Another size question...

[GettingOld]

Hi everyone,

I'm 6'2" 215 lbs, 41 years old. In pretty good shape from the gym, but haven't surfed that much for the last 10 years and would put my level realistically at the lower spectrum of intermediate. My idea of perfection is a head high wave, maybe a little bit bigger -- and just making big carves on the face. I don't really have any interest in blasting airs or anything.

So. Currently I'm riding a big guy tri (Channel Islands MBB I bought back in 1999) with dimensions 7'4" x 21" x 3" and I like it quite a bit... can even get into little knee high waves pretty easily, which we see a lot of here in Los Angeles. I have a hard time duck diving when it gets over chest high, though, and I was thinking of getting a Hellfire for those conditions.

My question is... I was leaning toward a 6'10" Hellfire, which already has a volume of 47.7 (versus the 53-59 suggested from the calculator)... but after browsing this forum, I'm starting to worry even that might be too big. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

[jynxz]

I think youll find its way too big. Im your height and age and 200lb and I bought a 6'8 which I quite liked for about 3 months. But then I bought a 6'4 Hellfire and OMG I so wish I had done this in the first place. The weird thing is the difference in paddling them into waves is hardly noticable with the 6 ltr drop, but once your up, the difference in performance is night & day. I couldnt go back to the 6'8 now as it just feels like a big slow log.

I could quite comfortably use a 6'2 I reckon, but sticking with my 6'4 for now as I love it. I reckon a 6'6 would be the ticket for you and I dont think you would notice any benefit in paddling compared to the 6'8.

[GettingOld]

Thanks, man. After reading this and other posts I had kinda settled on a 6'6" ... but then after spending some time in the shop I ended up ditching my original plan altogether and getting a 6'6" Spitfire instead. Idea being it'll be a good transitional board -- toss the big guy tri altogether, make this my one board, get used to having a bit less volume, with the plan of going even lower sometime next year.

Kinda irrational, but it pretty much came down to the fact that out of all the boards they had, it was the one that just felt right in my hands.

[Slowman]

...
Kinda irrational, but it pretty much came down to the fact that out of all the boards they had, it was the one that just felt right in my hands.

I know that feeling. My son had talked about nothing but getting a green bike to me and when I got back from a long assignment in Cali (6 weeks) I took him to the bike shop and sat him on a red bike in his size, he was frothing uncontrollably "this is the right bike Dad!". Ha ha the boy is still inside, excellent!

The spit is a great board, paddles well and handles a range of waves. It will be a good transition board and get you ready for a 6'6 HF.

[Roger]

I agree with the board choice too, GO. I am a few pounds lighter than you and if I was to choose one board for your wave range it would be the Dom or better yet, Spitfire. I ride a 6' 6" DM, a 6'2" PN and have a 6'8" HF for better waves. At no time have I ever wanted a smaller HF, as it is the smallest board in volume in my quiver.

[FW - Fan]

Hi everyone,

I'm 6'2" 215 lbs, 41 years old. In pretty good shape from the gym, but haven't surfed that much for the last 10 years and would put my level realistically at the lower spectrum of intermediate. My idea of perfection is a head high wave, maybe a little bit bigger -- and just making big carves on the face. I don't really have any interest in blasting airs or anything.

So. Currently I'm riding a big guy tri (Channel Islands MBB I bought back in 1999) with dimensions 7'4" x 21" x 3" and I like it quite a bit... can even get into little knee high waves pretty easily, which we see a lot of here in Los Angeles. I have a hard time duck diving when it gets over chest high, though, and I was thinking of getting a Hellfire for those conditions.

My question is... I was leaning toward a 6'10" Hellfire, which already has a volume of 47.7 (versus the 53-59 suggested from the calculator)... but after browsing this forum, I'm starting to worry even that might be too big. What do you guys think?

Thanks.

This is a little off topic and maybe I am a bit sensitive to this because I too am 41 BUT...you have to drop the "getting old" label brother. We are all getting older from the minute we are born. I refuse to admit I am getting "old" and sincerely don't think its healthy or positive to refer to yourself that way. Kelly...is 41 in Feb..would you consider him old?? I don't, nor does the rest of the tour as he regularly hands them their asses on a plate. Of course for all of us one day it will be our last paddle out but at 41 you have hopefully another 30 years of surfing...thats more than you have been surfing up to now and if you enjoy it, stay focussed on your health and fitness then there is no reason why you cant continue to improve. I am riding smaller boards, both hybrids and regular shorties, than I did when I was 20. I am also riding them better.

