How it surfs
Grovelers live or die on how they behave once you have speed. The step rail on the Spitfire family is the detail worth understanding — it lets a wide tail sit deeper on rail than its planshape suggests, which is why Mann keeps reusing it.
Volume-wise the ladder is generous. If you normally ride around 29 litres in a shortboard, most surfers take a Spun Honey a couple of inches shorter and a litre or two up; the surfboard volume calculator covers how to translate that.
Fin choice matters more than usual here. A raked thruster set keeps the diamond tail from feeling too loose, while a quad pushes the board further towards straight-line speed in gutless surf.
Volume & sizing chart
Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.
| Size | Volume | Rider weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'4" | Compact groveler | 27.6 L | Light surfers / very small waves |
| 5'8" | Everyday small-wave | Mid volume | Intermediate |
| 6'0" | Standard step-down | Higher volume | Intermediate to advanced |
| 6'4" | Largest stock size | 44.4 L | Heavier surfers |
How it compares
| Board | Best at | Wave range | Aggregate score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firewire Machadocado | Squash-tail small-wave glide | Knee to head-high | 8.9 |
| Firewire Groove | Performance tail in small surf | Knee to head-high | 9.0 |
| Pyzel Gremlin | Step-down performance | 1 to 6 ft | 8.8 |
Recommended fin setups
- Thruster — The default setup for the diamond-tail, step-rail outline
- Quad — Common groveler alternative for extra speed down the line
Verdict
A new Dan Mann groveler that leans on proven Spitfire details — diamond tail, step rail — rather than starting from scratch. At USD 995 it is priced with Firewire's performance line, and the 27.6–44.4 litre ladder covers most surfers looking for a small-wave board.