ALTERNATIVE TECH

[S,M,L,XL]

Hello all,

i'm interested in trying some new tech for my next board,

as a small wave board, the firewire dominator and the shred sled in fibreflex construction are shapes and materials that have taken my eye.

so to all the knowledgable gurus out there in realsurf land...

has anyone had experience with either or both of these types of construction,

if so what are the positive and negative aspects of each.

cheers

Mick

[Karlos]

There's been previous threads on both Firewire & Fibreflex. Go & search 'em out.

Generally pretty positive on both technologies if I recall rightly.

[S,M,L,XL]

i am quite aware that there have been threads on both.

i am interested in someone who has ridden both and can give me a comparison between the two.

[dolfn]

Hey,

Have a look at the Josh Dowling Compsand thread.

http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/viewtop ... =7&t=15244

Most of the guys, includinging me have been down the alt tech board pathway, with some major disappointments. Josh, on the other hand is a real shaper who will talk to you right throughout the whole process. As far as the tech is concerned, well as far as Im concerned, it speaks for its self. I'm in the process of getting my 4th (including a minimal made for my wife). I have owned firewire/sunova and pu boards, my Josh dowling customs are streets ahead in design, weight and ulitimatly and more importantly performance. I havent owned a Fibreflex, but surfed with a guy a few weeks ago up at Plomer who had one and he recons they are soft and heavy. He has tried a couple of Firewires at Cronulla and says they are way ahead in build and performance.

[Nick Carroll]

I have ridden both! Over several generations of both construction forms.

Rather than torment you with a detailed analysis, I'll break it down to simple things.

Firewire is slightly heavier, more durable, harder to flex, can't be customised. (If you don't like what's on the rack, you won't get what you like.)

Fiberflex is lighter, bumps easier (without splintering, thank you epoxy resin), flexes snappily, and can be customised.

Firewire handles bigger surf better, Fiberflex (specially the little quads) are superb in surf under 4'.

[mustkillmulloway]

interesting how the whole thread is only about alternative techs that can afford pay for surf mag ads
lets add abit balance too the debate
http://hsc.csu.edu.au/textiles_design/i ... mpfibr.htm

another a mate swears by

http://www.dhub.org/object/354471

i'd be stoked hear any other alternatives

i keep hearing of this new construction method that has ZERO materials previously used in making boards

[dUg]

There's plenty of alternatives to fibreglass / kevlar / carbon cloth, also quite a few natural alternative ( read non-petrochemical ) resins that can be used to laminate it.

IMO styrofoam blanks still are a big problem, maybe THE big problem...and many of these so-called "green" boards still use them. When the oil runs out the current way styro blanks are made will disappear- even though the raw material ( styrene ) can be found, grown and harvested in nature. There are dozens of plants that produce sap which catalyses to a copolymer, several that have been known for over 100 years.

Another possibilty is that your future blank may be made out of mushrooms . These guys are producing building insulation panels from it... same as the styro ones cheapskate backyard shapers all over the world use.

http://www.gizmag.com/mushrooms-new-sty ... ive/16748/

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic ... tyrene-sip

[alakaboo]

More about the plants please Dug?

The mushie blanks would be exactly that, wouldn't they?

[dUg]

More about the plants please Dug?

The mushie blanks would be exactly that, wouldn't they?

http://www.ehow.com/about_6366858_storax-tree.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19723212

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Expande ... m-EPF.html

http://www.acmanet.org/ga/advocacy/Ques ... tyrene.pdf

The mushie blanks actually repel water. And fire.