Is height ever a factor? Board sizing question

[mralexchang]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about getting a 6'0 HF but I'm worried its going to be much board for me. I'm 6'0 155lb (70.3 KG), i'd say i'm average in skill i've been surfing on and on for the past 8 years. I don't really know how to gauge my skill but i don't fall on a wave unless i'm trying something crazy. A couple years ago i got a 5'6 retro fish and i love the extra volume but being so light its a pain in the ass trying to duck dive with it so i normally take my 6'0 potato chip out. I current live in Orange County, Ca so pretty much every wave is a beach break except when i venture down south to trestles or san diego.

I KNOW the 6'0 HF is too much board for me but would it really make a huge difference if i'm not busting my fins of every wave? Does height ever become a factor on a board since there is a "sweet spot" and taller people have wider stances?

[prjwebb]

How come you're looking at going for so much volume when you know it's too much?
I'd put you on the 5'8". 5'10" at the very most. I think the 5'10" will be perfect for your height, but the 5'8" more suited to your weight.
Height does play a part, but more stance than anything. You get some tall guys with a knock-kneed little narrow stance, and some shorter guys with a full on, wider, power stance.

If you ride a 6'0" potato chip then a 6'0" HF is going to feel like a boat, in my opinion.

[mralexchang]

I should have elaborated that i'm trying to find something super easy to paddle and get into waves early. Also i'm trying to sell off my current quiver as i do not have room for them anymore. I was looking for a single board to take out in any conditions under 7ft. My thoughts were if i go a little bigger it should allow me to ride almost anything?

[prjwebb]

In that case I still think the 5'10" would be more than enough! I reckon the 6'0" would feel boaty and a little unresponsive at your weight.

[iggy]

As PRJ said the 5'8" will be spot on for your weight. The issue arrive with long limbed people when they go too short following weight criteria only without putting too much attention on ability. For what we've read here, you already went on a 5'6" and you sound like a competent surfer, so I would venture on the 5'8"

[mralexchang]

Forgot to mention the 5'6 was a retro fish. I'm definately leaning toward the 5'10, I would get the 5'8 if I was a more fit but i'm 27 and only gaining more and more weight! I guess if its a little too floaty for me i could always increase my junkfood diet, and if it doesn't float me as well i could just excercise more =p.

Thanks again for all the quick replies!

Looking forward to joining the firewire family.

[iggy]

Surf the s$#^t out of it!!! ;)

[mralexchang]

After reading about the feedback and videos on youtube I'm wondering if I should get a 5'8 dominator instead. So the new question is: dominator or hellfire?
Let me recap everything to give the guru's a bigger picture.

About me: 6'0 155 lb 70.3kg (I usually wear a 3/2 since I only dawn patrol at 530am and its cold)

Skill: I'd say intermediate, I'm definitely not a beginner but I'm no pro. Here's the only video/gif I have of me surfing. This was about 1.5 years ago and I haven't really been going that much since then. (please don't make fun of me)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/saWZkYCuA_iDXd_q0o1P0NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

Surf: mainly going to be beach breaks < 7 feet. High and low tide really mess up the waves here in orange county so it could be racy fast sections, or super mushy peaks.

Current boards: 5'6 AKA retro fish it's too much volume but its fun to mess around on (I sold the rest of my boards to get new ____ firewire)

What I want it to do: I want wave count with more short board performance than the fish. I only get to surf before work for maybe 1.5-2 hours so wave count is big. I'd love to get in early, and have a board easy to paddle. I mean i could see myself getting another firewire eventually but at least 9 months +.

1) Should I start with a dominator instead of a hellfire? Nev seems to rave about the hellfire as its a newer refined version of the dominator... does he still ride his dominator?
2) If I do go dominator should I go 5'8 so I might stand a chance in bigger surf?
3) Will the hellfire catch as many waves as the dominator?
4) Any other recommendations?

Again thanks for everyone's input!

[prjwebb]

The Dominator will handle the smaller mushier waves better but the Hellfire will excel when it's racy and fast.
Potentially the Activator, Futura or Jacknife could be the perfect middle ground?

