3 Different Shapers, 3 Different Opinions - Help a girl out

[digs40]

Sorry guys, I need a bit of help. I've been surfing for about a year and a half, on a somewhat consistent basis (3 times a week from about April through to December) with two trips to Bali during that time where I surfed for two weeks at a time. I've been riding a 7'0 CI Waterhog for the last year. I'm a girl, 5'4, 135 lbs, long torso, short legs, above average fitness, as I was a competitive swimmer (despite my size) for many years and I continue to lift weights and swim three times a week. I'd like to downsize my board. I have had a great time on the Waterhog but I'd like something smaller as I feel I've stalled in my progression. I would say I'm a beginner-intermediate....I can catch unbroken waves without issue, ride frontside, backside...do bottom turn, top turns (admittedly my top turn is not as quick as I would like it to be, as I need to shuffle a bit on the Waterhog due to my size), but I can nonetheless top turn. Cutbacks are a bit more difficult for me on the Waterhog.

In doing some research I was left with more questions than I had before I started, so I contacted three shapers recently: two in California and one in Bali.

Whilst in Bali my friend took me to a local shaper who suggested something between 6'4 - 6'6 diamond tail with about 38L of volume. We didn't get into anything more specific as we first needed to figure out how I would get the board home. Turns out it's not as easy as I thought, since the airline I was flying wanted an INSANE amount of money to bring the board home with me and shipping it via freight is a bit more complicated than expected.

I reached out to Roberts: Super awesome folks who suggested a 5'10 meat cleaver (19 3/4 X 2 7/16 with 31L). The recommendation was based on the information provided above and where I ride (NJ beach breaks with the occasional surf trip thrown in); and

Lastly, I reached out to Album (same info given as above): Again, super awesome folks who suggested a 5'6 polyphonic (19”x 2.25” with 25.3 L).

I was completely honest with each shaper in terms of my ability, fitness level, height and weight, what I ride, how often I ride and where I ride and yet I got three completely different responses. (Yeah, I know each shaper is different... but there's kind of a stark difference between all three). So if anyone can offer some suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate it. (I am looking into getting used boards to try, but in the end it's still a lot of money to lay out to try three or four different boards...but if that's the only way I'm gonna get an answer, I am prepared to do it).

Your thoughts are GREATLY appreciated!!! THANK YOU!

[Tudeo]

It can take a long time (years and years) before you find out what board works best for you in certain conditions. Many surfers build a selection of boards, a quiver, so they can choose the right board for the right conditions.

For beginner intermediates the exact dimensions are in a relative wide range, that's why it's good to experiment first with used (cheap) boards. Best is to rent or borrow (if possible) because when trying a too small board, you'll notice immediately. It will take a lot of time (and frustration) before riding that consistently.

Just take the dimensions of your current board as a basis and look around for something smaller that's cheap. After you surfed the new board for some time you start to understand what the different dimensions do, then you can take that 2nd board as a base and look for something different.

In the end you'll end up with 8 or 9 boards, like (almost) all of us

[waikikikichan]

The the thing is you could have posted " 10 different shapers, 10 different opinions." Hell, you could've up that to 100 shapers and a 100 varied opinions. Now you want advice from international forum from people that don't know you. The person that knows you best is YOURSELF. You need to try many boards, and see which one YOU like.
They're no set rules for board sizing, and those volume calculators just confuse beginners. But I'll add my 2 cents ( I'm 5'2" 125lbs ). If you're on a 7'0" round nose mini-tanker, I would recommend a 6'6" -6'4" Big Fish or a 6'8"ish Hybrid. I can't believe someone would recommend a 5'6" !

[digs40]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do think the emphasis on volume these days is what has me confused. Alas, most of my friends that surf are in Indo so borrowing boards is out for now and the rental situation around where I live is a little lacking, but I'll see what I can find. I kind of figured the 5'6 suggestion, although a lovely board, was way too short for me coming off of a 7'0. The 6'4 -6'6 big fish suggestion sounds more realistic. Thanks again.