El Fuego vs Spitfire

[buzzy]

First, and this is just my uncharitable opinion, but that guy in the video is a classic case of someone who would benefit far more from the stable platform of a hybrid than try to surf a classic shortboard.

Scott, I surf the 6'4" Dom and 6'8" Alt. I really don't notice the volume difference between the two, and in any event you want a tad more volume for smaller days - that or more surface area (or both).

I agree either a Spit or EF would both work with those waves but I personally think a Spit is likely to be a more versatile board. The EF has a VERY flat rocker, which makes it fast, but less forgiving.

[Gnubee]

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.

[scott]

spit on the way. thanks again! now for my step up decision (see alternator thread) :)