I hear you. I couldn't figure out messaging myself.

What are you looking to get for the 6'7"? I have had my eye on one for a bit. I'm pretty much your size, (6'5"+, ~90kg) but I surf in the PNW, so I'm always under at least 5mm of rubber. I love the feel of my 6'3" El Fuego (39.8L), but I can definitely feel it being a bit corky when things get bigger. I reckon a ~10% drop in volume is about right for me.

From what I can gather about the waves in your area, a Dom might be the call. The differences between it and the Spit are there but fairly subtle. The Dom will definitely handle the softer days (which likely means most days) better, and it is still a super versatile board. My guess is that it will bump up your wave count. I have seen a guy tear it up on a day with well overhead waves on a Dom. In terms of absolute performance you might give up a bit, but realistically, I doubt you would notice it. I have no experience with a PN, but the Dom is a super solid choice.

I posted in the other thread on this, but Nexus H3s a a beautiful match for the El Fuego. Really make the board come alive. I have mostly been surfing it as a quad - which is still a novelty for me. Works great as a thruster from what I can tell. I'd still like to try the Indofins Controlers.

I have not used the MRTX, but they are a LOT bigger than the H3. I have head that they go great in the El Fuego witha small trailer (the MRTX usually comes with one). Unfortunately I haven't used the K2.1s either. The biggest thing about the H3s is their construction. When you hold the fin, you can actually feel the flex in the tip, but at the base they are super stiff. This translates into lots of drive, but with the ability to carry a bunch of speed through turns. The fin feels really smooth when surfing it - neither tracky nor overly squirrelly. Just fast and awesome.

I use my Elf for everything and love it. There are times when I wish it had a bit more flip to the nose, but overall it rips. IT is quite the thing tearing along right in the pocket of a wave that everybody else is calling a closeout. I can totally see a 3 board setup of a Potato, EF, and Alt being able to cover pretty much any condition I would surf in. The Potato for the super mush, the El Fuego or most days (knee to head high), and the Alternator for when it gets solid or steep. The El Fuego, from what I can gather, does grovel a bit better than the Spitfire, but does not really lag behind it in terms of sheer performance.

For a two board quiver, I'm looking at an El Fuego/Hellrazor combo. If I was forced to have only one board (especially given the waves around here) then I'd be pretty happy with just the El Fuego - even if I would have to make some adjustments for the larger or steeper days.

Both, depending on the size of the wave. I'm really liking the quad though. Either way the board goes like crazy and is super fun to ride.

When sizing the H3s, just go by your weight. I run larges since I weigh somewhere in the 200lb range. The FCS web site has a pretty good guide on it.

I weigh about what you do and love my 6'3". If you get an fcs setup, go with the nexus h3. They are deadly in this board. It shines in the thigh to head high range, although it can go bigger if need be. After head high I find myself wanting a bit less foam in order to really sink the rail into the turns. Wicked board though.

I was under the impression that the HZ did like a steeper/cleaner wave than the Alt. Subtle differences perhaps, but there.

I surf the same stuff (I'm based at UBC myself) and I'd say that the shorter of the two might be fine. As for the short board question, I think either the Hellrazor or Alt would be a great choice for around here. Just to mess with you a bit, take a look at the Jacknife as well, especially if you like the hybrid feel. Personally, I am looking closely at a Hellrazor, knowing that it will be more my winter board. I wish they made the Alt with 5 fin boxes, since it would be nice to mix it up a bit. The El Fuego is just about perfect for everything else. As we all know, the waves around here tend to be softer than the videos suggest. Not lacking power exactly, but definitely not the pitching, sucking, bowling monstrosities that you can find elsewhere.

For dumpy beachies, I'm not sure the El Fuego is the call. Great for point breaks or slower waves though. STCs suggestion of a Hellfire is not bad.

Knee to waist high is full on El Fuego territory. I love mine in anything up to head and a half, depending on how steep it gets. I do find that I notice the higher volume when the waves get bigger though. Harder to really bury the rail, although I think some of that might be taken care of by switching to a thruster setup. If you are looking for a groveller, more volume will not hurt you. FCS Nexus H3s are all I run.

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

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.

