My new firewire XD

[crepuscular]

Been longing to get a firewire for a long time, finally my local store is clearing out 07 stocks to make room for the new 08 stock, and all marked down to AU$720 each. There was a 5'8" Futura, but wanted to try out Quads for a change because I've been riding a three fins for a long time, and moreover time to size down my board because I just cannot duckdive with my 6'4" UFO, so I bought the 6' Quad yesterday.

Tried it out this afternoon, found it hard to paddle at first, but started to pick up speed after paddling around for 30min, though still not as fast as my old board. But, I could feel it much faster and balanced when I catched a wave, but the turning feels awkward :S

Tried duckdive with it, still couldn't go as deep as I want, perhaps I should put on a little weight, lost 5-6kg ever since I started surfing last year. :S

Overall it's a nice fast board, a bit heavy compare to the new 08 stocks, but nevermind. Turning need some time to get use to.

[ANZAC]

I nearly got a firewire a little while ago.... So glad i didnt.
Check out your fin options, can make a HUGE difference on a quad..

[crepuscular]

currently got 4 SF-4s on, I want the board to bit more loose, what fins you reckon ANZAC? btw, why not firewire?

[ANZAC]

At the end of last year, I nearly got a flexfire instead of my TL afterburner. I wouldn't get another epoxy board at this stage unless it was part of a deal. Im now on conventional boards and finding them more responsive and very much to my liking.
Why not a firewire? The flex is considered "excessive" in the 07 models.. The 08 Taj models feature the timber spine, which reduces this flex thru the centre of the board.
With too much flex, Firewire worked with Taj thru the second half of 07, they had to come up with a solution. In an attempt at improving the design in his boards, they basicly hollowed out a section thru the centre and put a 2x2 plank in there, and glassed over it. It worked! Now its refined and in the 08 Taj models you can buy off the shelf.
Ive played with fins in thrusters, but not with the quads yet.... Ive got a mate with 3 quads and he loves them, wont go back to a thruster. Ill get a quad made soon and find out for myself..
While most standard quads come with 4's the h2 silvers get more positive feedback from quad riders than the guys on thrusters. Personally I find smaller fins better, depending on how well you can hold your tail slides.
Ive gone from 7's to 5's to K2 Carbons up to PC 3's and back to the K series.
The only way is to experiment. You can pick up some cheap fins off ebay too...

[O_Danny_Boy]

whats the afterburner like anzac? heard great reviews from a few people about them, seriusly considering one

[ANZAC]

Afterburner? Excellent allrounder and I wouldn't hesitate recomending.
You can feel the fish in it, when surfing big waves > Not the best.
1'ft mush up to 5-6'ft.. great. Great speed, good to turn, plenty of beef in the rails, really good beach board. Not your Indo express type board, just a good allrounder.
If your surfing well, you may find the Epoxy range "limiting".. Sorry, but hard to find a better word here. I really loved the board and will infact, get my shaper to make a copy, but now use conventional materials.

[CHarvey]

So far as the duck diving issue I would say look into how you are doing it. A 6 footer should be a breeze to duck dive.

[ANZAC]

Hey Crepuscular... Hows the Quad after a few more days?

Let me know if you need or decide on some alternative FCS fins.
While I cant get you them for free, I can certainly get you them cheap.
Check out the S25's in a Medium. Check the Base difference between your stocko's and Simons fins. The sweep should be anything up to 5Deg more as well. This gives you more flex in the tip and less base in the water on hard turns > This will improve the drive/speed and turning charictersitics heaps.

[crepuscular]

i'm only able to surf on the weekends because of work, and haven't been surfing for the last 2 weeks since one of my finger got dislocated when the the leash got tangled up with my right hand, it was so bad that even the nail cracked (yeah, happened on the 2nd day with my new board T_T); but i surfed this morning, only managed to do one good bottom turn...