainingcorepersonaltraining November 2010
    Posts: 681

    hey chris..oops, see whisper

    6 foot...85-90kg...30+ years surfing . . . FLEXFIRE 6'2 x 18 3/4 x 2 1/2 and others (mostly nev's)

  • SURFFOILSSURFFOILS December 2010
    Posts: 1


    "We believe that there are no longer exponential performance benefits to be gained from changes in shape. The basic design dynamics of today’s high performance surfboard have been refined to the point where only incremental improvements can be made. The quantum leaps forward in performance have to come from new materials and methods of construction, which in turn will allow for further changes in shape, and thereby push performance boundaries forward."


     I think thats the perfect comment about design. Theres been so many design reduxes and thats why FW boards are brilliant. Something different and moving forward.


     So where to from here ?


     

  • markpmarkp December 2010
    Posts: 1,287

    adjustable flex depending on conditions - working on it!

  • menacemenace February 2011
    Posts: 3

    Here, here.a brilliant design philosphy.The future,however, will see finless surfboards with radical reduction in drag and therefore increased speed driving the next generation of shapes,with the bi-directional option becoming a reality. Surfing is the only boardsport where boards cannot be ridden efficiently in both directions.
    There is a lot of work still to be done in this regard.

  • justo82justo82 February 2011
    Posts: 450

    So true menace. Bi directional boards are def the future. Imagine going up smacking the lip back hand doing a 180 and getting pitted on your front side before doing a 180 in the barrel and coming out backhand again!!! Just dreams today but eventually reality.

    6'3" - 90kg - Perth WA - 600 Spitfire - 606 DD Flexfire - 606 Random Fish - 602 Rusty C5 Hipster - 605 Byrne Shortboard - 610 Tufflite Fun Gun - Only Board I use ever --> RF Spitfire
  • prjwebbprjwebb February 2011
    Posts: 2,177

    i dunno, i don't see it myself. for a board to be short enough to work bi-directionally it'd have to be really thick and flat and would not be high performance at all. It might be possible with tow assist but I don't see it ever becoming the mainstream.


    Edit: Not to mention that surfing switch is far more difficult that skating, snowboarding, wakeboarding etc.

    6'0" 170lbs
    6'2" x 18.44" x 2.38" Taj
    6'0" x 18.81" x 2.38" Taj CBD
    5'8" x 19.25" x 2.31" Sub Scorcher
    5'8" x 20.00" x 2.38" Spitfire RF
  • FilipeCostaFilipeCosta February 2011
    Posts: 4

    Hi All,


    This is very interesting!


    In my humble opinion there is only one way of doing it : "adjustable flex depending on conditions"


    A pumping system?!


    Menace, do you refer to something close to this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3du0vEJM5yY


    Keep it going.


     


    Cheers

  • %5BDeleted+User%5D[Deleted User] September 2011
    Posts: 2

    The user and all related content has been deleted.

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