Surfing Waves

I went from a 6'5, 19', 2.75' swallow tail in San Diego, which I surfed up to overhead waves to a 5'10, 18.5', 2.1/4' squash tail in Japan, in small waves, maybe chest high on the best sets. My dimensions: 6'1, 175lbs

Now I want to get a more traditional shortboard when I get back to SoCAl, like the one I've been riding here in Japan. Most people I've talked to said that 5'10 is too short for me, but I love the way it handles and how responsive it is.

Anybody here around my size who has experience riding boards under 6'?

Thanks for the help!

If you like the way it feels when you ride one then it should be fine. That's how I look at it at least. I may be wrong.

I surf a Robert's 5'11" x 17 7/8" x 2 1/8" shortboard. At 170lbs, i sink it to armpit depth when i'm sitting on it.

I don't think a board can ever be too short. As long as you can paddle and catch waves with it, the shorter the better. The only problems you should run into is a lack of speed as well as ability to catch waves in smaller surf. I've had my Robert's board since I was a prepubecent grommet. As i grew, the board didn't. Now, most boards over 6'3" feel too "boaty" underfoot. If it feels good and you're still getting good rides out of it. Stick short, maybe go thicker.

Ditto, if you like the board then stick to what you like. At 200lbs I have ridden my buddy's 5'10", I can ride it, but work way too hard. So, if you are catching waves and having fun the stick to what works. If you feel like you are missing waves or think the board too squirley then you should go up, but if it ain't broke don't fix it...

I'm 170cm and 64Kg. I've ridden my 5'11" in double overhead Indo, no problem paddling into the wave but I tell you what... it isn't designed for that. Trying to do long hard carves is almost impossible at that speed, not enough rail and too thick a tail (rounded square). Small boards are for short flicky turns which you don't do on fast double overhead screamers. The same waves on a longer semi-gun (rounded pin) and I was laying in huge carves effortlessly. So the answer to your question is: A board is too short when you are going very very fast.