[mralexchang]

how does the hell razor fit between?

[prjwebb]

HellRazor is aimed for the better end up the spectrum but sounds like it works well in smaller stuff too. I wouldn't expect miracles in junky waves though.

[iggy]

After reading about the feedback and videos on youtube I'm wondering if I should get a 5'8 dominator instead. So the new question is: dominator or hellfire?
Let me recap everything to give the guru's a bigger picture.

About me: 6'0 155 lb 70.3kg (I usually wear a 3/2 since I only dawn patrol at 530am and its cold)

Skill: I'd say intermediate, I'm definitely not a beginner but I'm no pro. Here's the only video/gif I have of me surfing. This was about 1.5 years ago and I haven't really been going that much since then. (please don't make fun of me)
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/saWZkYCuA_iDXd_q0o1P0NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=d irectlink

Surf: mainly going to be beach breaks < 7 feet. High and low tide really mess up the waves here in orange county so it could be racy fast sections, or super mushy peaks.

Current boards: 5'6 AKA retro fish it's too much volume but its fun to mess around on (I sold the rest of my boards to get new ____ firewire)

What I want it to do: I want wave count with more short board performance than the fish. I only get to surf before work for maybe 1.5-2 hours so wave count is big. I'd love to get in early, and have a board easy to paddle. I mean i could see myself getting another firewire eventually but at least 9 months +.

1) Should I start with a dominator instead of a hellfire? Nev seems to rave about the hellfire as its a newer refined version of the dominator... does he still ride his dominator?
2) If I do go dominator should I go 5'8 so I might stand a chance in bigger surf?
3) Will the hellfire catch as many waves as the dominator?
4) Any other recommendations?

Again thanks for everyone's input!

At this point I would go Dominator to cover a more ample spectre.5'8" looks about right

[mralexchang]

how well would a 5'6 hold up in say head high surf (6ft)? I'm assuming i could just pop some larger fins in?

[iggy]

Wave count?? 5'8" will be slitghtly better but for sure the 5'6" will hold on to with the appropriate fins

[Herzalot]

Mr. Alex...all I can say is it's easy to go too big on a Firewire. the difference between the 606 Dominator and 604 Dominator was night and day for me. I'm 6'4" tall, 210lbs. The 606 Dom was a corky, floaty pig. The 604 allows me to catch a ton of waves, but it actually performs in the wave instead of floating and skipping over the surface. Your photos show a competent, balanced surfer IMO. At your weight, 5'8" max!

I surf the same waves as you - and the Dom seems fine, although I've only had it out four times. Get something (Dom, Hellfire or SF) the right size and love it - don't get mired in what you could've and should've bought.

I have a 606 Dom for sale brand new - 1 surf! Tell your large friends (gotta be about 230lbs I'd say).

[Wandi]

I'd recommend a 5'6
Nev recommended me a 5'8 and it feels perfect as a small wave board and waves up to a solid 4ft back
I'm weighing in at 80 kg
Looking at where you live you should sus out some Demo boards
The Hellrazor could also be a good 2nd board option
Good luck

[mralexchang]

First off i want to thank everyone for chiming in and helping me out.

I actually reweighed myself and it turns out i'm actually weigh 150lb (68kg) Not that its a big difference but i poped it into the calculator and it says my range for volume is 24 to 28. As i progress i only imagine that i will require less and less volume. I actually decided against a hellfire and now getting a dom/spitfire (leaning toward dom). The big question now is will a 5'4 be too small, it says it has a volume of 25.7 but i'm 6'0 tall? I know that originally i wanted something that'd get me into waves easier which I hope the 5'4 would do. But i could get a 5'4 dominator for 200 dollars less than a 5'6. My thinking is that 200 dollars saved could go toward another firewire in the future, something a little big bigger for those head high days?

I know the 5'4 will get me in trouble on those bigger days but the extra 200 will save me some money and i'd be able to get something else later on to handle the big stuff. I'd just be shooting myself in the foot until then. If only the 5'6 or 5'8 weren't so expensive =p

[prjwebb]

At 6ft tall the 504 is going to be too short in the rail in my opinion. I think you'll be constantly bogging the rail without sufficient length to drive through turns. The 506 will feel short even I think.

