Chilli Surfboards Mid Strength Review - The Surfboard Guide
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- Опубліковано 31 сер 2021
- Welcome to the review of Chilli Surfboards very popular Midlength surfboard, the Mid Strength!
In this review we get to check out a whole heap of fin setups by FCS, including the Mark Richards Twin Fin, the Mick Fanning Thrusters, the H4 quads, and the Al Merrick quads - if you would like to buy a set, please use our link to let FCS know that independent surfboard reviews help support your decision making - bit.ly/3eEOvP2
From www.chillisurfboards.com/surf...
James (Chilli) designed this surfboard over the summer of 2018/19 whilst he had a niggling knee injury and couldn't surf to his full ability on his standard shortboard.
I just wanted something that paddled easy, catches waves and surfed without too much effort, so the Mid Strength was created. Essentially, this is a performance mid-length that should be a consideration for anyone who can competently stand and navigate along a wave.
OUTLINE: Outline has a full-ish nose to help with paddling. This flows down to an accentuated curve between your feet and into the back third of the board where the business gets done. The soft round tail intentionally creates a very forgiving and smooth turning arc for a longer board.
ROCKER: Turning and holding a rail on a bigger board must feel effortless, so Chilli combined a lower entry with a medium exit rocker out the tail. The aim here was to create a fast paddler that would pick up waves with minimal effort and still feel reactive on the turns.
CONTOURS: Slight single concave for speed up the front blending to a deep single/double concave through the side fins to loosen it up under the rear foot. An effortless combination in this mid-length model thats sensibly related to a mid strength beer; all the fun with half the effort!
PERFORMANCE: Getting a little older, maybe not as fit, or your surf time has simply decreased? Sometimes you just need the board to do the work for you. The Mid Strength is made to paddle and catch waves easy in the top end, and once up and riding; trim, pivot and turn super easy with a little bit of release when needed. The curvy outline and rocker combo helps the board not feel long and straight like most mid-lengths, so it actually surfs like a much shorter board. Ride it, and guaranteed you'll be converted.
Fin Recommendations from Chilli:
Thruster FCS II Accelerator,
Quad FCS II Accelerator Sides + Performer Quad Rears.
These all-round templates with a little extra area work perfectly for the bigger crew on this board.
Thanks so much to Kim Pedersen @kimpedersenvideography and Sam @yousurf_ifilm for the surf footage as always!
If you don't already, make sure you like and subscribe - and be sure to check us out on Instagram @thesurfboardguide to stay connect with what we are up to!
A great review Craig on the Mid Strength! I really enjoy watching all your reviews and seeing how each board looks underfoot when you surf. The Mid Strength looked great through your turns with the AM quad set. The Lost surfboards, Taj Beach Buggy, you reviewed some time ago, was my favourite with your surfing in the clips looking 'best ever'.
Thanks mate!
Yeah, I really like this Midstrength - it's one of my favourite boards I've ridden!
That BB review was some time ago, back with Benny! Haha!
Great review. I grabbed one in the same dims last year and have struggled to get off of it since. Great info on the fins ... ill have to give it a go as a quad.
Yeah - the quad felt great!
The fin set up that you had in the board, is such a fun go to set up!
Yes - love it in most boards, nice hold, and nice release!
Literally, just got with Evan Capeles for a custom order one of these yesterday. Thanks for the review.
What a legend and what a ripper! You'll be stoked when you get it!
Great review. This convinced me to order one! :) Thanks.
Hope you enjoy it!
Got a 6'10 mid-strength after watching your reviews and talking to the local Chilli rep. Love the board. Just as described, great wave catching and glide, super forgiving but can pivot off the tail and do some solid maneuvers. Great reviews. Keep them coming!
Great to hear! Looking at doing a "Middy" review soon, which might be a good Chilli addition to the Mid Strength!
@@TheSurfboardGuide Been on the fence about the Middy so super keen to see your thoughts and footage.
@@tmcstumble Picking it up today or tomorrow - so hopefully be able to provide some feedback!
Think I’ve finally found the right board ! Great review!
Get on it!
Very informative. Thankyou 💫
Thank you for the review that's what I was after!
Stoked! Hope you enjoy it!
