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Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

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BWD
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby BWD » Wed Jun 28, 2017 2:34 pm

You could also try a smaller (narrower) vanguard or Vader (or other board).
Or a longer narrow board. WIdth is usually what hurts knees.

Ahem. Or a foil.

mr moon
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby mr moon » Tue Jul 11, 2017 11:37 pm

Due to my knee injuries I ride strapless surfboards, I've tried quite a few and I can honestly say my favourite are the Firewire because they absorb chop better than anything else out there. Their lively flex is a real winner in this game and although the newest generations kite-surfboards are improving A LOT compared to those of 5-10 years ago, they are just a step below FW... mainly due to the hard and tougher kite-epoxy construction.

The Vanguard is a strange board to get used to, I wanted to sell it after 2 sessions as I couldn't work it out at all... I've then changed the fins size (from L to M, although I'm a Large rider) and also changed it into quad. Now it's my all time favourite board! I ride it on pretty much everything up to over head. I also love my old sweet Quadraflex 6.0 Fish in thruster setup, it's a slightly more stable board.

The Vanguard is a fast board and need to be ridden fast, it's pretty radical but also great fun and ubeatable upwind ability to go back to the line up in just one tack. You must keep your legs open on the board and the feet way apart to keep better control at fast speed and chop.

I'm not affiliated and I've never ridden a Duke..

My 2 Cents!

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Jwoo
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby Jwoo » Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:11 pm

We bought a Jester for my wife to learn on, and I loved it so much I bought one for myself. Rides smoother and faster than the Vanguard. Turns on a dime, and is super fun in side off waves. It's definitely much easier on my knee. Unfortunately my knee is in need of replacement which is going to happen in a couple months. In the meantime the Jester is keeping me in the water as it's much smoother riding. Even after I recover I may continue to ride the Jester as it's such a fun board.

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mede
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby mede » Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:15 am

Jwoo wrote:
Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:11 pm
We bought a Jester for my wife to learn on, and I loved it so much I bought one for myself. Rides smoother and faster than the Vanguard.
Are you sure about the "faster" part of your statement? :wink:

ciscokitesurfer
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby ciscokitesurfer » Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:47 am

i have both boards. Vanguard amazing, Duke great for the knees and good board.

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Jwoo
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Re: Anyone ride both Firewire Vanguard vs. OR Duke?

Postby Jwoo » Tue Jul 25, 2017 2:24 pm

mede wrote:
Tue Jul 25, 2017 8:15 am
Jwoo wrote:
Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:11 pm
We bought a Jester for my wife to learn on, and I loved it so much I bought one for myself. Rides smoother and faster than the Vanguard.
Are you sure about the "faster" part of your statement? :wink:
I'm pretty sure......


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