Surfboard Reviews

Review is on my first few rides surfing decent but full waves at Moffats. it paddles fast. The takeoff is stable and feels great having a shortish board under my feet. This piece of equipment suited the waves so I’m stoked.


My aim is to review boards for the average knockabout surfer (or ‘kook’ like me), without all the technical terms and manoeuvres. Sunday The guys at The Board Exchange said that they had read some of my board reviews and liked what I was doing, so they kindly offered to lend me a 6’8 ‘Sunday’ by Firewire to review. So of course, I said yes at the chance to try a new board! The ‘Sunday’ is a very versatile board. It is designed to be ridden as a single fin, a single fin with two side bites for the longer lengths, or as a twin fin for the shorter lengths. I had it set up as mid length Twinny, as something a little different to the rest of my quiver. The Sunday as a mid length twin… WOW! It is pretty different to what I’m used to riding, and it definitely was not the easiest board to surf when I first jumped on it, that’s for sure. But it is one that I was determined to master. The Sunday at the 6’8 size is still a lot of board for a mid length, so duck diving was really hard. I managed to get under some but could really feel it on the ones that I couldn’t get deep enough. Maybe one or two sizes down would have been more comfortable getting under waves, but that’s just me personally. The board paddled around easy due to the shape of the nose being really wide and stubby. I felt like which ever wave I decided to paddle for I would catch. All it would take to get onto the wave is a couple of long strokes and the board would do the rest. The rocker in the nose made it smooth for waves under chest hight. I probably wouldn’t take it out in any bigger swell then that. Realistically, it’s not made for that anyway. The Board is called ‘Sunday’ for a reason… No one wants to work hard on a Sunday, they just want to relax and go with the flow. I could definitely feel the performance aspect that firewire bring to their boards. The ‘Sunday’ is made out of their helium technology. Helium, if you don’t know is Firewire’s lightest foam blank with Paulownia timber for the rails. So that means that the board is super light under the arm and manoeuvres really responsive in the water. I also like that they have painted the rails black with a small amount of timber exposed down at the tail. This makes the white of the deck really stand out. On the first couple of waves the Sunday felt extra loose and skatey compared to other twin fin’s that I have surfed. This is because of the extra length the board has. I found it hard to control at the start. Im not going to lie, it took me a couple of surf’s on the Sunday before it clicked and started to work properly for me. I was surfing my local beach break and the conditions were perfect for The Sunday. They were fat, rolling waves and 2-3ft and the board loved it. I felt more confident with my feet slightly further forward on the board which naturally made it a more stable ride. Even with my feet up the board a bit I found that the board could be moved around fairly easy. Once I figured out how to ride it, I found it hard to get off it! I'm going to be a bit sad when I have to hand it back. It made me realise that there is a hole in my quiver. I think I’m missing a mid length twin… The ‘Sunday’ comes in sizes that start at 5’6 and run all the way to 7’3, and retails at $1080. I rate this 8/10!

Board review for DHD mini twin II
My aim is to review boards for the average knockabout surfer (or ‘kook’ like me), without all the technical terms and manoeuvres. I have always loved twin fins! There’s something about them that speaks to me. I just picture those corona summer sunset adverts, surfing in boardies, 2-3 foot waves cruising along and then knocking back a beer after a good day of surfing. That is why I always really wanted a twin fin. I wanted a board for when the conditions were small and tide was heaps full, that I could still paddle out and catch heaps of waves. So, I decided to go with a DHD mini twin 2. First reason was the shape. With plenty of foam up the nose, it makes paddling easy. It also has a super flat rocker, so it travels really fast down the line. The two channels between the fins, makes it a really smooth and lively ride when trimming across the wave. Second reason was the look. The DHD mini twin come standard with cool inlays or really bright colours that just screams ‘summer surfing’. I’m a sucker for a board that looks nice under the arm! (All the gear, no idea). I decided to get a 5”11 at 37.5L, which retails at $950. Realistically, I probably should have bought a 5”9 at 34.5L to suit my weight and ability better, but I wanted a board that I could manage in very small swell. Now that we have the grom, we don’t have the luxury of packing multiple boards or even packing longboards because now we have to pack the beach umbrella, nappy bags and toys! I knew at 5”11 I could just chuck it in the back of the car and surf anything because foam is always your friend in small waves. With a board this shape it is suggested to use keel fins. I’m running a the K2 fins, made of solid fiberglass offering stability and control at top speed. It is a traditional keel design, catering to smaller boards and lighter surfers. These retail for $120. I have surfed this board in many different conditions, and overall I do really like this board, it is super forgiving. If the waves are fat and crumbly this board absolutely loves it! You’ll have lots of fun on those small 1-4ft days. Any bigger, I would suggest to leave it in the car and take something else out. I’ve caught some of the best waves on this board! One wave in particular that stands out for me, was a solid shoulder high wave that I felt like I had to hold on for dear life because I got so much speed on the wave! It is pretty quick underfoot and super easy to link and make sections of the waves. The only downside would be that I wished it had slightly more rocker. I have caught a few edges and gone over the falls a couple of times, but that is probably ‘user error’ more than anything else. 

I rate this board an 8/10.

