7'2 what's next?

[Fouquette]

First post, but reading this forum helped me in buying my first addvance. I stepped down from a 9'1 bear beau young to a 7'2 addvance and I am looking for some advice for my next board. I am 36, 5'9 and 165 pounds. I ride all winter here on Vancouver Island which has a mixture of breaks, but most are rocky reefs, and I need something for the larger winter swells. I love the ride of the addvance and I am wondering if I should step down to the 6'10 or 6'6 or something completely different. I am intermediate surfer and feel comfortable from 1 to 6 foot waves.

[prjwebb]

Do you feel ready for something like the Hellfire, Alternator etc or looking to stay with quite a bit of volume?

[Fouquette]

I like the the stability of the addvance. The volume is nice, but a reduction would be Ok.

[prjwebb]

could just drop down to the 6'6 then?

[Fouquette]

That's what I am thinking. Any other models comparable to the 6'6?

[prjwebb]

Only if you grossly oversized them which would limit their performance.

For instance a 6'6" Dominator would be very clumsy to surf at your size when you'd ideally be on a 5'10 or even 5'8, but the way the Addvance is designed it works very with with a higher volume.
I think you'd be stoked on the 6'6". It's have everything you like about the 7'2" but it'd be a little lighter, more responsive and manoeuvrable but still stable and a great paddler.
All the other higher volume boards are typical designed for smaller conditions so if you're looking for something for when the waves have some more size then I think the Addvance is the way to go.

[Fouquette]

Thanks for the advice.

[reserves]

"what's next?"

Sell me your 7' 2" :)

[Fouquette]

What about a dominator for me? I think expanding my quiver would be also ideal.

[prjwebb]

Dominator isn't ideal for larger winter waves. More of a small to medium, fun wave board. You'd also be looking at the 510 - 600 Dominator so it depends whether or not you're willing to drop so much length. Maybe a 600 Hellfire or 601 or 603 Hellrazor?