Looking to step down

[Redshift]

Hey all, hope everyone's doing well.

I currently have a relatively large 7'6 board. The nose isn't completely round and the tail is also brought in a bit, but the rails are thick. The dimensions are 7'6 x 21.5" x 3". Definitely lots of board, but it was really useful when learning. I think my board is around 50 liters, although I'm not entirely sure. I just figured it was a little under the dimensions of the modern blackbird, which is 53 liters at 7'6. I can attach pictures of the board.

Now I was hoping to step down into something I can duck dive at the very least, and hopefully something I can be a little more dynamic on. At the moment I am looking at two boards that are at my local shops, both of them used of course.

The first board I am looking at is the Pyzel Pyzalien with firewire FST construction.
Dimensions of the board at the store: 6'1" x 19.3125" x 2.375" Vol:31.6L.
Link to the official site/board: https://www.pyzelsurfboards.com/index.p ... ils&id=182
It's important to note that the model at the store has a squash or square tail. I tried doing some research, but I couldn't tell which one it was. The stock Pyzalien uses a swallow tail, but the one in the store has a squash or square tail.

The second board is the Lost Round Nose Fish Redux with EPS/Epoxy construction.
Official webite/board: http://lostsurfboards.net/boards/round-nose-fish-redux/
Dimensions of the board at the store: 6'1" x 21.25" x 2.72" Vol: 41L

Both boards are in great condition. The Lost has a few compression dents on the deck, but the bottom is flawless. The Pyzalien looks like it's brand new, just a little sun-kissed. I was told the Lost had a pretty strong glassing done on it, but I do think that the Pyzalien is a slightly sturdier board.

Surf conditions and personal characteristics:
I am on the east coast, so I do need a board that "can" work in smaller surf. This is especially exacerbated by the fact that I will have to trade in this current board in order to snatch up a new one. I can catch small surf pretty well out on my current 7'6, but if a shorter board loses that ability I would definitely understand (although bummed). I have very limited space, such that I can really only own one board at a time. I am relatively skinny at 160-165 pounds and around 6'1/6'2.

I'm thinking of going with the Lost, merely because it has a good amount of board to it. However, I AM worried it is still too much board for me to duck dive. Was just wondering what your thoughts were on the matter. If going from my board to the Pyzalien isn't too much of a transition, I'd love to get on the board... as it IS cheaper in this case. And it would look brand new... that's always a bonus.

Appreciate it,
Red

Current surfboard pictures:
https://imgur.com/a/vsFW6

P.S:
Sorry about the huge wall of text, didn't realize how much it was until I hit submit

[Lebowski]

First of all, your current board looks a little 'gunny' to me, which means that it is not ideal for learning on.

You don't say what your experience level is, but since you're asking for a board that you will be able to duckdive, I'm going to assume you are at the beginner end of the spectrum.

Forget about the Pyzel. It is too small and you'll most likely catch very little and end up frustrated and not learning much. It is too much of a jump down.
The Lost would be a better choice out of the two, although my personal preference in your situation would be something else completely. I personally don't like the way high volume shortboards ride. They are usually wide with little rocker and don't really make good allrounders in my experience.

If I were choosing I'd probably look for a bigger regular shortboard shape, something along the lines of a 6'6 x 20 x 2 3/4 or even a little larger, with regular rocker. Like an Anacapa glider or a Webber Afterburner (for example).

[Big H]

You’re talking about a huge jump in size.....too much. You want a board that can be worked.....you need to learn how to do that gradually because it is not the board that teaches you how.

If you want a recommendation, I would look for a hybrid around 6’6”-6’10”.....you are going to quickly find that there is plenty to learn in terms of technique in both your board manipulation as well as in terms of where to catch and how much time you have when you try to get waves. Smaller steps will serve you better.

Last consideration.....you might be able to catch and momentarily ride waves on the boards you chose......but can you take a wave from the rest of the lineup? Can you ride the board long enough before falling off to develop yourself?

[dtc]

From a 7’6 that you can catch 9/10 waves on, a 6’10 would be an ok transition. A 6’6 would be a hard transition. A 6’1 is an exercise in frustration

As said, go for something 6’6-6’10. A ‘fish’ or shorter fun board or maybe a hybrid type

Why do you need to duck dive? Or, perhaps putting it another way, would you prefer to duck dive or catch waves?

[BoMan]

Borrow or rent a few boards to help with your decision. When I was shopping the local surf shop charged me a all-day rate and let me try 2 boards.

[Redshift]

Appreciate the help guys!

Yeah, I AM pretty much a beginner timewise and skill level. I started surfing on this board last March, and have progressed consistently throughout that time. I can catch green waves, and I am very confident on right breaking waves. I can do strong bottom turns, and sharp turns in order to utilize the powerful section of the wave. I am not as confident going left, but I can still turn off the bottom and go up and down the wave.

I will definitely try out a few boards, and I will ask the local shop about renting used boards for a day. I didn't realize that was a thing! Fingers crossed

Before I do so, I will have to wait for some more stock to come in... as most boards at the shop are either longboards midboards (somewhere between 7'2-7'8) and really short boards (5'6-5'11). Except for the new boards of course, which come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, new isn't really in my budget this time around either. The 6'1s are relatively oddballs, and I thought I was lucky to find them :/

In the meantime, I may try and rent the Lost fish on a crumby (1-2 ft) day one time. If I can surf it on a bad day, stands to reason it would work in most conditions right?

There was one 6'4 board, but it was really beat up. Perhaps I will try it out anyway.

[waikikikichan]

I was hoping to step down into something I can duck dive at the very least, and hopefully something I can be a little more dynamic on.
I am relatively skinny at 160-165 pounds and around 6'1/6'2.

About the Duck Dive, I am 5'2" 125 lbs. and can duck dive my 6'4" molded epoxy Fish. I'm sure if you learn the proper technique, you can duck dive over a 6'6".

About being more Dynamic, If you put your foot in the proper spot, you can turn a 12 footer. I can tell from the marks on your board, that your back foot isn't over the fins when you're trying to turn, which they NEED to be. ( that plus you must've done a lot of double knee / death grab take offs )

Screenshot 2017-11-20 at 6.12.06 PM.png (131.88 KiB) Viewed 1666 times

If you step on the leash plug, you'll be amazed how easy it is to fling that board around.

Learn to surf your current board to it's maximum capabilities, it well make you a better surfer later on. Learn to roll from rail to rail, create power off the tail. Throwing money at a problem isn't the right fix.

[Redshift]

Those pictures were from before I ever stepped foot on the board. There are more pressure dents on the back of the board currently. However, they aren't as severe as the ones shown in the picture. I imagine the person who owned it before me was a little heavier. As for death grips and takes offs, I have no idea. When I pop up I push my hands to the board as if I'm trying to push an aggressor away or something. And then I throw my feet forward, knees don't really have anything to do with it. Not sure if it's proper or not, but it seems to work.

However, that is definitely good advice. I will probably give it a few more months. And I'll watch out for a good 6'6 -6'8 to show up at the shop. In the meantime, I'll try and get more confident going left

[waikikikichan]

In the meantime, I'll try and get more confident going left

Proper technique builds confidence, not the other way around. Can you post a photo or video of you going backside left ?