S BOSS - A Quad Call? Talk Story with Mark Pesce (Firewire) and Macy Mullen (Firewire Team Rider)

[@mikeuptegrove]

Both these guys sorta contradicted their descriptions. It’s like the LFT but no it pops more. It’s really twitchy and responsive, turns easily, but not good for down carves or wraps, it’s a snappy off the top board. It’s great in the pocket but as a quad. A lot of this just doesn’t make sense to me. The footage of Shultz I saw it looked super slidey and his wraps weren’t as good as usual, and he looked all around slower to me. Kelly is the only one making it work well that I’ve seen and it even looked too slidey at times for him too. I think the Great White looks more ripping from the video I’ve seen thus far of these newer releases. Personally, thus far from what I’ve seen and heard I think I’d buy another Seaside first.

[@jeffspicoli2742]

From experience I've learned not to trust when I hear, "it's better as a quad".

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

Yes, I totally agree they contradict themselves. I love it, because one is a pro and the other isn't they both feel something different. I'd image if Slater was on this review he might say something different and confuse us even more. I remember when I was surfing, Kewalos and Wade Tokoro was testing out a new board. The Surf was only waist to maybe chest high. He was was getting so my drive down the line with ease. He asked if I wanted to try it. It was super stiff for me to and to be honest I was struggling a bit. He is way more powerful surfer. he was take off behind the peak on a knee high wave and make it down the line, do a full round house then throw an air. So Yes Im sure if we did a board review we'd be contradicting each other for sure 😂..it was a humbling experience, everyone in the lineup had a good laugh.

[@MichaelJDay]

I have been riding Firewire/Slater/Tomo board since their inception. I have experience riding all constructions type except for the Volcanic tech. Back in the early days, I had a Firewire Flexfire, that was a favorite for riding mainly La Jolla reefs. It was quite sturdy and felt quite close to a PU board in terms of performance and glide. Not too light. Maybe a little stronger. The LFT (Omni, Cymatic I have) it feels quite lively, is it stronger than the PU? In my experience, it yellowed very easily and I had a ton of pressure dents and dings. I had decided after the LFT that I wasn’t going to buy anymore LFT boards. As of last year, I picked up a Revo ibolic in Portugal, which I rode in weak and powerful (strong surge & current, heavy lip, medium to fast moving). The ibolic build I like the best so far because it feels like it has the weight of a PU board giving it more glide like a PU (not like a typical epoxy board, where you can paddle quick, but the moment you stop paddling, you don’t really glide with forward momentum). I think I reached my limit of conditions I could go out with the helium board. The other aspect is really the strength, I took some poundings on a 6-7ft heavy lipped wave in Portugal and thought for sure I would have dented the board but no damage! BTW: I have been surfing 20+ years, my level is around advanced intermediate to advanced on a more consistent day. I have cycled through around 80-90 boards and a variety of board designs. I have a 6’0 Dominator II with the Helium tech. IT’s fun in weak to medium strength waves in my experience. The board is strong and light but it’s too light in the stronger current/surge at least for my surfing level. I switched to a PU friendly semi gun shape for the punchy, shoulder ++ because I needed more weight to the board and that glide. I will end up testing the Sci-Fi, the SBoss, and the FRK+ in the ibolic. In the end, I think it’s fair to say, if we aren’t sponsored and getting free surfboards, then all of us want our boards to last as long as possible for the money we pay. Is the ibolic construction the best of both worlds (strength, durability, PU performance - glide, sits lower in the water)? I will see with more time and experience. So far so good!

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

OH man what an awesome review Thank you very much for that info! - david

[@MichaelJDay]

@@hawaiiansouthshore De nada! Aloha!

[@MrFantxo]

I trust mark. He is a great surfer and knowsso much about shape

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

YES!! Totally - David

[@DeforestLCooper]

My favorite peeps!! 😍😍😘😘

[@jblo76]

Thanks for the review...confirming my desire to move forward with this board even though I'm a thruster, not a quad, guy. Obviously I'll set it up however it runs best. Also really happy to hear about the durability of Ibolic construction, while still maintaining its pop. Question on Volcanic: is that just like a wrap/lamination that goes around the Ibolic core to make it even more durable? How much more stiff will it make the board overall? At my level (mid-upper intermediate) I likely won't be able to detect much of a difference, but still curious how it changes the feel while riding. Thank you.

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

OH stoked glad you like the interview. Dan did such an awesome job. As for Volcanic...it's the same Ibolic except the last layer. Durability - it may make it stronger but the LFT , I Bolic and helium boards,....we have guys that are pushing over 200 pounds and there are really good surfers after a year. There's only a few pressure dings. stiffness. - to be honest, I'm not sure but I did hit up Mark Pesce at firewater as soon as he gets back to me I will let you know. That's actually a really really good question. Thanks for asking that.. - David

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

I got an update from Mark...yes it make it a tad stiffer on volcanic - David

[@jblo76]

@@hawaiiansouthshore Ok thanks for the quick response...yeah I'm just curious what the real purpose of the Volcanic is. The website says it's an eco friendly replacement of carbon fiber cloth. So if the Ibolic is already very strong and doesn't get pressures on the deck, does Volcanic just make the whole board even stronger? I'm wondering if it's worth having it be a bit stiffer, to be a touch stronger.

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

@@jblo76 totally get what you are saying.. is it worth it? --the prices I think are the same I think some people are worries about the board becoming yellow so they want that volcanic to minimize the sun damage??? my guess. As for stiffness It just comes down to riders preference. Sorry it's not a straightforward answer.

[@Surf_Salt]

What size sboss is mark riding at 180lbs?

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

I just texted Mark , I'll update you once he texts me back. - David

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

Mark said he's riding the 5'9...he's keeping it the same liters as a performance board liters for himself..this is not he groveler liters.

[@Surf_Salt]

Thanks! ​@@hawaiiansouthshore

[@hawaiiansouthshore]

@@Surf_Salt 🤙🏽