Advice on board for small waves

[Deansp]

Hello all,

Basically I am looking to buy a board mostly to ride small (1-5ft) and very mushy waves. Since I live in Dubai and surf here is really small and the waves come from strong onshore winds, so tends to be very messy out there. I have back at home a 6.6 / 20 / 1.5 short with squash tail made for me from my local snapper.

Now here there is no local shapper and the options I have are lost / firewire/ channel islands and HS. I have looked for some models but don't know which one would be better , dominator, potatonator, average joe, hypto krypto . Can you guys give me some tips on it? (My surf level is somewhere between begginer and intermediate, I can go down the line but without any big turns or tricky stuff. )

[Big H]

I reckon a big longboard is just the thing for you.

[Tudeo]

With brands like lost / firewire/ channel islands and HS you got plenty to choose from, check their websites they give good info on their boards. When u got ur eyes on one u can search for reviews outside those websites, there are many on youtube.
I use an oversized Dominator that works fine for me, but i'm an older surfer who needs a bit of extra volume for the paddling.
What is ur weight and height and age, maybe I can give u some more specific advice?

[Tudeo]

I have back at home a 6.6 / 20 / 1.5 short with squash tail

I guess u mean thickness is 2.5? How are u doing on that board in those conditions?

[Deansp]

I reckon a big longboard is just the thing for you.

Yes a lot of people here use longboards, but I always preferred the surf on short boards, but still thank you for the advice.

With brands like lost / firewire/ channel islands and HS you got plenty to choose from, check their websites they give good info on their boards. When u got ur eyes on one u can search for reviews outside those websites, there are many on youtube.
I use an oversized Dominator that works fine for me, but i'm an older surfer who needs a bit of extra volume for the paddling.
What is ur weight and height and age, maybe I can give u some more specific advice?

Exactly the thing is that I have no idea which one would be the best choice, since I see mixed reviews for all of them. I love the hypto krypto but from what i read would not be so good on small waves, saw as well good reviews on the dominator / spitfire / potatonator, as well the average joe from Channel Islands and form JS the 107. Lost brand I don't know that well. I am 28 years old 1.85cm / 72kgs , in average shape now since I have been out of water for some time. And I was looking from a board that would be good on small waves but still "decent" on slightly bigger waves like the ones in Siri Lanka and Maldives (if this is even possible)

I have back at home a 6.6 / 20 / 1.5 short with squash tail

I guess u mean thickness is 2.5? How are u doing on that board in those conditions?

Yes 2.5 sorry for the mistake. That one I used to ride in Portugal where usually the waves have more power, used to surf from 0.5 to 1m usually and was fine with it paddling and catching waves . Had some trouble to get speed to avoid closed sections but I think was more to do with my level than with the board itself.

Thank for all the help guys

[Tudeo]

Had some trouble to get speed to avoid closed sections but I think was more to do with my level than with the board itself.

Ok, so u can catch waves on a shortboard, no need for a longboard then. For speed u need technique like pumping, or basically getting higher up the wave so u can accelerate down. But without this technique, wide boards with flatter rocker will generate more speed by themselves.

The Hypto Krypto has a flat rocker but it has a narrow tail. This tail gives it control in bigger/ more powerful waves, but u need to work it (hard) in smaller stuff. The Dominator has a wide tail and will generate a lot of speed in weaker waves but will feel out of control in bigger stuff.

Maybe u can look at a Firewire Addvance? That's an easy shortboard that works in small and bigger waves. I have an Addvance 606 that works very well for me, I'm 75kg. The Addvance is easier in the takeoff then the Dominator because the (swallow)tail is narrower, a thick and wide tail gives a slingshot effect during takeoff that's a bit hard to get into. But the Dominator will give a more dynamic ride if u can handle it.

Actually the Dominator is aimed for weaker crumbly waves. But I use it in bigger clean waves, and it goes great. But I had a lot of problems in the beginning to control the board in bigger stuff. I did some experimenting with fin-setups to find what works for me. Now the only problem I have is which board to choose

[Big H]

Being able to surf a shortboard is miles away from whether it is the best choice for conditions.....backwards perception that longboards are for beginners only....mushy & small Middle Eastern waves with short periods and plenty of filter due to shallow sea depths and being relatively protected waterways are going to be tough to ride for a beginner who admittedly had issues previously with generating his own speed in Portugal where waves have real zip....I think you're going to be left for dead in the middle east on a short board and will look wistfully at all the fun the boys on the big boards that are suited for conditions are having.....

Giving advice based on BALINESE weak crumbling waves is a mis-service.....I went out the last couple of days, considered it flat and waves on sets were still head high and period was 14 sec.....we have a different standard here for sure when it comes to what is small and what is weak. I get that short boarding is a different experience; that's why I have shortboards and grovellers as well....but for those conditions with a low skill level a shortie isn't going to be much fun.

[Tudeo]

Ahh, I forgot an important one: duck diving.

If there are no 'channels' to paddle out and there is a lot of white water, it's very handy if u can duck dive to get out.