[iggy]

First off i want to thank everyone for chiming in and helping me out.

I actually reweighed myself and it turns out i'm actually weigh 150lb (68kg) Not that its a big difference but i poped it into the calculator and it says my range for volume is 24 to 28. As i progress i only imagine that i will require less and less volume. I actually decided against a hellfire and now getting a dom/spitfire (leaning toward dom). The big question now is will a 5'4 be too small, it says it has a volume of 25.7 but i'm 6'0 tall? I know that originally i wanted something that'd get me into waves easier which I hope the 5'4 would do. But i could get a 5'4 dominator for 200 dollars less than a 5'6. My thinking is that 200 dollars saved could go toward another firewire in the future, something a little big bigger for those head high days?

I know the 5'4 will get me in trouble on those bigger days but the extra 200 will save me some money and i'd be able to get something else later on to handle the big stuff. I'd just be shooting myself in the foot until then. If only the 5'6 or 5'8 weren't so expensive =p

Too short length wise in my opinion

[Herzalot]

I think 5'4" is probably too short. It's not $200 saved if it's $450 wasted. One good board will do for most conditions where we surf from waist to slightly overhead.(assuming you are surfing from San-O Bluffs - Trails - through maybe Salt Creek and everything in between). Sure you can subdivide it into ten boards if you want, but that only leads to existential angst about whether or not you brought the right board, then, the right fins, then the right set-up. Keep it simple. Get a Dom or Spit in 5'6" and ride the hell out of it.

Hmmmm, I just plugged in your numbers in the volume calculator and they are recommending a 5'4" in Spit or Dom. Maybe that is enough. Sounds short to me, but my original advice said it's easy to go too big with a Firewire. Good luck - glad I could help ;-).

[mralexchang]

I think with all the research on the forums and goggle searches i decided on a 5'6 spitfire. I know its going to be a tad small on those head high days but i'm assuming i'll get something to fill that gap on the higher end of the spectrum.

I know any board i get i'll be stoked but i just keep changing my mind and second guessing myself. If i ask for another board recommendation don't give me one! Spitfire 506 FST is my final decision =p.

[prjwebb]

Good choice. On steeper days I find the quad and nubster holds in like it's on train tracks but still releases well through turns.

[Chris]

yeah or just go with a traditional thruster. don't fear the tried and true!!

[Herzalot]

I think with all the research on the forums and goggle searches i decided on a 5'6 spitfire. I know its going to be a tad small on those head high days but i'm assuming i'll get something to fill that gap on the higher end of the spectrum.

I know any board i get i'll be stoked but i just keep changing my mind and second guessing myself. If i ask for another board recommendation don't give me one! Spitfire 506 FST is my final decision =p.

Cool - sounds great. Now if you are like me, you'll have to stop reading these forums or you will get enveloped in existential angst about all the boards you didn't get. Can I assume you got yours from Killer Dana? Did you order it or do you have it already? If you have it, let's hit Middles, Church or Trails this weekend. Could be a final at Lowers on Saturday (although with the swell predictions, I am guessing they will wrap it up by Thursday or Friday). Looks like it will be 2-3, which is a tad low for both our boards.

[mralexchang]

I actually JUST got it tonight. I was going to get it from Jacks Surfboards but they weren't sure when their order would come in, so I called HSS again (i called the previous week said they didn't have it in stock) and they had it. Problem is i have it all waxed up and waiting for me but I won't be able to take it out till Thursday AM =(. I'd be cool to meet up, this weekend I'm going out of town but hopefully next weekend?

Proud owner of a 5'6 spitfire FST!!!!!!

[Wandi]

Can't wait to hear how it rides for you
Happy days

[Herzalot]

I actually JUST got it tonight....Problem is i have it all waxed up and waiting for me but I won't be able to take it out till Thursday AM =(. Proud owner of a 5'6 spitfire FST!!!!!!

Did you see the surf predictions for Thursday morning? Couldn't ask for a better first day. That little pulse will be gone by the weekend. Can't wait to hear your first impressions. Git some!