Yeah brother, stoked to have collaborated on this review, excellent work once again! Looking forward to some more reviews this summer! Keep them coming!
Excellent, !!! you are the best noel, what make the review greater, is your honesty about the board, pro's & con's , that's what your followers need the most, learn more about shape, rails, and decide by thier own. Great review !.
Another good accurate review. I have a SKX 5'11" and a Sci-Phi 5'10". Although I am the same weight as you, my age (65) requires a longer board. Both boards perform better on my backhand. The Sci-Phi has a larger sweet spot to stand but does not like bump or chop, that is when I use the SKX. In the foam the SKX is more stable but when it is smooth the Sci-Phi can handle solid conditions. My preferred fin set up is MR Twin Fins in the Sci-Phi and in the SKX is Fanning Large on the outside and Fanning medium in the centre. My other fin choice for both boards is the Firewire Tri mediums. I have done 2400 waves on the Sc-Phi (on my 2nd one) and 400 on the SKX according to my Ripcurl Watch. The Sci-Phi is my favourite in most waves but the SKX is good on point breaks.
Leigh Wilson Cheers for your input in these two boards. Spending a good amount of time on these boards like you do really helps find the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Cheers
Hi Leigh, Im 6'0 and 172lbs and 32 yrs. I spend 2 weeks surfing in Costa Rica right now. I took with me the Holy Grail 59 and the Sci-Fi 58.. unfortunately the Holy Grail doesn't work for me (put it to sale as soon as i got back home) and i surf with sci-fi the whole trip, on 1ft, 4-5ft barrels and 6ft on Playa Negra, Avellanas, Pavones, Ollies Point and Roca Bruja, onshore, offshore... definitely the best board i ever surf. It has too many speed, and precisely turns and the LFT has some weight that feels better than an only eps board, i dont't know if it was the spring or the material, but it generate speed better than an eps board. Now, im looking for to get a SKX to try or maybe i'll get another sci-fi, a 59 this time. How you compare both boards, as you got 2.400 with scifi and 400 with skx, you think skx worth or sci-fi is enough? Cheers
Hi Andre. I have thought about my reply a lot. You will amazed how different a new Sci-Fi feel compared to a worn out one does. More spring out of the turns and just feel more alive under foot. I love my SKX but my wave types I surf sounds much like yours, and if the new Sci-Fi is replace an old, that is the way I would go. If your looking for a back up board for slightly larger point breaks the SKX is great as it gets into the wave a bit earlier and takes a steeper drop a little better. If you want to change things up try MR Super Twin Fin set up. Once my son and a mate tried them on their Sci-Fi they immediately went and bought some. Andre, I hope this helps you and the great thing is that surfing stoke never goes away.
Always look forward to your reviews Noel! Really liked the little reviews and footage of other surfers at the end, definitely worth incorporating that into every episode when/if you can. Love your work dude!
mrmichaelburness Cheers glad you like the addition of some others surfers. I will try to incorporate that more.... just tough trying to coordinate it all.
Sick review mate! Great point on 'sweet spot' foot positioning being such a factor on high-performance boards. I realized over time that the difference between boards I really liked right off the bat and ones I had to work to get used to, had a lot to do with where the board wanted my back foot to be! Lovin' where the show's at man!
Great show guys! I really support and enjoyed the collaboration review style where multiple surfers with different styles and ability levels discuss the same boards.! Very innovative reviews!! Keep up the great and the impressive work! Thanks.
I spent 4 days surfing this board in good head height indo waves. Noel got this reveiw 100% correct. But things you need to consider that its got a sweet spot that is not 100% forgiving. The board will track if your not in the sweet spot the channel on the rail (sometimes not your friend)does not work if you pull into a tube standing mid board from take off. Feels a little flat on the face sometimes. Its quick but i wouldnt say its that much quicker than my Pyzel Bastard. Floaters, foam climbes carving its amazing feels loose.
JBOsurf Ok I will be there this Sunday and I will do that. The Folks at Firewire did say they have a surprise Board me!!! I won’t know what it is until Sunday.
Epic review, thanks Noel. Just came back from a surf on mine and watched the vid in the car haha. I think its worth pointing out how thinned out the rails are. Mine’s 2 1/2 thick but the rails are super knifed out. I think its one of the reasons that you can sink the rail so easily and helps with transitions. Ps: your Magnum looks like your stunt double :)
Hi Neil, great review. I'm trying to decide between the SKX lft and Gamma Helium. Most of my surfing is in 2-5ft waves. You mention the sweet spot is right at the back on the skx, does the gamma have a similar spot? Cheers
West Oz The Gamma is better in the pocket but the SKX might a little faster down the line. I would say the SKX favors a back footed surfer a little more.
Noel, great review. I've been waiting on this one for a while. I especially like the perspective from the guest reviewers you had on the episode. Why do you think there was more vertical top to bottom surfing done backside with the SKX as opposed to frontside? Do you think with the additional speed you were engaging turns earlier and not drawing out the deeper bottom turns required to put it tight in the pocket? On carves and cutbacks the acceleration throughout the turns is obvious. I've been waiting for this review to pull the trigger on buying one, thanks for the valuable info. Also I'm currently 162 lbs and would probably go with the 5'8, I find it strange firewire suggest going an inch longer than your standard, did the board float perfectly fine even with the neoprene? I surf year around in a 4/3 out of Santa Cruz, CA. Would definitely love seeing a Cymatic review in the future. Thanks.
