The right board for me?

[robmcn]

Hi,

I am a 30 year old long boarder looking for something to get me into surfing a shorter board and to be able to handle the bigger days. My current board is a high performance longboard, I live and surf in northern portugal, generally quite powerful steep beach breaks, roughly 4 or 5 times a week and weigh around 180lbs, I'd say I'm an intermediate on the longboard and don't want to abandon long boarding. I posted on the old forum regarding a dominator in the bigger sizes but was pointed in the direction of an Addvance, and was thinking a 6"6 might be the right board, any thoughts?

many thanks
Rob

[STC67]

Hi Rob,

I'm 45, 95 kgs with double shoulder reconstructions. I was on LB's for a few years and thought my short board days were over. I went for a 702 ADDvance and It has been fantastic. Paddles like my LB but surfs like a 7fter. I don't think it has ever let me down on a steep drop. I think it is the narrower tail that i like. I am however wishing I was now on a 610 as it can feel a bit corky in the big stuff and hard to "set a rail"' i am not sure if that is the large volume or the bevels on the bottom causing that feeling. Now contemplating my next board purchase as either a smaller ADDvance or others have recommended a Spitfire/Hellfire. Im also going to try a set of larger Pancho Sullivan fins,

If your concerned about going back to a short board again due to paddle ability, then the ADDvance is the way to go. Note, it may take a couple of surfs to get used to the shorter length.

Cheers

[iggy]

6'10" would be my recomendation and for STC, I think you would enjoy tremendously the qualities of the dominator under your circumstances

[surferireland]

Rob, I've surfed shortboards since I was 10, I got into longboarding later in life for a bit of fun and its great, I enter the national contests now. I ride a 5'10 Dom and a performance lb - Ive surfed Estoril in Portugal and loved it, Ive also surf Lacanua / Biarritz in France, if you are managing these heavy beach breaks on the lb you wont have a problem on a 6'10 Dom - the dom is a very loose board and because of this its alot of fun - its easy to paddle and can handle big surf with a little practice.

[Chris]

yeah rob thats a great option. i think you are in a great spot to ride either the 606 or 610. both will be enough volume to use and have fun on, it just depends whether you want the benefits of a longer and floatier board, or a shorter more maneuverable board.

Cheers and hope this helps!

[robmcn]

Thanks for the advice guys, Chris, I just spoke to a shop in the uk and they suggested a dominator 6"4 seeing as I surf quite regularly, I'm a little confused now, would a dominator be too big a jump or just take a little more adjustment time?

[iggy]

It will be a matter of adjustmen, a drastic one. Do you ride your longboard old school or with a modern approach??? (do you pump the board down the line or just cruise and logg more than anything?,cutbacks?floaters etc??)
The board will feel extremely light under your feet and nervous at the beginning. You'll be able to find the sweet spot faster on the addvance than the Dom.
The Addvance, although bigger and with a wider planning surface, is still very maneuvarble, given the tail and rail configuration.
Domiator will work but will require a longer adaptation period

[Chris]

I think if you have only ever long boarded, then the straight jump to a Dominator is a big one, but not impossible. Making a transition is all about how aggressively you want to pursue it. if you are surfing 4-5 times a week and are committed to join g shorter, then yeah you could go the dominator route, just be realize that, up from, it will be a bigger step back and will require more work.

There aren't many people with the luxury to surf that often so I say if you are feeling lucky, why not take the bigger challenge. If you want a more measured approach, then the Addvance is there.

hope this helps.

[robmcn]

I'm struggling to source a 6"6 or 6"10 Addvance in either portugal where i live or the UK where i am from and so I have been back looking at the other options and was wondering if the activator would be a better option than a dominator as it seems to generally come in slightly longer lengths? any thoughts

[iggy]

Have you tried contact Myles?
[email protected]

[robmcn]

Thanks, just sent him an email

[robmcn]

So it looks like I'm going to struggle to get a 6"6 or 6"10 addvance any time soon, both shops I've spoken to in the Uk suggest a 6"4/6"6 dominator, but having looked at the foils of the boards I was wondering whether an activator might be better at the larger sizes, the shape appears similar to the addvance, although obviously more high performance, and would probably be better in larger waves, am I right?

[iggy]

How long are they talking about?
648649

I believe the Activator is definitely a board to consider, hard to compare with the Addvance. You'll have to go a couple of inches longer to get to the same volume as the Addvance.
The advance has a fuller nose which will help you on smaller days as well.

Have you taken a look at El Fuego?
650

[robmcn]

Well apparently there are not any coming to europe, I could make a special order but they said that would take at least a few months and didn't mention cost! I'm basically after something that will allow me to progress to surfing something shorter but handle the bigger days seeing as thats my primary motivation for wanting something shorter to compliment my LB. I'm certain the 6"6 or 6"10 Addvance was the right board but in the absence of being about to get one any time soon trying to work out the best alternative, I know it might take a little longer! The places I've spoken to in the uk reckon the dominator but i was wondering whether the tail of the Activator might cope with being oversized a little better, I'll have a look at the el fuego too, thanks!

[prjwebb]

Yeah I think if you're going to over size the board that refined tail of the Activator will be a huge help over the bigger, thicker tail of the Dominator. Especially if you're looking to use it in bigger surf.

[iggy]

The activator is basically a dominator with a tweaked tail so I think you'll be on the right path. Now you have to focus on the length.
The transition from the longboard onto the Activator/Dominator will need some adjustment time. You don't want to go to big on either board though.

[robmcn]

My thought had been 6"7, a little less volume than the 6"6 dominator or the Addvance, or perhaps the 6"9 what do you reckon or am I thinking too big?

[iggy]

Too big, I will go max 6'7". It will float you more than plenty
The fact that you surf 4-5 times a week is gonna have you getting used to that board in no time. Be persistent, remember the first session or two are gonna be to get used to it but once you dial it is fun time!!

[prjwebb]

The smaller you go the trickier the adjustment will be, but the window of improvement will be larger in the long run.
If you go bigger now it'll be easier initially but you could find yourself out growing the board more quickly.

[iggy]

Yup, there has to be a compromise

[robmcn]

Ok, max 6"7? So perhaps the 6"5 would be the best compromise, what do you reckon? Thanks for all the help btw

[iggy]

I would go for the 6'7".
The beauty of these boards is that they hold so well, that after you have outgrown the board, if you decide to sell it you can still sell it and a get a good chunk for a new one.
I would play safe cause going too small you could get frustrated. It's all about determination.