Great review on the Mid Strength...Thank you! I just bought one from Evan Caples who is the surfer getting barreled at 10:39 into your video. He owns Momentum Ride Shop in Port Hueneme, Ventura County, CA. He loves the Mid Strength and keeps a good selection of them in stock at his shop. I drove 4.5 hours r/t to buy one. Since he also rides them he had some good advice for me too...Thanks Evan! 🏄🏽♂
I love my Chilli Mid Strength! The thing paddles like a dream, catches waves so easily, and it turns really well. It is such a fun & easy board to surf! I feel like it is good from 2' to 10' surf so it has a huge wave range too.
Wayne Clarke would you be ok to share your weight and the size board you ordered?
Yes - I spoke with Evan and he shared that clip with me, what a ripper!
Stoked to hear you are enjoying your mid strength, it's such a good board!
Hey Wayne Clarke
Do you mind to share these advices from Evan?!
Just bought mine Midstrength but didn't find the best fins yet..
Thank you
@@wayneclarke73 Yea what size did you get?
nice review, I won't get stressed on it!
Yew!
Thanks for the review Craig. Just picked up a 7’0 with futures. Now gotta find a good quad set of fins to run in it.
Epic! Try the Futures F6 quads if you haven't already found some! Or, the Machado split keel quads if you wanna give it a longer feel.
@@TheSurfboardGuide running old light blue mayhem large quads and the board is magic. Thanks for the review. Really stoked on how fast and loose the board is. Basically a short board up and riding. Cheers!
@@maynardlim9438 would you have gone shorter if you could do it all over again?
hey craig. ive watched a lot of your reviews and i reckon you did your best surfing on this chilli.
Thanks - I juts got a 6'4 Middy for review, so let's see how that goes!
You surf so well without the handicap of a short board a bit too small for you. No leash either! Looks like a fantastic board. Thanks for the review
There's probably a bit more to that, but i get where you're going!
Great board, and so easy to surf with great flow!
Nice one Craig. 6 weeks to go for my stock 6'10 - frothing as you say! Recommendations for future boxes please? I'm sitting with majority Captain Fin Co's: CF5 Larges, Tyler Warren Honeycomb Quads, and Jack Freestone Futures. Guess I'll just try them and take it from there. By the way, you were ripping on the mid-strength, it suits you well. Regards from a cold cold South Africa.
With Futures i'd like to try the Machado quads that were designed for the Seaside.
Otherwise you can get the AM quad set in Futures too!
Captain McCallum Quad.
Sick! Looks pretty manoeuvrable. I wanna try a mid twin have you ridden any? The Joel Fitzgeralds look spicy 😉 appreciate the content and effort 🤙
I haven't, but i'm pretty keen to check one out...
Might start chatting with a few shapers..
Hi Craig great review as always. Its been a big year 2021 for better or worse. Can you do a review or nominate your favorite 3 or 4 boards for 2021... could be fun!!
Haha! Yeah - This board, CC Lane Splitter, Mana Sabre, Rusty Keg, C.I Twin Pin, and… I can’t pick just four 😂
@@TheSurfboardGuide you would need to do the review at Cresent or Cabb or somewhere like that……Just to be fair on the boards!! 🤙🤙
@@malcolmd3670 next year looks better for travel etc, and I'm keen to do a few different things like this... Stay tuned!
@@malcolmd3670 Would be good to get up to Cres if it was like 4ft or so...
Great to ear your visions of surfboards ! 👍🏻. Do you think this mid lenght by Chili would work as well as the Bobby quad ( last review ) with the same set up : 2 sides Am 1 + 2 center Am 1 ?
It could - I just didn't find the need to go the twin route, I liked the hold of a full size thruster and quads!
First off this was just a great review of this board so thank you! I've been going back and forth with the idea of getting a "Mid Length" for a bit now and it's either this mid strength (custom epoxy version) or a custom from a shaper in Rhode Island U.S. (Arc Surfboards). I'm from New Jersey U.S. and the waves are meh 😒 to really bad. Was wondering if at 5'6" 165lbs if the 7'2" MS would be too much board? Looking to get in as early as possible on some mush and closeouts. I'm a beginner moving towards intermediate. Any help is appreciated. YEW!!
Hey! 7'2 could be a little big as it will paddle well, but maneuverability will suffer.
Coming under 7 foot at around 6'8 or 6'10 would be better. The board turns and surfs so well, you don't want to lose that.
