another board size question

[UTAH]

I've been surfing for about 9 months now on a 7'2, 22' wide board. I usually make it out a couple of times a week but I am starting to feel my board is a bit big, especially in larger surf as I can't duck dive and usually get pounded.

As a surfing I am still a beginner but possible progressing a bit faster than usually since I have been a beach lifeguard for a number of years and I am use to paddle boarding in surf. I can pop-up onto my feet, get a line and steer a bit on waves. I still need to get onto my feet a big faster in steeper waves as I still get trashed sometimes. I feel a smaller board would enable me to steer a bit more sharply and might generally be a bit more comfortable.

I am about 5'9 (or 176cm) and weight about 145 pounds (or 66 kilos). Should I stick with the board I have for a bit longer or is it time to move on to something smaller and if so what size would be good for me? Any advice would be appreciated.

[kitesurfer]

Sounds like it time to down size to me. Are you planning to buy off the shelf or get a custom board shaped?

KS

[UTAH]

not 100% but I could definitely go for a custom board. i want something that suits me well and that I can use for a few of years. hopefully i'll progress to a decent level before i need board # 3.

[UTAH]

the other thing is that i'm living in japan right now. the surf is great but my japanese isn't so i can't exactally go into a shop and start talkin about boards... and even if i could they are all ridiculously over prised hear... i am talking almost 3 times what they cost at home.

[kitesurfer]

Ok in which case i would recomend a board around 6ft 6 by 19.5 x 2.5 with not too much rocker and either a rounded pin or a swallow tail and if you can look for one with fuller rails.

KS

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

definitely go smaller. i actually thought that surfing got easier when i started surfing smaller boards, but then i still can't longboard to save my life. you can catch more waves on a bigger board, but you will learn to SURF waves better on a shortboard since they're easier to maneuver.

my husband and i both surf 6'0 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4. he's about the same size you are. works good in waist high to double overhead waves. might want to try a funboard that's 6'6 - 6'8 as a stepdown board first. a round nose fish is another option if you want to go shorter. i've got 5'2 and it paddles better than my 5'10 & 6'0.

[kitesurfer]

i've got 5'2 .

I'd like to see some photos of this board if possible?

KS

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

sent some pics of a couple different 5'2"s to you in PM

[UTAH]

thanks for the advice guys

[noble]

im 6 foot 1 and i use a 6'2 board made by peter mccabe