I'm right about your same size and love my 6'3". It will definitely feel smaller, but it will still offer plenty of float for you. All of the comments about the lack of rocker in the nose are right on the money, which makes takeoffs a bit tricky at times, but once you get it the board is amazing. Caught one yesterday that was steep for where I surf, head high and super fast - the Elf took off and went straight down the line at amazing speed. Threw in a full cutback once the wave slowed a bit before kicking out the back. So impressed with this board!

Once the waves get to the head high range I wonder if a Spitfire or a Jacknife might not be the call, but for anything less, the Elf is the board of choice.

Hellrazor is where I plan on going with my "good wave" board to match up with an El Fuego. Basically the Spit morphed into the Hellfire, which was refined into the Hellrazor. Lots of the same kinds of thinking in both boards. Likely makes for a good match

Cool.
I know that with the flatter waves here, there is no way I'll be giving up my ElF any time soon. It is just that when winter hits, the swell gets bigger, although not really steeper. I reckon it is down to either the HZ (6'7") or an Alt (6'6"). I like the 5 fin setup and stepped rail of the HZ for sure. Now I just need to figure out how to test drive one - or both.

I have the same kind of question, although I'd throw the HZ into the mix as well. I need a good winter board for when the waves get big, but they are never all that steep where I surf. My El Fuego will handle everything up to head high (plus a bit ifI need it to) , so I'm looking for a high performance board that will deal with shoulder high - double OH waves

slientp - how does the HZ go with the El Fuego? I'm looking for a more HPSB to tackle winter waves and I'm wondering if the HZ is the right one for me. I reckon the ElF has me covered from thigh high to basically overhead, and I'd be wanting a board for shoulder high and up days.

Two boards come to mind for me: the Addvance, obviously, and the Dominator (for her). Here is the way I see it, you can rip on an Addvance for sure. It also has tons of float so it makes the transition to a shorter board easier. The Dominator is a multi-purpose, more or less do it all kind of board. Get a smaller one for your wife, and as you get better, you can jump on it for more aggressive surfing. The El Fuego is a fabulous board, but does not have a whole lot of rocker, which is more of an issue on steeper waves. Also, I think you will get the most out of an ElF if you get one as the board after this one, if you know what I mean.

Since you are in southern CA, I'd suggest that you demo first. I am an OK surfer, but not great and if I was going with a Dominator or Spitfire, I'd be on a 6'2" and I weigh almost 70lbs more than you. Try the 5'8" again. Adjust from there.

Put me in the El Fuego camp. For the waves we get in the PNW (slower rollers that can pack some punch rather than pitching barrels mostly) it is absolutely ideal.

Says something to me that with any board he wants at his fingertips, Nev rides his "trusty El Fuego." (Check his blog to see what I mean.)

Than having been said, I think a Spitfire would be a good call as well. Cant lose either way I reckon.

Yeah Oscar, don't worry about it. I'm 6'6" and a regular short board for me (non-Firewire) would be a 6'8". The hybrids are different in that they pack a ton of foam into a smaller space. For example, I ride an El Fuego at 6'3", but could easily get away with a 6'1", and I'm not that good of a surfer. If I was on a Dom, I'd go with a 6'2", but lots of other people would choose differently.

I have heard that the PC7 is a solid fit with that board. I really like the Nexus H3, although I am not running them specifically in a Dom. The 6'8" is definitely big, but the good thing is that if you get better, you can go down to a 6'2" Spitfire and sell the Dom for what you paid for it (almost).

Another vote for the Spitfire - although an El Fuego would be amazing in most of what you get. Come to think of it, I can't think of a single day in the years I was there that I would not have gone out on either a Spitfire or an El Fuego. Definitely go with a bit more foam since most of the time the waves are not all that punchy - at least compared to places like some of the lucky folks on this board get to surf every day. (I'm looking at all the Aussies!)

Wonder what that new material is. I live in the Pacific Northwest and a local company (Lib Tech) has started pumping out "waterboards" which are made of this basalt based stuff that is super durable but light. Cool materials, but so-so shapes. That kind of construction married to shapes by Nev and Dan Mann would be impressive. That having been said, I love my FST El Fuego!

Deon, how do you find the HZ works with the El Fuego in the same quiver? Is there much adjustment when you switch between them?

No, not to the same extent. I have used them in a thruster setup on a day where the faces were solid head and a half. I thought they went great.

EDIT: Rusty, do yourself a favour and throw the H3s into the El Fuego. They match the board so well.

I hear you! I don't live on the coast either. Got to make do with what we get.

