Surfing Waves

Hi Everbody,

I have been surfing for a year now, Ive progressed a lot in the last 5 or 6 months, around 3 months ago I felt I turned a corner when I began consistently catching waves green and getting a turn to go along the face of the wave. For the last 3 months I have been surfing once or twice a week and every session I catch a good few nice waves, generally catching them green and riding along the face, trimming a bit to stay up on the face until they close out,.feel ive been doing good,.my main problem at the moment is paddling out, if there is any size waves i struggle getting out, once I do get out i do fine,.I'm 6ft 12 stone and fairly fit,.At the moment I have a 7.10 hybrid, it has quite a pointy nose so I tuaght it would be very monuverable and ok to duck dive but i cant duck dive it and i dont feel im going fast enough on it to attempt a proper turn or cut-back or anything,..does it sound like a shorter board could be the answer? sorry for the long post but just confused about what to do next? Should I be able to turn and duckdive this board or am I ready for a shorter board or fish like 6.10 or something?? Thanks a million for any advice.

Turn, yes - although it probably wont snap around like you're imagining. Think long drawn out lines.

Duckdive - Probably not (at this point someone always comes on and says they can duckdive their 9' longboard, bla bla bla, but physics says that the more volume you have the harder it will be).

So, yes, probably time for a shorter board. At this point you should probably get a fairly large and forgiving shortboard - think 6'8 x 20" x 2 3/4"
Dont go for something ridiculously short or skinny, otherwise you'll find yourself back at square one.

Cheers, Thanks for reply, I had a bad day the weekend on my hybrid, probably the worst day in around 6 months, conditions were perfect but I couldnt catch one wave!! Putting it down to just a bad day though, not going to let it put me off, I'm still planning on downsizing, the way I look at it ill still have my 7.10 so I wont be relying on the shortboard and I will get good on it eventually, Ive recently moved to the west coast too so no more 2/3 hour drives from Dublin for a surf so plenty more sessions!!..So, Ive been looking at boards, Ive come across this one.....

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/watersports/1537958

its a 6.10 escape, the dimensions seem close? Are escape a good make?
or I seen a 6.10 nigel simmons for sale second hand too with simalar dim's and price?

ooor do I hold out and go for something like this..

http://www.powersourcesurfboards.com/quattro.htm

Thanks again, all help and advice is hugely appreciated!!

Escape a pretty good make Ive heard good things about them from a friend and long time escape board rider.