I've been surfing for 4 years and currently use a 6'7" Webber Afterburner. I catch almost everything on the board and it has been a good board for me so far. I think I could have gone a little smaller. I'm 5'7" 160lb. I'm looking for a smaller board and have heard good things about Firewire and Coil boards. I'm no expert and want a board that is a little forgiving and still challenging. Any advice?
I am almost exactly your size and I just got 5'6 firewire dominator and I love it. Its got lots of volume but at the same time it is super maneuverable. Great all around east coast board. If I were you I wouldnt go any bigger than a 5'10 if you choose a dominator.
I would go coil!!! Just talk to mike and explain to him what your looking for.. I have two coils and love them both.. Read swaylocks and surfermag coil ride reports and ask some questions over there... I would suggest a Flashback fish or a m-80 around the 5'8" to 5'10"
Thanks Thanks. Still makes it a difficult decision. I guess I have to ride a few. Maybe I'll go in the middle of 5'6" and 5'10" go around 5'8". May be a bit of a transition but sounds doable.
Got a 5'8 spitfire and a sweet potato. I have to say that hands down the spitfire is one of the best boards I've ever owned. The sweet potato is great for those mushy days in the summertime though.
dominators are great boards and very forgiving. The firewire forum is really helpful if you post in there thread. Mark and the rest of the firewire team will get back to you directly. they're really helpful and loyal to there customers
Thanks for the input. I'm leaning toward the 5'8" dominator. Called Coil, NO response. Emailed Coil NO response. Everyone says give the business to the local shapers. I would if they responed!
try mike @ coil one more time he is usually good at getting right back to people. If not then cant blame you for going elsewhere...
I would really get anything smallers that a 5'10 depending in the rest of the dims you are going with cause you might compromise paddling ablity . If you surf year round add about 20-25 lbs to you weight to compinsate for winter rubber
? why? he's 160 a 5'10 small wave board would be a boat for him.. depending on ability he could easily ride a 5'8/5'6/5'4 in a dom the 5'8 would be big.. and a 5'2/5'0 in the spud if he goes with the firewire shapes. not familiar with coil..i ride a 5'8 dom and a 5'4 spud could have gone 5'2 and surf with full on winter gear on li and dry i weigh 175.. boards pack the foam. if you go too big it takes away from how the board is supposed to ride.
I said 5'10 cause he said he has been only surfing 4 years and on a 6'7 . Thorwing him one something in the range of 5'2 -5'4 I think would be too much of a drastic drop for him in my opinion. The 6'7 he is riding now compared to a Dominator or a Spud in something to the sizes you mentioned would be a whole differnt animal to him . Depending on his skill level and paddling ablity ect he might get discouraged . Atleast with the 5'10 its not to drastic and I dont know how old this person is but if he a still growing the worst thing in the world it to buy a board and 1 it be too small for you ablity and 2 out grow it in 4 months . If we had the dims of what he is riding now it would also help us make a better recomendation for what would be best for him aswell as him letting us know his skill level
yeah i hear what your sayiing about the drastic dropoff in length.. and we can't really debate over someone we don't know just stating facts about boards that i know very well.. the 5'10 dom is a boat esp. for 160lbs.. saying he catches everything with the 6'7 paddling isn't a problem.. wanting something thats going to progress his surfing with also being challenged.. like any board find one pick it up and see for yourself how it feels under your arm.. just be honest with your real surfing ability.. seeing these boards in person you see how much foam they pack. good luck on your search
I'm 46 still in good shape. Work out regularly and have good upper body strength. Been doing martial arts most of my life so have good ballance. Surfing comes a bit natural to me. Not trying to toot my own horn just trying to give you a picture. I appreciate all the input. I started off on a 9'2" longboard. Then down to a 8'6 then a 7'6 to the 6'7". Don't mind doing a little more of a jump. Want something I'll use alot. Don't mind a bit of a challenge but don't want something that will be too hard to surf. Was thinking 6' or the 5'10" But alot of people said the 5'8" or less is still quite floaty. I know I'm not going to be a pro anytime soon but surf alot and just have a lot of fun with it. Thanks again for the info.
I'm 46 so won't be growing anymore. LOL. I stay in shape and from martial arts have good balance so feel I have progressed pretty good. I'm no pro but love to surf and go as often as I can. Was originally thinking something in the 6' range but from the input most feel these are floaty boards and think I should go lower. So was maybe thinking 5'10 or 5'8. Figure I have five or so more years before I have to start going back up in size. LOL. Thanks again for all the input.
I am 40 yrs old have a 5'10" m-80 I am about 180 and been wearing 5/4 with all the trimmings and the board is about perfect for me.. If you come to Jerz you can give it a go I am sure it would be good for ya..
Thanks. Been talking with Mike and I thnk I'm going to go with a 6' M80. Not sure if should go smaller. I'm going into my 4th year of surfing. Not sure how long you've been surfing. Gonna go with a 5 fin box with rounded tail.
Over the past 3-4 years I've bought 6 boards... 3 Firewire and 3 Coils. I like the Firewire shapes, but you can't go wrong working with Mike @ Coil. The board is finely tuned for you based on everything you tell him. I have an M-80, Widerboard, and a knockoff of the Firewire Sweet Potato. If I had the money, I'd sell the Firewire Quadfish and get the Coil Springfish. @ Bauer What are the dimensions of your M-80? I'm 175 and went with a 6-0 M-80, but thinner than what I usually get... Haven't had a chance to ride it too much... Just wondering.
Kaptman I have been surfing for 20+ yrs but in all honesty the last year has been my most progressive was stuck on oversized boards my whole surfing life. Never thought I could rip on a thinner shorter board but I tried a guys board one day and shocked myself so I went with coil and told Mike what I have been riding and what I want to do with my surfing he suggested 5'8 m80 uo to 20"+ width I didnt feel that comfortable since I never surfed anything less than a 6'1 so I went with 5'10 and 19 7/8 wanted to keep it under 20" wide just because...the board is 2 3/8 thick. I am 5'10 just over 175lbs and very avg ability. Exit 98 I am shocked that I am ripping on this board in full winter rubber. I have had 5 sessions on this board since Jan and three have been so much fun!!! As you know coils are fioled out Mike doesnt leave any xtra foam where he doesnt think youll need it so the two sessions that I really didnt think I surf ed well was because I missed some waves I thought I should have caught first I thought it was my fitness and or the rubber but now I believe it was the currents and my unfamilarity of the spots I was surfing both sessions were at spots I havent surfed before and my timing and positioning was probably off along with strong winds and current.. Anyway Kapt if Mike says 6'0 then go with it but if he is saying you can go smaller do it! Cause its design is meant to be short and wide..Your surfing will only get better and it seems like you are going to be 160 forever with your fitness etc.. so Exit wish the jersey guys would get anoth coil day together I would love to give a few of Mike's other shapes a try
