Surf Tip "How to Dial in Your Surfboard Liter Range" 

Hey Noel! I surfed near you at Uppers this morning and didn't have a chance to tell you in person, so I thought I'd just say it here. Thank you! You provide such insane value to the surfing world, and are a natural leader. As a teacher, myself, I appreciate your positive insights and your wisdom that you share so generously. Just watching your videos has helped empower me with the knowledge to choose the right board, fin set-up (after trying out Used Surf's demo program), not to mention helping me understand how to improve my technique and work on turns, etc etc. Thanks again for all you offer us surfers!!

Would be neat to test the same board at different literages and see how your surfing is affected. Especially a proven groveler like the Hydra... then try 25l, 30l, 35l all on the same day.

Hi Noel, this is pretty much spot on. I'm 160lbs and an advanced surfer of 20years +. Almost all my boards are now in the 29-30litre range. I spend 4-5months in 6mm hooded wetsuit and boots, 4-5months in 4mm rubber and 2-3months in 3mm. I live in the SW of the UK where the waves often have size but can lack power and shape so almost all my boards are medium to low rocker. I have found over many years that in average waves and cold water going right to the top of your range works best for me leaving the mid-low end for good waves and summer. If people are honest about thier ability I don't think they'll go far wrong using your method. Love your work. Total legend. 🤙🏻

i trust Noel with my money, i trust Noel with everything.

Great video. I'm 57, and have been surfing for over 40yrs. I have been riding fun boards (7'-8'), but still am a short boarder at heart. This video will help me chose a board, so I can give a short board a go again. Very well done. Thank you.

Noel - Thank you for all of your videos and reviews. You are my go to for all things surfing. Many thanks!

Just wanted to mention how much I appreciate you showing clips of your surfing the board/fins you're talking about. It helps IMMENSELY to picture what you're saying when you talk about sort of intangible concepts of an experience like drive, flow, looseness, etc. Thanks for such an amazingly informative and entertaining channel!

Just rewatched the Cymatic review and I realized how much the production quality has increased. Thanks, Noel!

Really good clip mate, easily the best breakdown i've seen of the whole volume / dimensions/ ability equation. Well done :)

Thanks Noel! I'm glad I followed the Mayhem formula on my new MR model. I've put on weight and am wearing a 4/3 suit. Thanks a lot for all that you do for us.

This formula is spot on! Noel was super gracious, helping me dial in my optimal volume when I was purchasing my CI NB2. Purchased it from the Surf Station & once I got it in the water... It was mental!!! 💯🤙

your the man Noel!!! Love the videos, my favorite yt channel. Keep it up!!! greetings from Brazil

Hey Noel, I really wanted to thank you for this video. It’s been a while since I bought my last board and in that time I’ve lost 20kgs. For some time now I’ve felt like my boards are all over volumed. I recently had an opportunity to pick up an ex demo 5’6 Machado Glazer following this formula it came just below what I thought I’d need now at 32L. I already had a 6’0 in the same model at 42L. I was a little nervous dropping so much size but I’ve had about 4-5 sessions on the new board now and I’ve noticed a massive improvement. Even taking it out on the weekend in some subpar conditions I felt it outperformed my 6’0 seaside even with paddle power and also felt it’s even improved my pop up . I’m now also considering sizing down my seaside to a 5’6 or even trying something new maybe like an Album Plasmic.

best of the best Noel in every review. Thanks! cheers

Thank you Noel 🙏 always the best advice

Great content! I’m 40 at 195-200 lbs been surfing for 25 years and find in the winter with a 4/3 I like riding 38-40 liters the best. Funny because most of my boys think I’m way over gunned, but it just feels like I have sooooo much more fun and get endless waves when i ride what feels right. Having the ability to sit a couple feet past everyone, especially around the local Encinitas spots where there’s plenty of bigger boards, it just seems to be where I’ve been landing lately. Even when I surf blacks I find I like to have the additional liters. At a certain age we get to a place where we just go with what feels right, I guess that’s 40 for me lol. Anyhow, epic content man. Cheers from Encinitas.

This is spot on with what I’ve been doing, the formula now confirms it. Thanks!!!

The best explanation how to calculate volume! Thanks again.

