Size Advice Needed - Please - 5'7'' or 5'9''??

[GLH_UK]

Unfortunately, this is yet another size thread but your help will be much appreciated.

Looking at purchasing a new El Fuego and stuck on the size, to help; i am 5'7'' 155lbs, in good shape and surf 3-4 times a week, surf depending. I am currently riding a 5'8'' x 19 3/4 x 2 3/8 Dumpster Diver approx 28L in volume and a 5'8'' x 19 1/4 x 2 3/8 JS Nitro approx 27L in volume.

Looking to ride the fuego in waste - head high waves.

I am completely torn between the 5'7'' and 5'9''. Little worried the 5'7'' may be a little under size and 5'9'' a little over sized. Advice and thoughts please?

Finally, really like the look of the diamond tail over the swallow, what are the pros and cons of each?

Thanks

[fishdent1]

Hey GLH

I'm 5'6" 155 lbs and intermediate. I picked up a 5'9" EF FST swallow and totally stoked. Paddling is excellent and the board does not feel too floaty. It's somewhere b/n my regular 5"10" x 19 1/4 x 2 3/8 PU board and my 6"2" retro fish. More toward the PU short board feel though. Duck diving is easy. I ride it as a quad with G5 sides and GX trailers. Plenty of hold in knee to chest high stuff, but a tad hard to turn for me. I prob need less vol and more upright trailers. I'm def a front foot surfer and the EF forward wide point carters to this style. I think I would have shorter surf sessions if I went with a 5"6" from gassing oiut on paddling. but again I surf prob half as much as you do.

Hope this helps.

V

[Gnubee]

First off, the EF is an awesome board, so good choice there. My best advice is to take a look at the charts and be perfectly honest with yourself about your abilities. Since you surf 3-4 times/wk, I don't think the shorter board would hurt you. I'm what you would consider a low intermediate and my 6'3" feels perfect. My weight put me either on the 6'3" or the 6'1". I could have opted for the 6'1" and been happy, but I factored in the weight of a full wetsuit and the fact that I don't get out nearly as often as I would like. I know the trend is to go short, and the EF paddles really well so the length won't make all that much difference between the two. I really think that either way you go you cant lose.

I have a diamond tail version and love the feel of it. It feels to me like it helps give a bit of sharpness to the turns. Haven't ridden the swallow tail so I can't really comment on it.

[Lalanda]

Hi guys!
I have the same question! The board size.

I am 35 yo, 1,72m and 71 kg. Been surfing for 4 years and I put myself in a beginer-intermediate level.
I've been looking an ELF 6'1, but after reading preavious posts, i'm afraid that is going to be to big for me!
What do you think?

[iggy]

What are you riding now?.
Flotation wise the 5'11" will float you plenty but all depends on your skills

[Gnubee]

Excellent choice of board. I've got an additional 20cm, 18kg and I'm 8 years older than you. Our skill level is probably close to the same. I ride a 6'3" and could easily go with a 6'1". I'd say 5'11" would be a safe bet, and likely the way I would go, (even thought a 5'9" might even work). I know that sounds really short, but the board paddles like a dream and hides a lot of foam. I suspect that you may find the 6'1" to feel (borderline) too big.

If you go with the FCS model, do yourself a favour and get a set of Nexus H3's. I find them to be a perfect match in either a thruster or quad setup.

[benny81]

Yeah you got to factor in everything like what wetsuits you'll wear most, how often you'll be out etc. I had a 5'11 which was ok but long flat spells, winter around the corner i'm trading in for a 6'1 for a little extra volume. And you have to be realistic about the type of waves you surf. Great board!

[Lalanda]

Thanks guys!

[Rusty]

I have surfed the EF in the 6,1 swallow and the 5,11 diamond .I have enjoyed both boards but they are night and day different in feel , If they did not have the same logo I would not think that they were the same model. I enjoyed the 5,11 in more punchy beach break conditions for more tight in the pocket surfing . The 6,1 enjoys bigger more open faced waves where you need to hold your rail a lot longer , the board has a lot more drive than the 5,11 and I really notice the difference in volume not for better or worse but for me the two board suit different type waves. I hope this may help.

[Rusty]

I love my 6,1 and I am a little lighter than you , I think it is the best all round board that I have ever owned. For me it is also the easiest board in the firewire range to surf well on right across all wave types.