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a.benjamin76
Since 27 Jul 2017
113 Posts
Stoked
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 Thu Jul 16, 20 9:18 pm Tomo Firewire Evo Delaminated |
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I bought a firewire evo kiteboard two months ago for strapless aerials. I ride the board a little rough and had some hard landings on it but nothing that I haven't done with other surfboards that I've owned for years and still ride. The other day after coming down on it in the water, I noticed some pockets of air in the deck pad that I could press down with my foot. The delamination runs from the middle all the way to almost the top, and spans almost rail to rail. I store the board indoors so I know this didn't happen due to heat.
Wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar and if this is a common issue with Firewire kiteboards? Lastly, if anyone has recommendations for a board repair guy in the gorge, it'd be much appreciated.
Here's a link to a video showing the delam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CzIbIntS4s
Last edited by a.benjamin76 on Thu Jul 23, 20 9:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1308 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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| Fri Jul 17, 20 7:35 am |
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| PM sent. |
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a.benjamin76
Since 27 Jul 2017
113 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Jul 22, 20 4:21 pm Poor Customer Service |
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| Well, Firewire's customer service was downright awful. No phone numbers to get in contact with anyone, only delayed emails, wouldn't back their product, lied to me on multiple occasions in writing, and tried to up sell me on a new board. No thanks. These are fun boards but they don't last and customer service is a joke. Buy at your own risk. |
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1487 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Wed Jul 22, 20 8:29 pm |
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I think you bought a board built for paddle surfing. And a really lightweight fragile one. If you add a kite to the equation and then start jumping in the river - most high performance surf specific boards will break.
They sell kite specific boards with stronger construction.
I think you'd be really happy with Slingshot Sci-Fly. It's a sick board especially for jumping with a kite.
https://www.slingshotsports.com/2020-SCI-FLY |
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a.benjamin76
Since 27 Jul 2017
113 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Jul 22, 20 9:44 pm Board |
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| ldhr wrote: | I think you bought a board built for paddle surfing. And a really lightweight fragile one. If you add a kite to the equation and then start jumping in the river - most high performance surf specific boards will break.
They sell kite specific boards with stronger construction.
I think you'd be really happy with Slingshot Sci-Fly. It's a sick board especially for jumping with a kite.
https://www.slingshotsports.com/2020-SCI-FLY |
Thank you for the info but i made sure to buy the kite specific version with their FST construction. I've tried the sci fly but it's a bit small for my preference. I'll probably start looking for bamboo construction unless you have other recommendations. |
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ldhr
Since 21 Jul 2009
1487 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 7:20 am Re: Board |
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| a.benjamin76 wrote: |
Thank you for the info but i made sure to buy the kite specific version with their FST construction. |
Boo on Firewire! |
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scottm
Since 12 Jun 2006
108 Posts
Stoked
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 7:44 am |
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IME Firewires are under built for jumping. Very light, fun, and snappy, but easy to delam or buckle.
Your best bet is to get a custom board built, with a denser foam core and heavier glass layup that will hold up to the abuse. That's what I did. Stretch, North Pacific, and Loyd are 3 good shapers. Big Winds usually has at least one in stock.
Otherwise, I would go with a locally-represented production board like Slingshot, Duotone, Cabrinha, so that you can talk to someone if you have a problem. |
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eric
Since 13 Jan 2006
1838 Posts
XTreme Poster
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 7:54 am |
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Wyatt Foley making beautiful custom boards. Pete’s son.
Eric |
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knotwindy
Since 25 Sep 2011
607 Posts
Addicted
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 8:26 am |
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Is Doyle still making boards? They were crazy strong and fun.
_________________
curiously observing blurry patterns while slightly distracted |
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tree
Since 29 May 2007
148 Posts
Bend, OR
Stoked
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 11:00 am |
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| I've been riding that board (same build) for a few years and haven't had any issues. My airs are pretty small, but I always land like a bag of rocks. This sounds like a build defect. |
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dirtybackside
Since 02 Aug 2011
74 Posts
Hood River
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 6:22 pm |
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Unfortunately the FST construction isn't the "kiteboard" construction. I've had a couple of the FST which as amazingly light, but are weak for kiting. The "Helium" construction is the kite specific construction that you might want to look into if you are looking for great durability. The downside is its glassed more equaling heavier weight
https://firewiresurfboards.com/products/categories/kiteboards |
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a.benjamin76
Since 27 Jul 2017
113 Posts
Stoked
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 7:25 pm Board |
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| dirtybackside wrote: | Unfortunately the FST construction isn't the "kiteboard" construction. I've had a couple of the FST which as amazingly light, but are weak for kiting. The "Helium" construction is the kite specific construction that you might want to look into if you are looking for great durability. The downside is its glassed more equaling heavier weight
https://firewiresurfboards.com/products/categories/kiteboards |
The board says kite on it. So FST, Helium, Bamboo, Aerospace, Unicorn Tears or whatever they're using, the board is a dedicated kiteboard |
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windpig
Since 28 Aug 2008
278 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 8:01 pm |
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Yeah, gotta agree with the OP on this one. If it says kite on it, it better be ready for some kite action. You shouldn't have to decode the secret message of Firewire speak to know which one is "actually" for kiteboarding. It's not like it's In-N-Out burger.
Can I have a kiteboard "Animal Style"? you know, the one that won't break when I ride it behind a kite?
_________________
"I don't believe in doing work that I don't want to do in order to live a life that I don't want to live."
-Ed Abbey |
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knotwindy
Since 25 Sep 2011
607 Posts
Addicted
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| Thu Jul 23, 20 8:27 pm |
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The older kite version was based on FST. The newer kite versions is based on Helium. If it says kite, it is.
_________________
curiously observing blurry patterns while slightly distracted |
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shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1308 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
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| Fri Jul 24, 20 9:56 am |
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| From watching the windsurf industry go through this, I'm willing to bet there is a difference in whether fiberglass is solely used, versus laying up kevlar and/or carbon fiber which adds weight (and cost). The older glass-only windsurf boards were much lighter (theoretically faster), but you didn't want to jump them... hell, you didn't even want them in the sun too long or they'd delam. Mistral for example had "CGI" versions, so you could buy the same board with the "carbon/glass" layup and drive a truck over it at the expense of weight (and price). |
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dirtybackside
Since 02 Aug 2011
74 Posts
Hood River
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| Fri Jul 24, 20 3:55 pm |
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| Weird. I have this exact same board in FST construction with the bamboo looking rails and mine doesn’t say kite anywhere on it. Post a pic of where it says kite. Now I’m interested |
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Sasquatch
Since 09 Mar 2005
2086 Posts
PNW
Bigfoot
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| Fri Jul 24, 20 4:23 pm |
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| knotwindy wrote: | | Is Doyle still making boards? They were crazy strong and fun. |
Yeah, I still have a Slingy board designed by Doyle from and still riding it.
I don't know if he is still making boards. I thought he started pimping out Sprinter vans for a living? |
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