Fins for Dominator 6'8"

[Slowman]

Hey tallkook and Gnubee, thanks a lot for your comments and sorry for coming back a little too late...

In fact what I can't understand is why the volume calculator offers those results when everybody here (included Chris) see them as wrong ones. Anybody at Firewire who could explain this a little, please?.

I'm going to open a thread at FIREWIRE RESOURCES / VOLUME CALCULATOR chat asking about this, maybe there I'll find an answer?

Cheers!

Yes it has often been lamented that for any age over 30 the volumes it pumps out are very very generous. As I've said before it seems to completely disregard anything you say about your fitness level. This volume calculator is a new version (a few weeks old) the older version without age seemed a lot more realistic to me.

[Slowman]

Anyone tried the mayhem large 5 fin set?

Yes, as a quad and I didn't like it at all. It seemed like too much hold and not enough release off the top for me. Never tried the thruster set up, at the time I was looking to ride it as a quad for the extra speed in small waves.

[FW - Fan]

Yes, as a quad and I didn't like it at all. It seemed like too much hold and not enough release off the top for me. Never tried the thruster set up, at the time I was looking to ride it as a quad for the extra speed in small waves.

I have the GMB 5 fin set and love it...sorry Slowman. We are all different and love different things. I didnt connect with the Solus but Iggy digs them...horses for courses.

[Herzalot]

Oscar - I would think you could get the shop to send it back or work out some other kind of exchange. Not to add anxiety, but my 6'6" Dom was definitely too big for my 6'4", 210lb, 49 yr old self. I got the 6'4" Dom and it's great - that 5 liters made a huge difference in performance. No problem catching waves with the 604 and it just surfs a lot better. The 606 was too buoyant. I am just an intermediate surfer who surfs mushy waist to head-high waves.

If it's too late to send it back, you'll end up like me - with a brand new Dominator for sale - surfed once.

[oscar]

Oscar - I would think you could get the shop to send it back or work out some other kind of exchange. Not to add anxiety, but my 6'6" Dom was definitely too big for my 6'4", 210lb, 49 yr old self. I got the 6'4" Dom and it's great - that 5 liters made a huge difference in performance. No problem catching waves with the 604 and it just surfs a lot better. The 606 was too buoyant. I am just an intermediate surfer who surfs mushy waist to head-high waves.

If it's too late to send it back, you'll end up like me - with a brand new Dominator for sale - surfed once.

Hi Herzalot,

following your suggestion, I've got in contact with the shop and I've requested them to change the order. I thought that they'll rejected it as I ordered the board on august and, although the board hasn't arrived yet, it should be almost ready to be packed at Firewire. Well the answer has been totally positive and they will order a new one. They have to confirm me this and tell me more or less when the new order arrive, I guess it's like a new one so I'll have to wait a more month.

So, taking in account what I wrote when I opened this thread:


"...I'm 43, 6'4" tall, 185 lb and average fitness. I used to surf 12 years ago with a beginner to intermediate level though nowadays I guess my level is back to beginner as I've not surfed since then... I've bodysurfed a lot in quite big and strong waves all these years but not on a surfboard since 12 years ago..."


wich size of Dominator should I order this time?, I think 6'4" would be ok after reading all yuor advises and other threads about Dom sizes.

I'd appreciate a lot your comments and suggestions. I have a couple of days to confirm the right size to the shop where I ordered the board.

Thanks a lot in advance to all, you're being quite a help!

[tallkook]

Since you haven't surfed for 12 years and you are a pretty big unit I would say 6'6" all the way, but I like a bit of volume. There is nothing worse than trying to get back into surfing on a board that is too small IMO. From your description I would also consider the 6'6" Addvance. Only heard good things about that model. Good luck.

[buzzy]

I would have thought where you are with your surfing 6'4" would be perfect. I still think you'll probably move to something a tad smaller over time, and I think the 6'6" would have worked perfectly adequately for you at this stage, but the 6'4" would probably be a touch better.

Just as a for instance, it's the snow season here in Oz. I've had about 5 weeks out of the water due to 3 weeks skiing over two trips. So I've out on weight and my paddling fitness is down. I surfed my normal boards for a tad and I felt like a gumby. I pulled out a slightly more foamed up shortboard and I surfed like a normal person again.

My point here is that the "right" volume for a given weight depends a lot on your current ability and fitness level. I just don't see how a board with the appropriate volume for a regular moderately strong surfer will work for someone basically starting over again.

So yeah, at 185lbs I'd say 6'4" to 6'6" is perfect right now, and over time you'll reduce to 6'2" to 6'0".

[Slowman]

I have the GMB 5 fin set and love it...sorry Slowman. We are all different and love different things. I didnt connect with the Solus but Iggy digs them...horses for courses.

Quite all right Fan, I couldn't agree more. That's why I added the qualification "for me" meaning those shortcomings apply to me specifically, and for the dominator impliedly, rather than generally. Incidentally, I found GMB went OK as a quad set in my JS Kingpin.

[Slowman]

...
Just as a for instance, it's the snow season here in Oz. I've had about 5 weeks out of the water due to 3 weeks skiing over two trips. So I've put on weight and my paddling fitness is down. ...

Buzzy, too much apre ski activity in the taverna? I'll never forget my first ski trip, each day I'd come home totally annihilated, and on the first night I crawled to bed from the dinner table I was that trashed after about 8 hours solid skiing.

Oscar, I think I'd go with 6'4" the 6'6" would be good for the first couple of months finding your feet but after that the 6'4" would be a better fit and should remain so for some time. Though as Buzzy suggests at some point you will want smaller but by then there will be even more choices! Like spitfire, activator, mini-driver and jacknife!!! But that comes later when the FW addiction becomes fully fledged.

[iggy]

Hi Herzalot,

following your suggestion, I've got in contact with the shop and I've requested them to change the order. I thought that they'll rejected it as I ordered the board on august and, although the board hasn't arrived yet, it should be almost ready to be packed at Firewire. Well the answer has been totally positive and they will order a new one. They have to confirm me this and tell me more or less when the new order arrive, I guess it's like a new one so I'll have to wait a more month.

So, taking in account what I wrote when I opened this thread:


"...I'm 43, 6'4" tall, 185 lb and average fitness. I used to surf 12 years ago with a beginner to intermediate level though nowadays I guess my level is back to beginner as I've not surfed since then... I've bodysurfed a lot in quite big and strong waves all these years but not on a surfboard since 12 years ago..."


wich size of Dominator should I order this time?, I think 6'4" would be ok after reading all yuor advises and other threads about Dom sizes.

I'd appreciate a lot your comments and suggestions. I have a couple of days to confirm the right size to the shop where I ordered the board.

Thanks a lot in advance to all, you're being quite a help!

6'4" looks like the right fit for ya. Surfing is like riding a bike,a couple of paddles and you'll be back on the saddle