Is the Spitfire the right board for me?

[Bowsie]

So here's my question, I purchased a 6'10 ADDvance a few months ago as I was struggling to find a short board that I could ride (I mostly rod a 9' Bill Stewart Pintail Pro). I absolutely love it, so much so I purchased the 7'2 Alternator. I ride the 6'10 most of the time but find that when the waves get bigger and steeper (3 - 4ft) the ADD tends to slip and feel a little bit floaty (I mostly surf the Auckland W Coast).

So I'm looking for a board that will surf 2-4 ft but also handle those days when the odd bigger set comes through and are tossing up between the Spitfire and the Dom though when I spend too many hours thinking about it I also chuck the Hellfire in as well (I'm a closet gear head !!).

I'm 5'10 and weigh about 95 kgs probably about an Int level, so looking at the DOM 6'6 or SF 6'6 or maybe the HF 6'8. Oh what to do any thoughts.

[prjwebb]

Both the Dom and Spitfire are great choices. The Hellfire would overlap with your Alternator a little more.

[Bowsie]

I have a mate I surf with who says the same re the HF, is their much difference in the performance between the DOM and SF, or do I just need to learn to surf the ADD better ?

[buzzy]

I'd suggest the spitfire and I reckon the length you have in mind is great - that or the 6'4". The longer board would be a safer bet.

[prjwebb]

The Spit and the Dom are subtly different in the way that they ride, but very much the same board from the front fins forward.

[iggy]

Spitfire will be my choice since it will grab onto the wave a bit better since the tail is a bit thinner dut to the stepdown rail and the diamond shape.
As PRJWEBB said both boards are identical from the front fins to the nose, the real difference is in the tail. The dominator tail is fuller so it will not draw arcs as tight aas the spitfire. One thing though, at 5'10'' I think the 6'6'' might be too big. That extra volume will help you on the smaller stuff but will be an issue on cleaner steeper faces.
The HF is also a good option, since it has more rocker and a more conventional sort of modern outline, it will perform better on bigger steeper conditions. Now if the purpose of the board is mainly 2-4ft I would go for the spit 6'2'' or the 6'4''max if your level is intermediate
For refference I'm 80Kgs and surf a SF 5'8''

[Bowsie]

Thanks Iggy I'm certainly heading towards the SP just seems a big jump down to a 6'2, how would a HF handle shoulder high waves ? I really like the feel of my ALT 7'2 and find the ADD feels really big and floaty hence looking for a smaller wave board that catches waves easily but feels like the ALT.

[iggy]

The HF will be a more familiar feeling to the ALT than the SF.

[iggy]

According to your last post I believe that the HF might be what you are looking for,for the smaller stuff you have the advance anyways. I would put the SF between the low and medium up level of the small conditions whereas the HF will fit on the mid and up better.
Now in your case you have an ADD for the small to medium and the ALT for decent conditions, that's what I think the HF will fit in between nicely

[Bowsie]

Ended up getting a 6'8 Spitfire as the 6'6 was going to be 5 weeks ridden a couple of time now really like the paddling ability but feels a bit stiff (both days been over head high)I've put Shappers stealth SQ7's should I be riding this as a thruster in these conditions or am I over finned ?

[prjwebb]

Not familiar with those fins but the Spitfire is very fin sensitive. Try a few sets and see which you like the feel of. Too big a set of quads will be tracky and stiff, too small will be a little slidey. I like the Spitfire as a thruster or with large side fins and a small trailer.
Quad is fun in racey barrels.

[Chris]

yeah, the fins can cause a lot of change. experiment as much as you can because certain fins compliment individual styles in different ways. I think you should definitely try a thruster set as well. If you aren't looking for added speed, the thruster will improve maneuverability, and in particular, increase the sensation of controlled pivot.

hope this helps

[Bowsie]

Thanks guys will try as a thruster with a PC3 middle fin and report back. BTW love the website and your boards may need some counselling for my addiction issues though

[Slowman]

Thanks guys will try as a thruster with a PC3 middle fin and report back. BTW love the website and your boards may need some counselling for my addiction issues though

Firewire fever!

[Chris]

nahhh healthy addiction Bowsie!!

[Stevie]

Im 5'9 and weigh 170. Thinking of grabbing a 5'10 for those extra mushy days.. or would that sacrafice to much performance for better days

[Stevie]

mush days meaning 2ft

[buzzy]

I think it'd be absolutely fine for small and medium days. I surf a 6'4" Dom on small days which is a pretty good equivalent to the 5'10" at your weight and I don't perceive any performance deficiencies in small waves. Realistically any performance limitations (if any) by going marginally bigger are going to become more apparent as wave size increases. I think we're talking at least head high before the extra volume of a slightly bigger board is going to become significant.

It is also fair to say that someone who surfs regularly at a particular volume is going to really notice extra volume - I certainly did when I first went from 2.5" to 2 5/8" thick around 7 years ago, when I was around 86kg- initially it felt like a boat. But after a while I actually found the extra thickness worked to my advantage.

[Stevie]

so you think that grabbing the 5'10 wont make turns more drawn out and slower in like 4fters?

[Stevie]

and what would be the down fall for grabbing a 5'8 instead of the 5'10

[iggy]

The 5'8" will feel a bit livelier than the 5'10"
What's your fitness/surfing level???. The 5'10" will be a safe play and those extra 2lts will help you on the paddle when it's not that good. I don't think performance will be affected much.It all depends on the conditions you are planning to surf the board on

[buzzy]

Stevie. I doubt you'd really notice any difference to be honest in 4 foot surf. I assume here you are talking about 4 foot faces, not 4 foot in the so called Hawaiian scale. 2 inches difference in length is hardly anything. The main difference isn't so much the length as the extra volume. Even then it's only two litres so not a lot of difference.

At 2 foot faces the 5'8" will probably be struggling a little in terms of getting you into the wave cleanly and providing a stable platform to drive from. By contrast the 5'10" will get you into the wave earlier and provide a better platform to make dead sections and generate drive.

At 4 foot faces each board will be in its element and you'd barely notice a difference between the two.

At 6 foot faces the boards will still be in their element and you'll probably not notice much difference, but the 5'10" will probably have reached its realistic performance limit.

At 8 foot faces the 5'10" will have probably exceeded its realistic limit and you'll be nursing it through turns. The 5'8" will be around its limit but not yet exceeding it.

[Stevie]

Alright cool and my surfing is average I guess and my fitness is very good. I really have been going back and forth between the spitfire, the dom, and the el fuego.

[Stevie]

and I'm kinda looking for any everyday board without losing too much performance. Anything from 2-6 faces days

[prjwebb]

Spitfire

[iggy]

yup

[Chris]

All are really good options. Of those 3, I think I ride the Dominator and El Fuego equally and the Spitfire ranks third. Because you are riding slightly bigger surf though, the Spitfire might trump the Dom though. The Elfuego is worth a look though if you surf a slot of slopey waves!!!

Cheers