Spitfire sizing 82Kg 6'1 - 5'8 or 5'10

[savagebee]

Hey Marin
Take this for what its worth from someone who has yet to ride the spitfire but has ordered one based on research and other board volumes.
If I were your size and fitness and wanting to improve, I would go 5'6.

[iggy]

Hey Marin
Take this for what its worth from someone who has yet to ride the spitfire but has ordered one based on research and other board volumes.
If I were your size and fitness and wanting to improve, I would go 5'6.

Truth, but given he has not surfed in a long time I believe the 5'8" Dom will make him get back to the game faster.
Dominator will draw rounder arcs while the spit will tight them.

[savagebee]

Got my 5'8 spit RF last week. A thing of beauty. My first reaction when I saw it was "eeek that's small!!".
First surf was in bumpy full 4-5 foot waves with rasta quad set. Was concerned that board is too small because less float than I'm used to and it was very skittish. Had some moments but generally not real happy in these conditions.
Second surf similar conditions Solus thruster fins. Getting used to the size and quite happy paddling and getting waves but skitty and bogging in chop.
3rd surf 2-4 feet powerful and smooth rasta quad. Very happy paddling now and board felt awesome! Fast, loose, super tight turns. Only problem is me getting used to what it can do. Yes! This is why I bought this board - couldn't be happier.
On the size decision I think I could have gone 5'10 but 5'8 has plenty of float for me and performance on the wave is awesome!

[iggy]

Yewwww

[savagebee]

Yes yeeeew. After 2 more small wave surfs I'm totally stoked with this board! Faster and sharper turning than anything else I've ridden. Rasta quad is insane but hard to control, Solus thruster feels awesome and more predictable.

[iggy]

Solus is what I have on mine,really like them

[Tubbs]

Guys, been reading with interest all of the posts on this thread and the ones on the Potatontor and Hellfire. I want to add a performance oriented board to my quiver without going mad. I like the sound of the HF but the SF sounds like the one which would be more useable here in Guernsey, CI. I surf mostly our main beach break, the surf tends to be crumbly, there are other spots which go when the period is 9/10 sec plus and swell height 3++ feet (normal heights.....). These other spots can offer some decent little barrels and nice walling rights, which I love. I am 75 kgs so 165 lbs in old money, 40 years old and fit, surf as often as I can and mix up my boards; stubby hybrid, twinny, quad fish or log. This winter was appalling but otherwise try to get in 3 times a week or as many sessions as my arms in a day will allow! In my quiver my mate quite rightly pointed out that all of the boards I have are good small wave boards, one of which is a sweet potato, which I use too much! In anything! But I went 506 and think I cold have easily got away with the 504/502 at a push given the generally weak waves we get. So I am keen for the SF and am thinking 510 which will be good when the surf goes waist plus and has a little punch to it and given the winter wettie should be okay volume wise. But am concerned that this may be too much and if I go shorter it will be too little. Trade off between volume to compensate for weaker surf although waist plus and added winter wettie weight against shorter less volume and maybe more useable!? Loving the sweet potato....just flies...have used it instead of my log most days....fast and fun when the surf is shocking! 8-D

Input greatly appreciated.

[prjwebb]

I'd go 5'8 based on the fact that you'd be on the SP if the surf was pants.
The 5'10" would still be a lot of fun and it depends on what sort of volume you like riding. I like a little lower volume boards, and I think the 5'8" over volumed for me unless the waves are slack.

[Tubbs]

Hi prj, thanks for the input, appreciate it. So I can gauge the waves you are riding the 508 on, what period etc because not sure what the "normal" conditions would be for you in Cornwall. Here we are lucky to get an average of 9 secs and it's usually more like 8 sec and onshore, if we are lucky. If the surf is weak would you go for 510 where you are or are you saying that the 508 is perfect for you in weak conditions but not when its got more guts to it? I think whilst I want to go 508 i may find it a little too much of a leap having never ridden a performance board before. I think I could manage it well but it's getting it going sooner than say the 510.

[Chris]

Hey Tubbs, i agree with Prj, from the sounds of it, you'd likely prefer the 508, though you could easily ride the 506 if you wanted to push it. I will add on the topic of period, it depends almost more on how steel the wave is. I surf 15 seconds all the time here in CA but its often VERY weak. Back where i am from on the east coast of the US, i normally surfed 9 seconds, but it broke more steeply on the sandbars near my home.

In your case i would judge your needs based on punch. A slow wave is a slow wave independent of period. I always feel that if its mushy, you can afford to go with more volume. if you are normally surfing punch, then you can get after less volume. Over all, though, based on your other boards, you'll prefer the 508.

Cheers