JS Industries Big Baron Surfboard Review
Note: Hawaiian South Shore no longer carries JS Industries surfboards. If you're looking for a comparable mid-length twin-fin, our top pick is the Firewire Revo Max. We also carry the Firewire Mid6 Twin. Both are in stock now.
JS Industries Big Baron Surfboard Review
Quick answer: The JS Industries Big Baron is a mid-length twin-fin designed for waist-to-overhead drawn-out waves. It runs from 6'4" to 7'6" and is built around a flat rocker, vee bottom through twin fins, and a round tail — generating speed and stability in weaker surf without requiring much effort. Hawaiian South Shore no longer carries JS Industries. The closest mid-length twin-fins we carry are the Firewire Revo Max (Tomo design, 6'0"–7'0") and the Firewire Mid6 Twin (Harley Ingleby design, 6'10").
What David Noticed the First Time Out
David paddled out on a chest-high day at a local break and had one thing on his mind: that nose. The Big Baron has a wide, full template — and he was sure it would catch when he tried to turn. It didn't. Not once. What happened instead caught him off guard.
The board is heavier than a typical shortboard, and that weight does something unexpected — it paddles fast. Really fast. David picked up speed early and had plenty of time to get to his feet, even on steeper waves where a lighter board might rush you.
Down the line, he called it a "fast Cadillac." Smooth, composed, carrying its own momentum. He didn't have to work for speed. The board found it.
His main question going in was maneuverability — wide nose, full shape, wouldn't it get stuck? It didn't. He turned it without fighting it. He left that session wanting a bigger swell to really test it.
What the Shaper Says the Big Baron Is Built to Do
Big Baron Specs: What the Board Is Actually Doing
The Big Baron was inspired by the mid-lengths that surfers rode on the Gold Coast points — boards built for flow and speed over sharp pivots. JS Industries updated that concept with a modern bottom contour and twin-fin placement.
- Sizes: 6'4" (34.3L) to 7'6" (57.9L) — ride it longer than your normal shortboard
- Rocker: Low and flat overall — generates paddle speed and trims without effort
- Bottom: Vee from nose to tail, blending into double concave through the fins — drives rail-to-rail without losing speed
- Rails: Low and forgiving — allows aggressive turns at speed
- Tail: Round — adds control when waves get hollower
- Fins: Twin fin (FCS2 or Futures boxes depending on build)
- Best conditions: Waist-high to slightly overhead, drawn-out waves — point breaks, reef breaks, long beach break walls
There's a secondary benefit that JS talks about: riding the Big Baron regularly tends to smooth out your surfing. It forces you to set up earlier and be more deliberate. Surfers who rotate between a mid-length and a shorter board often notice the improvement carry over.
What to Ride Instead: Two Mid-Length Twins We Carry
Hawaiian South Shore no longer stocks JS Industries, but we carry two mid-length twin-fins that occupy the same lane as the Big Baron — both with Firewire construction and real reviews from our team.
Firewire Revo Max — Our Top Pick
The Revo Max is shaped by Daniel "Tomo" Thomson — the same shaper behind Firewire's Evo and S-Boss. It's his longest MPH (Modern Planing Hull) template, and the most accessible one for surfers coming from a mid-length background.
- Sizes: 6'0" (31.3L) to 7'0" (53.5L)
- Rocker: Low entry and exit — generates forward projection and flow down the line
- Bottom: Tomo's Vee Quad Concave — central vee for lift and drive, quad concave channels near the fins for control at speed
- Fins: Twin (Futures) — designed to run with Tomo's Max Keel fins
- Construction: I-Bolic core + Volcanic lamination (basalt fiber — carbon-like response, better durability)
- Best conditions: 2–8 feet, lined-up point and beach breaks
The Revo Max handles a wider wave range than the Big Baron — it performs well in smaller surf but won't get overwhelmed when things push past overhead. If you want a twin-fin mid-length that works across more conditions, this is the one.
Shop the Firewire Revo Max at Hawaiian South Shore →
Firewire Mid6 Twin — Harley Ingleby's Performance Take
The Mid6 Twin is shaped by two-time World Longboard Champion Harley Ingleby. Where the Revo Max leans on Tomo's planing hull geometry, the Mid6 Twin takes a more traditional mid-length outline — curvy plan shape with wide point forward — and refines it with performance rails and six bottom channels.
- Size: 6'10" only (Twin variant — similar volume to the 7'0" but in a shorter, more curved outline)
- Bottom: Six channels through the fin area — drive and speed without the stiffness of concaves
- Rails: Performance rails — medium-high in the nose, transitioning to low and hard in the tail
- Tail: Fine round pintail
- Fins: Dedicated twin FCS2 boxes — runs the FCS2 Harley Ingleby Power Twin fins
- Construction: Thunderbolt Red (more flex, better in average conditions) or Thunderbolt Black (stiffer, lighter, better in powerful surf)
- Best conditions: Waist to overhead, drawn-out waves and point-break style walls
The Mid6 Twin is the more performance-oriented board of the two. If you're coming from a performance shortboard background and want a mid-length that still lets you surf critically, the Mid6 Twin is built for that. Read more about the Harley Ingleby Mid6 series here.
Shop the Firewire Mid6 Twin at Hawaiian South Shore →
JS Industries Big Baron — Frequently Asked Questions
Is the JS Industries Big Baron still available?
JS Industries still manufactures the Big Baron, but Hawaiian South Shore no longer carries JS Industries surfboards. If you're looking for a mid-length twin-fin at HSS, the closest options we carry are the Firewire Revo Max (6'0"–7'0", Tomo design) and the Firewire Mid6 Twin (6'10", Harley Ingleby design).
What waves is the JS Big Baron designed for?
The Big Baron performs best in waist-to-slightly-overhead, drawn-out waves — point breaks, reef breaks, and long beach break walls where the board's flat rocker and full template can find and hold speed. It's not designed for short, punchy surf. Give it some stretch and it finds its gear.
What size Big Baron should I ride?
The Big Baron ranges from 6'4" (34.3 liters) to 7'6" (57.9 liters). JS Industries recommends riding it longer than your normal shortboard. A surfer who rides a 6'2" shortboard might start on a 6'8" or 6'10" Big Baron.
What fins does the JS Big Baron use?
The Big Baron is a twin-fin, available in FCS2 or Futures fin boxes depending on build year. Twin-fin setup is the only configuration — no thruster or quad options for this model.
Is the Big Baron good for intermediate surfers?
Yes. The extra volume and low rocker make paddle-in easier, and the stability on take-off gives you more time to get your feet set. It's not a beginner board, but it's well within range for a competent intermediate.
What's the difference between the Big Baron and the Firewire Revo Max?
Both are mid-length twin-fins in a similar size range but built differently. The Big Baron uses a flat rocker and vee-to-double-concave bottom optimized for weaker, smaller waves. The Revo Max uses Tomo's Vee Quad Concave geometry with low-but-active rocker, which handles a wider range — from small to overhead-plus — and uses Firewire's I-Bolic Volcanic construction.
Does Hawaiian South Shore carry any JS Industries surfboards?
No. Hawaiian South Shore no longer carries JS Industries. For mid-length options, we stock the Firewire Revo Max and Firewire Mid6 Twin, both of which serve a similar purpose to the Big Baron.