Help Expanding My Quiver

[dlmutiny]

CURRENT BOARD:
Doug Haut Pumpkinseed, 6'11" X 22" X 2-7/8" @ 48L Poly

WHERE I RIDE:
Mainly Pleasure Point down to The Hook

When I started riding the pumpkinseed I would have called myself a strong beginner. I had a few years experience on an epoxy 9'2" performance longboard. The pumpkinseed was my first step in progressing to a shorter board. My weight was about 192lbs. (87kg), I'm 6ft. (182cm) and my fitness level was about average.

Since I've been riding the pumpkinseed I really upped my game and started surfing at least once a week, sometimes twice. I have progressed rapidly and dropped weight to 171lbs. and would consider my fitness level as excellent. I might even call myself an intermediate rider at this point but not a totally competent intermediate rider.

At 48L it feels like this board has too much float and it's difficult to dive under incoming waves. I would like to add another board to my quiver. I think I've narrowed it down to the Hypto Krypto and the FireWire Dominator. Both in the stock 5'10" sizing.

I'm stuck and can't make up my mind or maybe I'm way off on my choices. Maybe I should stick with what I got for now for a little longer? Any insight you guys have would be a great help.

P.S. I also have kind of a side question as well. What are the draw backs of having a board that is way too buoyant for my current weight? Yesterday I was getting my butt kicked by choppy (a lot of chop) head high waves that Pleasure Point was spitting out. But possibly my lack of experience in such conditions caused the frustration.

Thanks

[Big H]

If you want another board then go for it; both those boards are good for smaller waves....id go hypto over the Dom just because of what I've heard; never ridden either and owners of both are generally stoked but I think the hypto will be able to handle a broader size range of waves. That being said I would not go that short straightaway; that's a BIG jump in size and float. I think you'd be better off getting something around a 6'3" or 4" and 37-39L. I'd also go PU instead of epoxy if you're an afternoon surfer to better deal with the chop.

[dlmutiny]

Hi Big H,
Thanks for the reply. I've been leaning toward the Hypto and I did like the idea of having a 5'10" but your right I shouldn't go that short.

"I'd also go PU instead of epoxy if you're an afternoon surfer to better deal with the chop."

I vary rarely surf the afternoons. I'm normally in the water by 7am. It was rare/weird day yesterday. It was a rising tide and It seems like the wave coming in strong enough to bounce off the cliff face, causing all kinds of havoc. If that makes sense.

[Big H]

We're about the same size and I've experimented with a variety of boards is what I'm basing the recommendation on as well as being a learner as well. Forgiveness comes in the form of being able to miss timing on takeoff a little, or fudging the first bottom turn a bit, or not using your weight as well as you might and losing speed because if it. Don't worry about duck diving; if you are 77kg and in excellent shape you should be able to duck 39l ok. I duck dipped my longboard today under the lip of a breaking wave that was head high (and I misjudged to put myself there under the breaking lip in the first place).

Why do you want another board? For me it's curiosity, desire to learn and trying to sort what works best for me and what I enjoy in dufferent conditions....aside from being a bit of a junkie. Used boards are all over the place here and getting cheap secondhand boards is a great way to figure out what you like and don't like.

[Big H]

Hi Big H,
Thanks for the reply. I've been leaning toward the Hypto and I did like the idea of having a 5'10" but your right I shouldn't go that short.

"I'd also go PU instead of epoxy if you're an afternoon surfer to better deal with the chop."

I vary rarely surf the afternoons. I'm normally in the water by 7am. It was rare/weird day yesterday. It was a rising tide and It seems like the wave coming in strong enough to bounce off the cliff face, causing all kinds of havoc. If that makes sense.

Totally does....mornings are so much smoother than afternoons...one spot I go to is a point just off a rocky headland with sheer faces that meet the water. If you get too close on a day when the swell is angled in a certain alignment then it feels like waves are coming at you from all directions....due to refraction they kind of are.

[Big H]

Here are the dims for stock hyptos from 5'10" to 6'2" for all those not familiar:

5'10 20 1/4 2 5/8 33.79
5'11 20 3/8 2 11/16 35
6'0 20 1/2 2 3/4 36.56
6'2 20 3/4 2 3/4 38.4

I'd go 6'0" to 6'2". Still shorter so you can fit into smaller waves better but with that forgiveness that will help you while you're learning how to best preserve and generate speed and allow for errors without totally bogging out prematurely.

[Big H]

One other thing; there has been negative feedback about hyptos coming out of the Thailand factory...they snap easily in comparison to the sticks from OZ And the US is the word from the boys at the shop. Cheers!

[dlmutiny]

"Why do you want another board? For me it's curiosity, desire to learn and trying to sort what works best for me and what I enjoy in different conditions"

I'm with you on this one. I constantly want to progress and expand my knowledge. Maybe the 48L Pumpkinseed is good for medium/average to small waves and I need something for bigger waves. I'm not sure. Everything I've read is that 48L is a lot for me but I'm not sure what the drawback for that is.