Dude that was just what I needed to hear, thanks for sharing!

Always so instructive pieces of information talking simply about so many parameters. One thing: you would ask all those boards makers to add the projected surface distribution aside of the volume in litres. That surface in cm2 would be a great parameter to know about the real range of the board out of its usual dims. Thanks again!

Keep it simple and have fun. Great piece of advice!

Hi, this video was what I need for a long time. Thank you for sharing. I’m one of your patreons and having great time with your surf better series from South Korea! Wish someday I can ses you in the water.

Good content here … spot on with the calculations. Thanks ! 🤙🏼

Thanks Noel, great vid!

Hey Noel, fantastic videos as always. I was thinking it'd be soooo interesting to see you surf the same board at different lieterages. For instance one version of the board 2-3 liters above you liter range, one version at your liter range and one version 2-3 liters below your liter range. Getting our liters right is a big question, and seeing the exact differences it makes when in the water, along with your commentary on the matter would be quite interesting.

Yup, exactly in the range calculated for my skill level, thanks Noel! If only I had something like that 20 years ago...had boards from 27-38l back then and only by accident stumbled across a board in the ideal volume about 2004, but didn't really identify that volume was the main factor why it worked so well until 2015 or so haha! I'm 6'1.5 at 170lbs intermediate for life lol, used to 6ft+ boards from the 2000's and kinda feel like some boards are getting too short for me in stock dims these days. Stance seems a little off on those 5'5 sticks and rail line is so short, feels unstable at high speed! Helps me with placing the back foot correctly though...

Right on Noel! Keep the vids comin!

Big thanks for your videos 🤘🏾

170lbs - 20 year surfer - 43 years old. 29.5L - 32L. Advanced surfer but no expert/pro that surfs mainly mushy So Cal waves. Ride flatter rocker boards and prefer short boards towards my lower volume range when waves get good. Fishy grovelers work better with a little more volume for me. Great video. Thanks!

Got my favorite drink sitting back

i've been surfing 35L for ages. today i tried an 31.5 that it felt sick. came home and watched this video and guess what...your formula nailed it.

This is super helpful! Thanks!

Thanks for info. Needed this.

Excellent video. Keep rippin.

Hey Noel, Just came across this video and your channel, thank you for all your time and efforts. I do wana run somethin by you. A little history, been fond of surfing for years. It’s been a life long dream since was a boy(now 37). I remember going out to Steamers Lane in Santa Cruz as a kid watching them surf for hours. Anyway… last year I went to Hawaii, for the first time(Waikiki). Of course I took a couple lessons and I have to say I nailed it. I didn’t think I’d take to it so fast, I was hooked. I ended up renting a board for the remaining 10days there and surfed on my own. It’s true, life is better when your surfing. So I come home and what do I do, I get a basic soft top with a lot of volume, not even sure how much. I’ve been out a half of dozen or so times but now I’m looking to purchase a real board. I guess it’s what they call a hybrid or fish style. I’m headed back to Hawaii (Maui) again this year and I want to bring my own ride. I’ve been eyeing a board by surf industries called the Modern Highline. Im 37, 5’8, about 195ish and I’d rate my fitness 6-7 outta 10. The board specs are 6'8" 22 7/8" 3" 55L FCSII Tri Performer Based on your video, I rounded up my weight to 200 and divided by 6 and added the 5-7 as I still consider myself a beginner. I came in at 40L. This Highline at 6’8 comes in at 55L. Is 55 too much or too little for a beginner still. us.surfindustries.com/products/highline-pu-mid-length-surfboard?variant=35742594662558

Hi Noel! Thanks a bunch for your content. I am a 2-3 board quiver guy so this topic is extremely important to me since I am always trying to maximize the range of conditions my boards can function well in. I really like what you said about the liters vs the dims because it really does make a huge amount of difference. The concave, foil, fin setup, tail shape, tail and nose thickness and wide point are all part of the picture when dialing this in. Not to mention wave type and surfing style. I could see this topic going into several episodes. I have only been able to get little pieces of this type of info from watching shapers talk about their boards and why they shaped it the way they did. Cheers and hope to see you out there someday! We would love to see you down in C-bad!

