Stuck in the Middle

[buzzy]

I still reckon a 6.0 Dom, possibly eve 6.2. I'd be surprised if the calculator didn't put you in this range.

[buzzy]

I checked the volume calculator and it has you on 37.4 or so litres for a hybrid. If you're surfing once a month not too much less than that should be right. This volume is right between the 6'0" and 6'2" Dom. Go the 6'0" and you won't look back. It should surf from knee high to 1.5x overhead.

[saxman1]

I checked the volume calculator and it has you on 37.4 or so litres for a hybrid. If you're surfing once a month not too much less than that should be right. This volume is right between the 6'0" and 6'2" Dom. Go the 6'0" and you won't look back. It should surf from knee high to 1.5x overhead.

That sounds about right. It will catch waves just fine too.

[Slowman]

I am around 90kg/200lb and my 6'0 dom catches and performs in knee high waves. I think it grovels well enough for me. Smaller than that and I'm not that interested.

[jjthejet]

This is great info guys. this helps realy narrow down what bord i want to rebuild my quiver with. i was realy leaning tward the dominator and i was stuck to it but the mor that i see its geared more tward medium surf, the more i am leaning to the potatonator. Remember im on the west coast of Florida surfing the Gulf coast most of the time so all of my surfing is on smaller waves 4-5' is a great day, but 2-3 is the norm. From what im starting to gather this is prime potatonator teritory. i just looked at the volume calc and its telling me to go with about a 5'10" potato. i never used a board this short so its hard to belive that this short stick will float me, but i downt want to go to big if it means that the board will be harder to manuver.

[buzzy]

If your mind's set on the Potatonator then go for it - it'll definitely work for you. Cuttlefish speaks very highly of it and the FireWire video shows Chuey Reina (sp) ripping on it in decent sized waves. However, the Dom will really surf anything in the small to mid range - I wouldn't be dismissing it because it can't handle small conditions. I was surfing knee high stuff earlier this week on the Dom - small enough only me and two or three others paddled out at Bondi Beach - and it went great.

Go with your heart.

[Chris]

its funny, but buzzy is right. you have to do a gut check when you are choosing a board. if it feels really wrong, chances are it is and doesn't mesh with your preferences.

[Bumper]

JJ,

I'm in a similar boat. I have a 6'2 dom and while I love it in good waves with a bit of size I havn't made it work as well in smaller waves. To be honest, I've always ridden a fish in waves under chest high so going to the dominator in waves under 4 foot has been an adjustment for me and a bit of a struggle. I've always been a strong down the line, s-turn surfer but the dominator seems to suit a more top to bottom, back footed style that I am still developing. In better waves I have started to adjust and bottom turn, go high and maybe even throw a cut back. In smaller waves It's more difficult for me to surf this way. However, the potato has definitely helped me develop this style a bit better in those smaller waves, but it does have a ceiling in my opinion as far as wave size and power goes. The potatonator I think will help me bridge that gap between the potato in 1-2 foot waves and my dom or hellfire in chest plus. Here on the east coast waist to chest is much more common than shoulder plus so for me the pnator will get a ton of usage. I'm just not at that point in my surfing life where I can perform well enough on the dom in knee to chest waves to be stoked. Unlike alot of better surfers, I just havnt developed that ability to generate speed in smaller waves on a narrower, lighter board. (compared to a fish or potato). I wish I was a more advanced surfer but my gut says the pnator will work well for me and continue to help me progress. AFter a year or two on the pnator hopefully I will be at the point where I can get on my dom or a spitfire and generate better speed in smaller waves. I started my surfing life at 31 (i'm 41) so I'm trying to catch up and unfortunately I just don't see the wave consistency here to really speed up my learning curve and ability level. The potato, dom and hellfire sure have helped though. Good luck.

[seabass]

I am hearing you i have the same problem with my Sub and SP, SP good 1-2 Sub good 3-8 need that in between 2-4 and Chris has already said to me the PN will be a good compliment and i agree but i am still drawn to the Activator but i feel my Sub and Activator will cover the same wave range so I'll hold off on the Activator till I get some more cash up in the savings and go the PN. The PN does look the goods.

[Chris]

yeah a its a little bit of a toss up.

The best thing you can do is observe the waves you are going to be in most and then make your choice. Overlap isn't bad, especially if its in conditions that you see frequently. I have a dom and fuego. ride in similar sized surf but each have a distinct style.

sometimes a different shape is about giving you the opportunity to go out with a different style!! I will always have 3 or so bards that overlap one another, that way you can handle changing conditions and have a board for different setups. lets be honest. most of us go out in similar conditions 70% of the time....