Craig great review order a 6 8 mid , just asking the tail pad do you really need one, watched the footage of the review and your back foot was more forward, just out of curiosity, cheers
What’s the saying “old habits die hard”?
Anyway, just always put pads on boards, and cause the board is so surfable, I don’t wanna be without that grip.
There were pressure under the pad area, so I was over it at times.
Hope you enjoy the board!
Ive been riding my 8 foot foamie for over a year now and surf usually 2 times a week. My local is not a good longboard beach and so I’m looking for a good transition board. I was looking at this in a 6’8. Would this work? (I’m 6’3 140 lbs)
It sounds like it could work, but, what does “not a good longboard beach” mean?
This would work well in waves where longboards would go well, but also where you’d primarily grab a Shortboard - it’s super versatile!
Is this the most high performance of the mid lengths you’ve surfed or felt up? Was also thinking about a nautilus which I know you were looking at, and also a mid 6 which Harley ingleby has been ripping on.
This is the most high performance shortboardesque mid-length I’ve ridden, but I’ve only ridden a couple…
I’ve got a Nautilus for review which I’m frothing to check out! Feels like an amazing board under arm!
Great review Craig! Seen a lot of high praise for this board. Im looking to step up to my next board. I currently ride a 6'10 board and progressing from beginner to intermediate. Not really sure which way to go and if the Mid strength would be a good choice and maybe get a 6'6?
It depends on your weight, but don't get it too short. This kind of board will stay with you probably for years because not only can it be fun on small days, but it really helps when it's head high and up. It gets you into a larger wave a bit further out the back compared to a shortboard, so you can be up and riding a hair before the wave turns critical, which is a huge deal. If you get it too short, that advantage will be less pronounced.
@@arrzfr Thanks for the advice! Appreciate it
Hey! It's a difficult one as you want to get the sizing right.
I'm 5'10.5 and got the 6'10, i could have gone up or down in sizing, but the 6'10 felt pretty safe.
@@arrzfr I'm looking for exactly what you described: getting into waves before they turn critical on big days. Do you think a mid-length is the best option? Or are there shorter boards/fish that can do this as well (have glide but still handle big surf)?
DJH __ a (short) fish has tons of glide once you’re up on your feet, but it won’t get you into a wave as early as a mid length (or a longboard of course). As far as bigger waves go, Arakawa and Pyzel make mid lengths that are a bit more gunny if you’re into more hollow waves, others are more for fatter, less critical waves. You can see it from the width, a 6’8 Pyzel is a full inch narrower than the Chilli at the same length, and has 2L less volume.
These things go best in bigger waves - I'd say get the biggest you can still duck-dive. For a guide - I'm 70 kg and I can duck dive my 6'8" (had to modify my technique a bit). BTW Craig your surfing looks good on that board.
Thanks! Such a fun board, and a little harder to duck dive than my 6'0, but no trouble!
Came here to say the same! Really worked with his style !
Do you like your 6’8? I’m also 70kg and debating between 6’6 and 6’8, for head high+ chunky point breaks
@@questforlefts1080 I like the 6'8" it goes great on bigger mushier walls where you can do swooping turns. Mine is 20 1/4" wide so a bit less surface area and volume maybe than other designs. What width is the 6'6"
@@spinafex5729 standard dims are 6’6 x 21 1/4 and 6’8 x 21 3/8.... yours being 20 1/4 wide sounds like it would cut off a lot of bottom end performance
Do the Big Baron. Thats an interesting mid length with a Twinny only option!!
I’d love to, but JS don’t seem to be too fussed on reviews now…
@@TheSurfboardGuide oh that's strange mate. No good. Wanted to see what you thought of the two
Craigo, I'm 6'2" 85kegs intermediate kook that's been riding a 7'2" Dave verrel style commander (basically a chopped log). Looking to upgrade to something more progressive. What dims would ya recommend?
I don't know that board. But maybe sticking around the same size would be ideal. 7'2 will have enough float and paddle power, but will allow your surfing to progress as it will be much more maneuverable.
@@TheSurfboardGuide cheers bro beans
Cool review. Im 77kg 52yo what size would your suggest?
Hey! Do you ride a shortboard? It might be good to size it from that.
If not, maybe go around a foot taller than your height.
I'm 5'10, and this 6'10 worked really well.
Any tipps on most userfriendly shortboards for internediates?
