I am a 50 year old ( 90 kg ) has been surfer, who has decided to get back into surfing after a 20 year break. I started on a 6' 10" fish and had a few waves, but struggled to paddle it and surf it. A friend of mine had a go on the board and said, I needed to rather get a longboard with a lot of float. I went off and swopped my 6'10" for an 84 litre Walden 8 foot mega magic. I found this board much easier to surf and paddle, but almost impossible to get through the beach break as it is almost impossible to duck dive. I also found the long board expereince not quite for me. The boards need to be walked arround on and very different to surfing a short board where you dont move your feet much. Sitting on a longboard is also odd when you are not used to it and turning for a wave takes a lot longer. So.........I swopped my longboard for a 7'6" high volume firewire addvance.It is a fish shaped Quad. What a great mix between short and long. I find the board paddles well and I can duck dive it when needed. You just have to start your duck dive early. It also catches waves easily, Im starting to feel like the old days again, just a lot unfitter. It will probably still be difficult to paddle out into any surf over 4 foot, but that is not a problem for me, as I will be sitting in the car, not in the line up. This is not an advert for a fire wire It is just to let anybody know that if you dont want to make the move to a full longboard as you get older and grayer, the fish mid range is a great option that still feels like a short board. It still needs a little step forward to get it moving on some occassions, but a lot less movement than a long board. I was also looking at a Walden Mini mega magic also looks like a great option. But decided on this 69 litre volume firewire instead and very happy I did. Construction I am not sure about yet as I have only had the board for a few months. I will let you know in 2 years time.

I just picked up a firewire for a steal second hand. I have had tuff lites and didn't really like em. Mates had told me not to go for the firewire, to floaty, problems with the plugs etc.

So far so good. The firewire has been going sick. And hopefully won't break as quick as a normal fibreglass board. Pretty quick down the line.