Transitioning from 8'0" Mini-mal to 6'6" Firewire Addvance?

[jaffa1949]

Enjoy do what your name suggests.ENJOY, the board looks to be in good condition and is a great shape for learning all the basics on. If it has an FCS centre fin box you can play with single and thruster set ups.
There is no turning ability in fins., they translate your turning ability.
The board is not likely to break in the normal usage you will give it , don't waste money chasing another similar newer board , that board is fine, I repeat that board is fine, the limitations are in your ability, which will change

There is nothing in the nose rocker that inhibits paddling or performance.
FFS go,surfing more often and enjoy

[drowningbitbybit]

FFS go,surfing more often and enjoy

I think that about covers it.

[asilomarsurfer]

Hello fellow Norcal surfer,

I sympathize with your dilemma. I think the duckdivability/surfability dichotomy is more pronounced in these parts. The Pacific can have some punch; turtle (or eskimo rolls) don't really work very well. And certainly won't at Ocean Beach.

I honestly think that a 6'6" Addvance, with a volume at 48 liters (and this isn't even PU) will be nigh on impossible to duck dive. I am the same weight as you (170lbs) and I wouldn't go above 35 liters if I wanted to duck dive a short board. So it wouldn't really solve your predicament.

So, considering you surf the bay area, you're going to have to make a choice between getting pounded and catching more waves, or duck diving and catching fewer waves. Were I in your shoes I'd pick catching more waves. So, I'd stick with the mal, and when you do upgrade, an 8' funboard to a 6'6" is a massive leap. Something in the 7 range will be more suitable. You can always find a great deal on craigslist in the santa cruz area, so many boards for sale on there.

Hope this helps. Be really, really careful at Ocean Beach. Even at head high you can drown there. It happens all the time.

[asilomarsurfer]

Actually, buy the Firewire, it's only 250, and if it's in good condition sell it at a higher price right away! You can make a tidy profit on it. Wheeling and dealing.

[enjoy]

I figured as much about not being able duck dive it, but either way the Firewire sold quick so I wasn't able to jump on that. And I hear you on Ocean beach, I've only actually paddled out there once, the currents, wind and waves are just a huge step up in intensity from other spots in the area. If only there was a Pleasure Point closer to SF..

Hello fellow Norcal surfer,

I sympathize with your dilemma. I think the duckdivability/surfability dichotomy is more pronounced in these parts. The Pacific can have some punch; turtle (or eskimo rolls) don't really work very well. And certainly won't at Ocean Beach.

I honestly think that a 6'6" Addvance, with a volume at 48 liters (and this isn't even PU) will be nigh on impossible to duck dive. I am the same weight as you (170lbs) and I wouldn't go above 35 liters if I wanted to duck dive a short board. So it wouldn't really solve your predicament.

So, considering you surf the bay area, you're going to have to make a choice between getting pounded and catching more waves, or duck diving and catching fewer waves. Were I in your shoes I'd pick catching more waves. So, I'd stick with the mal, and when you do upgrade, an 8' funboard to a 6'6" is a massive leap. Something in the 7 range will be more suitable. You can always find a great deal on craigslist in the santa cruz area, so many boards for sale on there.

Hope this helps. Be really, really careful at Ocean Beach. Even at head high you can drown there. It happens all the time.

[enjoy]

Hey guys,

I've been practicing a lot more on my 8'0" mini-mal and feel pretty comfortable riding down the line. Your guys' tips on an angled take off and turning to go down the line earlier have really helped as well. Recently came across a good deal (<$200) on this used Vernor (popular local shaper in Bay Area) surfboard and wanted to see if you guys could ID what sort of wave type / size and skill level it would be appropriate for.

The dimensions as written on the board are: 7'0" long, 12 3/4" nose, 20 1/4" width, 14" tail and 2 9/16" thick (picture of dimensions attached as well). Seems to me like it might be a longer version of the Shaper's Choice on his website (http://vernorsurfboards.com/surfboards.html#) based on the dimensions and shape (winged swallow tail). Does this look like a fairly good board for a progressing beginner?

Seems like it may handle steeper conditions without being too much of a drop in size and based on pictures doesn't look like too difficult of a shape for a beginner. I could also be way off on this. Also, would it be possible for me to duckdive this at 5'11" and 165 lbs, or near impossible? Thanks for the help!

Pictures:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUX3 ... sp=sharing

[yumyumyellow]

You might be able to duck dive that. Through a face or under a lip you could probably duck dive it just fine. Under a wall of white water...probably not, at least not deep enough to not get pushed back quite a bit. But again, duck diving succesfully is a learned skill. It's not something that just happens because you're on a certain board.

Honestly, IMO, that board is kind of in "no mans land". It's shaped like a short board but it's still 7-0. This may only make steep drops more of a problem because you can't get in early like with your 8-0, and that's still a lot of board out in front of you on a steep drop. It does have a very pulled in tail, so IT will handle steep drops just fine, but can YOU? It seems kinda step up-y with the more pulled in template.

It will be marginally duckdiveable but it won't paddle nearly as well as your 8-0, so if you can't duck dive it and it doesn't cover as much ground between sets as your 8-0 you could have some trouble paddling out. But then, maybe I'm biased because I see no reason anyone would ride a thruster over 6-6 or so except for guns. I'd pass on this one. I also wouldn't say it's a particularly good deal. It's not a rip off, but that board has been very well used. The firewire is/was a better option IMO.