How Intermediate?
We just released the Rusty Surfboards “Keg” review - very forgiving and user friendly!
Is that version you rode PU or PE? Did you find it heavy to swing it around in the smaller surf? Asking for a friend.
Well, tell your friend it was PU, and it was amazing to swing around!
@@TheSurfboardGuide my friend says you will likely be an amazing golfer
@@terenceingram7786 already playing off scratch 😉
Hey Craig thanks for the great review. I have a stock 7’4” in production so I’m psyched! I’m 6’ & 92 kg and shoulders are wearing out at 55 yr so went a bit bigger. Do you reckon your AM quad set up would go good on it size wise? How would you recommend buying them - medium AM thruster set and large AM trailers separately somehow or possibly substitute them with FCS performer quad rears?
Thanks.
Hey! Yeah AM quads would be a great setup, and I’d go medium with all that rail in the water.
I’m not 100%, but I’ve got a feeling the trailers on mediums and larges are the same size.
The FCS website should show the size/area of the fins that might be worth checking out ✌️
Interested to hear how you go with the 7’4…
Thanks mate - much appreciated. I’ll let you know!🙂
Yep your right I just checked and the trailers are the same on medium and large, both are 8158mm2.
Thanks heaps for the quick replies👍🏼
I remember getting these quad sets from FCS years ago, and the rears were all the same - I think the template is the “Performer” or one of the basic templates…
I seriously regret not buying a second hand custom made 6.6 version of this from a guy last November. I had a last minute change of mind when all of a sudden I got worried not to be able to duck dive with that size😂🤭. I am 165 cm and around 54kg which size would you recommend? Chili have now the middy which is a shorter version of this board. I'm an intermediate advanced surfer. Should I go below 6.6? Thanks
Check the Middy out if that’s your concern!
I’ve got one coming, so we’ll review it in the coming months ✌️
I just got a 6.2 @35L Middy...excited
@@Eidref102 Epic - i gotta follow mine up!
Do you like this board better than CI Mid Twin for knee high beach breaks?
It’s probably a more versatile, but I’d say the C.I Mid Twin is a little better for knee high/small waves. Flows more like a longboard than the mid strength!
Is the mid strength you reviewed the tt version or a PU version?
This is PU/regular construction 👍
I've always been a mid rider especially for big surf because you just get easy entry on big days. Cruising into large waves on a mid is like swapping the footpath for a skate park.
If you ride a shortboard and misjudge a wave on a big day and consequently miss it, the crowd start to leave you out of the count. No fun!
Thanks for sharing ✌️
Great review. I'm nearly 50, been surfing (poorly) for years on my 7 ft 4 magic carpet (which I love). I'm 5 foot 7 (170 cm), 75 KGs and looking to order EPS TwinTech mid strength today. I live two hours from coast and surf 3 times a month. I just can't decide whether to go for 7'6 or 8 foot. Can anyone recommend please? As I'm a weekend warrior maybe I should go 8 foot? I have a 7 foot Superfish (47 ltr) but struggle to paddle it out the back on bigger swell.
UPDATE: I've ordered the 8 foot, I can always go smaller in future if needed.
Hey! Sorry I got to this too late!
Let me know how you go with the 8ft, it should still be a lot of fun to surf!
Anyone tried them with futures T1 twin plus stabilizer???
No, but I think an upright twin + stabiliser would be ok, just need to make sure it doesn't end up too loose!
did you try the seaside and beyond ? i wonder how the chilli compares to it
Never ridden it - sorry!
What size FCS AM performer thruster M or L?
With the thruster I’d go large - but medium in the quads ✌️
Mines got futures I tried the the 2+1 Machado upright fin set Fast but not easy to turn. Punch head high little beachie . Might try the F8,s anyone that knows a good futures fin setup for this board let me know Cheers 😀💪🏽
I wondered what the Futures Machado/Seaside quad set would be like. I’ve got it for another board, but obviously didn’t surf it in this as it’s FCS…
Hayden quads would probably be good too!
@@TheSurfboardGuide Unfortunately I asked for my board to be in FCSII as I have so meany different configurations in them . But it came with futures I only have the machado 2+1 at the moment. Looking at the board I definitely think Quads are the go in it . Just getting the right set ? I would like to try it with a Keel twin set lot of other mid length,s seem to be setup as twins only. 👍🏽
hi. have you tried it on the thruster yet? how was it?
