Elf in the Maldives

[tallkook]

How does everyone think the El Fuego would go in the Maldives? I'm 6'5, 90 kg, 42yo and intermediate. I already have a 6'8 Dom which I really like (I know I could have gone smaller) and was thinking about a 6'5 Elf as my second board. I would get a Hellfire but I think I'll get more use out of the Elf in my home waves.

[nn66]

If you are happy with your 6'8" Dom you will really like the EF 6'5" for the Maldives and back home for anything from 1-6ft waves, I am 105kgs and used to have the 6'5" EF now i have a 6'6" Hellfire which has less floatation however it serves its purpose in good waves not sure if its better than the EF. One thing about the EF get it with fututes and you must ride it with Future controllers I tried other fins and they did not offer the versatility of one fit set suits all conditions. By the way you could get a 6'3" EF for your weight.

[Wandi]

I think the Elf would probably go really well in the Maldives
Get in early, great planing speed down the line
Just pack some bigger fins for the bigger days

[Gnubee]

I'm almost exactly your size (and age). I went with a 6'3". I also surf in a full 5mm wetsuit. You might consider going that couple of inches shorter. The board still paddles incredibly well and has tons of float. Mine is FCS, so I have never tried Controllers, but the H3 Nexus matches up nicely with the board.

A 6'8" Dom is HUGE! I held a 6'6" and it felt a bit like an aircraft carrier to me. What I like about the ElF is that it goes so well in smaller surf. You really dont need perfect waves to have a fantastic session. It is really responsive and fast, so once you get the drop nailed down (watch that flatter rocker!) it will go like mad even in hollow surf.

[Chris]

good stuff gnubee. Yeah in general, the El Fuego is great AND you can ride it with less volume than the dominator for sure! I use the 508 dominator which is 31.0L and the 509 el fuego which is 28.6L. I find I can ride them both in the same conditions due to the front half go the fuego, plus the tail is nice and pulled in so you can get a bit of performance out of it. great barrel board in overhead waves or smaller. super fast.

[tallkook]

Yeah Gnubee the 6'8 Dom is a lot of board, but it goes really well for me. I've ridden high volume McCoy's for a few years now so I'm used to the float. But, if I got a new one I'd go for the 6'6.

Thanks everyone, sounds like the EF could be the one. I think I'll stick with the 6'5 though cause I like the volume. Now, to find one..........

[buzzy]

There's a 6'5" EF on ebay at the moment in Aus. looks to be some interest in it too...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Firewire-El-Fugego-65-surfboard-/190648374809?pt=AU_Sport_Surfing&hash=item2c63875619

Disclosure: I have no interest in this board or any person associated with it, but Bangalow is an awfully nice place to visit.

[tallkook]

Thanks Buzzy I saw that and I'm watching with interest. Disclosure duly noted.

[tallkook]

Hey everyone, I got a 6'5 El Fuego!! It arrives tomorrow. Got it from the Firewire Factory in Currumbin on the sale rack for a sensational price. Really stoked and a big shout out to Chris up there in the warehouse who helped me out big time. Absolute bargain. Can't wait to get it in the water.

[buzzy]

Great stuff. If you see a bargain basement 6'4" Hellfire FST in FCS send me a line. I've got a wife and child I can sell if need be. :)

[STC67]

Hey Tallkook, how's the Elf going?

How do you find it compared to the Dom?

Hope your getting plenty of waves buddy.

Thanks

[tallkook]

Hey STC67, the Elf has been going sensationally well mate. To be honest I haven't been back on the Dominator since getting it! It really is a very versatile board. I could try and explain how it goes, but if you read through Nev's old posts on the Dominator Forum, he describes it perfectly. If you like surfing with your weight more on the front foot, then you will love it. Very fast, very responsive and heaps of fun to ride. I'm certainly glad I got one and can't wait to get it to the Maldives in a few months.

[STC67]

Great stuff !

Did you notice the drop in volume from the 608 Dom when paddling for a wave?

Cheers

[tallkook]

Yeah STC definitely feels a bit smaller to paddle than the Dom, but I don't struggle at all to catch waves on it. Probably the flatter rocker helps and the 6'5 still packs plenty of volume. Gets you in nice and early too, so the flat rocker doesn't cause too many heart aches (meaning nose dives!!). Great board mate, demo one if you can.

[Chris]

yeah tall kook that is a great piece of feedback. It feels smaller but catches waves like a champ!!

[STC67]

Well I couldnt help myself. It went something like this.

I had ordered an Activator but when I called to collect it I was told I would have to wait until late June.
But I have the cash in my back pocket and wanted to take it home today.

You could buy this El Fuego and take it home today.
I think it might be a bit small for me coming off my Addvance.

You have the cash in your back pocket and you could take it home today
But it is only another 8 weeks to wait and my OS trip is not till end of the year.

You have the cash in your back pocket and could take it home today.
But flat rocker - how is it going to treat me on steeper take offs.