[enjoy]

Thanks yumyumyellow, actually ended up picking up the firewire after all but not at the same price.. will see how it goes. Keeping the 8'0 for good measure.

Thanks again all!

[enjoy]

For anybody that is looking to drop from a longboard/mini-mal to a shorter hybrid, I have found that the 6'6 ADDvance is plenty stable/floaty enough for my size (5'11", 160lbs), though a little more bouncy and a hair less stable than my 8'0 mini-mal, which is to be expected. I was able to catch waves/pop up on it on my first session out, although as you have stated I do notice a little less glide from the drop in length. I also notice that the board rides higher in the water due to the epoxy/volume. The board feels much more agile than my mini-mal yet still very stable and is helping with my practice for bottom turns. For the record, I got this board in September so I did still wait quite some time from when I originally posted this thread. Hope this helps anyone going through a similar transition!

[Aggiegrl]

I have a similar question. Right now, I'm surfing about once a week for about an hour each session. I've been surfing for about 1.5 years and am very much a beginner who is consistently popping up in the white wash and am approaching the green waves. I can turn left and right and am working on angling down the line. I've been riding an 8'4" BIC board but am really excited about being able to maneuver my board.

My specs: 5'7", 135 lb, athletic build, good paddle strength
BIC specs: 8’4″ BIC Magnum – 2016: 8’4″, 23.25″, 3 1/8″ thick, 72L, 17lb, US Center box + sides
https://aggiegrlworkout.wordpress.com/2 ... -thoughts/

I'm looking for a board that will let me grow and progress my surfing. The BIC is a super heavy board. My goal is to be able to catch a lot of waves, but to have a one board quiver for my progression. I want to avoid stepping down too quickly and getting frustrated with not picking up enough waves. But I do realize there is a learning curve.

After some research, I'm smitten with the FireWire ADDvance. The volume on the 7'6" board is 70L. My current board has a volume of 72L. They don't offer a 7'4" length. Their 7'2" has 62L volume. I'm realizing that surfing can be rather expensive as my husband has several boards in his quiver - 10+.

Any thoughts on whether I should get the 7'6" vs the 7'2" size?

[enjoy]

If you're set on the addvance, definitely go 7'2 or under. This board packs a lot of volume into its length and can be corky. Even the 6'6 at my weight (165-170) feels a little bit corky sometimes. At your weight 7'2 is more than enough, could be too much volume. I didn't find adjusting to the 6'6 length (1.5' drop from 8' mini-mal) to be that difficult given the float / ease of wave catching, but everyone is different. You do have to take off later than an 8' + board but its not so late that the wave is already pitching. I find that the board is actually pretty forgiving for later take offs as it is wide and stable. I also made the switch when I was already able to catch unbroken waves on my 8' and go down the line.

If anything maybe consider dropping to 7'4 - 7'6 on a board that is more of a traditional mini-mal / funboard as an alternative. But if you're smitten with the addvance, maybe you have to just get one and try it out. I was in a very similar situation as you and got the addvance and am happy with it for the most part. I actually ended up buying a used PU 7'0 funboard that had about the same volume or slightly less than my addvance as I found the addvance's epoxy / corky nature made surfing in bigger, choppier northern california surf in the winter a bit more difficult. However, I did not get too much use out of it as I ended up being busy with work and snowboarding a lot this winter. I've started surfing more regularly and find I still use the 6'6 Addvance more often as I try to go out when the conditions are more favorable. Hope this helps.

[Tudeo]

The Addvance 6'6" is a nice board, but it's very corky. I'm 75 kg and got my ADD for 2 yrs, and still it's a balancing act sitting on it. Paddling and catching is where it shines, but over shoulder high it's a bit hard to control on the backside.
At 135lbs you should go for the smallest ADD, that's the 606 at 48L. Your Magnum is 8'2" at 72L, so it will be a big difference. You need much more precise timing and wave reading compared to the Magnum. It will take some time and effort to get there.
The ADD is great for catching waves, certainly at your weight, but the board, though very forgiving, isn't designed for learning. The board is aimed at the older (able) surfer who still wants to surf shorter boards but needs some extra liters of volume to help with paddling.

Almost forgot. The board is made in LFT and Timbertek, I would reccomend Timbertek because that's very ding resistant. I've got the LFT and the guys at the ding repair shop love it

[dtc]

If anything maybe consider dropping to 7'4 - 7'6 on a board that is more of a traditional mini-mal / funboard as an alternative.

I support this more than an Addvance - not because the Addvance is a bad board, but because you possibly will get more fun out of a funboard shape and actually slightly lower/less corky volume (given that you are pretty light and also still in the middle learning stage). As the others have mentioned, having a lot of volume looks good, but having too much in too little space creates its own issues.

One board a lot of my female friends surf (well, I think 3 of them!) and really like is the firewire SeAxe (sticking with firewire) - the shortest one is 7'2 which could be a really good choice. Its a really nice board, I've borrowed it for a few waves; its super light but very stable and has a fair bit of volume still (47L). There is also a 7'6 version which is probably an even better choice, although its length isnt much different from your current board

another option is something like the torq 7'2 or 7'6 mod fun (as an example - there are plenty of others like this - example for looking at the outline and style of board)