Yeah - it was good, but preferred as a quad.
What dims do you recommend? I'm 94kg and a beginner/intermediate level
Hey mate,
Probably around the 7’0 mark. Scale up if you want to cruise and do less turning though… ✌️
@@TheSurfboardGuide I ordered one, can't wait until it comes!
You surf very well with the mid strength, i am gonna buy one but i have doubt about the dims. I weigth 82 kg. What are your weigth? Only to give me a idea! Thank you
Hey! This is pretty old, but I’m around 90kgs here. Anything over about 6’2 will float you, so think more about the length and how much rail you want in the water ✌️
@@TheSurfboardGuide :)) thank you for you reply. Maybe I'll go for the 6.6 or I'll go for the new Chilli model, the Full Strength, which is based on mid strength. But it is narrower and thinner. I want to surf with a longer board and catch more waves. I usually ride 5.8 - 6.0 boards. I'll keep following you. Happy New Year
Never heard of the full strength! Hitting up Chilli now!
@@TheSurfboardGuide I'll wait for you to test it so I can buy it :)))
i fucking love the way you surf dude.
yew- gonna get a 6'5 chili for my next board, so fucking stoked
Haha! Thanks!
Not sure if you’re serious or not, but thanks for taking the time to comment! ✌️
@@TheSurfboardGuide i'm being deadass!!! idk some surfers just have a style i fucking love bc i can see the flow and energy and idk. i love it
4:33 that’s my favorite way to end a wave.
Haha! Feels as good as an air or a cutback!
Sick board. Never leaves my car cause it fun in anything
Yes! Small or big, it seems to work!
Tim Johnson, what fins are u running?
Bought a 7,6 twin tec the other week of a guy second hand only had 3 surfs on it , his loss such a fun board , just worried now getting on my 6,0 rocket wide . But what would the difference be with a quad set or thruster ?
I loved the hold and drive of the quad - but check it out for yourself and see what you think!
Do you normally like quads?
Tried the quad , not a fan , seems a bit stiff for me , but I took my fishbeard out yesterday felt like a toothpick on my first wave after riding my mid 😂😂 but then it came back , love the fishbeard as well. Cheers
Have you tried the Middy?
Soon!
What about the Mid Strength 2+1? :)
Nah, didn’t really dig it. Didn’t need to loosen it up. But in the Middy…
I bought the 2+1 since every mid length is a 2+1 and I wanted to have the same feel
God bless and mahalo 🤙🏽 bruddah
Thank you!
id like to see on a 7 2 or a 7 6 even. as i dont reckon 6 10 is long enough to be considered a legit mid length surfboard..you definitely look better on a longer board but mate.
Yeah, hesitant to call it a midlength as I’ve heard some controversy about the subject 😂
just got the 6-10".. took it out twice at medicore 3-4 trestles. once with mr twins and nub, second sesh wtih quads. think i need more time on it. its a solid board but... you still have to work. i didnt find the "glide" ..yet. when i firtst picked it up ,the nose rocker looked way more than low entry..looks the same in the video. hoping for better waves for a better evaluation.
Thanks for sharing! What board(s) are you coming from? I think if you're riding more predominantly longer/mid lengths, this might feel less glidey as it is developed around a performance shortboard outline/design, but if you are a shortboard guy, this is going to have all the glide, mice with performance that you'll ever need!
Hey man! @@TheSurfboardGuide so then, usually surf a 5' 9 firewire baked potatoe, but i have a quiver of many board types. I got a few decent waves recently. The mid strength is a performance board. Yes, it paddles well but then again its 6'10 with 44 liters. I think its an over-sell to say that you are in any way competing with long boarders and my wave count hasnt increased. Like I wrote in my earlier comment you have to work for waves, just like you do with a performance board. Not the turn around, two stroke glide into everything like i was hoping for. And just like a performance board, once you are up and going, that is when this board excels. This board moves and feels very loose. With all that rocker, it should. I have watched many reviews which said the board has a relaxed nose rocker. It doesnt. Its the first thing i noticed when I got to the shop to pick it up. Overall i dig it and it is a great addition to the quiver. I love your content man! keep it coming!
it totally competes with longboarders, every thing you wrote is wrong@@stephenlepore4476