Why Can't I surf the Spitfire!!!!!??????

[Baker]

Scott, if you ain't already, ride it as a thruster for a while and once you get use to the board get a decent set of quad fins. For your weight something like the Mayhems or try a PC7/PC3 combo. Ditch the stretch SF4's basically they're too flexy in the tip for a big guy.

I second the take off speed on the spit, if it's a bit racey i have to try and get to my feet a lot quicker than usual as the board is already in the vital part of the wave, i'm usually left behind in pigdog stance...its deepest winter though so that's allowed now and then!

[aurfalien]

i dunno man, I've said it before; not every board works for every body.

If it don't work, ditch it. FWs keep there resale value which is yet another reason to get one :)

Seriously man, you cannot repeat surf sessions, no do overs. Once that wave has passed, its passed.

[scott]

buzzy. thanks a bunch. i really appreciate your time on this. it's awesome because i check this forum a lot and you are most similar to me in age and weight (although i'm 188cm and i'd give myself an intermediate - ) and you surf the 6'4" dom/spit and 6'8" alt same as me. i shouldn't have said less stable side to side, i guess i meant less directional side to side as i'm starting my pop up. like i start my pop up with one line and then a chop hits and i find myself fighting with the board as it tries to redirect on me. at any case, it think you're right anyway and reinforcing one thing i was suspecting. i surf well on good 4-8' waves and am trying to find that magic board that helps me surf just as well in less than ideal waves and learning surfing smaller (2-4') and worse waves is just harder. i joke with my friends that my surfing skill reflects the wave quality of the day exactly. although i see plenty who surf good in crap, it still eludes me.

you hit it on the head with it being more volume in less space and feeling non drivey and wobbly and me not being able to "overpower" the board as easily to get it to do what i want (feeling like a shoebox to me). maybe i need to dig in with my heals and toes more on this board to carve and dig my foot in harder to tail on that steep drop where it squirts out on me? it's hard to do think of at the time when i'm surprised that i'm going so much faster than i expected already :)

do you suggest more drivey fins like slow man suggested? what do you use?

so as an alternator user you vote take some time with the spit and hellfire and surf them here for stuff under 5 ft ish? all the good surfers here surf Merrick and Lost standard to stubby short boards (never fish) and I was wondering if i was just on the wrong boards for my break. your input really helps!

thanks a bunch to all.

kdropin. that board looks halfway between my alt and hellfire. probably a sick board!

[scott]

thanks Baker. that's multiple comments on the fins and earlier pop-up. i'm going to try them both and stick to smaller softer waves until i get it figured out. thanks a bunch!!!!

Scott, if you ain't already, ride it as a thruster for a while and once you get use to the board get a decent set of quad fins. For your weight something like the Mayhems or try a PC7/PC3 combo. Ditch the stretch SF4's basically they're too flexy in the tip for a big guy.

I second the take off speed on the spit, if it's a bit racey i have to try and get to my feet a lot quicker than usual as the board is already in the vital part of the wave, i'm usually left behind in pigdog stance...its deepest winter though so that's allowed now and then!

[scott]

i am leaning exactly that way. i'm on here as a last resort. i'm going to split the difference and only try this board on the smaller waves where i wasn't going to rip it up anyway and see if i can get it straightened out. but i'm not going to risk a good session over 3.5' feet until or unless i do. thanks :)

i dunno man, I've said it before; not every board works for every body.

If it don't work, ditch it. FWs keep there resale value which is yet another reason to get one :)

Seriously man, you cannot repeat surf sessions, no do overs. Once that wave has passed, its passed.

[fokaiHI]

I have the 6'6 spit and use panchos thruster which r huge, but super stable in any surf. i tried the matzos and biolos, but they make my surfing squirrley. the simple answer might not b if ur skill level isnt snuff, but does ur style fit the size and shape of ur board. being 6'3 205 seems kinda big for a 6'4, but i only say that because i'm 5'11 185 as well as 41. i tend to like bigger boards though. nobody knows ur skill level in the bowl, as long as u dont eat it. lol

[buzzy]

I wouldn't bother about digging in more on turns on the Spit - it just resists having that tail sunk. You just need to adapt. It takes time. Indeed, just this morning I completely ruined the wave of the day when I was just a touch late on takeoff, weighted the tail as I was dropping in just a tad more, and it shot out from under my feet. I was really pissed as it was shaping up to be a great wave.

I suspect though from your comments you'll enjoy the Hellfire more in average surf than the Spit. Indeed if I had one I probably would too. I truly see the benefit of the Spit/Dom as in average to smaller than average conditions. I wouldn't beat myself up about it.

As for fins, yeah, I definitely found fins with more drive better. I've enjoyed the PC7, GAM and K3's in that board, with a small preference for the K3's. if I was using the board more in head high plus waves I'd probably use the GAMs or PC7's. the Dom is strictly a small wave board for me, and for when I am fatter/less fit.

I am strongly considering moving to the Unibrow when its released to replace the Dom. As I often say I find the Dom great in waist to chest high waves, but I'd like a tad more nose rocker and a slightly more sensitive tail. I'm not sure if it will be a straight up replacement or not.

[scott]

thanks again. i'm going to get some new fins for sure and give it a week or two when we get the weak surf in the spring. thanks

[scott]

Here's the fins i'm using. this is a quad set but they make it as a 5 fin and i've actually been surfing it as a thruster. i'm not sure i see any futures any better for me but i don't know fins well. Buzzy looks like yours are fcs. any futures knowledge or comments. anyone? i just read that i can go to quad for more drive. guess i could try that. thanks


SA4 - Simon Anderson

Outline: Simon Anderson

Front Fins: FSA4

Height: 4.63 in, 11.80 cm
Base: 4.51 in, 11.50 cm
Area: 15.80 sq in, 40.10 sq cm

Rear Fins: FSA4 Quad Rear

Height: 4.36 in, 11.10 cm
Base: 4.14 in, 10.50 cm
Area: 13.24 sq in, 33.60 sq cm

Base Depth: 1/2 in. only

A template designed for surfers looking for hold and power in the large weight range. The large base allows you to create your own speed while the large tip helps you stay on rail. Riding the quad rears instead of the center fin will add drive and hold.

http://www.futuresfins.com/fin-detai...d_sa4_full.jpg

[scott]

might try the jodry or pancho as a thruster? they're the only two with more drive. if they're too bulky for my spit i can try them on the hellfire.

http://www.futuresfins.com/catalog.php?type=thrusters