Great video . Thanks for the insight. The k.i.s.s. theory. Works every time. Your a legend .

This calculation works for me. 5'10" 185lb and 32 liters is my hot spot. Dialing it in.

Btw Noel those HP keels works great with my 5’-8” Steve Morgan “74” fish. Fins always humming 😄

Hi Noel, very good exercise you have there. Actually, what you say at the end is what I notice a lot: When it comes to winter time (because of the 4/3 and of the cold in general) I wish I could add one extra liter to my NB2 since it looks like I get more "stuck" to get waves. The Volume Calculator you have at the Pukas site is also quite interesting

Excellent tip, thanks.

Great Stuff - Thanks!!

Riding on a fast beach break spot, I can relate and agree to this video as my friend advise me to go to 5'5 while I had a very good feeling on his 5'7 Holygrail. I did not regret it at all! I am 127 pounds with an intermediate level -> 24.3 L as per formula and guess what... 5'5 Holygrail is 24.45 L! I have to paddle more but the manoeuvers are more radical. Regarding your dedicated video on this board, great choice on KA FCS II fins :-). My high range is the Go Fish 5'5 with 29 L. Again, for this board, great choice on especial captain fins. Thanks again for your work, high quality videos and very wise advices, especially on fins. I really did not pay attention on this section and it really change the game! Yewwwww

this rule was bang on for me!

Ah perfect, exactly what I was looking for

This dude is sik only just stumbled on his page. Happy days

Dude your awesome, thanks for the great advise.

I'm coming in at 168lbs at 6ft. I'm surfing in cold Irish Waters in a 6,4 wetsuit, boots , hood & gloves. I'd put myself a intermediate / advanced. I find 33 - 36litres works well for me in the breaks i surf ( 5,10 groveller, short boards 5,11 -6,1 ). Mainly beach breaks that tend to be medium power. I've no doubt in warm water conditions i'd be on a 29-30 litre range. The extra volume helps with the extra rubber and the shorter times we can spend in the water.

Gonna try this awesome man 💪

Yea Noel! Great video!

Thanks for the tip!

Spot on 🤙🏾

Guess I figured my exact liters by chance then. Thanks Noel

Spot on! I havent actually used a calculation before but this is exactly what I have been riding as I progressed (75kg 34.5L as intermediate, down to 32 when I felt the 34.5 didnt wrap around as fast as I would have liked and now at 31)

Perfect! We think the same!

Concerning the volume, it is not only a factor of pro, advanced, or beginner…Age is a great factor. I used to surf 37 litres, for 232 pounds, until I was 45. Then, I had to increase the volume every two years. Today, at 58, I’m still enjoying shortboards, but with 48 liters(Dominator 6’8…).

Thank you for doing this, this helps. I am a pretty big guy and I think this might skew a bit at higher weights. I go between 250 and 285 pounds and I notice my 47 liter PodMod 2 doesn't float me when well when about 270 and above. Age is probably a factor as I am 46 as well.

Hi Noel. Hope you have a great 2021 and thanksfor the tip. Matching the range with the outline and bottom contour of the board is what is not entirely clear to me. If you have less rocker and this equals better paddling, why adding a littler? Why not adding littlers for High performance PU?

I always seen the charts saying I should go less L. But 27L on my style of Hawaii boards makes it bog because of rocker. I’m 165 and that means 27.5 divided by 6. Currently on a 27.6L Monsta box eps and it could be smaller so I just ride head high surf. But my big wave boards still get the under arm test haha

very cool. thank you

Hey Noel. You are without a doubt the best surfboard reviewer on RU-vid! Need some of your advise here please... bit of a long one so bear with me. I am an experienced fit surfer at 180lbs, I have always rode smaller boards for my weight. Current quiver is... 6'0 X 18 7/8 JS Monster8 round tail - 28l. 5'11 x 19 DHD DX1 squash 28l 5'10 x 19 1/4 Lost Sub Driver 2.0 EPS - 29l I like small changes between each board with dimensions so the transition from board to board is easier. Question is... I'm after a grovel board for 1-3ft fat gutless surf. I don't really want to go to a full-on retro fish with round nose if possible. What is the best performance fish you have tried?? I want something fast that has heaps of glide over fat sections, not worried if it won't surf in the pocket. I'm thinking something like an Astro Pop or Swordfish would be on the money... any other suggestions? Thanks for any info.