Stay young mentally and you stay young physically. For my 40th birthday I gratefully received a FIIK electric skateboard and regularly get on it and just go for a burn around the neighbourhood towing my 2 sons behind me on their Penny boards..Yeah you get more injuries and illnesses as you get older but you can help heal and recover from these by staying young of mind. Why not change your name to "Getting Better". Just my 2 cents worth.

[50young]

Hey I'm only middle aged at 51 !!! Refuse to think of myself as aging :) But How it feels under the arm is always a good indicator, but it can also be mindset IMO

[buzzy]

I definitely agree that "old" is in the mind, but it is also in the body. I watched Sunny Garcia surf Sunset the other day and he was doing old man takeoffs in his semi just like I do from time to time. He's a pro surfer and ex world champ. Sure he was tired. It happens to me more when I'm tired. You learn to adjust, in my case by adding a touch of volume to ensure I'm getting into the wave a touch earlier.

Slater's a freak. I doubt you'll see his feats repeated in our lifetime.

[FW - Fan]

I definitely agree that "old" is in the mind, but it is also in the body. I watched Sunny Garcia surf Sunset the other day and he was doing old man takeoffs in his semi just like I do from time to time. He's a pro surfer and ex world champ. Sure he was tired. It happens to me more when I'm tired. You learn to adjust, in my case by adding a touch of volume to ensure I'm getting into the wave a touch earlier.

Slater's a freak. I doubt you'll see his feats repeated in our lifetime.

Slater has also been very very smart to look after his diet and his mindset with equal importance...that is a big part of why he still paddles circles around the others.

[Slowman]

This is a little off topic and maybe I am a bit sensitive to this because I too am 41 BUT...you have to drop the "getting old" label brother. We are all getting older from the minute we are born. I refuse to admit I am getting "old" and sincerely don't think its healthy or positive to refer to yourself that way. Kelly...is 41 in Feb..would you consider him old?? I don't, nor does the rest of the tour as he regularly hands them their asses on a plate. Of course for all of us one day it will be our last paddle out but at 41 you have hopefully another 30 years of surfing...thats more than you have been surfing up to now and if you enjoy it, stay focussed on your health and fitness then there is no reason why you cant continue to improve. I am riding smaller boards, both hybrids and regular shorties, than I did when I was 20. I am also riding them better.

Stay young mentally and you stay young physically. For my 40th birthday I gratefully received a FIIK electric skateboard and regularly get on it and just go for a burn around the neighbourhood towing my 2 sons behind me on their Penny boards..Yeah you get more injuries and illnesses as you get older but you can help heal and recover from these by staying young of mind. Why not change your name to "Getting Better". Just my 2 cents worth.

I am a subscriber to that way if thinking! I just turned 54, the secret is doing the hard yards. ATM I have been a bit slack but I like to get competitive in endurance sports and I reckon doing some good hard long stuff keeps you younger and fitter. I have not plans of dying before I reach 120!!!! I ride with dudes that are almost 70 and climb like Pantani (OK that's exaggerating) but there are guys in this age bracket that can still hurt blokes in their 30s. Surfing as a sport isn't hard enough, unless you are out there every day having 2 surfs. I plan to retire in 18 months or so and part of that plan includes another Ironman as a last hurrah to see if I can qualify for the world championships in Kona on the big island. To be honest I'll be happy if I can go round one more time and pull up fine after for a beer and pizza with friends.

I definitely agree that "old" is in the mind, but it is also in the body. I watched Sunny Garcia surf Sunset the other day and he was doing old man takeoffs in his semi just like I do from time to time. He's a pro surfer and ex world champ. Sure he was tired. It happens to me more when I'm tired. You learn to adjust, in my case by adding a touch of volume to ensure I'm getting into the wave a touch earlier.

Slater's a freak. I doubt you'll see his feats repeated in our lifetime.

Yep you can adjust and hobble along, did it for a decade until I had a new hip surface! The mongrel inside has to rage on. I think you always need to have more goals to keep you striving. It's nice to think one day, if you've been world champion, club champ, or whatever that you can sit back and look back, but I reckon the day you do it's finished. Yes we age but if you give up it catches up and overtakes you. Maybe that's my fear!

But on the score of Slater, yes he's a freak but I reckon Medina is the next one that might give his record a run for the money. Hard to say of course 5 years from now who knows will suddenly show up.