Intro
As soon as the this board hit the shop floor I had it gripped up and in the car on the way to test it out at Winki. Having had such success with the Vanguard I thought the V4 was a given to be a good board. I surfed it once and then went through a period where I wanted to surf my own boards. So I put it back on the demo rack. Time went by and the V4 started to make some serious in roads for Dan Thomson as a well known shaper. Filipe did a messed up alley oop in a CT, all the local boys got around it and started surfing them and Firewire are now about to release a new step up version of the V4 by Dan Thomson. Once the hype around the board had died down I decided to dust it off from the back room. You can tell that this board has been popular, it has been to the repairer on many occasions and the wax job is as black as Ive seen on a board. It has taken me a while to write this and I think some people may have a different view but thats what happens with boards I guess. Everyone has a opinion.
How it goes
I have been dwelling on this board for many weeks. This to me feels like a good board, but however it doesn't blow my mind. That's why I haven't been able to write about it. I didn't want to write the board off and upset all the people out there who are sleeping with there V4's. It's a good wave board it needs a bit of push for it to go similar to the Vanguard it has a deep single concave running into the flute channels which give it the ability to break your line. Although you ride this board at your favourite volume I find it to be a board that is a lot more difficult to paddle compared to the Vanguard. It just feels small because it has the same nose on it as your regular short board. The V4 has the nose of a 5'10 but the tail of a 6'10 which creates the very straight outline after the forward centre point making it a very fast down the line board. The tight pulled in swallow tail is also what makes it so responsive. It surfs longer than it looks like all the Tomo boards do which makes me suggest why most people love it so much they get the speed and drive of a longer board but it fits into the waves well. Its like surfing a squashed down gun without even knowing it. Which I think not many people have come to realise.
Whose it for
Like the Vanguard before it this board is for experienced surfers. You need to be able to figure this board out. My very first wave I went straight over the handle bars thinking it would surf like a normal board however it comes back to surfing it completely on rail and not using the board to create your speed. The single concave mixed with the sharp rails gives you all your speed and drive. If you don't put it on rail the boards not going to go anywhere. This board is for someone that likes the feel of the Vanguard but can't get there head are the chop nose. It may not feel as good as the Vanguard but it still goes really well. Experience is key to surfing this board being able to read waves and being able to know how to work your board.
Ideal fin set up: AM2 again the rake in this fins make up for the wide placement of the fins, they give you a great mixture of control and release.
Rating: 6.5
Ideal Wave: 3 to 6 foot
Conditions: Onshore to clean barrels
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