Dude, I’ve been riding a 5’5 Seaside I bought about a month ago wondering if it was too small. I’m 51 now and have been surfing for about 32 years considering myself at an advanced level. Not expert or pro. At 5’10” and 170 - 175 lbs, I’ve surfed it in different spots and different conditions. Some places it’s too little volume at 31.5 and other places, it’s absolutely perfect. This board was made for a wave like Church. Then go out to a place up north like Steamer’s and I’m gonna really have trouble. Personally, I think the size of board and volume really depend on the spot you’re planning on surfing. SoCal waves require less foam than Santa Cruz, and Santa Cruz waves require less foam than Ocean Beach San Francisco. If I took Seaside out to Ocean Beach S.F., I’d probably have to get rescued if the waves got bigger than shoulder high!😂😂

Great Stuff. Thx for sharing Noel as always.

Divide kgs by 2,72 to get the same result! Nice tip Noel, the only thing is not every board has volume marked on it. I have started shaping boards not so long ago and most of the time people are only interested about litres as a combination of all the specks of the board which is wrong! a 26L 5'9 is totally diferent then a 26L 5'6.

Another awesome and very useful video from this channel. One question: Is it usefull to consider / Do you consider the eventual effect of the wetsuit weight?? For example, a difference of 5 pounds would change almost a liter using the formula. Tks!

Hi Noel and thank you for your clips! Just to make sure I understand what you’re saying correctly, this mean that as a 162lbs beginner my volume range should roughly be between 32L and 34L. That seems a bit low doesn’t it?

Noel Rules ! Regards From Brazil

Hey Noel been watching your vids for the past month or so love all the recommendations. I live in Hawaii more North so I have access to some of the gnarliest waves which I’m extremely happy about. I want to order a dominator 2 but I have pretty much access to Pyzel and Arakawas surf shop right down at the mill. I currently own a gremlin and am looking to get into bigger surf so I’m looking for a pyzalien 2. I really need help building out my quiver would you recommend the P2 or the D2 or should I just go full magic board and get into a shadow or ghost? I was thinking to just buy the family and get a P2 and a ghost.

Hi Noel, another awesome video with so much insightful information. Using your formula for a intermediate surfer my volume is 28 litres. I’ve got a 5’6 (29.5L)HP Puddle Jumper which is great in 1-3ft beachies I surf. I’ve got a 5’10 (30L) Phantom which feels a little big since riding the Jumper unless it’s 4ft+. What board would you recommend for 2-4ft beachies? Cheers

Been surfing often again after a very long hiatus, my board is like 27L and I'm 183lb lol! I'm still making it work somehow but i think it's hurting my wave count and performance. I was also using it with like a 5mm suit, 7mm boots, gloves and a hood 🤣. The weird thing is I haven't even gained that much wait, it's always been under volume and that's just what I've used. Looking to get another custom board built, will probably go for 30 - 31L epoxy this time.

I was definitely avoiding the longboard because it didn’t look cool but I caved and surfing got so much more fun Kooks, let’s stay in our lane 😂

awesome vid

me as a 5'9 115-120 lbs guy . i guess custom orders will be my only option if i want something at my size and volume to evolve further as stocks dims at my size have always too much volume , and boards at my volume are always microscopic

Relevant and interesting

Very informative Video. Thank you very much. What orange rail Aipa Model is this in the background? Cheers, Jan-Erik

Hey Noel! I appreciate all of the work here and education being passed along. Had a quick question regarding this topic. I am 6’2 and weigh about 220. Goal is to get back to a solid 210 and the work has begun there. I’m probably on the low end intermediate level and have been looking at getting a higher performance daily driver for places like Blacks/Ocean Beach/Imperial Beach. What would you recommend for liters and board? I’ve been looking at the Phantom and Pyzalien 2 as well as the Happy from CI. Just kinda lost. Thanks for any help you can provide! Please keep doing what you’re doing.