I'm pretty close to your size and age. The 7'6", in my opinion, would be absolutely massive. I'd pass on it unless you are looking to surf it exactly like you would surf a longboard - and if you are, why not just go with the longboard you have already got?

So, go with the 6'10 and you will be cutting back in no time.

Diamond tail, FCS with Nexus H3's - pure magic as either a thruster or quad. I haven't tried the Indofins version of the Controllers yet, but I will.

The 6'8" Dom is a MASSIVE board, but then again, compared to an Addvance, maybe it would be OK. There is a guy locally who has a 6'8" Dom and loves it. He bought it knowing it was oversized, (even though he weighs about 200lbs), and he says it has got him into more waves than he has had a right to. After a couple of years, he is now at the point that he is wanting something with a bit more performance. He will likely be replacing it with either a 6'2" or 6'4" Spitfire.

In short, the 6'8" Dom will do the trick, but you can expect to be wanting another board in a while.

If you have a bit of skill 6'1" should be fine. Good question about the PNator. It seems to me that there is a lot of crossover between them. I second Rusty's opinion though. Absolutely fabulous board. See if you notice this: when I was looking for a new board, I watched every Nev video there was on the different boards in the Firewire range. Now, his job is to speak highly of his own products, but when he introduces the El Fuego as "the world's best surfboard" there is a real sincerity in his tone of voice. He really means it.

I think an El Fuego/Hellrazor combo would be an outstanding quiver (throw in an SP or BP for the micro small days, as in below thigh high).

Split the difference and go 5'9". I weigh just about exactly what you do, and I tried out my El Fuego (39.8 l) in shin high surf just because. Going by my experience, I would suggest a bit more foam than that for micro small waves. If the waves you surf typically have more punch, then go with the 5'7". Anything over thigh high and you wont need the extra volume. In any case, the 5'11" is likely too much board.

Excellent choice of board. I've got an additional 20cm, 18kg and I'm 8 years older than you. Our skill level is probably close to the same. I ride a 6'3" and could easily go with a 6'1". I'd say 5'11" would be a safe bet, and likely the way I would go, (even thought a 5'9" might even work). I know that sounds really short, but the board paddles like a dream and hides a lot of foam. I suspect that you may find the 6'1" to feel (borderline) too big.

If you go with the FCS model, do yourself a favour and get a set of Nexus H3's. I find them to be a perfect match in either a thruster or quad setup.

I suspect the Potatonator would go great in the smaller stuff. Honestly though, I don't think you can lose either way. I ran into a guy at Westport a while back on a 5'6" Dom who was killing it. I use my El Fuego in almost everything around here. Awesome board!

The more I ride the ElF, the more I notice a few things: first, changing fins REALLY changes the feel of the board. So far, the Nexus H3s in a quad setup are my favourite for smaller days. Second, where you place your feet really matters. It takes a while to get it right, but when you do, it is amazing. There seems to be more than one sweet spot too. Each makes the board ride quite differently. The board gets more pivot-y when you shift weight back, and goes incredibly fast with your weight forward. Third, it grovels WAY better than I thought it did at first. This may have to do with the fact that I purposely chose one with bit of extra foam (I could easily ride a 6'1"), but I think it has more to do with the shape. All I can say is that the more I ride it, the more I love it.

Yeah, the waves in RI, MA, ME are actually fairly similar to the ones in BC, WA, OR, and none of them (in general) stack up in terms of sheer power to what the Aussies get. For me, the 6'3" ElF at 39.8l is perfect for the PNW, and for New England, if I was still there. I can see the possibility for TONS of overlap between the Elf and P'Nator. If I was down under, and wanted a board to cover 80% of the waves I ride, I'd likely be on a 6'2"-6'4" Hellfire.

P'Nator looks like the board you would ride 80-90% of the time at home. Remember that a bunch of people posting here are from OZ, and the waves there are much more punchy than they are in BC, Washington or Oregon (for the most part). The Aussies also get to surf pretty much every day and do not have 5mm of rubber covering them from head to toe. If I was back on the Gold Coast, I would be on smaller boards than I am now. (I even rode a super thin 6'6" when I was there that would hardly even float me here.) In short, the extra volume of the 5'8" would likely not hurt you in the least.

The MB as a a second board would be really nice.