David Pham it’s easier to go vertical backside compared to frontside in general but I struggled because my waves were on the 3’ range. I think if I am surfing 5-6’ I will want the straight rail and jamming it vertical will be easier. The Cymatic looks good to me now that I understand how Tomo shapes. I think the 5’8” will go good in SC and it paddles great. I would not go 5’9” because it will feel long under your feet on smaller waves. If I were you I would try to demo the SKX and Cymatic and then make a choice. Cheers
Hi guys! David, I also think it is due to the fact that, at least for me, backhand I'm more on the tail of the board, whereas frontside I tend to lean more into my front foot. This board works insane once you find that sweet spot and stay on it!
Magnum and Noel, I've surfed a lot of boards where the sweet spot is far back on the tail. I don't mind them as long as being that far back doesn't mean losing too much control and stability if you know what I mean. What I'm asking is, if the SKX has a small sweet spot, is the tail wide enough as to where the board doesn't feel overly responsive / out of control when you have your foot too far back. I generally don't like high performance boards I've owned in the past where the tails are narrow, you get great responsiveness, but seem to lose drive. Thanks in advance.
Magnum and Noel, I've surfed a lot of boards where the sweet spot is far back on the tail. I don't mind them as long as being that far back doesn't mean losing too much control and stability if you know what I mean. What I'm asking is, if the SKX has a small sweet spot, is the tail wide enough as to where the board doesn't feel overly responsive / out of control when you have your foot too far back. I generally don't like high performance boards I've owned in the past where the tails are narrow, you get great responsiveness, but seem to lose drive. Thanks in advance.
David Pham This SKX is very fast even if my foot is not in the right spot. When my foot was all the way back and I driving this board off my back foot it felt incredible. Good control, fast, and precision in my maneuvers. HPSB demand good foot placement and technique and that can make them a little tough to surf.
hello Noel! good day~i have a question? i use to surf 24.5~24.8 surfboard and wut you tell in video LFT float like +0.5L? what size you will recommend for me ! i am 171cm 67kg. thank you very much!
@@surfnshowreviews7777 very thanks Noel its helping me a lot!this one in firewire stock is right? 5' 07" 18 3/8" 2 1/4" 24.7 L is best for me and 5' 08 is 25.8 L this one maybe is too much volume for me is that right ??~i am keeping diet and wanna loss 1~2 kg till 65kg~ thank at all
lohena1 Not really.. the parallel Carbon is a bit stiffer with the carbon between your feet. FF has it out on the rail and it seems to rebound a lot quicker. The parallel Carbon needs to be dialed to your weight too....
Javier Hernando Rodriguez This XTR is really dense and has a really light glass job so it seems to be very buoyant. I have a Chumlee in Helium and it’s super light too... it seems to float a little better compared to LFT but this XTR is really buoyant compared to them both.
Surf n Show Reviews hey Noel, weird to hear this! A denser foam should sit lower in the water as there is less air inside, right? (e.g : PU is denser than EPS therefore it doesn’t float as well). I wanted to understand why you said that XTR being denser than EPS will float more? Cheers
Great review! One of 4 channels I subscribe to....Would you agree with the website that if you’re in between sizes opt for the larger volume? I’ve tried a lot of different materials (over 25 years) but always return to PU...however I’ve never ridden an LFT, on a spectrum of feel is it closer to PU or epoxy? Do the thinned out rails compensate for the feel? Thanks again and keep the content coming!
Raymond Risman I think going up in Board size depends on the model in Tomo’s boards. Because of the Planing Hull Design I would not go longer unless I was going to use the SKX in bigger 4-6+ surf. The floatation was good for me and the rail Design made it easy to bury the rail. The weight on the LFT is good so not too much chatter but I wouldn’t say it feels like a PU. This LFT construction feels alive under foot compared to a PU. A PU is solid under foot and predictable with flex but can lack a little X Factor in small waves for me and LFT has the X Factor. I hope this helps.... cheers
wow that was fast. thanks. im used to surfing in smaller french surf and bali is looking really heavy at the moment. should be awesome to pack a few tubes
Surf n Show Reviews Right on! Ya I’ve been eyeing that one. I live in Hawaii on the big island. My local break is Honoli’i A fun wave that can get hollow but also can get choppy. Debating on getting an El Tomo fish, a Libtech Quiver killer, or maybe a puddle jumper for smaller days.
Hey Noel, thanks for the review! I just bought a 6’2 model and was wondering what FCS2 fins would you reccomend me using with the board? I’m 6’2 and 185 lbs. Thanks a lot!!
Tony D That would be a fun board. It’s not on the radar at this time though. Firewire is pretty selective on the boards they want to give me for review. I have asked for the Midas, and Cymatic and they said they were not interested at this time. Hopefully later.... sorry.
Surf n Show Reviews dang ok no worries. I’ve been really eyeing the new RNF Retro and I’ve only seen one review on it, so if you have the ability to do that board would be awesome🤙🏻
"even on the upright fin, I'm able to spin it around." wouldn't the upright fin make it easier to spin around than a raked back fin? ps: ready to book a flight to PR now.
I have an evo, skx and sci-fi. The board I ride the most by far is the EVO. They are amazing boards. Go as small as you can for performance, or one inch shorter than you to grovel from 1ft up to hold in 5ft with bigger fins. If you surf good waves all the time like you see noel riding in these videos, then SKX or cymatic I reckon.
