Thunderbolt BLACK vs Thunderbolt RED: Dan Mann interviews Harley Ingleby about Longboard Technology
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Thunderbolt is a complex and meticulous method of crafting longboards through eleven separate build steps per board, preferred by many of the world’s best longboard riders for the way the technology flexes, bends, and resists breakage.
In March Dan Mann traveled to Hawaii to learn about the tech (both Thunderbolt RED and Thunderbolt BLACK) from 2x World Longboard Champion Harley Ingleby. He was specifically interested in asking Harley about the role carbon fiber played in Thunderbolt's build process.
Dan was curious for two reasons - he firstly was a sponsored professional longboarder in the 90’s - what he calls a separate and previous life, and secondly - he has long built boards out of carbon fiber from his shaping bay on Coronado Island in California.
Dating back to 2002, even while participating in the founding of Firewire in 2006 and overseeing U.S. board production through 2008, he continuously has experimented with carbon fiber as both an exterior laminate in place of fiberglass, and also as an internal flex control system laminated beneath fiberglass.
This is why Thunderbolt caught his attention: as explained by Harley Ingleby, Thunderbolt BLACK utilizes carbon as an exterior laminate, beneath which fiberglass is used in ‘A’ and ‘V’ shapes on the boards bottom and deck to control flex along with the deck's’ T Stringer’.
Then there’s Thunderbolt RED - the opposite: laminated with fiberglass, beneath which carbon fiber acts as the flex control system with the same ‘A’ and ‘V’ structure controlling flex in alignment with the ’T Stringer” on the deck.
This approach of reversing fiberglass and carbon fiber's position as both external lamination and internal flex control is the crux of Dan’s discussion with Harley.
In short, both methods of Thunderbolt technology employ carbon, but in separate ways. Thunderbolt BLACK is stiffer because it’s exterior is laminated with carbon, and Thunderbolt RED flexes more (and more immediately) because its exterior is laminated with fiberglass.
This means that you’re making quick decisions in a surf shop near you about your next performance longboard, you can most likely expect Thunderbolt RED to work best in smaller or weaker waves, and Thunderbolt BLACK to work best in larger or more powerful waves.
See all eleven steps in the Thunderbolt build process here: • Surfboards by Thunderb...
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I've been riding thunderbolt now for 3 years. I have cj's and HI4 in thunderbolt red, i love it!
Getting one of these asap...looks amazing
We need to see more of Harley...amazing style! HIHP is next on my list...
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
More on the way..😃
I had to read the notes to actually understand. Good work team! Now, as soon as the world starts up again, ship a whole bunch of'em to NZ! I've been trying to buy one for six months now...
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for checking the notes. 😉 We thought they'd be useful. And have you checked Backdoor for this board? If they haven't got it, they can order it from our Gold Coast HQ for you.
@a.lame.username.
4 жыл бұрын
@@firewiresurfboards yes I have and the last time I checked the board i want (Skindog Peacemaker),was still unavailable for order. There is actually one in the country, but I wanted any other colour than white. I've had enough of white epoxy. Colours will make them look better for all the years of their long life expectancy.
Good stuff more content please 👍🏻
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
We're working on it. 🤙🏽
Hey! I'm struggling with fin sizing for the Black. I'm 5'7, 160lb, would 7" center and 4" side bites be too much fin? Ideally it would be for clean, waist high+ point break stuff, and I love powerful projecting bottom turns and big carves on the face, but I also like to pull cheater 5s when I can.
I'm living on the big island, HI, and its just a matter of time before hitting rocks or the exposed reef, do you have a video on how to fix dings?
Wow, impressive wrap in the board. I'm a big guy, moved towards longer boards and in Indonesia so keep breaking boards and even more leashes. What's the dims for like a 120 kg guy on these makes? How do I try one in Indonesia? Cheers.
hey Firewire guys, just got my Haven Thunderbolt Red from Backdoor in Auckland, just before the lock down and managed to get it out for a wave. The board is just sick couldn't believe how good it was. So cool.
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Hey, Rob. So stoked you get a few before things turned upside down. Sending best to all of you over there. We're locked down here as well.
@robwallace360
4 жыл бұрын
@@firewiresurfboards a question for you, how would the new Tomo quads go in my woolight seaside 5'11 ?
It sounds like Harley describes the Black as having a fiberglass AVT system with Carbon Fiber Laminate and the Red as having carbon fiber AVT with fiberglass laminate. Is that accurate? I thought all the AVT systems were carbon fiber. Does it vary by board?