I can still duck dive the 48l Addvance when the white water isn't too big and powerfull, but the 45l Dominator is much easier to duck dive. It's not so much the 3 liter difference in volume, it's the volume distribution, the foil.

The Addvance has a lot of volume in the nose, where the Dominator has more in the back half. I'm still figuring out the differences in ride and things. Wave catching is easier with the Add but for duck diving the Dom is a clear winner.

Check this out:

[Tudeo]

...backwards perception that longboards are for beginners only....Giving advice based on BALINESE weak crumbling waves is a mis-service....

Insinuating is ur thing isn't it? But reading?? Now there's a challenge!

I reckon a big longboard is just the thing for you.

Yes a lot of people here use longboards, but I always preferred the surf on short boards...

[dtc]

If you insist on going small, then you need a small wave board like the potatonator/sweet potato or baked p. The average joe also might be worth a look, or the Lost bottom feeder. or a nick Blair Cab sav if you can get it over there (more high perf tho)

The hypto krypto is really designed for chest high plus, even though it may say otherwise.

The problem with small wave boards is that they are essentially short fat pieces of foam, hard to stand on - more like a skateboard on ice than a surfboard. If you don't have the skills already, its very hard to develop the skills when using the boards

The other possibility is what Tudeo says, which is to get a mid length board (7ft ish) that is very big - the Addvance, for example; or even a walden mini mega magic

However, my suggestion is that you go down the beach for an hour or so and see if you can chat to any of the surfers. I'm pretty sure you will find that many of them are good surfers from overseas who are plenty good enough to surf shortboards but are surfing longboards because longboards are the boards that work on those waves.

[Big H]

Insinuating is ur thing isn't it? But reading?? Now there's a challenge!

You're kind of an a$$hole aren't you!? How about you just stop and leave it alone? I'm not the only one tired of your old lady douchey comments. Put a laughing smiley face to that why dont'cha?!

[surf patrol]

Thank you all fo the advices, about the dominator what I read is that is very good for 3-6ft but under the 3ft is not so good. But right now I am inclined to that one because that way I will have a board to ride in case it gets bigger. Since from what i ready the average joe and potatonator are good for 1-3ft waves but if it gets bigger, forget about it.

And the duck dive thing is a plus, even if I don't think it will be a big deal to duck dive here maybe in some other places will be, so better to get the best one on that.

About the longboard is not about the begiinner stuff, I started with a 7'8 beginner board and from there I moved to 8 something from a friend a nice single fin long board but I just don't like as much the kind of ride and surf as much as the one in the shortboard, feels like a big boat for me I feel like a small thing just standing there, I don't know... Just preferences.

This are the conditions I will face here, sometimes more mushier than this. I will go down the beach on Monday since there is a swell coming on and check with the guys there and with the surfhouse at the beach what would be their advices, just wanted to get and idea first so they don't recommend me just whatever they have more or what they "need" to sell.

[Big H]

Check out youtube....there is a video of some guy ragging out an average joe on a wave so small it looks flat....he's shredding the whole thing....it made an impression how small a wave they were on.....let me see if I can get the link.....

....got it....

[Big H]

Those guys can really surf though.....the board plays a part but they are definitely the driving force; user input being the engine, not the power of the wave......

Just looked up one of the riders, Brandon Smith....he's a pro, sponsored by CI and Quicksilver....figures as much.....

http://www.cisurfboards.com/team/brandon-smith/

[Tudeo]

You're kind of an a$$hole aren't you!

Now now, I thought u where so against name calling?

But no, ur just a personality challenged guy incapable to allow (self)criticism and by that a sick need for self-inflation. Isn't it (wannabe) Big H?

Stop and leave it alone? Sure, the minute u can control ur hate and stop ur filthy and cowardly insinuations.

[Big H]

Stop and leave it alone? Sure, the minute u can control ur hate and stop ur filthy and cowardly insinuations.

Hahahahhaa.....seriously?!


Anyway....I put you on ignore a while ago....you still love to come after me and my posts like some kind of jilted girlfriend.....what did I do to inspire so much passion? Filthy and cowardly? Wow.......over the top a little ya think?! Should I be flattered or scared?

Seriously....leave me alone. Act something near your age and get some maturity in your life.

I haven't risen to the bait until today because it was finally just too much.....wormy internet trolling; big man behind a keyboard aren't you? If you really have a problem, let me know and we can arrange a meeting....I'm sure we'll get your issues sorted face to face.

[waikikikichan]

There's no need for this harsh tone on an internet forum where people u never met just come for info, not to be treated as a kid..

[waikikikichan]

"Surfing Waves Forum is meant to be a helpful, informative and friendly environment so if you could please follow the guidelines below

#2 No flaming, abusive, threatening or derogatory comments about any person or group.

[Big H]

I'm down w-chan.....never looking for the hassle in the first place.

[Tudeo]

Act something near your age and get some maturity in your life........If you really have a problem, let me know and we can arrange a meeting....I'm sure we'll get your issues sorted face to face.

Ur talking about maturity and in the same post suggest a fight??

Ur ignorance keeps surprising me every time u take it to the next level.

Hey, there are those smileys again u love so much. I'm sorry for that, but u must admit, u make it too easy.