step down fish board size / volume advice

[Joe_sca]

Hey guys

I know this question has been probably asked so many time.. asking advice for my specific case.
I am 170cm tall and 66kg - good fitness level
I have been surfing on/off for the last 4 years but now I am permanent in Cornwall so increasing sessions dramatically 2/3 times per week
Currently I have an hybrid 7'0" 45L (very similar to this https://www.downthelinesurf.co.uk/dtl-surf-co-funboard-surfboard-yellow.html)

I am looking to buy this fish cake: https://www.surfdome.com/Maluku-Fish-Cake-MK2-FCS-II-5-Fin-Surfboard/sd5066026.htm?colour=White+Black+Rail

I am hesitant between the 6'0 and the 6'3"
Basically I need all year around board as much as possible, but I can also face some big winter UK waves and easy to duck dive

Any thoughts? Many thanks

[dtc]

Can you duck dive your current board? If not then the 6’3 will also be hard. And the 6’0 will be a very big change, maybe too much

But the reality is that a longer thicker higher volume board, which is what you need, isn’t going to be an easy duck dive. I would be tempted to look for a longer but thinner/less rounded board, like this (random pick) https://www.surfdome.com/Fourth-Surfboards-Doofer-Base-Construction-FCS-II-5-Fin-Surfboard/sd5081208.htm?colour=White+Bluetooth in 6’4 or even 6’6

[Joe_sca]

hi mate, many thanks for your support

I can lateral duck dive my current one but only partially. Still struggling to get the tail underwater. Probably with less length /volume I might be able to achieve that... need more practice

I appreciate you recommendation, make me think and I believe it's make sense

I did already have a look at the 4th surfboard and to be fair it was my option 2. They are a local factory here in Newquay and will be also happy to support. I was looking for the Doofer F1X construction instead of base https://www.surfdome.com/Fourth-Surfboards-Doofer-F1X-Construction-FCS-II-5-Fin-Surfboard/sd5081202.htm?colour=White%2F+Black for just extra 100£ stronger & lighter

I would be tempted to go for a 6'4 with 36.8L

My current board is exactly same hybrid shape: 7.0 - 21 3/4- 2 3/4 with 45L

What do you think? Would that be a reasonable step down?

[dtc]

Going from 7ft to 6’4 is a pretty big step, the differences get bigger as boards get smaller. So I don’t think it will be an easy transition, but if you are surfing something similar at the moment and you get something slightly longer (than 6ft) then it will be easier than it otherwise could have been. As is commonly said, no point being able to duck dive a board if you can’t catch a wave.

So if you want to make the jump and go for a smaller board, try and make that smaller board as big as you are willing to use. But which you can still duck dive - it’s a delicate balance and, to some extent, you just have to make a choice and work hard to master it

[Prancing monkey]

I had the 6,10 fish cake coming down from an 8ft egg. I loved the board and it really helped me with getting my turns snappier and cutbacks. It's also made localish to you, out of the escape factory in polzeath (bill atlee is shaper). I reckon the 6,3 would be fine, especially if you are surfing regularly. Lots of volume, but manageable (I could badly duck dive the 6,10 at 50 litres... I'm 6ft and 85kg). A friend also loves his 4th chilli bean which is similar dims. Saying tat, if you are down in Cornwall you should have loads of second hand options...