You have the cash in your back pocket and could take it home today.
OK. Give it to me.

So I will cancel you Activator order.
No that would be silly.

[prjwebb]

Hahaha sounds like my kind of thinking!

[STC67]

Actually I'll see how I go on the ELF. If it works for me I might rethink the Activator into something that handles a bit more size & steepness. Need to get capable on the ELF first.

[tallkook]

HAHAHAHAHA, Awesome STC67. You will love the El Fuego mate, I've been surfing mine for the past week or so in that great east swell we've been getting and it is sensational. Can't recommend it enough. I haven't struggled on it at all and I'm not a great surfer. Did you get the 6'5?? I reckon it will sit nicely between your Addvance and your potato. Good one mate, enjoy.

[STC67]

Thanks Tallkook. Yes I got the 6'5.

The swell has been sensational. Wednesday I was out on the Addvance and was outclassed by some 1 1/2 head high freight trains.

[Chris]

yessir!! that is what we like to hear.

[STC67]

Had a couple of surfs on the ELF now in very full and ordinary conditions. Compared to the Addvance I feel 30 years younger walking down the beach with such a small board under my arm. To be honest I was half expecting a hopeless result and was allready considering the next purchase. My wave count was well down compared to the Addvance as I was competing with overcrowded longboarders, needless to say I was surprised at the wave catching ability of the ELF and it being reasonably compliant on takeoffs and performance (although I wasnt confronted with anything too steep).

Had enough of a surf to know there is real potential here for me stepping down from a 702 Addvance (about 25 litres). My last wave was waist high and walled up over a 25m inside section. The ELF took off at warp speed repeatedly bouncing off the top and defying the laws of physics carrying a 95kg grey haired old fat man. The most fun Ive had in ages. It has given me some inspiration to work on my fitness and more so flexibility (speed to feet) in the hope of getting some uncrowed nice waves.

Gee I love surfing.

[Danga]

[QUOTE=
Gee I love surfing.[/QUOTE]

It's pretty good isn't it.

[Chris]

all about the nose and the planing area!!

makes paddling in a dream...

[iggy]

Had a couple of surfs on the ELF now in very full and ordinary conditions. Compared to the Addvance I feel 30 years younger walking down the beach with such a small board under my arm. To be honest I was half expecting a hopeless result and was allready considering the next purchase. My wave count was well down compared to the Addvance as I was competing with overcrowded longboarders, needless to say I was surprised at the wave catching ability of the ELF and it being reasonably compliant on takeoffs and performance (although I wasnt confronted with anything too steep).

Had enough of a surf to know there is real potential here for me stepping down from a 702 Addvance (about 25 litres). My last wave was waist high and walled up over a 25m inside section. The ELF took off at warp speed repeatedly bouncing off the top and defying the laws of physics carrying a 95kg grey haired old fat man. The most fun Ive had in ages. It has given me some inspiration to work on my fitness and more so flexibility (speed to feet) in the hope of getting some uncrowed nice waves.

Gee I love surfing.
Tha's what it is all about!!!

[tallkook]

Hey STC, how's your ELF treating you?

Just wondering how the 6'2 Sweet Potato went for you? I see it's now retired, did you two not get along?

Thanks mate.

[STC67]

Hi Tallkook,

Unfortunately I haven't surfed the ELF much. I was away on holiday in Europe (cycling not surfing) and since I have been back, my mum has been very ill and not left much time for surfing. The few waves I have had I have been really impressed with it but want to surf it a lot more in different conditions to get to know it and what conditions it likes and does not like.

I sold the SP for a no. of reasons, It was really good in small soft waves but I never seemed to get those conditions. Much bigger than that and I always had trouble with the takeoffs and the flat rocker. I actually think it was too big for me. Anyway I wasn't using it much and like to keep the boards rotating so sold it.

Im like you and have a surf trip booked for the end of year OS and want a board to back up the ELF. I am considering the HF but it's this whole volume thing and what size to go. Personally 7 ft or around 50 litres looks good to me but everyone will tell me it's too big as a step up from the Elf. The Activator maybe too much of a crossover with the Elf but at least would give me the extra rocker to handle the steeper stuff. This is where i was really impressed with the ADDvance, I could paddle into anything it was just the performance on the bigger stuff where I felt all that volume. I have even considered going a smaller Addvance. I have to remember how little I get to surf these days and swimming makes up most of my mid week routine.

How are you going with the second board selection mate.

Hope your getting plenty of waves. Cheers STC

[tallkook]

Hey STC,

Sorry to hear about your Mum being crook mate, that's no good at all, but the Euro holiday sounds pretty great!