Board review for Sharpeye’s The Storm 
My aim is to review boards for the average knockabout surfer (or ‘kook’ like me), without all the technical terms and manoeuvres. Sharpeye’s Storm 6’2 at 32L This year I participated in Surfaid’s, Make a Wave. This is a charity with the main mission to improve the health, wellbeing and resilience of families living in isolated regions which are connected to us through surfing. I surfed everyday for the month of September to raise funds for Surfaid. When The Board Exchange heard about what I was doing they offered to help me out by hooking me up with a new board to surf during September. I decided to choose a Sharpeye Board. I wanted to know what all the hype was about when it came to Shapeye boards. Most team riders on the WSL tour are now riding them, they won ‘Stab in the Dark’ with their model Inferno #72 and they also won the wave pool challenge. I picked ‘The Storm’ by Sharpeye, a signature model favourited by Kanoa Igaras. I can definitely see what all the fuss is about with Sharpeye boards. The high attention to detail is outstanding. I noticed this working at the surf shop every Sharpeye board that gets delivered is shaped and finished perfectly. The reason I chose ‘The Storm’ in PU construction at 6’2 at 32L is because I wanted a performance short board that could be surfed in nearly every condition and if the swell picked up and the waves had heaps of power I wanted something that would hold its own. And trust me, the Storm definitely fits that brief… What a board! When I first got it in the water it took me a little bit to find the sweet spot of where to sit to get the best paddle power. Most of my short boards that I have been riding usually sit around the 6’0 length and have similar amounts of volume. The storm is an extra 2 inches longer and a lot narrower than I am used to. Once I figured where to sit, the Storm paddled really well for a shortboard. I noticed with the Storms extra length I found it has that little bit of extra push to get on those waves earlier. This board feels like it is designed for speed in those smaller waves. I found a couple of quick pumps and I was away. The Storm has a gentle amount of nose rocker, which is what you need for those bigger wave days. Once on the wave, I found ‘The Storm’ super smooth and very easy to turn, especially for a Kook like me. I can’t do snaps or any of those fancy manoeuvres, but I could imagine if you were a shredder you could have a field day with this board. As an intermediate surfer, I found it pretty user friendly for a performance shortboard. The Storm is a board that no matter your skill level you could get some sort of benefit from riding it. If you have been surfing for a while and want to push your surfing to the next level or you want to try different things on the wave, ‘The Storm’ is the board for you! I put a black ‘Octopus’ tail pad on it, and got my self a new set of ‘Mick Fanning’ FCS II fins, which gave this board a black and white theme. These accessories give ‘The Storm’ a touch of class that it deserves. The Storm retails at $925 and I’m rating it a solid 9.5/10! The Storm is clean cut and just ticks all the boxes. What you see is what you get with this magnificent board.

This board is perfect if you’re looking for a different feeling in small to medium waves, but is a great board in its own right. It is ultra responsive due to the lack of swing weight from eliminating the traditional shortboard nose and it’s quad inside channel bottom makes it feel like you’re levitating above the water. It’s also by far the lightest board I’ve ever come across - the helium tech is legit. You’ll definitely notice the difference. In terms of durability, I’m pretty light footed but I’ve had this board for months and haven’t noticed a single ding or major deck depression as well, so from my individual experience I’d back the construction as well. One of the fastest and most responsive boards I own. It’s survived multiple quiver culls - that says it all!

Epic board, perfect for everyday small to medium waves and beach breaks, which if we’re honest are the conditions that we find ourselves in regularly. Heaps of paddle power & foam under the chest, which really helps get you in on the wave early ahead of the crowds & will definitely increase your wave count. The Lightspeed EPS construction takes it to a whole new level, it’s ridiculously light and fast. This thing flies. As a beginner-intermediate it really helped advance my surfing heaps as it got me to the pocket a lot quicker, especially in beach breaks where your time on the wave is limited. Put it under your arm & you’ll feel the difference. Fantastic board!

Twin curious, I purchased Red Baron with the summer waves upon us. I've ridden the standard Pointy nosed Thruster for nearly 40 years! The surfing I enjoy watching guys like Asher Pacey and Rasta more than the CT guys. The Red Baron took a little adjustment at first. Finding the back foot, especially on the backhand took a little time. Being unsure of grip placement, especially with the block. Once familiar, the first thing I noticed was the speed this little board carries, heaps! It flys across flat sections at twice the speed. Linking sections is easy. I find my forehand has now been liberated by the ability to bottom turn tight and whip tight arc top turns and pop the fins. Cutting back with speed requires more finesse, there isn't much rail to rely on, that is part oof the attraction, modifying your approach. I find I will ride this board in a lot more conditions as the challenge is always there. I am often surprising myself with what I can do on the board. I will now continue to experiment with twins. A Black Baron could be next. Buy one!

Like the review above I bought this for a easy wave catching And that is exactly what it does Fast and down the line is what she does best Not a hit the lip kinda board for the over size I got But the flow and speed and the getting in to waves way make up I for it … she turns well for cut backs but your foot must be on the back pad as the rail is hard up the top once you get the hang of it … it’s very addictive Went through all the fin set ups and a quad set up was best . Take the plunge … I did and have no regrets

excellent board. EXTREMELY fast down the line works much better with a set of keel fins (instead of a quad). Overall an easy board. paddles well can handle size. not a groveler this board is ideal for pointbreaks. As such it is really not a board to bring for punchy beachbreaks !

Truly an excellent board! a classic shape with a zing. The surfboard's bottom contour has a flat section so you need to place your front foot on the sweet spot. Not a beginners board nor a groveler. It is very fast and can turn on a dime best on a juicy wave and can handle size. The glide provided is amazing Great board