Hellfire for off season lembongan

[HORTMA]

Hey everyone. Great forum. It has been really helpful in narrowing down my board decision, but still need some help.

My goto board at the moment is a 5'6 sweetpotato rf, which i love. I also have an old 6'3 al merrick A6 which I pull out when the waves get a bit punchy for the potato.

I am looking at the hellfire to take to indo (nusa lembongan) in November and to use at home in southern Portugal on the more powerful / steeper / hollower days.

Do you think this is a good board for this purpose?

What size would you recommend? I am 6'2 , 84kgs, probably intermediate level.

Thanks. Any advise welcomed.

[prjwebb]

I'd say it's a good pick if you're looking to ride a shorter board in good waves.
I'd say the 6'0" is a safe pick, but if you like to ride low volumes you could push for the 5'10".

[HORTMA]

Thanks prjwebb. The volume calculator recommends 33letres min, which is the 6'2 range. Do you think the calculator overestimates? I see you ride a spitfire, whats it like in powerful steeper waves? Would that be a good option for me?

[prjwebb]

i think the 6'0 HF would be ample volume to be honest.
The Spitfire is a little beauty when the waves aren't too hollow but once it gets sucky and hollow it starts to feel a little short, flat and wide.
Dave (corepersonaltraining on the forum) is around 90kg and riding a 510 HF so I wouldn't go bigger than the 6'0, but I do think the HF will sit perfectly in between your Potato and CI.

[HORTMA]

Perfect, thanks. I was thinking the 6 initially but the figures from the volume calulator changed my mind. My heart wants the 6 so maybe that's what I will get.

[Slowman]

Yep, go with 6'0 I ride a 6'2 and I'm 90kg and it has tonnes of buoyancy, if money were no object I'd probably buy a 6'0 HF as well.

The volume calculator, in it's current form, where it takes age into account, seems to over-estimate the required volume, particularly if you put 30+ in for age. I've found 0.36 to 0.38L/kg has worked for me pretty much for as long as I can recall or knew anything about volume.

[buzzy]

I tend to prefer a range of 0.39 to 0.44 or so litres per kg. The 0.44 or so for small waves and when I'm getting back into the water after a period out, and around 0.40 when I'm fit and surfing well. Maybe I could go less but I like junk in the trunk.

We all suffer confirmation bias, right, but SW in an article on the prospects of Mick and Joel in this year's tour featured comment from Barton Lynch. BL said that he felt there was value in both of them adding volume to their boards. I know Mick has through Mayhem/Lost - I'm not sure if Parko has done so. I remember commentary from the Margaret River Pro had the commentary team suggesting Occy was showing the tour the value of a bit more volume in their boards.

This isn't to sugegst by the way that surfing lower volume isn't cool. Whatever works for you is right.

[Herzalot]

Yep, go with 6'0 I ride a 6'2 and I'm 90kg and it has tonnes of buoyancy, if money were no object I'd probably buy a 6'0 HF as well.

The volume calculator, in it's current form, where it takes age into account, seems to over-estimate the required volume, particularly if you put 30+ in for age. I've found 0.36 to 0.38L/kg has worked for me pretty much for as long as I can recall or knew anything about volume.

I agree that the volume calculator seems to over-estimate volume for age, and seems to "forget" the added bouyancy of the FW construction. I was bobbing like a cork on the 45liters (Dom) recommended for me, and couldn't get the board to dig into a wave any more than a child could hold a beach ball underwater. Dropped to the minimum recommended 41 liters, and it's good, but I would say it's the high end of volume for me, not the low. Cost me $650 to make that error.

When I change ability level from my true intermediate to the higher levels, (int/adv or advanced) it comes out right.

[HORTMA]

Hey everyone. Thanks so much for all your help. Board is on the way and the flights are booked to indo. Will let you know how I get on.

[Chris]

stoked and have a great trip!

great advice folks!