While all of those sound like superb choices, I think that given the waves around here you might have one too many. Personally, I'd go (from that list) P'Nator OR Sub Scorcher, MB, and a step up. The sub is a great board, but I just wonder if it and the PN are going to be overlapping. Maybe not surfing the same way, but certainly covering mostly the same range of waves. Anyway, I'd drop one of the boards from the list and use the $ to go on a surf trip to somewhere warm...

Dont get me wrong, some rocker is good, but you really dont need as much as you would on a super hollow break like Pipeline. With one or two exceptions, I have never realy has a wave suck out from underneath me the way they can in Australia, for example (places like D'Bah). Waves here get big, but never all that steep (it is just that they look steeper as they get bigger). I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Since I ride a hybrid (ElF) already, I figure the HZ or HF would be the way to go. Your mileage may vary.

It rarely ever gets hollow anywhere in the PNW, with the possible exception of places like the cove in Westport during a winter swell. I've certainly never see the Tofino breaks get truly hollow. For that reason I think a board with lots of rocker is sort of wasted. If I was putting together a 3 board quiver, I'd build around my El Fuego (which is absolutely brilliant in the waves we tend to get here), something like a Hellfire or Hellrazor for the bigger or steeper days, and add a Sweet Potato for fun. Given that you already have a Dominator, which will cover the majority of (non-winter) conditions, and given that you don't really like the Potatoes, maybe just look for a board that can handle head high to 2x.

The mini looks nice, but will it be enough? I'm not so sure about going with a board that is still 2" shorter than I am on a really big day. Maybe I'm just old fashioned and haven't really got the full hybrid concept yet?

I have not used them, and this is not exactly applicable to the SP, but a lot of guys do use the H2 fin where I normally surf. The word is that the cant of the fin generates a lot of lift in the back of the board, making it a bit looser/faster. Dont know how that would translate in a board like the SP.

I have not surfed a rapidfire version, but the FST is much stronger than a standard PU board. I think of myself as being fairly gentle on my boards, but every time I surf my PU board I come out with new heel dings. Not so on the FST. Looks brand new still and does not feel like one of the other epoxy pop-outs either.

EDIT: As to your original post, if you surf all the time, go 5'9". If you are looking to go with a single board to do it all, I think a Spitfire might be a better call, even though that depends a ton on what kind of waves you regularly surf. A Two board quiver for me might be an El Fuego and either a Hellrazor or Alternator. I can honestly say that the ElF is the fastest and most fun board I have ever surfed in anything from just over knee high to just over head high waves.

Finally managed to put together a full set of Nexus H3s. I had been running the thruster set, and the front fins with GX-Q rears in a quad setup. As a thruster the board is amazing. As a quad I found it to be fast but a tiny bit prone to tracking. With the H3 Quads in the board is pure magic. All the speed but, to borrow Nev's term, "free-er." The board now turns on a thought and I can still generate tons of speed out of it. What I really notice is how smooth the turns feel. Highly recommended.

I know what you mean about the ElF wanting a slightly bigger wave. Yesterday was small all day, but the morning had a bit more juice. The ElF ate it all up, even though the smaller waves found me bogging for sure. Foot placement has a huge part in it. Had a couple of rides where I linked into the inside break, which was pretty much the sole territory of the longboarders. I just made a couple of turns and kept going. I was thinking "how am I still on this wave?" Every now and again I'd get into a waist high wave and the board would simply come alive. I am finally running matching H3 Nexus Quad trailers to go with the outstanding H3 front fins and the board has all the speed and much more responsiveness compared to before with the GX-Qs in the back.

I think that some of the other boards will grovel better, (P'Nator, SP) but if you get your feet right on the ElF it will hold its own well.

You might want to give the FCS Nexus H3 a try. Not sure how they go on an addvance, but on my El Fuego they are superb. I find they add tons more drive than the PC7 and a ton more snap in the turns as well.

Th EF goes pretty well in the mush, even though it does insanely well in waves with a bit of push. I have ridden mine in calf-high waves all the way up to well overhead. Super fun board. If you are after a pure mush board, then maybe the SP or PNator would be better? If you want a board that can handle just about anything you throw at it then the EF is a really good choice.

Surf on the Atlantic side can get some punch to it, especially in hurricane season. Personally, I'd go with a Dom since it is so versatile. Perhaps the P'Nator will grovel a bit better, but the Dom will cover a wider range of waves - at least that is what I suspect. I am 30-40lbs heavier than you, (about the same size as Fritzcat) and when I hoisted a 6'6" Dom it felt a bit like an aircraft carrier to me. Tons of foam hidden away in those things. I'd look to a either a 5'10" or 6'0" Dom, and certainly no bigger than a 6'2".

