The Tomo Vanguard

[K24Surfer]

Thanks man! That's what I thought too about it being an original but my buddy said it had the FW logo. He certainly could have been mistaken on this. After looking at the pictures and description it looks like a thicker mini driver. I'm looking at the Vanguard as a small wave annihilator. I'm still very confused on what to get though. Chris says 5'04" but our waves are typically gutless and the 5'06" is virtually the same volume as my Hellrazor which would most likely not work for most of the waves that come through FL. If it gets good I'll be riding that as I'm a lot like Chris in that when it's good I want to be on what makes me the most comfortable. What's your thoughts gang?

[deadkipper]

The guy you refer to is Jimo. His board is 5'2" I think. I talked to him about the Vanguard ( he's not a Firewire fan). He said they should be ridden , the floor to height under your chin, so mine would be a 5'4 - 1" of the thickness of your thruster- same thickness of your go to board.
You need to get them short due to the parallel rail line, which in turn will give great turning ability. Buy long ...buy twice.

[prjwebb]

5'1" I think. Yeah that's the sizing guide I'd heard also, which would put me on a 5'4.5" x 18" x 2.38". The stock 5'4" would be too low volume for me due to the 2.25" thickness so fingers crossed the 5'6" goes well.

[Chris]

guys buying boards at a certain "height" isn't really the right way to look at getting a board. Buying in such a manner means that you are going to distort other dimensions in order to fit the proper volume into a fixed length. Its part of the equation, but in my opinion, its only a small part. Too many things come into consideration to say buy this board at your chin, buy that board at the bridge of your nose and that last one 3/4" of an inch below the roundest part of your skull. Doing so doesn't reflect other variables such as age, ability, weight, physical health, wave conditions, geography, etc. working within a volume range is a far better plan than following a "rule of thumb."

Cheers

[Live4truth]

Hey Chris,

Would you be able to provide me with the nose dims on the 5'4" and 5'6"? Reason i ask is that ive Been waffling between getting the 5'4" and 5'6" (as is everyone). Thinking that this will give me a bit more perspective. My thought is the 5'6" will be a bit more reasonable for me given surfing on the ec, but the volume is probably a bit high...I think something around 27 ltrs would be my higher end.

i'm 5'10" 165-70lbs. And intermediate-above average surfer living on ec in jersey. For most of last year i was riding a 5'8" that was 25.15ltr.--another brands parabolic type board. Loved the board...but it was a tad under volumes for me--could of probably gone with another liter. For winter bumped up to the same board in a 5'10" at 27.68ltrs. Board feels huge...a bit sluggish comparatively. Wanting to try something a bit different and give FW a whirl..stoked on the tomos btw.

I appreciate any feedback you can offer.

[K24Surfer]

Great feedback here! Chris, you told me to buy a 5'4" so if I have a heart attack trying to catch a Florida waist-slappin' crumbler on the damned thing then well ... I guess my dying thought will be, should have gotten the 5'06"! I have erred on the side of volume with each and every Firewire I have purchased. At first it seemed like a good idea that is until I bought the FHZ 5'11". The guy I buy these through told me to buy the 6'1" and I decided to throw caution to the wind and buy the 5'11". It turned out to be the very best decision, albeit by chance, I could have made. It is the best performing board I have ever owned. Of course that's probably by chance as well but that's beside the point. If I wanted to cruise I wouldn't be considering buying a Vanguard right?

[K24Surfer]

I'm the same size as you Live4truth see above.

[Citrino]

Hi guys, another size question!!! I am a dominator fan, i have a 5`6`` wich i have been riding all the time for the last 3 years or so... You can check my albun to see the kind of waves i ride mostly all the time, 2 to 4 ft. i am 5`7 with 145 lbs and am considering a vanguard 5`4``.
Am i right? I consider my self as fitted physically and intermediated/advanced surfer.
Best regards to you all...

[Live4truth]

Hey K2,

Thanks for the perspective...definitely helpful. Last time I bought anything close to a board that was 18" wide was a 6'5" step up... and that is what keeps hanging me up when looking at the board size vs. volume. I know the volume is close to what I would likely ride--a bit under, but relatively close (pending a dump-a-roo pre-surf or a full/ss suit). Regardless, looking at the board, and reading about the design principles behind it, the nose dims have to be around 15" and the tail a bit wider. If that's the case, I won't have a problem with the 5'4".

BTW...K2 did you order the board at this point? If you have it in hand...if you wouldn't mind (unless Chris hooks us up)...could you measure the board at at the nose and then 12" nose and tail. I just want to confirm what I assume... Feb. 5 is when I finish up a pretty intense work schedule...after that...I'm heading to the shop to order up. Wifey was shooting me looks yesterday when I mentioned I am ordering...I'll buy her flowers the day I bring the board home ;-)

[deadkipper]

So...don't buy on a size that is your chin height, my average size board holds 35L, so on that I'd need a 5'10? I think this is where custom shapes come into play. I'd rather have a shorter board but with more thickness. The longer the length the longer the rail line on these boards...I think your conflicting the point of the board in the first place as its supposed to be ridden short, but with the volume tucked away.