Yeah I have agonised over volumes for a second board for my trip to the Maldives for a lot longer than I probably should have. Everyone was telling me to go smaller (6'6) on the Hellfire, but when I got my hands on one from the shop I just couldn't convince myself it was big enough, especially seeings I wanted it for bigger and better waves. I really need to get in early to give me a bit of extra time to get the big rig to it's feet and once I'm up, I'm no performance surfer. So, this is a long winded way to say I went with a 6'8 Hellfire which arrived yesterday and looks like the business. I still think I'll spend the majority of time on the Elf as it has become my go to board for sure. Give yours some time mate, as it's a very versatile shape.

I'm asking about the 6'2 SP as I have an opportunity to get one cheap. I love surfing short fat fishes in high tide small stuff, so was thinking a slightly over sized potato might go well for that. Still thinking on this one as not many people seem to have had a go on one this big.

I'll let you know how the 6'8 HF paddles, I think a 7'0 may be going a bit big, but try and hold one and go from your gut instinct.

Where are you going for the surf holiday? I think your Addvance will serve you well as a second board wherever you go.

All the best mate.

[hedonist]

heres my 6 1 elf at lohis maldives
went unreal
1099

[Chris]

ohh man in waves like that I bet the EF was a dream!!

[hedonist]

Yeah Chris 2 weeks on boat then lohis for 1 week and the elf was so much fun rode it 99% of the time from 2 to 6 ft
(double overhead) . The waves are really user friendly on takeoffs so flattish rocker on elf wasnt problem
Probably more high performance board on biggest days would have been better but i just couldnt get off it
Changed from quad to thruster and went great both ways
the photo was taken from moving dhoni from 3 or 400 metres away part of 15 shot sequence
the guy chased me up and gave me the photos i was stoked

What more can i say

Love the el fuego

[tallkook]

Yep took my elf and a hellfire to southern atolls. We didn't score great waves but I rode the elf all trip. Handled it with ease. Great board.

[hwork50]

Hedonist and tallkook,

What were your fin set-ups guys? Just curious as I love that board and I will never sell it as it is a permanent fixture in the quiver.

Brent

[tallkook]

Hey Brent, I'm running Shapers Quad E fins in the Elf. Love em.

[hwork50]

Have never heard of those before. Are they similar to the k2.1's or the SF4's?

[tallkook]

I think they are a bit bigger than those mate. I tried the SF4's and didn't like them. Couldn't get the board going. I've found the bigger the fins, the better it goes for me. Going to try MR-TFX with small trailers next to see if that's better again. But I'm really happy with the Shapers. Here is a link.

http://www.shapersfins.com/archives/portfolio/stealth-quad-e

[hwork50]

That is funny cause I just got out of the water surfing the ELF and I had the MRTX fins in with a small trailer fin. Not sure if I can do 2 side fins with that set-up or not. If you find something that works let me know as I know the fin set-up is everything.

[hedonist]

Hwork50
for thruster i use pc7 side with a bit smaller trailer usually pc5 or sf4 depending on waves
for quad pc7 sides sf4 centres
tried nubby in front tab with quad setup really stiff didnt like it
tried nubby in rear tab with quad setup gave a more positive feel (not as loose) but seemed it could go a bit more vertical. would probably only use the nubby in bigger surf
I was just riding it as a thruster for ages then in the maldives had more time to use as a quadand really lovedit as well
i find i can jump from thruster to quad without much adjustment time probably do to the boards shape
I have heard the k2.1 quad set goes unreal but i havent tried it
I am probably not using the ideal set of fins yet but i'll get there
By the way i have ridden this board in plenty of double overhead waves and it just sits in the barrel brilliantly
Seems to want to sit in the pocket
I better stop now Hope this helps

[hwork50]

Hedonist,

Thanks for the fin feedback as I will be trying some of those fin set-ups as well. I am going to have to try the k 2.1 set-up again as I tried it once and it was way to tight for my liking. I like my fins to be loose and free. I agree with you on the board, weird how it can surf small stuff to large stuff no problem. I was in overhead surf last week with it and it was great!!! This board is replacing my DOM for sure, although the DOM still has its place.

[Gnubee]

Seriously, Nexus H3s in both thruster or quad match the Elf beautifully. Lots of drive, but still loose enough to throw it into a good turn. Caught one wave on the weekend that on any other board I would have considered a closeout. The Elf just sat right in the pocket and screamed down the line - no turns just speed. Threw in a full cutback and kicked out the back once the wave slowed down. Amazing.

[Rusty]

K3s or H3s

[hwork50]

Those H3's look really intersting. Might have to get some.

[FW - Fan]

Those H3's look really intersting. Might have to get some.
Highly recommend that...they work great of the EF

[Gnubee]

Rusty, I do mean the H3s. They are $$$ but worth it.

[hwork50]

What fin are they similar too? I have the H2's and the K2.1's and the SF4's. Do they match up too any of those.

[core personal training]

just had a surf with hedonist (lumpy junk unfortunately)...his el-firefly made the most of it...good to meet up with the faithful and spread the love....how fun is his maldives pic....yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww ww