If you are only interested in a small wave board, then go P'Nator. When the waves are smaller, the flatter rocker helps a ton.

I think the biggest issue with the Elf in the steep punchy stuff is all in the takeoff. Like STC67 said, it has a really flat rocker. This lends itself to sketchier takeoffs when things get steep. However, once you are in the board will go like mad and get you through sections that might otherwise look like nothing but closeout. Since you describe yourself as on the upper end of intermediate, you might find the El Fuego to be a great choice. It will certainly allow you to get in early, which might get around the steepness issue. I also find it to be really responsive once you get your feet placed right.

In general, I tend to see the El Fuego as offering a bit more performance than the Addvance, although both will do well.

A. Vern
I'm headed to S. Padre Island later next week. Is there a shop there that has demos of these things? I have tried calling the one listed on the Firewire site, but nobody ever answers and the e-mail address doesn't work. I think the SP would be an ideal board for the conditions I tend to see on the cams from there.

I'd second the option to play around with the fin setup. That should help you with the "missing sections" problem at least. I think paddling will come as you do it more.

On the old forum, there was some discussion of the C-Drive fins. They look really interesting. Anybody got 'em? I'd also like to hear if anybody has tried the HI-1s (big, big fin).

Tallkook, I have run PC7s in a quad setup and really did not like them on the ElF. I only used them in chest high surf, and they made the board feel really tracky and slow. Maybe in bigger waves...

I second what Chris says. I have a set that I have tried in my El Fuego and in smaller, mushier surf they turn the board into a bit of a pig. In that stuff they felt like they lacked drive and pivot. Not a great combo for my tastes. I can see where in bigger steeper waves they would go well though.

What made you go with a 5'6" over a 5'8"? Did you try the bigger board? I have been looking at a spud for a while, and started off thinking 5'10", then the 5'8", but lately Ive been wondering if the 5'6" might be worth a look.

I was thinking about trying the MRTFX. I also want a matching set of trailers for the Nexus H3s up front (which are fantastic in the ElF). I think the trailers might add that little bit of pivot and drive that the GXQ rears lack. Option #3 is the indofins Control-q, which is the same shape as the Futures Controller, only in FCS.

PC7 / GXQ combo turns my El Fuego into a pig. Don't like it at all. Rather than being too loose, I find it too stiff, but this may be due to the fact that it feels like the board has zero drive at all, which is going to make turning harder in the first place. Now with the H3/GXQ combo it is an entirely different story...

tallkook
I'm not sure how much difference the actual composition of the fin makes (as opposed to the shape) with the H3 Nexus, but it is a hell of a match for the ElF. I suspect that the materials the fin is made of allow them to have the specific flex characteristics that they have, which is why they feel so lively in the board. If the indofin version is basically the same shape in just glass, I'm not certain that they will perform the same.

I use a wax comb, a bit of sun and an old towel to finish things off. I've never used kerosene or any other chemical. Warm water now and then (I am always using cold water wax, so warm water works when the sun isn't out).

Having surfed those waves, I 'd go Dominator for sure. It is a bit of a Swiss Army knife in that it can do most things rather well. I have seen guys out in sub-waist high stuff up to well overhead on them. Places like the Wall are generally fatter as opposed to really hollow and well suited to a Dominator style board. In the winter it can get epic, and you may find the Dom a bit skittish on the biggest days, but for most of the time it will be a trusty go-to board. As for sizing, take a look at the charts on the web site and be honest with yourself about your abilities. You can truly go quite a bit shorter with this board than with a regular shortboard because of how the volume is distributed. As far as I can gather about the delam issues, the best advice is to do your best to avoid severe temperature swings - so don't leave your board in the car on a sunny day and then jump right into the cold water, that sort of thing. They also appear to me to happen a bit more with the Rapidfire over the FST (but I could be reading wrong).

In general, a Dom as a one board solution in New England is a really good call. If you had the $ for more than one, I'd go Sweet Potato (for those super small days) and El Fuego (anything waist high and up), but that is just me.

