Randomly wandered in a local surf shop here in Auckland, and discovered they have Firewires!
So I finally got my first look at them.
They’ve only had them a month or so.
Maybe perceptions of surfboards will slowly start to change over here!
NZ is pretty closed minded about surfboards IMHO.
People all ride exactly the same boards, just with different sprays, anything with a swallow tail is called a fish, nobody knows what epoxy actually is, just that the Bic boards are made out of it!
Randomly wandered in a local surf shop here in Auckland, and discovered they have Firewires!
So I finally got my first look at them.
They’ve only had them a month or so.
Maybe perceptions of surfboards will slowly start to change over here!
The young guy on the shop floor tried to tell me the vent was to let air in and out as you surf,aiding the board’s performance as it does it’s thing flexing through turns.
Or maybe he knows way more than me and I should keep my mouth shut.
I think you are correct in you idea that the board flexing through turns wouldn’t create enough positive (or negative?) pressure to move any air through the vent.
The young guy on the shop floor tried to tell me the vent was to let air in and out as you surf,aiding the board’s performance as it does it’s thing flexing through turns.
ps That’s not true is it ?
oops if it is</blockquote></div>
Well, it is true, but it’s a bit unclear if it really matters…
When you flex a board or compress it, it has to bulge out somewhere else, like a balloon if you squeeze it.
Theres a theory that this stress on the shell of the board can be damaging in the long term, over many flex cycles, that it contributes to the breakdown of the structure.
That may or may not actually be the case, it may not matter…
but with a breathable vent, the air escapes from the vent instead of bulging the board elsewhere, so you covered in that respect anyway.
More important to me is the fact that you don’t ever have to touch the thing (once again, in theory), and the constantly equalised pressure minimises the inrush of water when you ding it.
Paul,
The finish quality was a bit sketchy, to be honest.
But i’m not one to publically point out other peoples mistakes, then people might start taking too close a look at my boards!
I’d love to have a go on one, because in the end, thats what it’s all about…
The guy says it’s too small for him, He’s probably assumed because it’s an epoxy it’ll be more bouyant and he’s gone down in his dims. I’ve checked the latest ones, they are the same weight as a standard PU/PE (actually heavier than a disposable team glassed PU/PE) so no extra bouyancy. The ad says he’s got a pressure dent after two surfs. Looks like FW have managed to make their next generation FW’s boards the same weight or heavier than PU/PEs and not that much more durable, with an average finish. The new surftech t2’s are lighter and have a flawless finish. Seen two user reviews for the latest Sunovas and they appear to be light, have great finish and great performance (too early to know anything about durability) Not sure how long FW’s marketing will sustain them if the product is wanting.