I'm 5'9" with long arms and legs. The trouble I'm having in 2022 is that the shapers stock dims for my weight come in short length boards. I prefer 5'10, 5'11" to 6'1" range for my standard shortboard. I have a 5'6" and my legs are so long the board is just too short, for me to get the proper liters I'd have to actually drop down in length when I want to jump up. I'm not surfing waves that break consistently in the same spot so I have to hunt and position for take off, prefer the longer length boards.

Thanks for the video Noel, good stuff. Where can I get one of those surfboard stands? The one your Orange railed board is on. Really cool. Thanks!

I’m 222lb, 5’8 and 58 yo. Won a comp in doh+ surf once - longtime ago 😂 Recently bought a 6’1 Glazer at around 45L. It’s the perfect fit for an older, heavier guy - paddles in well but turns quickly in short arcs - previous boards 6’4 so the contrast is very noticeable. Seems like past a certain weight you need something substantial to keep you on top of the water... kinda like mosquitoes vs frogs 😂

I generally struggle with dimensions on boards. I am intermediate and fairly light for my weight. I love the control and manoeuvreability I get from boards at the bottom end of the litre range but then struggle with my wave count. I pump up the volume to the upper end and catch waves but struggle with the rails being too thick and takes me a while to get control over the board. I practice as much as I can for my location but is there anything you would suggest on length, width, thickness to overcome? Or just practice more 😊

Needed this vid badly Noel...im 155 LBs looking to go to 160+ soon lol, I'm 6ft, and I'm an int-adv quickly advancing as im surfing everyday almost all day. Pretty fit, workout and surf daily. I haven't had too many short boards ever and i cant seem to figure out my right dims.. I had a 6'1 driver 2.0 and the rails felt a tiny bit too thick and the board felt also just a tad bit too wide. (6,1,19.38, 2,45 are the dims). Im thinking about going with stock dims on the fever but is it worth to go a tiny bit down in custom dims and wait that 4-month timeframe?? Hopefully, you can let me know if you think i should go custom dims up or down from 6'0 stock or maybe i should just buy a 6'0 stock and it be fine! Sorry for the paragraph just need some guidance before i put in a order and wait too long or buy a stock board that doesn't fit right. Thanks for the review! ps I'm in an A-class ventura county surf spot as my home break for reference of what waves ill be riding.

Hey Noel as usual a great video and spot on for me thank you so much!!!...my question is about litres for my step up - I surf a driver 2.0 6'1" at 30.3 litres I'm 176 pounds advanced surfer so my ideal litres by your formula is exactly that board, and I love the board although lately Ive been feeling that given the proformance 5oz s cloth construction which makes the board so light, I could go to the 6'0' at 29l...anyway, back to my question, how do I litre size my step up? Should I have the same litres as my normal shortboard, or add 10% roughly or what? I surf the driver 2.0 up to OH like 5 foot, when its 6 foot DOH I have to nurse the bottom turn a bit which is definitely holding me back....And further to this, would you recommend a pyzel ghost (I would get custom as I want at least 6'3" and dont like wide boards) over a lost step driver at similar dims and litres? I should add I would mostly surf the step up on not so hollow more slabby powerful wave like bells

Another great Video Noel. Would be great to see part 2 - Dial in your Litres for step ups. I always struggle with a step up, Im in Australia, 99% of the time I'm surfing knee to shoulder height waves. Surfing boards mostly between 5'3" and 5'11" in the 28 - 30 ltr range. When it comes to getting a board made for Bali like a 6'6" the extra length obvs adds more volume. So I struggle with thickness...do I go the same thickness as say a 5'9" or do I go thinner due to the extra length and volume, or maybe the answer is simpler than that? cheers

very reliable videos Noel ! Now, for you, if you had a 6"4""to tackle big waves , how many liters would that surfboard have ?

What about boards like the Seaside. Usually I am around 26/27 liters (I am 5'5 155) but just the dems of a 5'2 or 5'3 just get me nervous because they are so small. The 5'4 seems right but at 29 liters i am hesitant. Just wondering your thoughts. Keep up the great work your shows are epic!