"worry about duck diving; if you are 77kg and in excellent shape you should be able to duck 39l ok"

I can duck drive the 48L okay. I just really need to crank on it. I'm in full plank position pushing down on the nose. Then I have one foot in the air while the other pushes down on the tail.

[dlmutiny]

One other thing; there has been negative feedback about hyptos coming out of the Thailand factory...they snap easily in comparison to the sticks from OZ And the US is the word from the boys at the shop. Cheers!

Thanks for the heads up. How do I know what factory they came out of?

And thanks for the quick replies.

[Big H]

Hahaha..... That I don't know....CI boards they write it on the stringer...ask in the shop you get it from; they are keenly aware here.

[dlmutiny]

Hahaha..... That I don't know....CI boards they write it on the stringer...ask in the shop you get it from; they are keenly aware here.

Cool, will do. Thanks

[oldenglish]

I recently road another board members pumpkin seed in some head high maybe slightly overhead semi clean waves. It was a 7ft board. I usually ride a 5'5 in small waves and 5'10-6'1 in waves stomach to over head. The 7ft board duck dived fine for bring 7ft. I had no problem getting out back at a spot notorious for long paddles.

The board caught large waves with ease. While it was a lot of volume to toss around quickly I found the size gave lots of drive to my turns. It even took some later drops and no paddle take offs very well.

Generally in bigger waves you don't necessarily want a smaller board than your daily driver. You want something to get you in easier and earlier. Hyptos and dominators are small grovel shortboards. They are ment to be ridden very short and have a lot of volume to compensate for that. A oversized board is gonna be difficult to hold its line on turns and steep take offs.

If you really just want to go smaller why not just buy a smaller pumpkin seed? I almost bought one after riding his but in a shorter dimension. Very versatile and fun board.

Dealing with chop and chatter is as much of a skill as no paddle take offs and floaters. You just have to get used to it if you surf in it.

[Surf Hound]

I agree with Big H. I would go with the Hypto Crypto in the 6-2 maybe 6-0 range. Sunday afternoon was pretty choppy in Santa Cruz and so much water with the high tie made for rough conditions. After 30 minutes I wish I had brought a bigger board as Sunday required lots of paddle. Nonetheless, I have heard nothing but good things on the Crypto. I have never rode but pretty positive I will own one eventually. Get the board!

[dlmutiny]

Thanks for the input guys. I almost completely convicted my self to get the Krypto. I which I could demo one. I think it was the price that caused me to pause. Especially when I can get a new pumpkinseed for $600 and I called up Haut Surfboards, they have a used 6'4 in stock for $400. I do love my Poly pumpkinseed. So maybe I should just size down and save some cash.

This does bring up another question. If I do get a sized down pumpkinseed it will most likely be an Epoxy board. What major differences can I expect going back and forth from my bigger poly pumpkinseed and a smaller epoxy pumpkinseed?

[Surf Hound]

some people like PU over epoxy and vice versa. I would say the majority of us prefer the PU and it's feel over epoxy but not everyone. I was in Haut's shop Saturday and saw all of the epoxy "seeds" lined up in the back corner. If you are going to go with a seed why not get Doug to make a PU for you. I think you will be much happier with a custom PU from Doug over any of those boards in the back corner of his shop. Just my opinion but if cost has you concerned, I would save up a little more and get something other than those especially now as you seem to be getting into the intermediate side of surfing. I would still go with the Krypto though

[dlmutiny]

some people like PU over epoxy and vice versa. I would say the majority of us prefer the PU and it's feel over epoxy but not everyone. I was in Haut's shop Saturday and saw all of the epoxy "seeds" lined up in the back corner. If you are going to go with a seed why not get Doug to make a PU for you. I think you will be much happier with a custom PU from Doug over any of those boards in the back corner of his shop. Just my opinion but if cost has you concerned, I would save up a little more and get something other than those especially now as you seem to be getting into the intermediate side of surfing. I would still go with the Krypto though

So your saying that you would go for the hypto krypto but as a PU? I do see a draw back with small epoxy boards feeling really light. I'm sure that translates over to how the board feels under your feet.

[oldenglish]

Eh I don't notice a huge difference besides durability. The pumpkin seed I road was epoxy. It worked fine. 400 bucks is a good deal.

[Big H]

http://stabmag.com/how-to-make-a-surfbo ... to-krypto/

I was out today in head to head and a half barrelling surf...there was a guy on a tiny hypto who shared the peak with me....saw him catch one after I'd kicked out of one from the inside and it was a beauty, holding a high line right under the lip....long period 18sec waves and 2m swell....surfing is more than the board but the equipment wasn't holding this guy back at all.....

[dlmutiny]

http://stabmag.com/how-to-make-a-surfboard-go-viral-the-hypto-krypto/

I was out today in head to head and a half barrelling surf...there was a guy on a tiny hypto who shared the peak with me....saw him catch one after I'd kicked out of one from the inside and it was a beauty, holding a high line right under the lip....long period 18sec waves and 2m swell....surfing is more than the board but the equipment wasn't holding this guy back at all.....

Good article. The comments are pretty funny. Ranging from your a kook with too much money if you ride one to your a kook because you can't appreciate it.