Is there a some way I can contact someone for some advise for the right surfboard? Thanks cheers
That board is sick
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
It's the most intricate board building method we've ever seen. You can see a detailed look at all the steps it takes to build one by pressing the link in the 'show more' section of this video. It's at the bottom of the write up.
Please advice for california if i should get thunderbolt red or black on the TJ pro thunderbolt ?
@francvasquez
2 жыл бұрын
Red. Also I would recommend a 3-stage or relaxed rocker but it depends on your style of surfing.
I have surfed and owned more than 30 FireWires. When can you get a Thunder Bolt Red and Black to Rhode Island. I long and short board comps. Recently have been testing Epoxys. This would come in a 9'? Important because they measure the board.
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Hi Ron, this is a 9'1. You can check Warm Winds and Cinnamon Rainbows. If they haven't got one in stock right now, they can order it directly from us, for you. Please come back and tell us how it goes once you ride it. We think you'll be stoked.
@ronbelanger8936
4 жыл бұрын
Firewire Surfboards Excellant 😊
Would you consider doing them with Futures fins, instead of FCS? Thanks
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Harley is sponsored by, and collaborates exclusively with, FCS. But FUTURES makes a really good 2+1 setup with Taylor Jensen that is really good if you have a FUTURES board.
@XiscoMoreySerantes
4 жыл бұрын
@@firewiresurfboards hi, I already have them and they are great. I am a returning Firewire customer and all my boards have the Futures plugs. I would like to know if you will do all boards with Thunderbolt technology with the Futures plugs, or only selected models as there is no indication in your website. Thanks
@radumi5394
4 жыл бұрын
I had the same thing with Futures for the timbertek longboards but I can assure you FCS 2 work wonders, IMO at this stage nothing beats FCS2 range, try for yourself and the FCS 2 soket is by far better than Futures, however Futures are remarkable and deserve all respect.
A question for Harley, do you ever have the need to ride a gun or is a longboard preferred in big waves?
Do employees of surf shops get discounts on the Harley Ingleby boards like we do on firewires?
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Yes. What shop do you work at?
@garrett9248
4 жыл бұрын
Firewire Surfboards Hawaiian Watersports in Kailua, Oahu
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
@@garrett9248 Ask your manager or shop owner to get an order in to Will Hardee 😉
@garrett9248
4 жыл бұрын
Firewire Surfboards Sick will do. Is it the same pricing as regular firewire boards?
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
@@garrett9248 It varies by region. Will has answers. 🤙🏽
Would you recommend this board to an amateur surfer?
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Yes. This or Harley's 'Moe' mid length would be great.
Thebleeped out location hahaha
SNAPPER ROCKS : Thunder Bolt Black
@firewiresurfboards
4 жыл бұрын
Yes, Thunderbolt BLACK is definitely the tech for that wave.
Yeah but all boards go good when it's pumping. We note all the videos show you and Schulz ripping in good waves. Of course the boards go good. That's Laniakea isn't it? A bit sharky around there apparently. So Harley, of course the query is why is 7' the shortest? Why not make them all the way down to 6'3", 5'10" or whatever?
Tunderbolt looks good on Harley but Dan Mann, I tried all your Timbertek longboards... good but not outstanding, no spark, TJ Pro the only stand out as long as you have good waves cause as 9'0" at 60 litres is low volume. Flexflight the worst, Special T feels like a slow stick - noserider with hard rails, are you mad? Gem unstable on the front section and slow, no spark, slow glide, you know what is good on Gem? - TJ fin positioning. Any board works on good waves but that's when you want the spark, only TJ Pro shines unless you take short-board instead on good waves. Amazing construction Timbertek with average shapes - missing the point. I went to my local shaper and we did a custom that is better by far. Or save money, try Torq TEC, Don and Horseshoe are amazing light to throw around and glide super fast and anyway who lands floaters like that but Harley to need more than the standard carbon double T stringer that comes now with most blanks? Anyway, I am very critical but Timbertek-s are boards to love just maybe don't compete on them.
@kristianheideknudsen1341
4 жыл бұрын
Interesting reading. I am riding a wingnut 9'4 and loving it, but have not tried other boards from firewire. Have you any comments on the wingnut ?
The interviewer keeps interrupting Harley to agree with and parrot his answers. Annoying AF.