I got nothing that you will like but here goes.

6'6" as a step up? Lol. Never been to Fiji but I have surfed a lot of places and SEQ is gutless and the boards you surf there almost certainly won't do in a in a similar sized wave in Fiji. Unless you are a ball tearing ripper of course. Maybe you are but since most people hang around average I assume you are just a good recreational surfer.

I would suggest you go bigger. 6'10" or even 7'. These are pretty typical for up north WA or Indo. And get a pintail or very small swallow.

Last bit of advice, if you are stretching your comfort zone you are always better off being over-gunned than under-gunned. No one wants to be poised in the lip of a wave they want wishing for an extra four inches as it draws and throws. Usually throwing them.

if your only chasing up to 8 foot 6-6 will be perfect if your paddle fit... i took a 6-10 to gland a few years ago but mostly rode my 6-4 up to 8 foot i just felt more comfortable on it! if you do get a step up id reckonmend you surf it a few times here to get used of it before you paddle into something serious! On volume add a couple of litres 2-4... will help with the paddle!

@thedrip
Im 94 kg and 6-1, im riding a 6-6 @37 litres atm 6-6x19 3/4 x 2 5/8 getting the same board shaped at the moment but 2 1/2 and a bit finner in the tail... rounded pin! im also going to get a 6-10 or 6-11 around 40 litres but ill put the dims i want in the computer and see what volume comes up at! if jake is only 75-77 kgs a 6-6 will be a pretty big board! but like you said length really helps on the waves with alot of surge behind them! If hes local enough im happy to borrow one of mine to him to see if thats what his looking for!

DJMWA said...
Give this a crack.

www.bourtonshapes.com/2015-ledge-tamer/

I've got one (6'2) and prefer it over my 6'6 at Tombies and SW ledges. Not so good out on the face though, needs to be hollow. Plus muzz is in your area.

A 6'2" at 8' Tombies? Impressive.

Beware the Murphy's law of surfing:

He who brings a Rhino Chaser on a surf trip sees no rhinos...

thedrip said..

DJMWA said...
Give this a crack.

www.bourtonshapes.com/2015-ledge-tamer/

I've got one (6'2) and prefer it over my 6'6 at Tombies and SW ledges. Not so good out on the face though, needs to be hollow. Plus muzz is in your area.

A 6'2" at 8' Tombies? Impressive.

TBH no.

Only had it out when its really starting to show its form at 6 foot. Sorry, shouldn't have skim read the start of the thread regarding 8 foot fiji. I kind of focused on the step-up board.
But I did ride both boards in the same swell this year and the 6'2 handled the drops far better.

Also going from SEQ to 8 foot fiji is a little more than a step-up, thats a pretty solid leap. I use step up's in the 5-6 foot range, the drip is right, you will want a semi-gun if you want to have a real dig at 8 foot. Especially since most of Fiji spots (I haven't been though so could be wrong) are outer reefs. Waves will be moving faster and have waaaaaay more power than any inshore reef at the same size.

Disclaimer: 6 foot for me is a bit over double overhead (so we don't go down this face/back of wave/ledge wank blah blah blah argument again.)

DJMWA said...

JAKE123 said..
Cheers drip. unfortunately not a ball tearing ripper. I see a 6'6 as a step up board since my normal board is 5'10. perhaps i need to look at going bigger. not sure. do people ride these boards with the same sort of volume as their standard?

Give Muzz a ring (or some of the other established shapers in your area.)
He knows the waves you usually ride and has shaped thousands of serious wave boards over the years (maybe not as much as a WA or VIC shaper but he's no slouch thats for sure.)
Make sure you have a pot of coffee on the go though as he'll talk your ears off about design benefits once he gets started

He must be good then. Lol. With good shapers you pay for the conversation as much as the board. I dropped a 5'10" off for a fin reset last week to Tom Hoye. Two hours later I managed to get away. You can't beat that passion of a shaper who actually cares.

Legion said..
Wow, I really like that Bourton board djm. Lots of ideas that I also share for waves of consequence.

Give it a whirl mate. I've got the original LT without the cathedral hull. I'm not totally enthused on the hull, I've tried it on my mates silver bullet and it just feels a little like its pushing water when you're paddling for waves.
Like I said prior it has to be hollow, if you take it out in fuller waves she doesn't perform. It doesn't necessarily have to be big either, I've surfed it at a notorious heaving closeout Beachie near a creek down south at 4 foot low tide, went great.

cheers guys. pro 346 thanks for the offer but i would probably damage your stick :)

Yeah just the usual spots staying at malalo island most likely.

I will probably just stick to the 6'6 to 6'8 size range as many of you have suggested. I quite like the look of the emery black angel step up.

thanks again