Hey Noel, I'm an intermediate surfer 6'-0", ~190lbs mostly surfing the south shore of Oahu usually about 4-6' hawaiian size.. I'm coming off an 8'-0" funboard and looking to transition to a smaller daily driver board that I can learn more turns and technical surfing on. Can you recommend any boards, sizes, volumes to look for? I've been looking at the Machado fish and Pyzalien 2.

When will we see a "Salas Designs" boards? With all that knowledge and experience trying all sorts of shapes/brands, I think you could design some great boards. 💯🏄‍♂️🤘

Awwwwweeeeesooooommmmeeee, veryyyyy helpful thxxxxxx!!!!!! ✌ 😎 ✌

One more factor to consider is how fit your shoulders are. There's plenty of advanced surfers out there who have also advanced in age and advanced in career (don't get out so often anymore). I'm one of those cases, I still weigh the same but I have more fun with a few more liters than the formula would suggest.

Great review Noel! Spot on with litre range, im 5.7, 135 pounds, I’m currently riding a pyzel phantom 5.7 with 26.7 litres, I think the board is the perfect litre range for me as a intermediate/advance surfer but I want to go in the 25litre range, should I go down or stay within the 26-27 litre? Thanks.

I ride with a few extra liters of volume because of my age, skill level, and because I live on the NS and the waves are so challenging. The sacrifice seems to be rail engagement. What fin set-up would help compensate for this? Pivot vs rake? medium vs large? and thruster vs quad? Thanks!

Hey Noel! Do you take into account the weight of the wetsuit for the Weight/6 formula? or we should add it, if you always surf in a 4/3 or 5/4mm wetsuit. thanks

Hey hey Noel! - Just creased my MonstaBox HyFi and need a new board. I've got a Puddle Jumper HP for grovelling, what thruster would you recommend for 2-5foot in mushy (Bondi) beach break surf that occasionally turns on?! (PS. Advanced level, progressing to aerials)

Hi Noel thank you for all your teaching . Where is the link for pay ?

Hi Noel, great content as always. I weight 90kgs (198lbs) and usually ride 32-33L eps boards for daily drivers and grovelers. I am looking to buy a mini step up, maybe the twin pin ci but I am not sure how much Ls should I add for being a step up and a PU. Tended to go for a 6’3 but afraid 38L may be too much? I surf mainly point breaks when gets big. Cheers!

Hey, what would you recommend as a dedicated small wave fish shape, preferably a twin fin?

I assume you get this a lot from punters like me, but I am 210lbs and bought a 6'0 stock Firewire Seaside (before watching your video). I don't know where I am on the skill spectrum since I don't know what defines beginner Vs intermediate, but I go out everyday if there is a wave, have zero trouble catching waves and getting up and ride along the face happily in either direction. Starting to get into cutbacks, bottom turns and proper pumping. If I assume I am in the beginner/intermediate zone, then I do (210/6)+(5 or 7). Which brings me to 40-42L. The 6'0 seaside is 44.8L. It does feel like a bit of a stretch under the arm in terms of thickness and width and gets slappy on faster waves (more on top of the water rather than sitting in). I am wondering if I should go with the 5'11 instead? It is 41.1L and felt much more comfortable holding it in the shop. Note also it is EPS. The only reason I didn't get it was because I was unsure about going that short (I am 6'5). Since it is a groveller board, should I just stick with the added volume of my 6'0 or would it be worth switching to the 5'11?

57 yo at 160 lbs, with an effed shoulder, but still want to shortboard. Local shaper suggested I go 6'6", at about 40 liters, for winter waves up here in norcal (it's been overhead to doh every day the past month). Haven't surfed a 6'6" since the Clark foam days, so kinda freaking out...but the shaper has 40 years exp.

Hey Noel, I hope you can help me ! I’m 6 foot tall and 160 pounds. I want to buy the seaside for spring to autumn waves in the south west of France ! I just don’t really know which dimensions I should get... I’m an intermediate/advanced surfer and hesitating between the 5.4 and the 5.5. Hope you can help me ! Keep doing what you’re doing ! You’re the best ;)

Always felt the magic happens at around 36 for me . I’m a terrible surfer . Keeping changing boards that is why probably . But when I up that board and get greedy thinking I will be catching more waves .. something is just off and I start feel that extra floatation as a hinder