I use the H3s (large) setup for the thruster and the H3 lead fins with GXQ rears. THe H3s have great drive and make the board notably faster - as in remarkably faster- than do other setups I have tried. I have used PC7s a lead fins as well, but found them to be sluggish in smaller waves. I'm still trying to get hold of a set of H3 rears for a full quad set. I suspect that they might add another little bit of snap in the turns. I also want to try the controller-shaped fins from Indofins.

FWIW - used to put either car wax or RAin -x on the bottom of skimboards to get them to go a bit faster. Surprisingly enough it did actually make a small difference. Wears off pretty quickly, but when it is first on there it goes great. I suspect the nanotune stuff would up that a notch or two.

Nice! Do make sure to try the Nexus H3 setup. I think it goes really well with the board. I still cant decide if I like it as a thruster or quad overall though.

...I think I just need to surf more...

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.

As for the small wave board I can say that on the stuff we get in BC/WA/OR the El Fuego is a fantastic choice. I have spoken to a few others on Dominators and they all love them too. Waves here can get really fat (as you know) and the EF has a magic ability to get into waves that would normally push you out the back. I have not surfed either an Alt, MB, or Hellrazor (which might be worth looking at in your case), but I can see myself on either an Alt or a Hellrazor in those rare days or spots that it gets hollow or steep.

Of course, Indo waves are a whole 'nother thing.

You can get the board in either Futures or FCS, so that is simply a matter of choice and preference. There are one or two boards that are only available in Futures (the MB I think). I'd also suggest spending a few extra bucks and going with the FST construction. Much more durable.

Overall the Spit is a great choice for the kinds of waves I saw in the DR recently. You might also give the El Fuego a look too. If you are concerned about getting around sections, I have never ridden a board that does it as well as an EF. It has a much flatter foil than the Spit, which makes it super fast, but easier to pearl on a steep takeoff.

If I was choosing between the two, I'd ultimately be happy with either one, but given the number of reef breaks, I might edge a bit toward the Spitfire. This is because when it gets bigger, the waves will get steeper and punchier (compared to where I am (Pacific Northwest) where bigger waves tend to just break farther out with more or less the same shape as the smaller ones). The added rocker of the Spit suits a steeper wave better.

As for the spit I can't really comment on the differences between the 5'10 and the 6'0, other than to say that if you are used to a 6'2 Alt you should be just fine on the 5'10. Given how the Spit distributes the volume you may find the shorter board actually paddles better than what you are used to, even at the same volume. That extra little bit of foam can't hurt in the smaller days as well. I would not be surprised if someone here suggests a 5'8 for you. Personally, I'd go 5'10 at your size.

Fins: lots of people using lots of setups, but my favourite so far is the FCS H3 Nexus. They give my EF a serious amount of drive but remain snappy in turns. Very fluid ride compared to the PC7s I also use on bigger days. I get the feeling they would work nicely in the Spit as well. On one of the web reviews, Sam Lamiroy talks about setting up his as a thruster using MR-TX up front and an M5 (or PC5, whatever) in the back. Sounds like it would be fun to try that one out.

I'm looking at the waves in that video and thinking the EF would be a blast on them! One of the differences you may find between the EF and the Alt at the same volume is that the EF will excel at dropping into the kind of waves that would normally push you out the back. One of the spots I surf is notoriously fat in the takeoff zone and getting pushed out the back is par for the course. When I am on the EF I can pop up, put a bit of weight on my front foot and shoot down the face. It is a very cool thing. On my other boards I am either paddling like mad and popping up late or hopping like mad on the top of the wave just to get in - and even then it doesn't work lots of times. Once up and running the EF is really responsive, assuming you get your feet placed right, surprisingly so given how often people like to say it is a "down the line" board. Granted, it is a down the line board, but it is not all that difficult to get it vertical if you want. The board is insanely fast. I wonder if the speed the board inherently generates is precisely what makes people think it likes longer lines. Too often when I hear that a board "likes longer lines" I equate that with a nice way of saying "it doesn't like to turn." This is entirely NOT the case with the EF. Rapid changes in direction (which the board does well) just tend to be father apart on the wave since the board accelerates so quickly in between moves. Makes sense to me anyway. I think fin choice has a lot to do with it as well.

