Re-animation: the Dominator journey

[Slowman]

I jumped on my dominator for the first time in a while the other day and I tried a new SF4 (Stretch) quad set in it with a stabiliser in knee high waves. The dom I reckon grovels a tad better than the spit because of the thicker tail not sinking in so much when you turn it. The SF4s feel almost the same as the Rusty R2 quads.

[iggy]

Indeed the thicker tail will provide better surf in lesser conditions. I loved to surf this board as quad

[buzzy]

Ok, I finally surfed the Dom today with a 4 fin set up which seemed to work for me. I'd used Indo Fin controllers in the past, but they never really did it for me. I used PC7's with the QPX trailers in 1-2 foot surf at Maroubra today and it was a revelation in a number of ways. Mostly I was surfing lefts, with the smaller ones fat and crumbly and the bigger ones hollow and breaking into a rip. I also surfed a couple of rights.

So, first few waves were of the takeoff, bottom turn, crouch and point variety in that you were pulling into or contemplating a small, fast breaking tube. After that section you could pull off a couple of turns. In a quad set up it felt faster in a straight line than as a thruster, and looser. So far I was fairly impressed. First right though was something different. It was looking to be a close out so dropped to the bottom to point it vertically at the lip to have the board completely spin out. The next right I just banked for speed and it seemed to go a tad quicker than a thruster set up would.

My first take away was that in softer waves the quad is probably a better set up; ie small soft waves. In bigger waves or more powerful waves the thruster probably still works best. Also, I think you need to surf the Dom thinner as a quad. I'm not sure why, but that's my gut instinct.

My developing view on the Dom is that I'd probably marginally prefer the 6'2" in average conditions, but that it wouldn't perform as well in marginal conditions. So overall it's right, but if I was coupling it with a SP I'd go a 6'2".

What I do think though is the quad set up extends the range of this board into the absolute tiniest surf.

[Slowman]

...

My first take away was that in softer waves the quad is probably a better set up; ie small soft waves. In bigger waves or more powerful waves the thruster probably still works best. Also, I think you need to surf the Dom thinner as a quad. I'm not sure why, but that's my gut instinct.

My developing view on the Dom is that I'd probably marginally prefer the 6'2" in average conditions, but that it wouldn't perform as well in marginal conditions. So overall it's right, but if I was coupling it with a SP I'd go a 6'2".

What I do think though is the quad set up extends the range of this board into the absolute tiniest surf.

Yep always reckoned the dom and the spit grovel very well in small stuff (probably because I ride them as quads). The spit does not spin out like the dom does, it's that thick tail and the rails combined with the extra speed as a quad I think. Anyway the spit is better in that regard.

[Chris]

good stuff here. i too still reach for my dom all the time. definitely a speed demon with quads, though i normally prefer thrusters.

Cheers

[buzzy]

I just thought I'd update this after possibly my first NE short period swell of summer. 2-3 foot (up to a bit over head high). With vaguely defined banks. You might start with a left but after hitting the inside section end up going right.

On bigger late takeoffs its true the board was a tad unmanageable for an instant. But otherwise this board is the quintessential summer small wave board. Bank off this, carve that, hit the lip, bam schmam whammo...this board is a regular short period swell beach break pogo stick.

Just saying...

[Slowman]

Buzzy, you're always sayin' ... :-) I think the dom is a great summer wave board. I'm not certain but it seems to do better floaters than the spit, maybe it's that thicker tail, maybe just the waves I rode it in. Probably take mine to Taiwan when we go to live there for a couple of years to supplement my hellfire and have 2 board quiver.

[buzzy]

Did I mention I've settled on K3's in the Dom in a thruster set up? I might try a quad trailer (QPX) for really small days but I haven't done so yet. I have a south coast trip planned in the next month or two so if the surf is small that's the time I'll try something different.