First off, the EF is an awesome board, so good choice there. My best advice is to take a look at the charts and be perfectly honest with yourself about your abilities. Since you surf 3-4 times/wk, I don't think the shorter board would hurt you. I'm what you would consider a low intermediate and my 6'3" feels perfect. My weight put me either on the 6'3" or the 6'1". I could have opted for the 6'1" and been happy, but I factored in the weight of a full wetsuit and the fact that I don't get out nearly as often as I would like. I know the trend is to go short, and the EF paddles really well so the length won't make all that much difference between the two. I really think that either way you go you cant lose.

I have a diamond tail version and love the feel of it. It feels to me like it helps give a bit of sharpness to the turns. Haven't ridden the swallow tail so I can't really comment on it.

The video posted above made my eyes bug out. Chocolate syrup on a white tennis shoe leaving no marks at all - cool! (I have kids, so this is REALLY cool.)

Could it have been buzzy? I'm too lazy to search it right now...

You just answered one of the questions I've had for a while - is there too much overlap between a SP and an EF? Good to hear that there isn't.

Right now my ideal quiver would be 5'8" SP, 6'3" EF, and something like a 6'7" Hellrazor for the bigger/steeper stuff.

Just got back, and I can say it was pretty fun stuff.

Encuentro is a decent break. The locals have the place absolutely wired. I can see where it would get hollow on a bigger day. I rented from Antonio and tried a variety of boards including a stubby twin (sub 6', super deep swallow tail) for the smaller first day. The El Fuego would have been perfect there every day but the last one, which was head high and a bit steep. Probably still would have rocked it once past the drop.

We stopped at Playa Grande one day (about an hour from Cabarete) and it looked like it would be an outstanding beach break with a decent sized swell. Reminded me a lot of some of the beachies on the Gold Coast.

We ate at Casa de Papi in Cabarete one night - not the cheapest but the lobster was KILLER.

Fantastic information!
Any rental places to check on? Any to avoid?
What do you suggest for food? Our hotel is all inclusive, but honestly I want to go out from time to time.

I always loved the Wall (or Fox Point). Not quite a flooded with the clueless beginner as Narragansett and not quite as localized as Point Judith - although Judith is a really nice wave. I used to surf on the south side of the lighthouse (the left), which we dubbed "Excalibur" because you had to avoid this one section that had all this rebar sticking out of huge chunks of concrete. The river mouth at Ogunquit can get just SICK.

Excellent!
I'm staying right on the beach in Cabarete at one of the resorts there (the Wyndham I think). I typically ride a 6'3" El Fuego, so I'd be looking for something similar (ballpark 6'6 shortboard, or a fish depending on the waves that day). Feel free to send over any info you might want to share.

EDIT: There is one thing in particular I really want to know. What is the bottom at Encuentro like? Do I need reef shoes or not?

Me too!
I wish I could bring my EF, but the airline would charge me $$$$$$. Cheaper (and safer for the health of my board) to rent one. From what I can gather there are a bunch of places that rent decent equipment, but what I'de really like is to find a place that has a demo Hellrazor! (I'm thinking a 6'7" might be my next board - unless I go for a Potato.)

Here's some from the Pacific Northwest

Westport, Washington #1.) http://www.westportcam.com/ #2.) http://www.swellinfo.com/surfreport/...ngton-cam.html
Seaside, Oregon http://67.42.144.201/local/popup4.html
and
Tofino, BC, Canada http://www.longbeachlodgeresort.com/...no-webcam.html

I'm on a 6'3" as well. Can't say enough good stuff about the Nexus H3's. Fantastic thruster setup and work great with GXQ rears in a quad setup. In knee high to head high surf they are super drivey and fast. Light years ahead of the PC7 in this regard.

Take a look at the El Fuego. It has a bunch of similarities to the biscuit/gravy, and it is one hell of a board in smaller surf (even though I have used mine in overhead waves as well). Other than that, I guess the Potatonator might do the trick.

My experience using the PC7 quad setup on my El Fuego was less than impressive. Perhaps they needed a bigger wave, but the board felt really slow with them. Now I was using them on chest high waves that were not really punchy, but I found myself unable to get past sections that I could easily get around with different fins. I can see where they might do well in the head high + range, or on something where you really need a lot of hold. However, waves like that often require a ton of drive as well (think steep, fast waves) and this is exactly where the PC7 lagged. For me it is all about the H3 Nexus either as a thruster or using the trailers from the PC7 set (GXQs).

I'm with it too. If you surf anywhere that is not super hollow all the time, this is the board for you.